Game reports by Neil Barrowcliff
The Australian Schoolboys team has played four games in Southern California, before travelling to Arizona for the Chandler Bat Fall Classic Tournament.
Game 12 vs Fullerton College
Inn/Team
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
R
H
E
V
Australia
0
0
0
2
0
0
1
3
4
3
H
Fullerton
3
3
0
2
1
0
X
9
8
0
Down by 6 runs by the 4th inning, Australia got two runs back when, with two out, Frew walked and was brought in by a double down the right field line from Turnbull and McCallum singled to score Turnbull. Fullerton came right back scoring another two runs in the 4th and one in the 5th.
In the 7th, Turnbull hit his second double of the game, this time down the left field line. Baker, then had a great bat, fouling off several strike two pitches before doubling over the left fielder’s head to score Turnbull. The final score was 9-3 to Fullerton College.
Game 13 vs Fullerton College
Inn/Team
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
R
H
E
V
Australia
0
1
2
0
0
0
3
7
0
H
Fullerton
3
4
3
3
2
X
15
16
0
After giving up two runs in the 1st, Australia got one back in the 2nd when McCallum was hit by a pitched ball, Baker singled and King singled to score a run. Fullerton kept their own score ticking over when a walk and another four hits scored another four runs. So at the end of the 2nd it was 7 – 1 their way.
Consecutive singles to Bourke and Neunborn saw Australia with runners on first and second with none out. D’Avoine’s doubled to score Bourke and Baker singled to score another run, making the score 7-3. However Fullerton put together four base hits to score another three and it was now back out to 10 – 3.
Leskiw came on to pitch in the 4th but still the runs came with another four Fullerton runs, all coming with two out. Whitley then threw the 5th for a further two runs and the game finished early at a 15 – 3 score line.
Game 14 vs Irvine Valley College
Inn/Team
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
R
H
E
V
Australia
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
6
1
H
Irvine Valley
1
1
0
0
0
0
0
2
4
7
1
With Enciondo starting for us, Irvine got away to a good start when a two walks and a hit scored a run to give them an early 1- 0 lead in the 1st, and 2-0 by the second. DeJong came on to relieve Enciondo for the start of the 3rd. He did a good job to keep Irvine quiet for the next two innings but in the mean time, we were not troubling the scorers ourselves. So at the end of four complete innings, it was still 2 – 0 their way.
Steedman came on for DeJong and threw two tidy scoreless innings but we continued to fail to score and so through six innings, it was still a 2 – 0 game. Rawlinson also chipped in with a tidy innings to keep it that way until the end of the 7th.
We had limited opportunities but threatened in the 8th when Neunborn singled and Frew’s ground ball was errored and we had runners on first and second with none out, but again we ran ourselves out of the innings. Irvine were finally able to score another two runs in the 8th, both unearned, and the final score was 4 – 0.
Game 15 vs Placentia Mustangs
Inn/Team
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
R
H
E
V
Australia
0
0
1
0
0
1
0
2
8
1
H
Placentia Mustangs
0
0
0
0
1
0
0
1
3
1
First game of the Chandler Bat Fall Classic tournament in Phoenix, Arizona at the Angels spring training complex.
Pitching was on top early with neither team scoring a run in the first two innings. D’Avoine led off the third for us with a walk. Leskiw laid down a perfect bunt for a base hit then Neunborn put down a perfect sacrifice bunt so we had runners on second and third with one out. Frew’s hard hit ball was knocked down by the shortstop but D’Avoine was able to score and Australia had taken the lead 1 – 0.
Barrett was our starting pitcher and was in control from the outset, keeping them scoreless for the first three innings.
We threatened again in the 4th when walks to McCallum and Holding and King’s infield single loaded the bases with one out but they turned a sharp double play to finish the innings and kept us from scoring. They then looked dangerous when a lead off walk and a single meant they had runners on first and second with none out but Barrett and our defence responded in great style to shut them down. The Placentia Mustangs was able to put a run on the board in the 5th making the score 1-1.
Baker led off the 6th with a triple down the left field line, Holding then hit a clutch double with two strikes to bring him in and so we were now in front 2 – 1. Barrett was continuing to keep Placentia scoreless so it was still a one run ball game going into the last.
Placentia got a lead off single and ended up with the tying run on third with one out. Barrett, as he continued to do all game, responded under great pressure to again keep them out and we had ended up winning 2 – 1.
Australia will continue to play in the Chandler Bat Fall Classic Tournament before returning to California to play 3 final games. For more updates visit baseball.com.au or schoolsport.edu.au