Baseball Victoria, Author at Baseball Victoria

Victoria Blue kicked off their 2019 Australian Women's Championship campaign with a clear lead to end Day 1 of the tournament, defeating Victoria White and New South Wales.

Victoria White were outdone by their Victorian counterparts and had a close loss to Queensland in their two matches of the day.

Each side has one game on Day 2 of the tournament; Victoria Blue hosting Queensland and Victoria White playing against Western Australia.

Game 2: VICW v VICB | BOX SCORE

Victoria Blue kicked off their championship campaign with a shutout win over their counterparts Victoria White on Diamond 2.

Victoria Blue flew out of the blocks, plating seven runs in their first innings of the tournament.

Morgan Doty got the scoring started for the Victoria Blue team, doubling in the first innings to score Abbey Kelly.

Courtney Foura top scored with four hits for three runs, including two RBI’s.

Victoria Blue starter Allison Bebbere stuck out seven, only allowing two hits for zero runs during her four innings.

With the Victoria Blue team ahead 12-0 at the top of the fourth, they piled on six more runs in the fifth, where the mercy rule finished play.

Famke Gildemacher and Vanessa Clifford each hit three RBI’s, making Vic Blue’s offence one to watch.

Game 4: NSW vs VIC BLUE | BOX SCORE

Victoria Blue recorded their second win of the day with another strong display against defending champions New South Wales on Diamond 2.

Victoria Blue starting pitcher Abbey Kelly had a solid performance on the mound, finishing with six hits for two runs and three strikeouts over the five innings.

NSW started off well, with Maddison Heath opening the scoring with a single to score Jordan Richardson.

But from there it was all Victoria Blue, crossing the plate three times at the end of the second.

They piled on seven more runs at the end of the fourth, with Shae Lillywhite finishing with a game high four RBIs off three at bats.

Another two singles by Courtney Foura and Leslie Anglin put Victoria Blue ahead 12-2 and ended the game early with the mercy rule taking hold.

Game 5: QLD vs VICW | BOX SCORE

Queensland scored early but it was a fast finishing Victoria White that claimed a three run win on Diamond 2.

Despite being down 3-0 after five innings, Victoria White managed to plate six runs at the bottom of the fifth to seal victory.

Victoria White pitcher Amanda Torrington was solid on the mound, finishing her seven innings with 11 strikeouts, allowing four earned runs off eight hits.

Riordan Bradley started things off for QLD as he singled early to score Kira Kamada (walk). Gauci singled to score two and put QLD 3-0.

But it was a massive fifth innings that won the game for Victoria White. Things were tied up at 3-3 before a vital error by QLD left fielder Courtney Murphy allowed Wright and Kayla Adams to score and go two ahead 5-3. They solidified their lead to 6-3 due to a RBI single to Ally Peake.

Queensland got one run back at the top of the sixth but it wasn’t enough.

The 2019 Little League State Championships concluded in thrilling fashion on Sunday afternoon, with two amazing Grand Finals that saw the Twins LL All-Stars Team and the Southern Mariners LL Development Team win their Grand Finals. Well done to the Southern Mariners White Minor team on winning their Red Robin competition too!

Thank you to all players, coaches, officials, parents and supporters for making this weekend so wonderful. Baseball Victoria is so proud of all the participants and their awesome teamwork and accomplishments! Good luck to the Victorian teams that will be representing our state at National Championships in the upcoming months!

Little League All Stars

Semi Final 1 – Diamond 1 10:00am Southern Mariners v Geelong Baycats 20 - 6

As the 1st place and 3-0 Southern Mariners looked to keep up their momentum, Geelong Baycats were ready for a win after three tough losses to start the tournament. Unfortunately, they were overcome by the hard-hitting Mariners as they kept on cruising toward the afternoon's Grand Final.

Despite jumping on the board early with three runs in the first inning, thanks to a lead-off double and several errors and wild pitches that allowed the Baycats to bring their runners home, Geelong was tested on the mound and in the field. The Mariners put together an 11-run opening frame, starting with a huge home run from Samuel Walsh, followed by three consecutive runs scored on wild pitches.

Walsh came up again, this time hitting an RBI single. By the time three outs were recorded, the Mariners were enjoying an 11-3 lead. Geelong failed to respond in the top of the second, with Mitchell Langworthy striking out three batters on 12 pitches, and the Mariners' second inning at the plate saw them add an additional run on a ground out.

Geelong had three straight singles from Cade White, Riley Peoples and Jordan Ellis to load the bases in the top of the third. Cooper Laurie walked to bring a run home, while an error saw two more runs score. Now 12-6, the Baycats hoped to stay in the game, but they gave up eight more runs in the bottom of the third to finish off the game.

Zach Dunkley led off with a single, and he came around to score on an error by the second baseman. One of the Southern Mariners superstars, Walsh, came up to bat again, and he tripled on a fly ball to right field. Two more triples in the inning from Dunkley and Liam Bald gave the Mariners the offensive push they needed to finish on a high note with a final score of 20-6. This results gave the undefeated Mariners the home advantage for the afternoon's Grand Final, while giving Geelong a spot in the third place game at 12:30pm.

Semi Final 2 – Diamond 2 10:00am Twins v Eastern Athletics 17 - 0

The 2nd place Twins took on the 3rd place Eastern Athletics, and it was a fantastic offensive affair for the Twins that saw them score nine runs in the opening inning and eight more in the second to secure a big win.

Nathan Rumbelow led the way with three hits and 5 RBI's. Timothy Thiel threw the whole game for the Twins, hurling 12 first-pitch strikes and striking out four batters along the way. Lachlan Schumann led off with a single to start the game, and he was batted in by a single from Rumbelow. A series of walks and errors, coupled with a single from Thiel and a two-run homer by William Hardy, further extended the Twins' lead. Ethan Brownrigg also hit a home run in the inning, and Hamish Stone doubled to right field to bring home the ninth run.

Despite a single by Eastern Athletics in the top of the second, they were quieted quickly and before long the Twins were back up to bat. They picked up right where they left off, with Rumbelow sending a pitch on a 3-0 count over the fence for a solo home run. Alex Liersch walked, getting on base just in time for Hardy to come up and hit a home run of his own!

Hudson Pallay singled, Brownrigg and Devin Leahy walked to load the bases once more for James McFarlane, who singled to make the score 14-0. Rumbelow kept up his strong at-bats with a double to right, collecting 2 RBI's along the way. Alex Liersch doubled as well to bring the final score to 17-0.

A walk and a single with one out made the top of the third look promising for the Eastern Athletics, but they struggled to bring their runners home and ended up with a shutout loss. The Twins will cruise confidently into the Grand Final, while Eastern Athletics will try to top Geelong for third place.

Third Place – Diamond 5 12:30pm Geelong Baycats v Eastern Athletics 3 - 19

Eastern Athletics secured a third place finish with a dominating win over Geelong Baycats on this sunny Sunday afternoon. The Baycats simply couldn't hold up against the fast and furious Athletics, who excelled at the bat and on the mound.

The Athletics kicked things off with a five-run first inning, led by big hits from Ethan Johnston (double), Will Kent (single), Jack Noble (double) and Aimon Dowling (double). Mitchell Smith hit a line drive and reached on an error by shortstop Xavier D, allowing Dowling to score. Masa Yamamoto hit an RBI double to finish off the inning and give his team a 5-0 lead.

Geelong answered by jumping on base, with a HBP, Xavier Dew single and a double from Riley Peoples. An error on a ground ball from Jordan Ellis scored two runs for the Baycats, and they got one more runner home on a passed ball. Other than that, it was a quiet day at the plate for Geelong, with their opponents producing the bulk of the offense.

Seven runs in the second and seven more in the third ensured Eastern Athletics got the win. Jack Noble had an RBI single in the second, setting the stage for Harry Doyle to hit a line drive double to left field that scored two runs. Now 8-3, during Dowling's at-bat, Doyle came home on a wild pitch.

Back-to-back doubles from Mitchell Smith and Kycen Dowling kept the inning alive. A walk to Mason Hergstrom was the only blip on the radar for Geelong in the bottom of the second, and they weren't able to add any more runs in the end.

The third inning began with Noble's home run, followed by a HBP and hits from Aimon Dowling, Smith and Kycen Dowling. The Athletics scored their final run of the day on a ground ball error. A strikeout and two groundouts in the bottom of the third saw the Athletics celebrating their second win of the tournament.

Aimon Dowling was on the pitcher's mound for Eastern Athletics. He allowed two hits and three runs over three innings, striking out five. Xavier Dew and Riley Peoples each collected one hit to lead Geelong Baycats. The Athletics had 15 hits on the day, with Noble going 3-for-4 to lead his team!

Grand Final – Diamond 1 1:30pm Southern Mariners v Twins 4 - 8

The LL All-Stars Grand Final was a delightful display of athleticism and teamwork as the Twins came from behind to take the lead and bring home the trophy!

The sun was shining and a record crowd was in attendance to cheer on these excited Little Leaguers as they went head-to-head in the Grand Final.

The Twins trusted Nathan Rumbelow on the mound, and he excelled, giving his team ample opportunities to catch up and take over the lead. The Mariners scored on an error in the first inning, making the game 1-0. Two strikeouts and a groundout made it a very quiet inning for the Twins, and a scoreless second gave way to the third inning. That's when the Mariners added two more runs for a 3-0 lead.

The Twins were determined and never wavered from their end goal, and it showed as they tied the game in the third. Two walks and a single loaded the bases, with William Hardy scoring on an error and Hudson Pallay coming home on a passed ball. Cody Liersch grounded out, giving Ethan Brownrigg the chance to score the tying run!

Despite a walk and a double, Southern Mariners failed to regain their lead, and the Twins broke through in the fourth with five runs. James McFarlane singled on a 1-2 count, scoring two runs, and Cody Liersch followed up with an RBI single. Nathan Rumbelow kept up his amazing performance with his double on a 3-0 count, scoring two runs to extend the Twins' lead. After leading things off on the mound, he threw four innings, allowing four hits and three runs while striking out four.

One run in the fifth wasn't quite enough to keep the Mariners' hopes alive. Even so, they battled until the very end, getting runners on with just one out left to go in the game. Both teams can be very proud of their efforts, their hard work and their dedication. Twins are now back to back Little League State Champions!

Little League Development

Semi Final 1 – Diamond 3 10:00am Sunraysia v Geelong Baycats 13 - 3

The 4th and 5th Place teams faced off this morning, with the spirited Sunraysia team prevailing by 10 runs. Nate Williams and Darcy Phemister had three hits apiece to lead Sunraysia in their terrific win.

With Diesel Fallon starting on the mound for Sunraysia, the Baycats put one run on the board in the opening frame, thanks to a single from Tylah Laurie and a groundout from Luke Morrow.

Sunraysia responded with a three-run first inning. Nate Williams singled and advanced to third on several wild pitches, while Oliver Hayes walked. Both runners scored when Fallon doubled to left field. Phemister knocked in another run with a single. Three strikeouts on 12 pitches ended the Baycats' next batting turn, and Sunraysia extended their lead to 4-1. A two-run double from Oliver Hayes and Fallon's RBI single made it 7-1.

Although Geelong managed to tack two more runs on the board, Sunraysia just kept sailing toward the finish line. Williams doubled, Oliver Hayes doubled and Fallon stole home for a 12-3 score. Phemister stole home in the fourth inning to end the game, with Sunraysia having 10 hits to Geelong's three.

In Fallon's four innings of pitching, he allowed just two hits and three runs while striking out nine and walking one. Sunraysia didn't commit a single error in the field. Oliver Hayes had seven chances in the field, the most on the team, and he also led his team with three stolen bases.

Tylah led Geelong Baycats with two hits in two at bats. Geelong Baycats also avoided making errors in the field, with Luke Morrow making the most plays with six. Sunraysia secured a spot in the third place game at 12:30 PM.

Semi Final 2 – Diamond 5 10:00am Southern Mariners v Eastern Athletics 12 -3

The 2nd and 3rd Place teams met in the second semi final, with Southern Mariners prevailing over Eastern Athletics in a game that saw them take an early lead and never let go.

The Mariners scored on a single by Jarvis Johansen and a passed ball during Liam Hough's at bat in the first inning. They added two in the third, three in the fourth and six more runs in the sixth. Meanwhile the Athletics struggled to put runs on the board as they gave up 12 runs to the relentless Mariners.

In the third, Hunter Richardson hit a line drive and reached on an error, scoring one run.

The Mariners carried a 7-0 advantage into the sixth, before they tacked on more runs with Matt Fielden, Jarvis Johansen, Richardson and Hough leading the way. Although the Athletics answered with three of their own, made possible by RBI's from Howie Hannebery and Campbell Dawes, it wasn't enough for them to climb out of their deficit.

Hunter Richardson had a great day on the mound for the Mariners, covering five innings and allowing just one hit, no walks and no runs while striking out 13. He also threw 15 first-pitch strikes.

Campbell Dawes was on the mound for Eastern Athletics. He surrendered four runs on two hits over three innings, striking out six and walking one. Luke Hutton threw two and two-thirds innings out of the bullpen.

Dawes, Hannebery and Hutton each collected one hit to lead Eastern Athletics.

Johansen led Southern Mariners with two hits in four at bats.

Third Place – Diamond 3 12:30pm Sunraysia v Eastern Athletics 9 - 11

Sunraysia was very close, but they ultimately fell just short of a win over Eastern Athletics this afternoon after giving up their lead late in the game.

It was a tough loss for Sunraysia, as they had the lead for entire game up until the sixth inning. The game was tied at nine with Eastern Athletics up to bat when Luke Hutton singled on a 3-1 count, scoring one run.

Sunraysia had six hits compared to 10 for the Athletics, who started the game with a 1-0 lead after Declan M singled on a 0-2 count, scoring one run. Sunraysia put up four runs of their own in the first, thanks to some wild pitches and a 2-RBI single from Darcy Phemister. Another run in the second gave Sunraysia a 5-1 lead.

After Eastern Athletics scored one run in the top of the fourth on an RBI single from Noah Prountzos, Sunraysia gained another run on a wild pitch. It was in the fifth inning that the Athletics made a break for it, putting four on the board to level the scores at six apiece. Zane Templeton singled to lead things off, and he rounded the bases when Minsung Shin hit a double. Shin scored on a wild pitch, as did Harvey Arifovic. Luke Hutton came around on a wild pitch to tie it up.

Sunraysia didn't give up, once again taking the lead with three runs in the bottom of the fifth. Oliver Hayes doubled on a fly ball to center, and he advanced to third on a wild pitch. Diesel Fallon took a walk, and Hayes came home on a wild pitch before Darcy Phemister singled. After a few more wild pitches and aggressive base running, Sunraysia found themselves ahead once again, with the score sitting at 9-6.

Eastern Athletics were not satisfied with that score, and they put together a five-run rally to win the game. Zane Templeton walked to start the sixth, followed by doubles from Minsung Shin and Harvey Arifovic. An error cost Sunraysia as the Athletics tied it up 9-9.

This brought Luke Hutton up to bat, and he hit a single to score the go-ahead run, much to the cheers and applause from Eastern Athletics supporters!

Cooper Acklom got the start for Eastern Athletics. He allowed two hits and five runs over two innings, striking out five.

Oliver Hayes was on the hill for Sunraysia. He went three and two-thirds innings, allowing two runs on two hits and striking out 13. Liam Roswell and Eamon Breewel entered the game in relief, throwing one inning and one-third of an inning respectively.

Sunraysia collected six hits, with Oliver Hayes leading the way with his amazing 4-for-4 day at the plate. Eastern Athletics totaled ten hits in the game. Minsung Shin and Luke Hutton each had multiple hits for Eastern Athletics, with Minsung having three hits in four at bats.

Grand Final – Diamond 2 1:30pm Twins v Southern Mariners 4 - 14

Sunny Fontana was electric at the plate as the Southern Mariners put their big bats together to win their Grand Final and emerge as the 2019 Little League Development State Champions!

The game was relatively quiet to start, with the Twins failing to convert back-to-back singles in the bottom of the first into any runs. The Mariners struck first in the second, after Fontana doubled and came around to score on an error. Joe Lewis also had a single in the inning.

The Twins had two walks in the bottom of the second, but their runners were left stranded. The top of the third is when the Mariners really pulled away with the lead, racking up five runs on some huge hits from Jake Bertucci and Jarvis Johansen. Hunter Richardson hit a two-run home run, and there were three straight doubles from Fontana, Liam Hough and Jackson Burton.

The Twins tried to make a dent in their deficit in the third inning, when Joshua Bence and Jack Baillargeon had RBI singles and Dylan Brooks drove in a run on a groundout. The score was 6-3 heading into the fourth, when the Mariners tacked on another three runs to pad their lead. Joe Lewis led off with a single, and Parker Schutt had a base hit. After Lewis came home on a wild pitch, Matt Fielden doubled to center.

Jake Bertucci had an RBI single to close out the top of the fourth. The Twins were retired quietly in the bottom frame. In the top of the fifth, Fontana and Jackson Burton singled, but they were left on and the score remained 9-3.

To seal the deal, the Mariners scored five runs in the sixth inning on RBI's from Jarvis Johansen, Hunter Richardson and Joe Lewis. Richardson's home run was met with excited cheers and celebrations from the crowd. Although the Twins brought one more runner home to make the score 14-4, this would remain the final score at the end of six innings.

Jake Bertucci led things off on the pitcher's mound for Southern Mariners. He lasted four innings, allowing four hits and three runs while striking out nine.

Cooper B toed the rubber for Twins. He surrendered six runs on eight hits over two innings, striking out two and walking zero. Evan S and Dylan entered the game from the bullpen, throwing two innings and two-thirds of an inning respectively.

Twins totaled seven hits in the game. Joshua Bence and Cooper Bishop-Worn each collected two hits for Twins.

Southern Mariners saw the ball well today, racking up 20 hits in the game. Sunny Fontana went 4-for-4 and Jackson Burton, Jake Bertucci, Hunter Richardson, Joe Lewis, and Jarvis Johansen each had multiple hits for Southern Mariners. Their team was superb in the field with no errors. Matt Fielden had the most chances in the field with 12.

Little League Minor

Game 7 – Diamond 4 9:15am Eastern Athletics Green v Southern Mariners Blue 1 - 7

On the second day of the LL Minor competition, Eastern Athletics Green was looking for their second win of the tournament, but unfortunately they gave up some runs early and couldn't come back from their deficit. Nevertheless, both teams had a great time out on the diamond and their love for the game was obvious!

The Mariners took a 6-0 lead in the top of the first, and Eastern added one of their own in the bottom frame. In the top of the second inning, Southern Mariners Blue increased their score to seven, and they kept EA Green at bay to protect their lead. By the time the final out was recorded, SM Blue was celebrating a great game!

Game 8 – Diamond 8 9:15am Eastern Athletics Yellow v Southern Mariners White 1 - 7

The final score was the same over on diamond 8, with Southern Mariners White extending their undefeated streak with a three-run first and a four-run second inning. The EA Yellow side gave it their all, but they couldn't string together enough offense to take the lead and win the game. Despite the loss, the EA Yellow team was in high spirits and clearly made the most of their tournament, having lots of fun together!

Game 9 – Diamond 4 10:45am Southern Mariners Blue v Eastern Athletics Yellow 7 - 4

Eastern Athletics Yellow had a strong start to the game, scoring four runs in the top of the first inning, much to the delight of their enthusiastic supporters. The Mariners were not to be quieted though, and they tacked on seven runs in the bottom frame. A scoreless second for both sides saw SM Blue take the win.

Game 10 – Diamond 8 10:45am Southern Mariners White v Eastern Athletics Green 6-5

The Southern Mariners White team was able to hold on to their undefeated streak with a narrow victory over Eastern Athletics Green. EA Green took the lead early by scoring one run in the top of the first, before extended their lead to two runs in the second inning. In response, Southern Mariners White made a brilliant comeback by scoring five runs and taking the lead in the bottom of the second inning. In the top of the third inning, Eastern Athletics Green equalised the score by scoring three runs making it a very close a match. At the end Southern Mariners White won by scoring one run in the bottom of the third inning, a huge cause for celebration as they had five games down and just one to go to remain undefeated for the entire tournament!

Game 11 – Diamond 4 12:30pm Southern Mariners Blue v Southern Mariners White 2 - 3

Both the Southern Mariners teams were 2-0 on Sunday, making this an exciting game between friends and teammates. SM White started off the top of the first inning by scoring three runs and putting themselves in a strong position early on.

In the bottom of the first inning, SM White protecting their lead, holding SM Blue at Bay. It wasn't until the bottom of the second that SM Blue was able to tack on two runs, but they fell just short of a huge comeback as SM White won the tournament with a 6-0 record!

Game 12 – Diamond 8 12:30pm Eastern Athletics Yellow v Eastern Athletics Green 5 - 8

The game between these two Eastern Athletics teams was a close one as both teams wanted to get their first win of the day. EA Green put themselves in a strong position early, scoring five runs in the first and three in the second. EA Yellow answered with five runs of their own in the bottom of the second, but they could not bridge that three-run gap. The friendly teammates showed awesome sportsmanship and congratulated one another on a job well done!

New South Wales will start its Australian Women's Baseball Championships defence with a doubleheader on day one of the 2019 event in Canberra.

NSW will open the event against Western Australia from 9am (local time) on Diamond 1 ahead of a rematch of last year's gold medal game against Victoria Blue on Diamond 2 from noon.

New South Wales secured its fourth Women's crown in five years with a 7-6 victory over Victoria Blue at Geelong Baseball Centre last April.

QUICK LINKS: Open Women's event hub | Youth Women's event hub | Live Scoring (free via Gamechanger)

The champions' roster includes 11 different players to 12 months ago but Emma Cummings, Tiana Lascala and Ellesha Stephenson did feature for New South Wales Country at AWC2018.

Jorja Lyberopoulos, Shai-Lee Reeves and Ebony Van Eynde step up onto the roster after competing at last year's Youth tournament in Geelong.

Victoria Blue has several new faces also but retains Emeralds Shae Lillywhite, Leslie Anglin and Abbey Kelly, while Morgan Doty joins after playing for Western Australia at AWC2018.

Blue will clash with Victoria White in today's other 9am start on Diamond 2.

Queensland and South Australia get their campaign underway on Diamond 1 at midday.

Youth Women's action gets underway on Monday.

Follow all the #AWC2019 action live and free on Gamechanger. Click here for live scoring links!

Youth Women's action gets underway on Monday.

Day 2 of the 2019 Little League State Championships is in the books, and the weather held out at Knox Baseball Club for another fantastic day of junior baseball! There was lots of excitement and enthusiastic applause with 14 action-packed games. Well done to everyone who participated and good luck to all players and teams in tomorrow's finals as we wrap up the tournament on a high note!

Little League All Stars

Game 4 – Diamond 1 10:00am Geelong Baycats v Southern Mariners 0 - 25

Geelong Baycats Takes A Tough Blow From Southern Mariners

Geelong Baycats struggled to get their offense going on Saturday, as they were easily overcome by Southern Mariners for a final score of 25-0 in favour of the Mariners.

The tight-knit team was thrilled to get such a strong shutout win, made possible by a fantastic start from Jarrod Thomas. He went two innings, allowing zero runs on zero hits, striking out two and walking zero.

Riley Peoples was on the mound for Geelong, and he gave up just one run and no hits along with a walk and a strikeout in his one and one-third innings of work. Albie Scott and Marshall McMahon entered the game from the bullpen, throwing one inning and two-thirds of an inning respectively.

While the Baycats were left hitless, the Mariners racked up 16 hits on the day, with Erin Kent leading the way with three including a grand slam at the end of the game. Samuel Walsh also had three hits, while Robert Hodgetts, Jarrod Thomas and Robinson Smith followed with two apiece.

Three errors were costly for the Baycats, while the Mariners relied on clean fielding to protect their lead. This victory helped the Mariners secure a 2-0 start to the tournament!

Game 5 – Diamond 2 10:00am Twins v Eastern Athletics 16 - 7

Eastern Athletics Loses Lead Early In Defeat

Eastern Athletics fell behind early and couldn't come back in a 16-7 loss to Twins on Saturday.Twins scored on a double by Alex Liersch, a walk by Timothy Thiel, a walk by William Hardy, a walk by Devin Leahy, and a single by Hamish Stone in the first inning.

Despite the loss, Eastern Athletics did collect four hits in the high-scoring affair. Unfortunately, Twins had nine hits on the way to victory. Twins opened up scoring in the first inning. Alex Liersch drove in one when he doubled.

Eastern Athletics tallied six runs in the third inning. Eastern Athletics' offense in the inning came from a walk by Charles Chislett, a triple by Will Kent, and a single by Mitchell Smith.

Timothy Thiel led things off on the mound for Twins. He went two innings, allowing zero runs on zero hits, striking out two and walking zero.

Aaron Zhu was on the pitcher's mound for Eastern Athletics. He allowed three hits and nine runs over one and one-third innings, striking out three. Kycen Dowling, Ezra Ferguson, and Aimon Dowling each contributed in relief for Eastern Athletics. Eastern Athletics launched one home run on the day. Mitchell Smith had a long ball in the fifth inning.

Mitchell Smith went 2-for-3 at the plate to lead Eastern Athletics in hits.Twins scattered nine hits in the game. Hamish Stone, Alex Liersch, and Nathan Rumbelow all collected multiple hits for Twins.

Game 6 – Diamond 1 1:00pm Southern Mariners v Eastern Athletics 15 - 3

Southern Mariners Runs Away With Early Lead In Victory

Eastern Athletics fell behind early and couldn't come back in a 15-3 loss to Southern Mariners on Saturday. Southern Mariners scored on a single by Liam Bald, a single by Mitchell Langworthy, a single by Joel Bouker, and a fielder's choice by Parker Austin in the first inning.

The Eastern Athletics struggled to contain the high-powered offense of Southern Mariners, giving up 15 runs. Southern Mariners got things started in the first inning. Liam Bald drove in one when he singled.

Joel Bouker got the start for Southern Mariners. He surrendered one run on one hit over two innings, striking out one and walking zero.

Mitchell Smith was on the mound for Eastern Athletics. He surrendered ten runs on six hits over two innings, striking out three. Ethan Johnston threw two innings in relief out of the bullpen.

Eastern Athletics tallied one home run on the day. Jack Noble went yard in the third inning. Mitchell Smith, Jack Noble, and Charles Chislett each collected one hit to lead Eastern Athletics.

Southern Mariners tallied 11 hits in the game. Zach Dunkley and Mitchell Langworthy all managed multiple hits for Southern Mariners. Southern Mariners didn't commit a single error in the field. Liam Bald had the most chances in the field with six.

Little League Development

Game 6 – Diamond 3 9:15am Southern Mariners v Geelong Baycats 15 - 0

Southern Mariners take the win 15-0 over Geelong Baycats

Matt Fielden from Southern Mariners threw an absolute ripper of a game, starting and finishing the game while allowing only four batters to get on base with no runs scored throughout the game's three innings.

The entire Southern Mariners team had a brilliant game, winning in style with their big bats doing the trick. The Mariners took the lead in the bottom of the second inning with five runs from Matt Fielden, Sunny Fontana, Jarvis Johansen, Hunter Richardson and Parker Schutt.

In the second inning, Jack Northfield starts pitching for Geelong Baycats. Southern Mariners score 5 runs from Matt Fielden, Jarvis Johansen, Liam Hough, Sunny Fontana and Hunter Richardson.

Matt Fielden starts pitching for Southern Mariners in the top of the third inning, letting Huga Turnely from Geelong Baycats walk and striking out 3 batters; Allistaire Lang, Jack Northfield and Tylah Laurie.

In the bottom of the last inning, Southern Mariners scored another 5 runs from Harrison Maddaford, Miller Leech, Sunny F, Joe Lewis and Jake Bertucci. Leading the Southern Mariners to victory with a huge 15-0 win against Geelong Baycats.

Game 7 – Diamond 5 9:15am Sunraysia v Eastern Athletics 13-18

Eastern Athletics Takes Victory In High-Scoring Game Over Sunraysia

There were runs aplenty on Saturday, as Eastern Athletics defeated Sunraysia 18-13. Sunraysia fired up the offense in the first inning, when Sunraysia scored one run on a stolen base.

Eastern Athletics put up five runs in the second inning. Eastern Athletics batters contributing to the big inning included Zane Templeton, Paul S, Minsung Shin, Campbell Dawes, and Noah Prountzos, all driving in runs in the inning. Sunraysia scored five runs in the fourth inning. Sunraysia offense in the inning was led by Matthew W, Diesel Fallon, Darcy Phemister, and Stella Mobbs, all knocking in runs in the inning.

Minsung Shin led things off on the mound for Eastern Athletics. He surrendered one run on one hit over one inning, striking out one.

Darcy Phemister started the game for Sunraysia. He allowed nine hits and 11 runs over two-thirds of an inning, striking out one. Benji Hayes and Matthew W entered the game from the bullpen, throwing one and one-third innings and two-thirds of an inning respectively.

Eastern Athletics hit two home runs on the day. Declan Marshall had a dinger in the fourth inning. Albie Thornton-court went deep in the first inning.

Eastern Athletics collected 16 hits on the day. Harvey Arifovic, Donantony Boulter, Declan Marshall, and Zane Templeton each had multiple hits for Eastern Athletics.

Sunraysia tallied six hits. Benji Hayes, Oliver Hayes, and Lucas Currie all collected multiple hits for Sunraysia.

Sunraysia stole 31 bases during the game as six players stole more than one. Diesel led the way with six.

Game 8 – Diamond 3 12:15pm Twins v Geelong Baycats 18 - 7

Three Pitchers Work Together To Earn Victory For Twins Against Geelong Baycats In No-Hitter

Twins' three pitchers didn't allow a single hit, as Twins defeated Geelong Baycats 18-7 on Saturday. Windsor Breckenridge struck out Allistaire Lang to get the last out of the game. Windsor Breckenridge led Twins to victory by driving in five runs. He went 3-for-4 at the plate. Windsor Breckenridge drove in runs on a single in the second, a double in the third, and a double in the fourth.

In the first inning, Geelong Baycats got their offense started when Jack Baillargeon's wild pitch allowed one run to score for Geelong Baycats.

Twins pulled away for good with five runs in the second inning. In the second Ben Grady singled on a 1-2 count, scoring one run, Windsor Breckenridge singled on a 2-0 count, scoring one run, Sid Grimmer's wild pitch allowed one run to score for Twins, and Marshall Wortley singled on a 0-2 count, scoring two runs.

Twins tallied five runs in the fourth inning. Marshall Wortley and Windsor Breckenridge each had RBIs in the frame.

Jack Baillargeon led things off on the mound for Twins. He surrendered seven runs on zero hits over two-thirds of an inning, striking out two.

Sid Grimmer was on the hill for Geelong Baycats. He surrendered eight runs on eight hits over one and two-thirds innings, striking out three. Twins racked up 14 hits. Windsor Breckenridge , Jack Baillargeon, Ben Grady, and Marshall Wortley all managed multiple hits for Twins. Windsor Breckenridge went 3-for-4 at the plate to lead Twins in hits. Ben Grady led Twins with three stolen bases, as they ran wild on the base paths with 14 stolen bases.

Geelong Baycats tore up the base paths, as two players stole at least two bases. Luke Morrow led the way with three. Geelong Baycats was sure-handed and didn't commit a single error. Tylah Laurie made the most plays with three.

Game 9 – Diamond 5 12:15pm Sunraysia v Southern Mariners 0 - 10

Harrison Maddaford Throws No-Hitter As Southern Mariners Defeats Sunraysia

Harrison Maddaford was brilliant on the hill on Saturday, as he threw a no-hitter to lead Southern Mariners past Sunraysia 10-0.

Southern Mariners got things started in the first inning. Southern Mariners scored one run when Jarvis Johansen doubled. Southern Mariners scored five runs in the third inning. Southern Mariners' big bats in the inning were led by a single by Harrison Maddaford and a home run by Sunny Fontana.

Harrison Maddaford was on the hill for Southern Mariners. He lasted four innings, allowing zero hits and zero runs while striking out seven.

Zane Breewel was on the pitcher's mound for Sunraysia. He lasted one and two-thirds innings, allowing nine hits and ten runs.

Southern Mariners launched one home run on the day. Sunny Fontana had a homer in the third inning. Southern Mariners tallied nine hits. Miller Leech, Sunny Fontana, and Jarvis Johansen all managed multiple hits for Southern Mariners. Jarvis Johansen, Sunny Fontana, and Miller Leech each managed two hits to lead Southern Mariners.

Southern Mariners was sure-handed in the field and didn't commit a single error. Hunter Richardson had the most chances in the field with five.

Game 10 – Diamond 2 2:45pm Eastern Athletics v Twins 5 - 16

Little League Minor

Game 1 – Diamond 4 9:15am Southern Mariners White v Eastern Athletics Yellow 5 - 0

Southern Mariners White take on Eastern Athletics Yellow with a 5-point lead!

The game between Southern Mariners White and Eastern Athletics Yellow have kicked off with a five-point lead in the first inning.

Theodore Rutgers from Southern Mariners White helped the team with a strong pitch in the second inning, striking out Reiley Marshall from Eastern Athletics Yellow.

In a fast game, Southern Mariners White win against Eastern Athletics Yellow 5-0.

Game 2 – Diamond 7 9:15am Southern Mariners Blue v Eastern Athletics Green 0 - 1

Eastern Athletics Green start with a one-point lead over Southern Mariners

A low scoring game found Eastern Athletics Green taking the lead by one run at the end of the first inning.

The quick 40-minute game was short-lasted when Eastern Athletics Green scored the only run of the game. Resulting in a 0-1 lead over Southern Mariners Blue.

Well done to Eastern Athletics Green and good luck in your next game against Southern Mariners White!

Game 3 – Diamond 4 10:45am Eastern Athletics Green v Southern Mariner White 2 - 5

Southern Mariners White win with a Comeback in the Last Inning

A slow-paced game kicked off with neither team scoring in the first inning.

Eastern Athletics Green scored first with a 2-0 head start over Southern Mariners White at the top of the second inning.

The top of the third inning ended the game, with Southern Mariners White making a comeback, scoring 5 runs. Ending the game with a win for Southern Mariners White against Eastern Athletics Green 5-2.

Game 4 – Diamond 7 10:45am Eastern Athletics Yellow v Southern Mariners Blue 2 - 7

Southern Mariners Blue End with a 5 Point Lead Against Eastern Athletics Yellow

Southern Mariners Blue came out swinging, starting the game off with a 5-1 score against Eastern Athletics Yellow at the bottom of the first inning.

The game came to a quick end after the second inning, with Eastern Athletics Yellow scoring one more run and Southern Mariners Blue closing the game with a 7-2 win.

Game 5 – Diamond 4 1:00pm Eastern Athletics Green v Eastern Athletics Yellow 5 - 5

An Even Eastern Athletics Game

Eastern Athletics can sure give themselves a run for their money, with Eastern Athletics Green versing Eastern Athletics Yellow and tying with a score of 5-5.

Eastern Athletics Yellow started the game off strong with a 3-point lead in the top of the first inning.

By the end of the second inning, the game had come to a close, with Eastern Athletics Yellow scoring another 2 runs and Eastern Athletics Green catching up quickly with a total of 5 runs.

In a close match, Eastern Athletics Green and Yellow finish the game off nicely with a tie 5-5 between the two teams.

Game 6 – Diamond 7 1:00pm Southern Mariners White v Southern Mariners Blue 3 - 2

Winning Home Run for Southern Mariners White

A close game comes down to the last home run in the fourth inning. The Southern Mariners, White versus Blue game started off slow, with Southern Mariners Blue kicking off the first score 0-1 at the top of the first inning.

Southern Mariners White caught up and the bottom of the second inning, over taking Southern Mariners Blue and changing the score 2-1.

In a tight game, Southern Mariners Blue evened up the playing field by tying the score 2-2.

The third inning led to a victory for Southern Mariners White as they hit a Walk Off Home Run, with 2 errors from Southern Mariners Blue. Closing the game with a 3-2 win to Southern Mariners White over Southern Mariners Blue.

The 2019 Little League State Championships kicked off with eight action-packed games at Knox Baseball Club. It was a beautiful day for baseball, with the sun shining and warm autumn temperatures setting the scene for a lovely morning and afternoon. Catch up with everything that happened with the results and recaps below.

Little League All Stars

Game 1 – Diamond 1 10:00am Eastern Athletics v Geelong Baycats 11 - 3

Eastern Athletics Jumps Out to Early Lead in Victory Over Geelong Baycats

Eastern Athletics defeated Geelong Baycats 11-3 thanks to a strong start. An RBI single from Will Kent and an RBI double by Aimon Dowling got the Athletics rolling in the first inning.

The Athletics added to their advantage with a four-run second inning, made possible by Zak Stafilis, Will Kent, and Aimon Dowling, who each had RBIs in the big inning. Although the Baycats were able to get two runs in the early innings, it wasn't enough as their pitching and defense struggled. The Mariners sealed the deal with an additional run in the third and three runs in the fifth inning.

Charles Chislett led things off on the hill for Eastern Athletics. He went one and two-thirds innings, allowing two runs on one hit and striking out five.

Jordan Ellis toed the rubber for Geelong, covering one and two-thirds innings, allowing two hits and three runs while striking out two and walking one. Hunter Mann and Lachlan Hodge entered the game in relief, throwing two and a third innings and one inning respectively.

Eastern Athletics racked up nine hits, with Charles Chislett and Will Kent collecting two hits apiece in the game.

Riley Peoples went 2-for-2 at the plate to lead Geelong Baycats in hits.

Game 2 – Diamond 2 10:00am Twins v Southern Mariners 3 - 10

Twins Can't Hold Up Against Southern Mariners

Twins had a tough time generating runs on Friday, dropping their first game against Southern Mariners with a seven-run deficit. The Mariners wasted no time, getting things started in the first inning and scoring on an error.

Nathan Rumbelow doubled on a 3-2 count in the bottom of the first inning to score one run, but it wasn't long before the Mariners pulled away for good with five runs in the second inning. The Mariners scored on an error, and 2-RBI doubles from both Liam Bald and Mitchell Langworthy.

Zach Dunkley led things off on the hill for Southern Mariners. He lasted one and two-thirds innings, allowing one hit and one run while striking out five and walking one.

Alex Liersch led things off on the mound for Twins. He surrendered two runs on one hit over one and two-thirds innings, striking out three and walking one. Devin Leahy, Lachlan Schumann, and Hudson Pallay each contributed in relief for Twins.

Although the Twins put two runs on in the last inning, they weren't able to catch up. The Twins had five hits in the game, with multiple hits for both Rumberlow and Timothy Thiel.

On the Southern Mariners side, Charlie Brookes went 2-for-4 at the plate to lead the team in hits, while Samuel Walsh had six fielding plays and he and his teammates made no errors.

The Mariners will be feeling pretty confident ahead of their matchup against the Baycats to start things off on Saturday morning.

Game 3 – Diamond 1 1:00pm Geelong Baycats v Twins 4 - 26

Geelong Baycats watched the game slip away early and couldn't recover in a big loss to Twins on Friday to round out Day 1 of the 2019 Little League State Championships.
The Twins started their scoring early in the first inning, when Timothy Thiel singled on a 2-2 count to score one run.
Two more runs in the second and a crazy 10-run third inning sealed the deal for the Twins. They kept their offense moving in the fourth when they tacked on 13 extra runs. Lachlan Schumann, William Hardy, Ethan Brownrigg, James McFarlane and Hudson Pallay all drove in runs for the Twins.
Although Geelong notched four runs in the third inning, thanks to an offense led by Marshall McMahon, Riley Peoples and Xavier Dew, it just wasn't enough to make a big enough dent in their deficit.
On the mound, Nathan Rumbelow looked good for the Twins, throwing two innings and giving up no walks, no hits and no runs while striking out five. He also hit two huge home runs for his team!
Albie Scott had Geelong's only hit of the game, a single in the bottom of the third.
The Twins saw the ball well today, racking up 22 hits in the game. Alex Liersch and James McFarlane each had four hits on the day. Another advantage for the Twins was their impressive defense, with no errors and clean fielding all around.

Little League Development

Game 1 – Diamond 3 9:30am Geelong Baycats v Eastern Athletics 8 - 20

Early Lead For Eastern Athletics Seals Fate For Geelong Baycats

The Baycats fell behind early and couldn't come back in a big loss to Eastern Athletics to begin the 2019 Little League State Championships.

The Athletics took the lead on a stolen base in the first inning, scoring two runs, and it was an offensive showcase from there, as they racked up 10 hits to the Baycats' two.

Consistent the whole way through, the Athletics added five runs in each of the game's four innings. Five just may be their lucky number!

The Baycats battled through, putting one run up in the first, two in the second and third and three in the fourth, but they couldn't catch up to the on-fire Athletics. Ruby Benne, Huga Turnely and Jack Northfield all drove in runs for Geelong in their final inning.

Harvey Arifovic had two hits on the day with a single and a double.

Caleb Johnston led things off on the hill for Eastern Athletics, lasting two-thirds of an inning, allowing zero hits and one run while striking out two. Tylah Laurie handled starting pitching duties for Geelong, throwing one-third of an inning with one hit, five runs and two strikeouts.

One key to the Athletics' success was their clean fielding, with no errors and some impressive displays of athleticism.

Game 2 - Diamond 5 9:30am Southern Mariners v Twins 6 - 7

Twins Wrangles Victory from Southern Mariners After Back-And-Forth Game

It was quite the see-saw affair, but the Twins eventually prevailed with a one-run victory.

Both pitching staffs had their hands full, frequently dealing with runners on base as each team had eight hits on the day.

Two runs scored started the game for the Mariners, but the Twins stepped up their game with a three-run first inning thanks to a hard-hit double from Cooper Bishop-Worn.

A quiet second inning led to two runs in the third for the Mariners and one for the Twins. By the bottom of the fourth, the Twins had tied up the game. The back-and-forth wasn't over, as the Mariners pulled ahead with two more runs in the fifth on a big single from Hunter Richardson. In the bottom frame, the Twins followed their lead with a 2-run triple from Ben Grady.

The Twins were thrilled to finally pull away with the victory, particularly on the heels of a solid start from Bishop-Worn who lasted one and two-thirds innings, allowing one hit and two runs with four strikeouts.

Hunter Richardson toed the rubber for the Mariners, covering one and one-third innings, allowing four hits and three runs while striking out four and walking zero. Parker Schutt, Jarvis Johansen and Liam Hough filled in for relief.

Ben Grady went 2-for-3 to lead the Twins, while Jarvis Johansen went 4-for-4 and Hunter Richardson also had an excellent performance for the Southern Mariners.

Game 3 – Diamond 3 12:15pm Eastern Athletics v Southern Mariners 4 - 17

Mariners gain lead early and never let go

Thanks to a five-run first inning, Southern Mariners have defeated Eastern Athletics with a 13-run advantage.

The Mariners jumped on the board with five runs in the first, including a 2-RBI single from Hunter Richardson and a huge double by Sunny Fontana. Jackson Burton followed up with a two-run single, and Miller Leech doubled on a hard ground ball to left field.

In the next inning, the Mariners went on to add three runs on a wild pitch, error and another wild pitch. The third inning saw them rack up 12 runs, thanks in part to a three-run long bomb off the bat of Hunter Richardson. Matt Fielden also brought in four runs with three walks and a single.

The Mariners had 13 hits in total while holding the Athletics to just one.

Jake Bertucci had a strong showing on the mound for the Mariners, striking out seven batters and only allowing one run in his two-and-a-third innings.

Luke Hutton brought in three runs for Eastern Athletics, who will look to regroup and come out stronger in their game against Sunraysia.

Mariners meet Geelong Baycats tomorrow morning.

Mariners gain lead early and never let go

Thanks to a five-run first inning, Southern Mariners have defeated Eastern Athletics with a 13-run advantage.

The Mariners had 13 hits in total while holding the Athletics to just one.

Jake Bertucci had a strong showing on the mound for the Mariners, striking out seven batters and only allowing one run in his two-and-a-third innings.

Luke Hutton brought in three runs for Eastern Athletics, who will look to regroup and come out stronger in their game against Sunraysia.

Mariners meet Geelong Baycats tomorrow morning.

Game 4 – Diamond 5 12:15pm Twins v Sunraysia 19 - 1

Twins get early jump on Sunraysia

Twins have scored a staggering 13 runs in the first inning to dismantle Sunraysia and put the game away for good. They proved impossible to catch up with, working their way to a final score of 19 - 1.

Perhaps the biggest highlight for the Twins was an amazing grand slam by Brody Stokes, as he was greeted with cheers and celebrations from the crowd as he rounded the bases behind his teammates.

Sunraysia will look to improve tomorrow when they meet Eastern Athletics at 9:15AM for game two of the 2019 Little League State Championships. The Twins will try to carry their strength into their afternoon matchup with Geelong Baycats.

Twins get early jump on Sunraysia

Perhaps the biggest highlight for the Twins was an amazing grand slam by Brody Stokes, as he was greeted with cheers and celebrations from the crowd as he rounded the bases behind his teammates.

Game 5 – Diamond 2 2:45pm Geelong Baycats v Sunraysia 9 - 13

Geelong Baycats got off to a good start drawing in the first run of the game, but a strong showing throughout the first two innings from Sunraysia ensured they won 13-9.

Baycats did well to get within what the final margin was after giving up eight runs to their one in the first two innings.

Sunraysia got on the board after an Oliver Hayes triple scored two runners who had been walked by Jack Morrow, even though the first pitches of those at-bats were looking strikes.

Oliver Hayes was the standout for the game, a home run away from the cycle and his three hits allowed five runs to be recorded. He also allowed zero hits in two innings on the mound with no walks and seven strikeouts.

Jack Morrow gave up nine walks in two innings and two hit by pitches which resulted in runs for Sunraysia. In the bottom of the second, Sunraysia batters hit three doubles in a row (from Matthew W, Oliver H and Diesel Fallon) to score five total runs.

Baycats finally appeared to be on a roll in the third inning where they recorded their four hits (of five for the game) and finished the dig with three runs crossing the plate. Again, it was the doubles that brought runs in, with Jack Northfield having a massive hit to boost his team.

Baycats unfortunately gave up the count four times which saw the inning suspended because of the five-run rule.

A perfect game in the field from each side resulted in no errors across the entire two inning game.

Geelong Baycats got off to a good start drawing in the first run of the game, but a strong showing throughout the first two innings from Sunraysia ensured they won 13-9.

Baycats did well to get within what the final margin was after giving up eight runs to their one in the first two innings.

Sunraysia got on the board after an Oliver Hayes triple scored two runners who had been walked by Jack Morrow, even though the first pitches of those at-bats were looking strikes.

Baycats unfortunately gave up the count four times which saw the inning suspended because of the five-run rule.

A perfect game in the field from each side resulted in no errors across the entire two inning game.

Everyone was buzzing with excitement for the final day of the 2019 Senior, Junior and Intermediate League State Championships. The tournament was jam-packed with some amazing performances from all teams, and a special highlight for the Sunraysia Senior League team who have qualified for Nationals for the first time ever!

Congratulations to the three state champions: Twins – Senior League, Southern Mariners – Junior League and Twins – Intermediate League!

Thank you to all players, participants, coaches, officials and volunteers who made these tournaments so successful.

Please check out results and recaps from the finals below.

Senior League

Semi Final 1 – Field 1 9:30AM Eastern Athletics vs. Geelong Baycats 11 – 1

Eastern Athletics Slides into A Blow-Out Win Over Geelong Baycats

4^th Place Eastern Athletics and 5^th Place Geelong Baycats faced off on Monday morning for the first semi final, and the Athletics had everything working for them as they secured a big 11-1 win.

Hayden Peoples of Geelong fired up the offense in the first inning, with an RBI to put the Baycats in front. In the bottom frame, Charlie O’Connell of Eastern Athletics tied things up by scoring one run.

The Athletics added another run in the second on a single from Charlie O'Connell. The third inning was quiet but the Athletics stepped up once again in the fourth, adding a pair of runs on a bases-loaded hit by pitch and wild pitch.

Once the fifth inning rolled around, the Athletics kicked the game into high gear, tallying five runs in the fifth inning. Ryan Othen, Ethan Scalzo, James Richardson and Charlie O’Connel all contributed to the big inning.

Keeley Ronalds-Greatbatch had a fantastic start for Eastern Athletics. He lasted six innings, allowing two hits and one run while striking out 12 and walking one.

James Lappin and Cooper Rickard entered the game for Geelong Baycats, throwing one and two-thirds innings and two-thirds of an inning respectively.

Semi Final 2 – Field 2 9:30AM Southern Mariners vs. Sunraysia 8 – 9

Sunraysia Secures Trip to National Championships!

Southern Mariners stayed in it until the end, but Sunraysia pulled away late in a 9-8 victory on Monday, securing them a spot to compete at the Senior League National Championship for the first time in history!

The game was tied at six with Sunraysia batting in the top of the sixth when Cody Morrish singled on the first pitch of the at bat, scoring two runs.

Southern Mariners collected nine hits and Sunraysia had eight in the high-scoring affair. The Mariners fired up the offense in the first inning. Tahj Rousell singled on a 1-2 count, scoring one run.

After adding two in the fourth on an error, the Mariners tallied three more runs in the fifth inning. Sam Skinner, Tahj Rousell, and Balin O’Callaghan each had RBIs in the big inning.

Down 3-0, Sunraysia staged a spectacular comeback, scoring six runs in the fifth inning. Jackson Malycha, Cody Morrish, Francesco Zaccone, and Lindsay Barbary all drove in runs in the huge inning.

The Mariners tied it up in the bottom of the fifth, and Sunraysia answered with two runs in the sixth and an additional in the seventh. They closed out the game in the bottom of the seventh, and although the Mariners added two more runs, they weren't able to close the gap.

Sunraysia supporters were anxiously anticipating the final out, and when it became clear the team would be finishing in second place, they were met with huge celebrations and applause. It's a monumental achievement for Sunraysia, and one they are so thrilled with.

Raiden Wakefield was on the mound for Sunraysia. He lasted six and two-thirds innings, allowing eight hits and eight runs while striking out five and walking one.

Third Place – Field 1 12:30 PM Eastern Athletics vs. Southern Mariners 6 – 5

Eastern Athletics Grabs Lead In Sixth Inning For Victory Over Southern Mariners

Eastern Athletics took the lead late in the game in a 6-5 victory over Southern Mariners in Monday's third place matchup. They were trailing 5-4 in the bottom of the sixth inning when an error scored two runs for the Athletics.

In the first inning, Southern Mariners got their offense started with an RBI triple from Sam Skinner.

In the bottom of the fifth inning, Eastern Athletics tied things up at four when Jack Romanin was hit by a pitch, driving in a run.

Cody Caufield got the start for Eastern Athletics. He allowed seven hits and five runs over five innings, striking out seven and walking one.

Joshua Smith was on the mound for Southern Mariners. He lasted three and a third innings, allowing zero hits and two runs while striking out three. Xander Gunn and Jacob Dickinson entered the game as relief, throwing two and a third innings and one-third of an inning respectively.

Cody Caufield went 1-for-2 at the plate to lead Eastern Athletics in hits.

Grand Final – Field 1 3:30PM Twins vs. Sunraysia 13 – 1

Four RBI Day for Kody Dertell Brings Victory for Twins Over Sunraysia

Kody Dertell was an RBI machine in Monday's Grand Final, driving in four on two hits to lead the Twins past Sunraysia 13-1. He had a double in the first and a single in the second as the Twins leapt out to an early led that Sunraysia couldn't come back from.

Twins opened up scoring in the first inning, when Keenan Spence smashed an inside-the-park-home-run on a 2-2 count to score two runners. By the end of the inning, the Twins were enjoying an early 4-0 lead. After quick and quiet plate appearances from Sunraysia, the Twins added five runs in the second inning. Trenell Hutchins, Nathan Smith, Bailey Marcola and Dertell all moved runners across the plate with RBIs in the inning.

Three more runs in the third and one in the fourth did the damage, as the Twins were nearly unstoppable.

Starting pitcher Harun Pelja was dominant for the Twins, allowing four hits and one run over five innings, striking out five and walking one.

Sunraysia's starter Jack Barrot struggled in his one inning, allowing four runs on three hits with one strikeout. Lindsay Barbary and Zac Stainer entered the game from the bullpen, throwing two and a third innings and two-thirds of an inning respectively.

Twins tallied ten hits. Spence led the way, going 3-for-3, while Marcola had two of the team's eight stolen bases. The Twins were sure-handed and didn't commit a single error, with Jaycob Pascuzzi having the most plays with six.

The Twins were thrilled to secure back-to-back Senior League State Championships, while Sunraysia endured the loss knowing they were heading through to the National Championships as well! Congratulations to both on their amazing achievements.

JUNIOR LEAGUE

Semi Final 1 – Field 4 9:30AM Southern Mariners vs. Geelong Baycats 11 – 0

It was a battle of first against fourth and Southern Mariners proved again why they are ones to beat at this competition as they ran away with a shutout 11-0 win over Geelong Baycats.

A batting masterclass in the second inning ensured Mariners would prevail, eight runs crossing the plate in that dig.

Baycats through five innings couldn’t get past second base after single hits to Rickard in the first and fourth innings. Unfortunately for Baycats, it was their only two hits of the game.

Lachlan Stevens led the way for Mariners, driving in four runs with a grand slam in the bottom of the second.

Baycats were great from the mound where Noah Brennan struck eight Athletics players out and saw 13 first pitches as strikes. Tom Brookes also pitched well in his four complete innings, finishing with six strikeouts with nine first-pitch strikes.

Twins needed to conjure a win in the matchup with Eastern Athletics this morning, but a commanding string of at bats by Athletics and a collection of errors by Twins allowed the away side to move out to a 13-3 win.

Twins got a good taste of possible runs at the top of the third after a dropped third strike and series of walks. With two outs and bases loaded, it appeared Twins would struggle for a score, however Declan Spiers singled to centre which brought in Poynter.

Spiers, in 2.1 innings, found four strikeouts and 10 first-pitch strikes, restricted Athletics from running away anymore.

Ned Hargreaves was the best for Athletics, batting 1.000 and tallying six RBIs. He also finished the game with four hits - where no one else in either side went more than one hit – and four runs after a home run that scored James Squire.

Third Place – Field 4 12:30PM Geelong Baycats vs. Twins 11 – 13

Twins late brilliance leads to victory over Baycats

Twins have secured third place in Junior League with a late-innings victory over Geelong Baycats.

With scores tied at four a piece, a six run sixth inning led Twins to an eventual 13-11 victory.

Mace Pool and Harrison Green-Williams each scored two runs as Twins hit 14 on base. Twins shared the pitching duties around, using four pitchers. Alex Duske led the way on the mound with five strikeouts and the solitary earned run.

Noah Brennan went long for Geelong, hitting the only home of the game and bringing in three runs. Baycats used only two pitchers and struck out seven batters between them.

Grand Final – Field 4 3:00PM Southern Mariners vs. Eastern Athletics 6 – 5

Southern Mariners have gone back-to-back in Junior League State Championships titles, beating Eastern Athletics 6-5 in a game that went into the seventh inning.

A two-run home run from Thomas Brookes and a solo home run to Tyler Ellis was enough for Mariners.

Athletics too found the other side of the fence courtesy of James Squire, who also scored Jack Ratcliffe.

Ratcliffe scored on a Blake Mitchell line drive to right field and was the tying run in the seventh when Evans was up to bat. Unfortunately for Athletics, Evans was popped out to second and it was all over when Mitchell was out advancing to second.

Eastern Athletics were forced to make a pitching change during the bottom of three when Ned Hargreaves injuring his knee after throwing down a pitch. It brought Mitchell onto the mound.

On the opposite end, Mariners pitcher Genevieve Beacom was exceptional on the mound, pitching four innings in total including a game-high nine strikeouts.

Athletics were masterful in their fielding, restricting Mariners from scoring much more when they produced double plays in the bottom fourth and sixth innings.

INTERMEDIATE LEAGUE