2025 Under 15 State Winter Championships Day 2

The 2025 Under 15 State Winter Championships wrapped up in Latrobe Valley on Sunday, with Diamond Valley winning Division 1 and Latrobe Valley winning Division 2.

Congrats to the winners and the All-Star sides:

Division 1: Cooper Bicknell, Longan Chambers and Tom Skinner (Dandenong), Peter Baade and Finn Welte (Diamond Valley), Finn Scargill and George Steer (Geelong), Edison Bush and Lachlan Jeffree (Ringwood)
Division 2: August Holley, Surar Mittal and Isaac Davis (City West), Zachary Banks and Evan Lindsay (Bendigo), Emily Glass and Joshua Smith (Latrobe Valley), Darcy Saunders and Ethan Saunders (North East)

A huge thank you to Morwell Baseball Club, Moe/Newborough Baseball Club, Latrobe Valley Baseball Association, and Latrobe City for the wonderful hospitality all weekend long. We greatly appreciate the dedicated efforts of all the baseball volunteers who made the tournament run smoothly!

Keep reading GameChanger recaps from the second day and catch up on the first day of Under 15 SWC action HERE.

Division 1 Recaps

Semi-Final 1: Dandenong 11, Ringwood 1

Dandenong defeated Ringwood 11-1 to book a spot in the grand final. Dandenong got on board in the bottom of the first inning after Cooper Bicknell drew a walk, scoring one run, Yuntae (Timmy) Jun drew a walk, scoring one run, Logan Chambers singled, scoring one run, and an error scored one run.

A groundout by Bicknell added another Dandenong run in the second. More runs came in the third after Chambers singled to right field, Adam Panton singled to center field, Xavier Woodcock singled down the left field line, and Thomas Skinner doubled to center field, each scoring one run.

Bicknell led things off on the hill for Dandenong. The hurler surrendered one hit and zero runs over four and one-third innings, striking out eight and walking two. Charlie Delaney appeared in relief.

Eddie Bush opened the game for Ringwood, giving up zero hits and five runs (four earned) over one-third of an inning, striking out one and walking five.

Dandenong tallied 10 hits in the game. Chambers led with two runs batted in from the number seven spot in the lineup as the right fielder went 2-for-3 on the day. Skinner went 3-for-3 at the plate to lead the team in hits. Woodcock collected two hits in three at-bats. Dandenong had patience at the plate, tallying six walks for the game.

Bush led Ringwood with one hit in two at-bats. Bush stole two bases.

Semi-Final 2: Diamond Valley 7, Geelong 2

Diamond Valley were victorious against Geelong 7-2 on Sunday morning. DV got on board in the top of the first inning after Finn Welte grounded out, Peter Baade grounded out, Lucas Bunt doubled to center field, and Aidan Haxton singled to left field, each scoring one run.

A ground out by Haxton extended the Diamond Valley lead to 5-2 in the top of the third inning.

Welte opened the game for Diamond Valley. The starter surrendered four hits and two runs over five innings, striking out nine and walking one.

Geelong starter Flynn Scargill surrendered four hits and five runs over four innings, striking out five and walking four.

Number seven hitter Haxton showed the depth of Diamond Valley's lineup, leading with two hits in three at-bats. Bunt and Haxton were a one-two punch in the lineup, as each drove in two runs. Joel Roberts and Anthony Vogt stole multiple bases with eight total in the game.

Christian Papadopoulos provided pop in the middle of the lineup, leading Geelong with two runs batted in. The third baseman went 1-for-2 on the day. Cale Morris went 2-for-2 at the plate to lead Geelong in hits, plus two stolen bases.

Grand Final: Diamond Valley 9, Dandenong 6

Diamond Valley prevailed 9-6 over Dandenong in a thrilling grand final. DV scored first when Finn Welte hit a sacrifice fly, scoring one run in the opening frame. They added to their early lead in the top of the third inning on a dropped third strike, Peter Baade single down the left field line, and Joel Roberts single to center field, each scoring one run.

Dandenong tied the game in the bottom of the third thanks to a single by Yuntae (Timmy) Jun, a walk by Oscar Haysom, and a single by Graecian Heath.

Diamond Valley flipped the game on its head in the top of the fourth, scoring five runs on three hits to take the lead, 9-4. The biggest blow in the inning was a double by Baade on a full count that drove in three.

Baade stepped on the hill first for Diamond Valley, allowing two hits and four runs over two and two-thirds innings, striking out five and walking five. Aidan Haxton appeared in relief.

Haysom started on the mound for Dandenong. The pitcher allowed six hits and six runs (five earned) over three and two-thirds innings, striking out four and walking three.

Baade provided pop in the middle of the lineup, leading Diamond Valley with three runs batted in. The cleanup hitter went 2-for-3 on the day. Baade and Kella De Zylva each collected two hits, while De Zylva and Anthony Vogt stole multiple bases with nine total in the game.

Jun drove the middle of the lineup, leading Dandenong with two runs batted in. The number three hitter went 1-for-3 on the day. Logan Chambers, Heath, Jun, and Thomas Skinner each collected one hit while Xavier Woodcock took three walks. Overall, the team had a strong eye at the plate, tallying six walks for the game. The defense turned a double play, too.

Consolation Final: Geelong 6, Ringwood 4

Archie Rose collected three hits in three at-bats, as Geelong defeated Ringwood 6-4 on Sunday afternoon. Rose singled in the second, third, and fourth innings.

Ringwood opened scoring in the second after Eddie Bush doubled, scoring one run. Geelong took the lead in the bottom of the second after Tully McLean singled to the right side of the infield, Flynn Scargill walked, and George Steer walked, each scoring one run.

Geelong extended their early lead with two runs in the bottom of the third, thanks to RBI singles by Alex Green and Christian Papadopoulos.

Cale Morris opened the game for Geelong. The pitcher surrendered four hits and four runs (three earned) over four innings, striking out seven and walking two.

Elias Arianas stepped on the hill first for Ringwood, giving up three hits and three runs over one and two-thirds innings, striking out four and walking three.

Scargill, McLean, Rose, Steer, and Papadopoulos each drove in one run for Geelong. Green collected two hits in three at-bats, with multiple stolen bases alongside Rose (six total for the team).

Bush led Ringwood with three runs batted in from the number eight spot in the lineup. The center fielder went 2-for-2 on the day.

Division 2 Recaps

Semi-Final 1: City West 9, North East 5

City West topped North East 9-5 on Sunday at Moe/Newborough Baseball Club. City West struck first when Brodie Leigh grounded out, scoring two runs in the opening frame.

A single by Mason Cvetanoski extended their lead to 3-0 in the bottom of the second inning. City West tacked on three runs in the bottom of the third thanks to RBI singles by Saurav Mittal and Augustus Holley.

Leigh stepped on the mound first for City West. The pitcher surrendered three hits and five runs (four earned) over five innings, striking out five and walking four.

Darcy Sanders started on the mound for North East, giving up one hit and three runs over one and one-third innings, striking out two and walking three.

Mittal, City West's number seven hitter, led with two hits in three at-bats. Cvetanoski had two runs batted in as the leadoff hitter went 1-for-4 on the day. Joshua Rowlands led with three of the team's seven walks while also stealing multiple bases alongside Samuel Perez, Leigh, Holley, and Mittal. The defense turned one double play.

Harlen Gambier, Jordan Daniel, and Sebastian Clear each collected one hit for North East. Gambier, Bodie Cahill, and Clear each drove in one run while Ethan Simmons and Daniel stole multiple bases with nine total for the team.

Grand Final: Latrobe Valley 8, City West 1

Latrobe Valley won 8-1 over City West, despite an early RBI single by Isaac Davis in the bottom of the first. A dropped third strike helped Latrobe Valley tie the game at one in the top of the second.

Latrobe Valley took the lead in the top of the third inning after Blake Duncan doubled down the left field line, Cooper Boyes walked, and a wild pitch, each scoring one run.

Joshua Rowlands stepped on the mound first for City West. The pitcher gave up three hits and four runs (three earned) over three innings, striking out eight and walking five.

Coadhey Rebbechi began the game for Latrobe Valley. The pitcher allowed three hits and one run over four innings, striking out six and walking none.

Davis, Rowlands, and Brodie Leigh each collected one hit for City West. Davis went 1-for-2 at the plate and led the team with one run batted in. Rowlands stole two bases.

Rebbechi and Duncan were a force together in the lineup, as they each collected two hits for Latrobe Valley while hitting back-to-back. Boyes led with two runs batted in from the number eight spot in the lineup. The infielder went 1-for-1 on the day.

Latrobe Valley had patience at the plate, collecting seven walks for the game. Max Hinchcliffe and Boyes led the team with two bases on balls each. Rebbechi, Conner Gray, Hinchcliffe, Beau Saddington, Boyes, Joshua Smith, and Duncan each stole multiple bases. They turned one double play in the game.