Like every baseball game, Jennie Moloney’s remarkable journey began with a first pitch.
The year was 1976 and Jennie had decided to take up scoring for the Williamstown Baseball Club.
Turns out she was a hit. And she has been scoring Wolves baseball ever since.
But she was too talented to stay just on the club level. Soon the Australian National League—forerunner to the today’s Australian Baseball League—came calling and she kept the book (both at home and on the road) for the Melbourne Monarchs from 1992 to 1996.
In 1996 she rose to Level 2 accreditation for the Victorian Baseball Association Scorers and attained Level 3 the next year. The Claxton Shield National Tournament had her as a scorer in 1999. And with the Summer Olympics on the horizon, she started on her path to world-wide renown, gaining International Baseball Federation accreditation in 2000, just in time to score games for the IBAF Intercontinental Cup and, of course, the Sydney Olympics.
After scoring at the IBAF World Cup in Taiwan in 2001, Jennie embarked on her biggest year yet. In 2002, she achievedCouncil of Australian Baseball Scorers (CABS) Level 5 scoring accreditation and began her stint as the Scoring Director for Baseball Victoria, which she held for five years. She also was the official scorer for the Under 18 National Championships and the Claxton Shield, while somehow also finding the time to score the International Women’s Championships.
Seventeen years after that first pitch, Williamstown bestowed upon her the highest honour: Life Membership.
Not one to rest on her laurels, she then worked as the official scorer for the Under 18 AAA National Championships from 2003-06.
More official scorer duties were well-earned: Chibe Lotte Marines v. Australia series (2006); Claxton Shield (2007, 2009, and 2010); Under 16 AA National Championships (2009 and 2010); Australia v. Chinese Taipei (2009); and the Under 18 AAA National Championship (2010).
Closer to home, Jennie has been an official scorer for the Melbourne Aces from 2010 and has scored each ABL All-Star Game from 2012 to 2015.
But it’s on the international stage where she’s truly hit a grand slam.
After first participating in a qualifying tournament in Taiwan, she followed up her Olympics in Sydney by getting invited back again eight years later to Beijing. Four years after her second Olympic Games, she scored at the Under 18 AAA World Championships in Korea in 2012; at the University Games in Gwungju (Korea) in 2015; and she just finished scoring the Gold Medal game at the IBAF Premier 12 tournament in Tokyo.
If all that wasn’t enough, she was also named joint scorer for the Williamstown Baseball Club’s ‘Team of the Century’ in 2008 and honoured as the 2013 Australian Baseball Federation’s Official of the Year in 2013.
Thirty-nine years and counting, Jennie shows no signs of slowing down. She is one of the most highly credentialed scorers in Australian history. And Victorian baseball is lucky to have her.
For those interested in getting involved in a fantastic pastime, scorers are always needed through Victoria. Please contact Michele Winther for more information.
Four positions remain on the Under 16 girls baseball team representing Victoria. Please see the attached PDF for more information.
Like every baseball game, Jennie Moloney’s remarkable journey began with a first pitch.
The year was 1976 and Jennie had decided to take up scoring for the Williamstown Baseball Club.
Turns out she was a hit. And she has been scoring Wolves baseball ever since.
But she was too talented to stay just on the club level. Soon the Australian National League—forerunner to the today’s Australian Baseball League—came calling and she kept the book (both at home and on the road) for the Melbourne Monarchs from 1992 to 1996.
In 1996 she rose to Level 2 accreditation for the Victorian Baseball Association Scorers and attained Level 3 the next year. The Claxton Shield National Tournament had her as a scorer in 1999. And with the Summer Olympics on the horizon, she started on her path to world-wide renown, gaining International Baseball Federation accreditation in 2000, just in time to score games for the IBAF Intercontinental Cup and, of course, the Sydney Olympics.
After scoring at the IBAF World Cup in Taiwan in 2001, Jennie embarked on her biggest year yet. In 2002, she achievedCouncil of Australian Baseball Scorers (CABS) Level 5 scoring accreditation and began her stint as the Scoring Director for Baseball Victoria, which she held for five years. She also was the official scorer for the Under 18 National Championships and the Claxton Shield, while somehow also finding the time to score the International Women’s Championships.
Seventeen years after that first pitch, Williamstown bestowed upon her the highest honour: Life Membership.
Not one to rest on her laurels, she then worked as the official scorer for the Under 18 AAA National Championships from 2003-06.
More official scorer duties were well-earned: Chibe Lotte Marines v. Australia series (2006); Claxton Shield (2007, 2009, and 2010); Under 16 AA National Championships (2009 and 2010); Australia v. Chinese Taipei (2009); and the Under 18 AAA National Championship (2010).
Closer to home, Jennie has been an official scorer for the Melbourne Aces from 2010 and has scored each ABL All-Star Game from 2012 to 2015.
But it’s on the international stage where she’s truly hit a grand slam.
After first participating in a qualifying tournament in Taiwan, she followed up her Olympics in Sydney by getting invited back again eight years later to Beijing. Four years after her second Olympic Games, she scored at the Under 18 AAA World Championships in Korea in 2012; at the University Games in Gwungju (Korea) in 2015; and she just finished scoring the Gold Medal game at the IBAF Premier 12 tournament in Tokyo.
If all that wasn’t enough, she was also named joint scorer for the Williamstown Baseball Club’s ‘Team of the Century’ in 2008 and honoured as the 2013 Australian Baseball Federation’s Official of the Year in 2013.
Thirty-nine years and counting, Jennie shows no signs of slowing down. She is one of the most highly credentialed scorers in Australian history. And Victorian baseball is lucky to have her.
For those interested in getting involved in a fantastic pastime, scorers are always needed through Victoria. Please contact Michele Winther for more information.
The Little League Charter & Junior League Charter Academy made its debut on Saturday, 7 November, with four games featuring Under 14s taking the field. Last week it was the Under 12s turn. Now the 14s are back playing, with these contests held at Blackburn (A’s v. D’Backs) and Moorabbin (Baycats and Mariners).
Eastern Athletics (Gold) 9, Northern Diamondbacks (Blue) 6
Hitting, not pitching, ruled the day at Billabong Reserve in Blackburn. Both teams scored early and often as the hurlers were no match for superior batting. The D’Backs began the barnburner with three runs in the top of the first. Undaunted, the A’s answered right back, plating three of their own to tie the game after one.
Northern then scored two in the second and one in the third to go up 6-3. But the A’s were relentless, striking back for two in the their half of the third before holding their opponent scoreless in the fourth and tallying four times in the bottom half to win the game 9-6.
Jason Kane started for the A’s, throwing 47 pitches, before giving way to Koetsu Sakamoto who threw 28. Across the diamond, Yoshiki Sutherland began the game and Harun Pelta finished it off for the Northern Diamondbacks Blue squad.
Eastern Athletics (Green) 10, Northern Diamondbacks (Red) 5
Resilience and fortitude featured prominently in the A’s victory on Saturday morning. They scored three times in the first but then lost the lead two innings later by surrendering five runs. Undaunted, they immediately struck back, plating five of their own in the bottom of the third before adding two more for good measure in the fourth to secure an impressive 10-5 win.
Finn O’Connor, Riley Light, and Mitchell Homfrey managed all the pitching for the A’s while Harvey Hadlow and Cody Dertell threw for the D’Backs.
At the plate Zach Kallis went 1 for 2 with a double, a run scored and two RBI and teammate Adam Tsardakis also contributed a two bagger. Jonah Hope added a hit and run scored to the Diamondbacks totals.
The A’s eight hits included four doubles, including catcher Damon Hill who went 2 for 2 with three runs scored, three batted in and two stolen bases.
Stellar defense was also on display for Eastern in the fourth when they turned a rare 1-3-5 double play.
Geelong Baycats 11, Southern Mariners (A) 1
Five run innings are normally a prelude to success. So they were again in the second week of games for the elite Under 14s in Victoria. The Baycats—playing away against the Mariners in Moorabbin—busted open a scoreless game by scoring five times in both the second and fourth to easily defeat Southern, 10-1. Buoyed by pitchers Kobe Greenhalgh and Connor Hickey, the Baycats pounded out 12 hits and reached base four times via the walk.
Hickey, who also starred at shortstop, contributed at the plate with two knocks. Jarryd Wood and Eugene Gay also had two hits.
For the Mariners, Dante Caruso pitched well, striking out two in his only inning of work. He also had one of Southern’s three hits.
Josh Smith, Max McLauchlin, and Riley Soutar also took the mound for the Mariners.
Eastern Athletics (Gold) 7, Northern Diamondbacks (Red) 3
A great day for the A’s and tough one for the D’Backs came to a head in this tilt, won by Eastern, 7-3.
Similar to previous iterations, the A’s scored first, tallying thrice in the first and two in the second to take a 5-1 lead into the third. Following up their run from the previous inning, the D’Backs scored twice to halve the deficit to 5-3.
It didn’t matter. The Gold team added insurance markers in both the fourth and fifth frames to provide the winning margin.
Reese Longstaff and Zack Busch ably handled the pitching duties for the A’s, with the former starting and throwing the first two innings and the latter tossing the last three, two of which were scoreless.
Eastern Athletics (Green) 6, Northern Diamondbacks (Blue) 3
Following up their impressive win earlier in the day, the Eastern Athletics (Green) squad scored early and often (five runs in the first two innings) to cruise to a sweep of the two Diamondback teams.
Leading the way was Nick Cleland who pitched three scoreless innings while also contributing a hit, run scored, and RBI in his only plate appearance. Will Richardson and Damon Hill also pitched well for the A’s.
Hill also starred at the plate, going 2 for 3 with a two-run home run, ground rule double and three RBI out of the three-hole. Finn O’Connor, Charlie Collins, and Cleland joined Hill as their doubles hitters. In total the A’s finished with eight hits.
Across the diamond, Nick Pascuzzi, Keenan Spence, and Aaron Robson took the hill for the Diamondbacks. Spence connected for a two-bagger and James Billing paced Northern with two hits and a run scored.
Two stellar defensive plays—a perfectly executed 1-3-4-1 run down in the fifth by the D’Backs and a 2-5 caught stealing by the A’s in the third—were among the game’s highlights.
Geelong Baycats 5, Southern Mariners (B) 4
Two clubs won all six meetings of the Under 14s this weekend: the Eastern Athletics and Geelong Baycats. That feat was accomplished when the Baycats eked past the Mariners, 4-3, in Moorabbin.
The Mariners got off to the start they wanted, leading 4-1 after two. But Geelong stormed back and scored three in the third and one in the fourth to complete the weekend sweep.
Nick Hau (53 pitches) got the win for the Baycats and Jarryd Wood (28) finished off the game. Eugene Gay called an excellent game behind the plate.
For the Mariners, it was Jed Woodger (five strikeouts), Mitchell Shane, and Josh Ashen on the hill with Malcolm Elliott catching.
Woodger and Elliot also homered for the Mariners. Ditto for the A’s Angus McNee.
Here is how the comp stands after two rounds: https://sportsdesq.imgstg.com/portal/index.cfm?fuseaction=competition&competitionID=10392&OrgID=16724&clubOrganisationId=0##ladder.
Next week it’s the Under 12s turn to again take the field! Check back here for a full report of all six games.
Eastern Athletics (Gold) 9, Northern Diamondbacks (Blue) 6
Hitting, not pitching, ruled the day at Billabong Reserve in Blackburn. Both teams scored early and often as the hurlers were no match for superior batting. The D’Backs began the barnburner with three runs in the top of the first. Undaunted, the A’s answered right back, plating three of their own to tie the game after one.
Northern then scored two in the second and one in the third to go up 6-3. But the A’s were relentless, striking back for two in the their half of the third before holding their opponent scoreless in the fourth and tallying four times in the bottom half to win the game 9-6.
Jason Kane started for the A’s, throwing 47 pitches, before giving way to Koetsu Sakamoto who threw 28. Across the diamond, Yoshiki Sutherland began the game and Harun Pelta finished it off for the Northern Diamondbacks Blue squad.
Eastern Athletics (Green) 10, Northern Diamondbacks (Red) 5
Resilience and fortitude featured prominently in the A’s victory on Saturday morning. They scored three times in the first but then lost the lead two innings later by surrendering five runs. Undaunted, they immediately struck back, plating five of their own in the bottom of the third before adding two more for good measure in the fourth to secure an impressive 10-5 win.
Finn O’Connor, Riley Light, and Mitchell Homfrey managed all the pitching for the A’s while Harvey Hadlow and Cody Dertell threw for the D’Backs.
At the plate Zach Kallis went 1 for 2 with a double, a run scored and two RBI and teammate Adam Tsardakis also contributed a two bagger. Jonah Hope added a hit and run scored to the Diamondbacks totals.
The A’s eight hits included four doubles, including catcher Damon Hill who went 2 for 2 with three runs scored, three batted in and two stolen bases.
Stellar defense was also on display for Eastern in the fourth when they turned a rare 1-3-5 double play.
Geelong Baycats 11, Southern Mariners (A) 1
Five run innings are normally a prelude to success. So they were again in the second week of games for the elite Under 14s in Victoria. The Baycats—playing away against the Mariners in Moorabbin—busted open a scoreless game by scoring five times in both the second and fourth to easily defeat Southern, 10-1. Buoyed by pitchers Kobe Greenhalgh and Connor Hickey, the Baycats pounded out 12 hits and reached base four times via the walk.
Hickey, who also starred at shortstop, contributed at the plate with two knocks. Jarryd Wood and Eugene Gay also had two hits.
For the Mariners, Dante Caruso pitched well, striking out two in his only inning of work. He also had one of Southern’s three hits.
Josh Smith, Max McLauchlin, and Riley Soutar also took the mound for the Mariners.
Eastern Athletics (Gold) 7, Northern Diamondbacks (Red) 3
A great day for the A’s and tough one for the D’Backs came to a head in this tilt, won by Eastern, 7-3.
Similar to previous iterations, the A’s scored first, tallying thrice in the first and two in the second to take a 5-1 lead into the third. Following up their run from the previous inning, the D’Backs scored twice to halve the deficit to 5-3.
It didn’t matter. The Gold team added insurance markers in both the fourth and fifth frames to provide the winning margin.
Reese Longstaff and Zack Busch ably handled the pitching duties for the A’s, with the former starting and throwing the first two innings and the latter tossing the last three, two of which were scoreless.
Eastern Athletics (Green) 6, Northern Diamondbacks (Blue) 3
Following up their impressive win earlier in the day, the Eastern Athletics (Green) squad scored early and often (five runs in the first two innings) to cruise to a sweep of the two Diamondback teams.
Leading the way was Nick Cleland who pitched three scoreless innings while also contributing a hit, run scored, and RBI in his only plate appearance. Will Richardson and Damon Hill also pitched well for the A’s.
Hill also starred at the plate, going 2 for 3 with a two-run home run, ground rule double and three RBI out of the three-hole. Finn O’Connor, Charlie Collins, and Cleland joined Hill as their doubles hitters. In total the A’s finished with eight hits.
Across the diamond, Nick Pascuzzi, Keenan Spence, and Aaron Robson took the hill for the Diamondbacks. Spence connected for a two-bagger and James Billing paced Northern with two hits and a run scored.
Two stellar defensive plays—a perfectly executed 1-3-4-1 run down in the fifth by the D’Backs and a 2-5 caught stealing by the A’s in the third—were among the game’s highlights.
Geelong Baycats 5, Southern Mariners (B) 4
Two clubs won all six meetings of the Under 14s this weekend: the Eastern Athletics and Geelong Baycats. That feat was accomplished when the Baycats eked past the Mariners, 4-3, in Moorabbin.
The Mariners got off to the start they wanted, leading 4-1 after two. But Geelong stormed back and scored three in the third and one in the fourth to complete the weekend sweep.
Nick Hau (53 pitches) got the win for the Baycats and Jarryd Wood (28) finished off the game. Eugene Gay called an excellent game behind the plate.
For the Mariners, it was Jed Woodger (five strikeouts), Mitchell Shane, and Josh Ashen on the hill with Malcolm Elliott catching.
Woodger and Elliot also homered for the Mariners. Ditto for the A’s Angus McNee.
Here is how the comp stands after two rounds: https://sportsdesq.imgstg.com/portal/index.cfm?fuseaction=competition&competitionID=10392&OrgID=16724&clubOrganisationId=0##ladder.
Next week it’s the Under 12s turn to again take the field! Check back here for a full report of all six games.
Baseball Australia is calling on the baseball community, for final nominations for the 2016 Diamond Awards. If you know someone who deserves to be recognised for what they contribute to the game, make sure you let us know, nominations close 7 January 2016.
Community nomination is open for the following categories:
- Volunteer of the Year
- Club of the Year
- Club Coach of the Year
Nominations can be submitted online by clicking on each award link above where you will also find full nomination criteria.
We encourage you to nominate those most deserving in your community, no contribution is too small. Your club can nominate more than once for each category, simply fill out a separate online form for each entry.
BA will seek State/Territory endorsement for shortlisted nominations. Nominations close Thursday 7 January 2016, and Finalists or Winner (depending on award format) will be announced in 2016.
View previous Diamond Award Winners and Hall of Fame Honour Roll HERE
The Essendon Baseball Club has beaten 41 other shortlisted sporting clubs to be awarded Australia's best club honours in the Inside Sport magazine Clubbie Awards for 2015.
The inaugural Inside Sport magazine and the Confederation of Australian Sport (CAS) Clubbie Awards were announced at the Ultimate Sport Expo at Melbourne Showground, Saturday 21 November. The Essendon Baseball Club was awarded Australia’s Best Club, winning the grand prize, a Hyundai iMax, valued at $40,000.
Inside Sport and CAS asked Australians: “What is it about your sports club that makes you so proud to wear their colours? What makes your mob special? Is yours the best sporting club in Australia?
Editor of Inside Sport, Graeme Sims, said the judges decision was tough.
“From hundreds of entries the judges’ decision on Australia’s Sports Club of the Year was tough – but we feel we have arrived at a very worthy winner. Essendon Baseball Club has been active for more than a century. They currently have 430 players and members, ranging from ages 5 to 80. Their record of playing success at all levels of the game is phenomenal.”
This award tops an amazing few years for Essendon Baseball Club. Awarded Baseball Australia’s Club of the Year 2015, recognised in the top five sporting clubs in Victoria, four premierships in a row and awarded six out of the past seven Baseball Victoria Club Championship Award Winners.
President of Essendon Baseball Club, Tony Cornish, said he could not be prouder.
“This recognition is a true reflection of all the hard work the Committee, coaches, players, WAGS, families and members have put into the club over the past 10 years. I am an extremely proud president at the moment and would like to thank all those that have contributed”.
Doncaster 27, Malvern 2
Two games on the weekend and neither of them were close. Host Doncaster started the trend by walloping Malvern, 27-2. With the resounding victory, the Dragons improve their record to 3-4. The loss (by whatever margin) drop the Braves to 2-6 so far this season.
Springvale 18, Footscray 2
After a half an inning the score read:
Footscray 2
Springvale 0
That Bulldog lead would go down as a footnote as the Lions roared back to plate four in the first, eight in the second, two more in the third and four in the fourth to round out the scoring.
Now 6-1 on the season, Springvale remains a half a game ahead of idle Essendon atop the ladder. Footscray is tied with Malvern with identical 2-6 marks.
Essendon had a bye this weekend.
Two games on the weekend and neither of them were close. Host Doncaster started the trend by walloping Malvern, 27-2. With the resounding victory, the Dragons improve their record to 3-4. The loss (by whatever margin) drop the Braves to 2-6 so far this season.
Springvale 18, Footscray 2
After a half an inning the score read:
Footscray 2
Springvale 0
That Bulldog lead would go down as a footnote as the Lions roared back to plate four in the first, eight in the second, two more in the third and four in the fourth to round out the scoring.
Now 6-1 on the season, Springvale remains a half a game ahead of idle Essendon atop the ladder. Footscray is tied with Malvern with identical 2-6 marks.
Essendon had a bye this weekend.
Chelsea 13, Footscray 3
The Dolphins stayed hot, scoring runs in six of the seven innings to handily win a mercy-rule shortened game, 13-3. The visiting Bulldogs tallied twice in the third and once in the fourth but it was no match for Chelsea’s hitting. The Dolphins plated two runs in the first, five in the second, three in the third and then added single markers in the fourth, fifth, and seventh to provide the winning margin.
With the victory Chelsea evens it’s record at 4-4 and now sits in third place alone, a half-game ahead of Research. Footscray drops to 3-5.
Mulgrave 13, Research 2
The mercy rule again came in to play with the unbeaten Rebels 13-2 victory over the visiting Roadrunners. Mulgrave plated two runs in the first, another two in the second, three in the third, went scoreless in the fourth, and tallied once in the fifth before erupting for five more in the bottom of the sixth. Stuart Phillips started for the Rebels, allowing both runs in the fifth inning, before giving way to Nash Moon in the seventh. Mulgrave outhit Research 12-7.
Original report supplied by Lincoln Ladds of the Mulgrave Baseball Club
Pakenham 11, Ormond Glenhuntly 1
The host Pumas prevailed again thanks to excellent pitching and timely hitting. Down 1-0 in the second, they scored twice in the bottom half of the inning before plating five in the third. Two runs in the fifth and single markers in the seventh and eighth provided the winning margin.
With the first trip through the competition complete, Pakenham heads to St Kilda on Sunday to renew acquaintances with the Saints. First pitch is scheduled for 3.30 p.m. at Tom O’Halloran Field.
St Kilda was idle this weekend.
The Dolphins stayed hot, scoring runs in six of the seven innings to handily win a mercy-rule shortened game, 13-3. The visiting Bulldogs tallied twice in the third and once in the fourth but it was no match for Chelsea’s hitting. The Dolphins plated two runs in the first, five in the second, three in the third and then added single markers in the fourth, fifth, and seventh to provide the winning margin.
With the victory Chelsea evens it’s record at 4-4 and now sits in third place alone, a half-game ahead of Research. Footscray drops to 3-5.
Mulgrave 13, Research 2
The mercy rule again came in to play with the unbeaten Rebels 13-2 victory over the visiting Roadrunners. Mulgrave plated two runs in the first, another two in the second, three in the third, went scoreless in the fourth, and tallied once in the fifth before erupting for five more in the bottom of the sixth. Stuart Phillips started for the Rebels, allowing both runs in the fifth inning, before giving way to Nash Moon in the seventh. Mulgrave outhit Research 12-7.
Original report supplied by Lincoln Ladds of the Mulgrave Baseball Club
Pakenham 11, Ormond Glenhuntly 1
The host Pumas prevailed again thanks to excellent pitching and timely hitting. Down 1-0 in the second, they scored twice in the bottom half of the inning before plating five in the third. Two runs in the fifth and single markers in the seventh and eighth provided the winning margin.
With the first trip through the competition complete, Pakenham heads to St Kilda on Sunday to renew acquaintances with the Saints. First pitch is scheduled for 3.30 p.m. at Tom O’Halloran Field.
St Kilda was idle this weekend.
Werribee 5, Ballarat 3
The Giants continued to assert their dominance with a 5-3 win over the Brewers on Saturday. With the victory, Werribee is tied atop the ladder with Moorabbin, each with an identical 9-2 record. The loss dropped Ballarat to 3-8 on the season and ninth place in the comp.
Upwey Ferntree Gully 5, Bonbeach 1
Reversing the result of their late October clash (in which the host Bluejays bested the Tigers, 11-4), Upwey rode the dominant pitching of Jarrod Turner to prevail at home, 5-1. Turner was masterful, hurling a complete game while only allowing six hits, a walk, a hit batter and striking out 11. It helped that he pitched with a lead throughout, buoyed by single runs in the first and third frames. Bonbeach halved the lead in top of the eighth but the Tigers response—three runs in the bottom half then a 1-2-3 top of the ninth—was impressive and resolute.
Nicholas Rice and Jayden Christie-Dossetter both had two hits for the Tigers while Dylan Archer, Evan Phillips, and Jordan Elliot contributed one hit each to the cause.
Across the diamond, Dayle Selleck pitched very well for Bluejays, allowing only two runs (both unearned) on five hits in six innings. He didn’t walk a batter and struck out one. His reliever, Jon Bannister, also held his own. He threw two innings, giving up two hits, two walks, while striking out three.
Selleck and Bannister also contributed a hit apiece.
Original reports supplied by Matty Prior (Bonbeach Baseball Club) and Greg Rice (Upwey Ferntree Gully Baseball Club)
Moorabbin 11, Fitzroy 1
Looking to hold on to a share of first place, the Panthers tallied three runs in the first, one in the second, before adding two in the fifth and five more in the eighth to coast to an 11-1 win. The victory, their ninth in 11 games, keeps them tied atop the ladder with Werribee.
With the loss, Fitzroy drops to 7-4 on the season.
Port Melbourne 6, Berwick City 0
Import Will Musson is worth every penny. Or so the Mariners must think after he shut down the Cougars in a dominating complete game shutout.
Port Melbourne scored their six runs in just two innings: the third (two) and the seventh (four). They outhit Berwick City, 8-3, and was led by Nick Hoy with three hits, Musson with two, and one knock each to Tyson Niddrie, Andy Krause, and Kevin Ung.
The Cougars were led by Ryan Shane, John O’Connor and Sam Beasley at the plate and Mark Surtees (five innings) and O’Connor on the mound.
Original report supplied by Mark Gibbens
Williamstown 15, Malvern 11
Last Sunday the Wolves scored 21 runs; a week later they only managed 15. It was enough to win, though, as they edged the host Braves, 15-11.
This was a wild game from start to finish.
Malvern jumped out early with three in the first, only to see Williamstown come right back and tie it in the second. They traded runs in the third and the Wolves pulled ahead in the fourth, 5-4. In the bottom of the sixth the Braves reclaimed the lead, 6-5, only to see Williamstown plate five in the seventh to lead 10-6.
The Braves narrowed the deficit to 10-8 in the eighth before allowing five runs to score in the top of the ninth. They had three more men cross the plate in their last at-bat but on this day it was simply not enough.
With the win Williamstown moves to 6-5 (and a tie for fourth rung on the ladder) while Malvern falls to 4-7 (tied for seventh).
The Giants continued to assert their dominance with a 5-3 win over the Brewers on Saturday. With the victory, Werribee is tied atop the ladder with Moorabbin, each with an identical 9-2 record. The loss dropped Ballarat to 3-8 on the season and ninth place in the comp.
Upwey Ferntree Gully 5, Bonbeach 1
Reversing the result of their late October clash (in which the host Bluejays bested the Tigers, 11-4), Upwey rode the dominant pitching of Jarrod Turner to prevail at home, 5-1. Turner was masterful, hurling a complete game while only allowing six hits, a walk, a hit batter and striking out 11. It helped that he pitched with a lead throughout, buoyed by single runs in the first and third frames. Bonbeach halved the lead in top of the eighth but the Tigers response—three runs in the bottom half then a 1-2-3 top of the ninth—was impressive and resolute.
Nicholas Rice and Jayden Christie-Dossetter both had two hits for the Tigers while Dylan Archer, Evan Phillips, and Jordan Elliot contributed one hit each to the cause.
Across the diamond, Dayle Selleck pitched very well for Bluejays, allowing only two runs (both unearned) on five hits in six innings. He didn’t walk a batter and struck out one. His reliever, Jon Bannister, also held his own. He threw two innings, giving up two hits, two walks, while striking out three.
Selleck and Bannister also contributed a hit apiece.
Original reports supplied by Matty Prior (Bonbeach Baseball Club) and Greg Rice (Upwey Ferntree Gully Baseball Club)
Moorabbin 11, Fitzroy 1
Looking to hold on to a share of first place, the Panthers tallied three runs in the first, one in the second, before adding two in the fifth and five more in the eighth to coast to an 11-1 win. The victory, their ninth in 11 games, keeps them tied atop the ladder with Werribee.
With the loss, Fitzroy drops to 7-4 on the season.
Port Melbourne 6, Berwick City 0
Import Will Musson is worth every penny. Or so the Mariners must think after he shut down the Cougars in a dominating complete game shutout.
Port Melbourne scored their six runs in just two innings: the third (two) and the seventh (four). They outhit Berwick City, 8-3, and was led by Nick Hoy with three hits, Musson with two, and one knock each to Tyson Niddrie, Andy Krause, and Kevin Ung.
The Cougars were led by Ryan Shane, John O’Connor and Sam Beasley at the plate and Mark Surtees (five innings) and O’Connor on the mound.
Original report supplied by Mark Gibbens
Williamstown 15, Malvern 11
Last Sunday the Wolves scored 21 runs; a week later they only managed 15. It was enough to win, though, as they edged the host Braves, 15-11.
This was a wild game from start to finish.
Malvern jumped out early with three in the first, only to see Williamstown come right back and tie it in the second. They traded runs in the third and the Wolves pulled ahead in the fourth, 5-4. In the bottom of the sixth the Braves reclaimed the lead, 6-5, only to see Williamstown plate five in the seventh to lead 10-6.
The Braves narrowed the deficit to 10-8 in the eighth before allowing five runs to score in the top of the ninth. They had three more men cross the plate in their last at-bat but on this day it was simply not enough.
With the win Williamstown moves to 6-5 (and a tie for fourth rung on the ladder) while Malvern falls to 4-7 (tied for seventh).