QF1: Southern Mariners 3-1 Northern Metros
It was a pitchers dual and it proved one of the best ballgames of the week, as the Southern Mariners edged out the Northern Metros to seal their place in the Australian Junior League Championship Semi Final.
The Mariners picked up two runs in the second frame before extending their advantage to three, before the Metros staged a late comeback. However behind a complete game from Jacob Bald, the Mariners booked their place in the Semi Final.
Bald struck out five and scattered five hits across his seven innings on the mound, as well as going 1-for-1 at the plate. Bald’s opposite number, Metros starting pitcher Javier Pelkonen was equally outstanding, striking out 13 and only giving up three hits in a complete game. For the first time in Australian Junior League Championship history, both starting pitchers tossed complete games in the same number of pitches.
Dan Stephenson claimed two hits for the Metros, with Tarrant Reimers driving in his team’s only run of the ballgame in the sixth frame. The Metros threatened in the final frame, however Bald’s fifth strikeout sealed the result for the Mariners and kept their chances at the Australian Junior League Championship alive.
QF 2: Cronulla 11-0 Swan Hills
Behind a home run from Blake Cavill and a complete game one-hit shutout from Jake Burns, Cronulla defeated Swan Hills 11-0 to book their place in the Australian Junior League Championship Semi Final.
Burns struck out 12 and only allowed one hit in an exceptional performance. Burns also had a good day with bat in hand, going 3-for-4 with a double, a triple and two RBI. Blake Cavill nailed a home run and a double as he went 2-for-3 with three RBI.
Dan Carter did everything he could to keep the Aces in the game on the mound, striking out three and only conceding three earned runs. Max Chipper claimed the Swans lone hit.
The Aces kept Cronulla scoreless through the first two, however the Sharks bats came alive in the latter stages to seal their place in the semi final and keep their quest for back-to-back Australian Junior League Championships alive.
QF 3: Ryde 14-1 Manly
Manly and Ryde did battle in an all NSW quarter final at the Australian Junior League Championship, and it was Ryde who came home stronger, claiming a 14-1 victory.
Ion Best and James Nati were exceptional with bat in hand for Ryde, as Best finished with three hits and two RBI while James Nati legged out a double and a triple, driving in three runs in the process.
Cooper Garth threw a complete game for Ryde, only giving up one hit and striking out six. Ryde’s offence complimented Garth late in the ballgame, as they scored seven runs to put the game beyond doubt.
Manly’s only hit of the day came from Tom Newbold, as the slugger nailed a solo home run in the bottom of the sixth.
Following that win, Ryde will now take on Cronulla in a re-match of the 2016 Australian Junior League Championship final.
QF 4: Hills 8-1 Adelaide Pirates
Hills sealed their place in the Australian Junior League Championship semi finals after a tightly contested ballgame against the Adelaide Pirates.
Hills really showed their depth today as every player in the starting lineup either scored a run or claimed a hit. Riley Watson claimed a pair of hits in the leadoff spot for Hills, while Ryan Franks and Andrew Martin both picked up two RBI.
Liam McCallum struck out six in his two inning start for Hills, while the bullpen again shone, with Soloman Maguire and Alex Ranieri striking out seven and only giving up three hits in the final five innings.
Ethan Badcock drove in the Pirates only run of the ballgame in the sixth inning to give the Pirates a little bit of momentum, however a big four run final frame saw Hills eventually run out 8-1 winners.
That win sees an all NSW Semi Final as Hills take on the Southern Mariners for a place in the Australian Junior League Championship Gold Medal Game.
Eastern Athletics 14-3 Brisbane Metro
The first game of the day on Diamond 2 saw the Eastern Athletics flex their muscle to defeat Brisbane Metro 14-3.
Zach Busch continued his excellent tournament for the Athletics, going 2-for-4 with a triple and four RBI, with Henry Hayman also picking up two hits and driving in two runs of his own.
Cody Caulfield tossed all five innings for the Athletics, only giving up one earned run and stirking out three in a strong performance.
Sam Campion went 2-for-3, with Tommy Kenyon driving in two of Brisbane Metro’s two runs.
Two big innings proved the catalyst for the Athletics, scoring 12 of their 14 runs in two innings as they began the second half of the tournament well.
Gold Coast Mariners 7-4 Eastern Phantoms
The Eastern Phantoms took an early two run lead, but the Gold Coast Mariners came home the stronger, claiming a 7-4 win on Diamond 2.
Rilee Ford was perfect at the plate for the Mariners, going 3-for-3, while Joesph Shannon and Harry White each drove in three runs for Gold Coast.
Hunter Hasegawa struck out four and gave up three runs in a solid 5.2 inning start for the Mariners, while Tyler Brooks went all the way for the Phantoms, tossing a complete game, striking out eight and giving up four runs across six innings. Brooks also managed two hits and an RBI for the Phantoms.
Central Firebirds 8-4 Gold Coast Pirates
The Pirates enjoyed an early lead against the Firebirds, however the Western Australian team hit back, eventually running out 8-4 winners against Gold Coast.
Patrick Day did everything he could to keep the Pirates in the ballgame, striking out 12 and only giving up three runs in his five inning start.
Josh Paull threw well for the Firebirds with the game in the balance, as he only gave up two hits and struck out four in 2.1 innings of relief.
Hits were evenly spread for the Firebirds, with Conor Chehab and Dylan Hopkins-Treloar each claiming two hits each. Declan Summerford had two hits for the Pirates, however a big three run inning in the bottom of the sixth proved the difference as the Firebirds ran out winners.
Adelaide Waves 10-5 Canberra
The Waves used some consistent pitching and a strong start from Hamish Rees to defeat Canberra 10-5.
Jacob Scott was an impossible out for Canberra, as he went 4-for-4 with two doubles, three runs and an RBI. Robbie Brennan did his bit for the Waves offence, driving in three RBI on the day.
Hamish Rees was electric on the mound for the Waves, only giving up one hit and striking out five in 3.1 innings of work.
P-J Barbaro was the offensive spark plug for Canberra, going 2-for-4 with two RBI, with Matthew Tyo also chiming in, picking up two hits and an RBI as a pinch hitter.
Canberra drove three runs across in the in the fourth to draw within one of the Waves, however five late runs kept the Waves far enough ahead, and they eventually game home with a win.
Check out the full schedule for tomorrow's games below.
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25th May 2017 |
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Time |
Diamond 1 |
Time |
Diamond 2 |
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CG 6 |
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CG 5 |
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9.15 AM |
Gold Coast Pirates |
Eastern Phantoms |
9:00 AM |
Central Firebirds |
Gold Coast Mariners |
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CG 8 | CG 7 | ||||
| 12:00 PM | Adelaide Waves | Eastern Athletics | 11:45 AM | Canberra | Brisbane Metro | |
| SF 1 | CG 9 | |||||
| 2:45 PM | Southern Mariners | Hills | 2.30 PM | Northern Metros | Adelaide Pirates | |
| SF 2 | CG 10 | |||||
| 5:30 PM | Cronulla | Ryde | 5:15 PM | Manly | Swan Hills | |
25th May 2017
Time
Diamond 1
Time
Diamond 2
CG 6
CG 5
9.15 AM
Gold Coast Pirates
Eastern Phantoms
9:00 AM
Central Firebirds
Gold Coast Mariners