LISMORE, NSW – The first day of the Bendigo Bank Australian Little League Championships saw balls fly over fences in the northern rivers sunshine, as 20 teams from across the country flocked to Far North Coast Baseball Association’s fields. Pool play began with a series of double-digit wins for strong sides, while sportsmanship and an undying love of the game also shined through. Here’s a rundown of all the action from Day 1 games, along with information about Day 2.
Swan Hills 16, Adelaide West 0
Visiting team Swan Hills scored seven runs in the second innings and added nine more in the top of the fifth to shut out Adelaide West 16-0. Daniel Carter, Maddux Stivey, and Jordan Norvall all homered for the Aces en route to victory.
Perth Metro East 47, Northern Territory 1
Depeche Oven hit a grand slam as Perth Metro East beat Northern Territory 47-1. Timmy Zimmerman also chipped in a hit for the Terrotorians, who got on the board in the final frame.
Cronulla 31, Gold Coast 1
Cronulla rode a 12-run third innings to a 31-1 win over Gold Coast. Keanu Cowley smashed a grand slam for Cronulla while Ian Lee struck out three batters on the mound for Gold Coast.
Southern Mariners 5, Manly 2
Southern Mariners held Manly to two runs in one of the closest contests of the day. Cameron Zimmerman hit a two-run home run and Josh Ashen made a great diving catch to help the Mariners seal the win.
Adelaide North 12, Brisbane North 0
Adelaide North scored eight times in the third inning to beat Brisbane North 12-0. Cooper Peacock smashed a solo home run for Adelaide North in the game.
Perth Metro East 5, Central Coast 0
Perth Metro East scored five runs in the middle two frames to shut out Central Coast 5-0.
Hills 16, Perth Metro North 7
Hills put runs on the board in each inning to beat reigning champion Perth Metro North 16-7. Clayton Campbell doubled and homered while Liam McCallum did double duty by pitching and going 4-for-4 at the plate.
Manly 9, West Coast 4
Manly jumped ahead to an early 6-3 lead after twin innings to cruise past West Coast. Michael Amir homered while Nathan Guerrero and Zac Newbold each tripled as Manly’s offence flexed its muscles, while Riley Walsh went deep for West Coast.
Central Coast 15, Northern Territory 0
Central Coast scored ten runs in the bottom of the second innings to shut out Northern Territory 15-0.
Ryde South 8, Northern Diamondbacks 3
Ryde South jumped to an early 4-1 lead after the first frame and scored in alternating innings to win 8-3 over Northern Diamondbacks.
Ryde North 11, Canberra 1
Ewan Ney hit a three-run home run in the bottom of the first innings to lead Ryde North to an 11-1 win over Canberra.
Gold Coast 6, West Coast 1
Gold Coast got on the board early with a pair of runs in the first innings to eventually win 6-1 over West Coast. Ian Lee homered and drove in two runs in the win.
Hills 18, Yarra Rangers 1
Hills scored early and often to defeat Yarra Rangers, with six runs crossing the plate in the first and fourth innings and three runs going on the board in the middle two frames. Dylan Martin hit a three-run blast for Hills and went 4-for-4, while Alessandro Ranieri also smashed a solo shot in the game.
Perth Metro Central 17, Northern Diamondbacks 6
The game was a close one-run contest until the fifth innings, when Perth Metro Central busted out for 10 runs in the top of the frame to defeat Northern Diamondbacks in the final game of the day.
For box scores click here.
Tomorrow’s schedule can be found here.
The seven-day event, hosted at the Albert Park Baseball Facility, commences on Wednesday 3 June with an Opening Ceremony celebration, entertainment and fireworks, followed by six days of tournament play beginning Thursday 4 June.
This year three Victorian teams will be competing for the once in a lifetime opportunity to go on and represent Australia at the Little League World Series in Williamsport, US in August, which is broadcast globally on ESPN to over 45 million people.
The Southern Mariners, Northern Diamondbacks and Yarra Rangers have all won the right to compete in this exciting and important event. Please join us in wishing them luck as they start the competition this coming Wednesday.
View all the Bendigo Bank Australian Little League Championships information at
LITTLELEAGUE.org.au or on social media @BaseballAustralia
Live Stream of the Opening Ceremony from 6:00pm at ABLTV.com
2015 is an exciting time for junior baseball participation. The growth of the sport in Australia has expanded international opportunities for junior pathways, extending the international experience to three lucky teams.
Baseball Australia will be attending the WBSC U12 World Cup (U12 WC), Cal Ripken World Series (CRWS) and the renowned Little League World Series (LLWS). This will see over 40 players within this age group experience an international tournament, an opportunity no other sport can offer in this country.
U12 World Cup will be held from 24 July to 2 August 2015, in Tainan, Chinese Taipei. The team will be selected in conjunction with State Associations and an announcement made the week following the conclusion of the Australian Little League Championships (ALLC) on 9 June. The estimated cost will be $2000-$3000 per participant.
Following the ALLC an Association or Region that isn’t the ALLC champion, will earn the opportunity to accept an invitation to participate in the Cal Ripken World Series. The CRWS will be held from 24 July to 3 August 2015, in Aberdeen, Maryland, US. The estimated cost will be $3000 - $4000 per participant; a significant reduction from previous years.
FAQs
1. Can I attend the LLWS as well as the U12 WC or the CRWS?
No, players can only attend one of these events.
2. Do I have to attend the CRWS if selected, or my Association/Region accepts the invitation?
No, participation is not mandatory. If Association/Regions do not accept, the invitation will be passed on to another eligible Association/Region.
3. Roster Size
U12 World Cup
18 players and 4 Staff
Head Coach: Brian Murphy
Assistant Coach: Dean Marnell
Assistant Coach: Matthew Williams
EO: Robbie Moden
Cal Ripken World Series
15 players (max) and 4 staff (max)
Associations/Regions will appoint coaches; with State Association support to assemble coaching staff.
BA will have final approval of all rosters.
4. How is U12 WC Selected?
Participant performance at the 2015 ALLC will be evaluated in the selection process for eligible players. For players that are not in attendance, consultation with the State Association will be used to aid the selection process. Selection of the team will be announced the week following the ALLC.
5. Can I choose to go to the CRWS instead of the U12 WC?
Yes, you can choose which one to attend if you qualify for both.
Further information and announcements will be released by Baseball Australia in line with the tournament timeframes above, at BASEBALL.com.au
2015 is an exciting time for junior baseball participation. The growth of the sport in Australia has expanded international opportunities for junior pathways, extending the international experience to three lucky teams.
Baseball Australia will be attending the WBSC U12 World Cup (U12 WC), Cal Ripken World Series (CRWS) and the renowned Little League World Series (LLWS). This will see over 40 players within this age group experience an international tournament, an opportunity no other sport can offer in this country.
U12 World Cup will be held from 24 July to 2 August 2015, in Tainan, Chinese Taipei. The team will be selected in conjunction with State Associations and an announcement made the week following the conclusion of the Australian Little League Championships (ALLC) on 9 June. The estimated cost will be $2000-$3000 per participant.
Following the ALLC an Association or Region that isn’t the ALLC champion, will earn the opportunity to accept an invitation to participate in the Cal Ripken World Series. The CRWS will be held from 24 July to 3 August 2015, in Aberdeen, Maryland, US. The estimated cost will be $3000 - $4000 per participant; a significant reduction from previous years.
FAQs
1. Can I attend the LLWS as well as the U12 WC or the CRWS?
No, players can only attend one of these events.
2. Do I have to attend the CRWS if selected, or my Association/Region accepts the invitation?
No, participation is not mandatory. If Association/Regions do not accept, the invitation will be passed on to another eligible Association/Region.
3. Roster Size
U12 World Cup
18 players and 4 Staff
Head Coach: Brian Murphy
Assistant Coach: Dean Marnell
Assistant Coach: Matthew Williams
EO: Robbie Moden
Cal Ripken World Series
15 players (max) and 4 staff (max)
Associations/Regions will appoint coaches; with State Association support to assemble coaching staff.
BA will have final approval of all rosters.
4. How is U12 WC Selected?
Participant performance at the 2015 ALLC will be evaluated in the selection process for eligible players. For players that are not in attendance, consultation with the State Association will be used to aid the selection process. Selection of the team will be announced the week following the ALLC.
5. Can I choose to go to the CRWS instead of the U12 WC?
Yes, you can choose which one to attend if you qualify for both.
Further information and announcements will be released by Baseball Australia in line with the tournament timeframes above, at BASEBALL.com.au
AUSTRALIANS IN THE MAJORS
Week in Review
Grant Balfour (Glenwood, NSW): Balfour remains in Triple-A with the Durham Bulls as he continues his quest back to the Majors. He continues to excel in relief with Durham, posting a 2.25 ERA in seven games, and striking out 11 batters in eight innings pitched. Balfour’s complete stats with the Bulls can be found here.
Liam Hendriks (Carine, WA): Aside from a recent rough outing on 16 May against the Houston Astros, Hendriks maintains solid numbers across the board, with a 3.26 ERA and 0.83 WHIP in 19.1 innings pitched. He’s also held opposing batters to a .179 batting average, and has walked just four batters all season. The Blue Jays (18-24, .429) fell to last place in the AL East, and have lost eight of their last ten games.
15 May – Liam tossed a 1-2-3 eighth inning as the Blue Jays fell to the Astros 8-4.
16 May – The Astros handed Liam his first blown save of the season, scoring two runs off of him on two hits. Still, Liam struck out three batters in his two innings of work.
19 May – Though the Blue Jays lost a close 3-2 game to the Angels, the team’s bullpen put up a perfect showing, with Liam and Roberto Osuna tossing 1.2 combined shutout innings in relief of starter Aaron Sanchez.
20 May – Liam pitched in another strong inning for Toronto, surrendering one hit and striking out one in the top of the ninth inning.
*Statistics for players are being compiled. Pitchers can be found here and batters here.
AUSTRALIAN BASEBALL LEAGUE ALUMNI IN MLB
Didi Gregorius (Canberra Cavalry 2010/11): Though the New York Yankees have lost three games in a row, Gregorius picked up some speed at the plate recently, tallying a pair of hits on 20 May against the Washington Nationals. The Yankees have lost seven of their last ten games and sit tied with the Tampa Bay Rays for the top spot in the AL East. Watch: Gregorius explains the origins of his nickname
Kevin Kiermaier (Canberra Cavalry 2011/12): Kiermaier is hitting .240 with three home runs and 11 RBIs in 38 games for the Tampa Bay Rays. He posted a multi-hit game against the Minnesota Twins on 17 May, scoring two runs and driving in one. The Rays (22-19, .537) moved into a first-place tie with the Yankees in the AL East. Watch: Kiermaier talks about the Rays’ 11-3 win on 17 May
Brandon Maurer (Adelaide Bite 2010/11): Maurer continues to show the San Diego Padres they made the right choice in moving him from starter to reliever. The 24-year-old is 1-0 with a 2.25 ERA in 18 games, and still hasn’t allowed a run in the month of May. The Padres (20-21, .488) dropped to third place in the NL West, five games behind the first-place Los Angeles Dodgers.
Tyler Collins (Sydney Blue Sox 2011/12): The Detroit Tigers recalled Collins from Triple-A Toledo on 19 May to take the place of the injured Victor Martinez. He started at DH that day against the Milwaukee Brewers, going 1-for-3 with a single and a walk. Collins was back in the lineup in the same spot the next night, producing a similar 1-for-3 result and adding a run scored. The Tigers (24-17, .585) are in second place in the AL Central, 2.5 games out of first.
Brandon Barnes (Sydney Blue Sox 2011/12): Barnes returned to MLB in 20 May, when the Colorado Rockies called him up from Triple-A Albuquerque to serve as an auxiliary bat off the bench. He pinch hit in the bottom of the seventh inning, lining out to centre field in his first 2015 MLB at bat. The Rockies (14-23, .378) have lost three of their last ten games and sit in the cellar of the NL West, nine games out of first place.
UPCOMING TV SCHEDULE – MLB ON (All times AEST)
|
Sat 23 May |
8:30 am |
MLB’s Best |
ESPN 2 |
|
Sat 23 May |
9:00 am |
ESPN’s Friday Night Baseball |
ESPN 2 |
|
Sat 23 May |
2:00 pm |
Baseball Tonight |
ESPN 2 |
|
Sat 23 May |
5:00 pm |
ESPN’s Friday Night Baseball |
ESPN 2 |
|
Sat 23 May |
6:00 pm |
Baseball Tonight |
ESPN |
|
Sat 23 May |
9:00 pm |
ESPN’s Friday Night Baseball |
ESPN |
|
Sun 24 May |
1:30 am |
Baseball Tonight |
ESPN 2 |
|
Sun 24 May |
12:00 pm |
Baseball Tonight |
ESPN 2 |
|
Sun 24 May |
2:00 pm |
Baseball Tonight |
ESPN 2 |
|
Mon 25 May |
9:00 am |
Baseball Tonight: Sunday Night Countdown |
ESPN 2 |
|
Mon 25 May |
10:00 am |
ESPN’s Sunday Night Baseball |
ESPN 2 |
|
Mon 25May |
6:00 pm |
ESPN’s Sunday Night Baseball |
ESPN 2 |
|
Tue 26 May |
6:00 am |
Detroit Tigers vs Oakland Athletics |
|
|
Tue 26 May |
12:00 pm |
Baseball Tonight |
ESPN 2 |
|
Tue 26 May |
2:00 pm |
Baseball Tonight |
ESPN 2 |
|
Wed 27 May |
9:00 am |
ESPN’s Monday Night Baseball |
ESPN 2 |
|
Wed 27 May |
12:00 pm |
ESPN’s Wednesday Night Baseball |
ESPN 2 |
|
Wed 27 May |
3:00 pm |
Baseball Tonight |
ESPN 2 |
|
Wed 27 May |
6:00 pm |
Baseball Tonight |
ESPN |
|
Wed 27 May |
6:00 pm |
ESPN’s Monday Night Baseball |
ESPN 2 |
|
Wed 27 May |
9:00 pm |
ESPN’s Wednesday Night Baseball |
ESPN |
|
Thu 28 May |
9:30 am |
Baseball Tonight |
ESPN 2 |
|
Thu 28 May |
11:30 am |
Baseball Tonight |
ESPN 2 |
|
Thu 28 May |
6:00 pm |
Baseball Tonight |
ESPN |
MINOR LEAGUE ROUNDUP
• TRIPLE A: Victorian and former Melbourne Ace James Beresford recently concluded a 13-game hitting streak for the Rochester Red Wings. He’s hitting .319 in 25 games this season…
• DOUBLE A: Warwick Saupold (Perth Heat) tossed five shutout innings in his most recent start against Reading, surrendering just four hits, but had to settle for a no-decision… After starting the season in Triple-A, Matt Kennelly (Perth Heat) was demoted to Double-A… Tim Atherton (Canberra Cavalry) earned his second Double-A loss of the season, lasting just 2.2 innings against the Frisco RoughRiders on 19 May.
• HIGH A: Samuel Holland (Brisbane Bandits) still hasn’t allowed a run in May for the Lake Elsinore Storm... Todd Van Steensel (Sydney Blue Sox) has 36 strikeouts in 24 innings pitched for the Fort Myers Miracle… Daniel McGrath (Melbourne Aces) was placed on the 7-day disabled list on 17 May.
• LOW A: Zac Shepherd (Sydney Blue Sox) went 4-for-5 on 19 May for the West Michigan Whitecaps, raising his season batting average to .278… Victorian Sam Street picked up his second win of the season in relief for the West Virginia Power, tossing three innings on 16 May… Robbie Perkins (Canberra Cavalry) is hitting .205 in 44 at bats for the Asheville Tourists.
• EXTENDED SPRING TRAINING: After signing a minor league deal with the Miami Marlins, Travis Blackley (Melbourne Aces) remains in Extended Spring Training, awaiting a minor league assignment… Opening Day for both the Short-Season A and Rookie levels is approaching, in June.
COLLEGIATE NEWS: CHAMPIONSHIPS CONTINUE
• NSW natives Andrew Riddell and Tim Wakefield helped Dodge City Coummunity College (Kansas) win the program’s first National Junior College Athletic Association Region VI championship, with a dominant 7-1 win over Cowley County Community College. Read more about the Conqs’ win here, and check out a piece on Wakefield and Riddell here.
• Sydneysider and infielder Max Brennen and West Texas A&M University saw their season come to a close with a loss to St. Mary’s University in the NCAA South Central Regional in Colorado. Brennen went 2-for-3 in the loss, and finished the season hitting .307 with five doubles and 16 RBIs in 42 games. Read the full game story here.
GRASSROOTS NEWS
• Baseball Australia announced the teams competing in the Bendigo Bank Australian Little League Championships, held in Lismore NSW 4-9 June. Find out which teams qualified here. The winner of the championship will represent Australia at the Little League World Series in Williamsport, Pennsylvania at the end of August.
AT A GLANCE
• Even though the Toronto Blue Jays bullpen has been overworked lately, Liam Hendriks has settled into his new role well. Read about it at the National Post.
• After struggling earlier in the season, NSW’s Zac Shepherd is enjoying a strong May in the Detroit Tigers system. Read more about Shepherd here.
NSW native and former Boston Red Sox farmhand Mitch Dening is reportedly close to signing a contract with Nippon Professional Baseball’s Tokyo Yakult Swallows. More information can be found here.
To subscribe to receive The Pitch direct to your inbox, click here.
AUSTRALIANS IN THE MAJORS
Week in Review
Grant Balfour (Glenwood, NSW): Balfour remains in Triple-A with the Durham Bulls as he continues his quest back to the Majors. He continues to excel in relief with Durham, posting a 2.25 ERA in seven games, and striking out 11 batters in eight innings pitched. Balfour’s complete stats with the Bulls can be found here.
Liam Hendriks (Carine, WA): Aside from a recent rough outing on 16 May against the Houston Astros, Hendriks maintains solid numbers across the board, with a 3.26 ERA and 0.83 WHIP in 19.1 innings pitched. He’s also held opposing batters to a .179 batting average, and has walked just four batters all season. The Blue Jays (18-24, .429) fell to last place in the AL East, and have lost eight of their last ten games.
15 May – Liam tossed a 1-2-3 eighth inning as the Blue Jays fell to the Astros 8-4.
16 May – The Astros handed Liam his first blown save of the season, scoring two runs off of him on two hits. Still, Liam struck out three batters in his two innings of work.
19 May – Though the Blue Jays lost a close 3-2 game to the Angels, the team’s bullpen put up a perfect showing, with Liam and Roberto Osuna tossing 1.2 combined shutout innings in relief of starter Aaron Sanchez.
20 May – Liam pitched in another strong inning for Toronto, surrendering one hit and striking out one in the top of the ninth inning.
*Statistics for players are being compiled. Pitchers can be found here and batters here.
AUSTRALIAN BASEBALL LEAGUE ALUMNI IN MLB
Didi Gregorius (Canberra Cavalry 2010/11): Though the New York Yankees have lost three games in a row, Gregorius picked up some speed at the plate recently, tallying a pair of hits on 20 May against the Washington Nationals. The Yankees have lost seven of their last ten games and sit tied with the Tampa Bay Rays for the top spot in the AL East. Watch: Gregorius explains the origins of his nickname
Kevin Kiermaier (Canberra Cavalry 2011/12): Kiermaier is hitting .240 with three home runs and 11 RBIs in 38 games for the Tampa Bay Rays. He posted a multi-hit game against the Minnesota Twins on 17 May, scoring two runs and driving in one. The Rays (22-19, .537) moved into a first-place tie with the Yankees in the AL East. Watch: Kiermaier talks about the Rays’ 11-3 win on 17 May
Brandon Maurer (Adelaide Bite 2010/11): Maurer continues to show the San Diego Padres they made the right choice in moving him from starter to reliever. The 24-year-old is 1-0 with a 2.25 ERA in 18 games, and still hasn’t allowed a run in the month of May. The Padres (20-21, .488) dropped to third place in the NL West, five games behind the first-place Los Angeles Dodgers.
Tyler Collins (Sydney Blue Sox 2011/12): The Detroit Tigers recalled Collins from Triple-A Toledo on 19 May to take the place of the injured Victor Martinez. He started at DH that day against the Milwaukee Brewers, going 1-for-3 with a single and a walk. Collins was back in the lineup in the same spot the next night, producing a similar 1-for-3 result and adding a run scored. The Tigers (24-17, .585) are in second place in the AL Central, 2.5 games out of first.
Brandon Barnes (Sydney Blue Sox 2011/12): Barnes returned to MLB in 20 May, when the Colorado Rockies called him up from Triple-A Albuquerque to serve as an auxiliary bat off the bench. He pinch hit in the bottom of the seventh inning, lining out to centre field in his first 2015 MLB at bat. The Rockies (14-23, .378) have lost three of their last ten games and sit in the cellar of the NL West, nine games out of first place.
UPCOMING TV SCHEDULE – MLB ON (All times AEST)
Sat 23 May
8:30 am
MLB’s Best
ESPN 2
Sat 23 May
9:00 am
ESPN’s Friday Night Baseball
ESPN 2
Sat 23 May
2:00 pm
Baseball Tonight
ESPN 2
Sat 23 May
5:00 pm
ESPN’s Friday Night Baseball
ESPN 2
Sat 23 May
6:00 pm
Baseball Tonight
ESPN
Sat 23 May
9:00 pm
ESPN’s Friday Night Baseball
ESPN
Sun 24 May
1:30 am
Baseball Tonight
ESPN 2
Sun 24 May
12:00 pm
Baseball Tonight
ESPN 2
Sun 24 May
2:00 pm
Baseball Tonight
ESPN 2
Mon 25 May
9:00 am
Baseball Tonight: Sunday Night Countdown
ESPN 2
Mon 25 May
10:00 am
ESPN’s Sunday Night Baseball
ESPN 2
Mon 25May
6:00 pm
ESPN’s Sunday Night Baseball
ESPN 2
Tue 26 May
6:00 am
Detroit Tigers vs Oakland Athletics
Tue 26 May
12:00 pm
Baseball Tonight
ESPN 2
Tue 26 May
2:00 pm
Baseball Tonight
ESPN 2
Wed 27 May
9:00 am
ESPN’s Monday Night Baseball
ESPN 2
Wed 27 May
12:00 pm
ESPN’s Wednesday Night Baseball
ESPN 2
Wed 27 May
3:00 pm
Baseball Tonight
ESPN 2
Wed 27 May
6:00 pm
Baseball Tonight
ESPN
Wed 27 May
6:00 pm
ESPN’s Monday Night Baseball
ESPN 2
Wed 27 May
9:00 pm
ESPN’s Wednesday Night Baseball
ESPN
Thu 28 May
9:30 am
Baseball Tonight
ESPN 2
Thu 28 May
11:30 am
Baseball Tonight
ESPN 2
Thu 28 May
6:00 pm
Baseball Tonight
ESPN
MINOR LEAGUE ROUNDUP
• TRIPLE A: Victorian and former Melbourne Ace James Beresford recently concluded a 13-game hitting streak for the Rochester Red Wings. He’s hitting .319 in 25 games this season…
• DOUBLE A: Warwick Saupold (Perth Heat) tossed five shutout innings in his most recent start against Reading, surrendering just four hits, but had to settle for a no-decision… After starting the season in Triple-A, Matt Kennelly (Perth Heat) was demoted to Double-A… Tim Atherton (Canberra Cavalry) earned his second Double-A loss of the season, lasting just 2.2 innings against the Frisco RoughRiders on 19 May.
• HIGH A: Samuel Holland (Brisbane Bandits) still hasn’t allowed a run in May for the Lake Elsinore Storm... Todd Van Steensel (Sydney Blue Sox) has 36 strikeouts in 24 innings pitched for the Fort Myers Miracle… Daniel McGrath (Melbourne Aces) was placed on the 7-day disabled list on 17 May.
• LOW A: Zac Shepherd (Sydney Blue Sox) went 4-for-5 on 19 May for the West Michigan Whitecaps, raising his season batting average to .278… Victorian Sam Street picked up his second win of the season in relief for the West Virginia Power, tossing three innings on 16 May… Robbie Perkins (Canberra Cavalry) is hitting .205 in 44 at bats for the Asheville Tourists.
• EXTENDED SPRING TRAINING: After signing a minor league deal with the Miami Marlins, Travis Blackley (Melbourne Aces) remains in Extended Spring Training, awaiting a minor league assignment… Opening Day for both the Short-Season A and Rookie levels is approaching, in June.
COLLEGIATE NEWS: CHAMPIONSHIPS CONTINUE
• NSW natives Andrew Riddell and Tim Wakefield helped Dodge City Coummunity College (Kansas) win the program’s first National Junior College Athletic Association Region VI championship, with a dominant 7-1 win over Cowley County Community College. Read more about the Conqs’ win here, and check out a piece on Wakefield and Riddell here.
• Sydneysider and infielder Max Brennen and West Texas A&M University saw their season come to a close with a loss to St. Mary’s University in the NCAA South Central Regional in Colorado. Brennen went 2-for-3 in the loss, and finished the season hitting .307 with five doubles and 16 RBIs in 42 games. Read the full game story here.
GRASSROOTS NEWS
• Baseball Australia announced the teams competing in the Bendigo Bank Australian Little League Championships, held in Lismore NSW 4-9 June. Find out which teams qualified here. The winner of the championship will represent Australia at the Little League World Series in Williamsport, Pennsylvania at the end of August.
AT A GLANCE
• Even though the Toronto Blue Jays bullpen has been overworked lately, Liam Hendriks has settled into his new role well. Read about it at the National Post.
• After struggling earlier in the season, NSW’s Zac Shepherd is enjoying a strong May in the Detroit Tigers system. Read more about Shepherd here.
NSW native and former Boston Red Sox farmhand Mitch Dening is reportedly close to signing a contract with Nippon Professional Baseball’s Tokyo Yakult Swallows. More information can be found here.
To subscribe to receive The Pitch direct to your inbox, click here.