Two champions were crowned on the final day of action from the 2019 Australian Youth Championship presented by Beastwear. Check out the final daily recap from Blacktown!
U18 GOLD MEDAL GAME: Victoria Blue 14-2 New South Wales | BOX SCORE
Victoria Blue claimed their first Australian Championship in 15 years, as they defeated New South Wales 14-2 on Diamond 1.
Blake Townsend set the platform for Victoria Blue early, as the Mariners farmhand tossed five stellar innings.
Townsend, who was named the 2019 Golden Arm, only allowed three hits and allowed two unearned runs in his third quality start of the championship.
The seventh inning proved the difference, as Victoria Blue made the most of their opportunities. Both NSW and Vic Blue had two runners on base with no outs, but NSW failed to capitalise. Vic Blue on the other hand plated four and put the game beyond reach.
Relief pitcher Lachlan Hockey was immense for Victoria Blue, and was overjoyed after the game.
"The coaches just told me to pound strikes and let the defence work behind me," Hockey said.
"I've been playing with these guys together for the past few years, we're all really good mates and I couldn't be prouder."
Conor Myles capped off his MVP tournament with two hits and three RBI for Victoria Blue, while catcher Chris Burke picked up two hits of his own.
Aidan Torpey kept NSW in the ballgame through the middle innings, as the reliever only allowed one hit and striking out three.
Victoria Blue jumped on NSW starting pitcher Luke Krkovski early and kept the pressure on throughout, claiming their first U18 championship since the 2004 Australian Championship in Geelong.
U16 GOLD MEDAL GAME: New South Wales 10-3 Victoria Blue | BOX SCORE
New South Wales capped off an undefeated tournament with a hard-fought 10-3 win over Victoria Blue to claim the U16 Australian Championship.
After a perfect tournament in 2018, NSW again went undefeated, but not before coming back from three runs down.
After trailing by three runs in the early stages, NSW’s offence jumped on Vic Blue’s pitching through the middle innings, plating 10 unanswered runs to end the ballgame.
James Lynch worked well through the first two frames, but NSW’s offence clicked into gear in the fourth, as the defending champions scored three crucial runs.
NSW starter Jaxon Forbes gave up three early runs, but maintained his composure.
“I just wanted to bounce back and take it inning-by-inning,” Forbes said.
“This is the best team I’ve ever been a part of, I knew the guys could back me up offensively.”
Forbes was relieved by Solomon Maguire, who tossed three scoreless innings under pressure.
Maguire was also a threat with bat in hand, going 2-for-3 with a double and driving in three runs.
Charlie Collins set the tone early for Victoria Blue, nailing a triple off the first pitch of the ballgame, but NSW stormed home to claim their 21st consecutive win in the U16 age group.
U16 BRONZE MEDAL GAME: Western Australia 8-0 Victoria White | BOX SCORE
Western Australia scored early and never looked back, claiming the U16 bronze medal against Victoria White.
Max Chipper capped off a stellar tournament for WA with a pair of hits and an RBI, while first baseman Tye Kazmierowski picked up two RBI.
Dustin Brown struck out three in his 2 1/3 innings and was followed up perfectly by BJ Cooke.
Cooke only needed 47 pitches to get through four sparkling innings of relief, allowing one hit.
Leadoff hitter Travis Finney went 2-for-3 for Vic White, while Nick Bertucci and Jimin Lee claimed singles.
WA claimed seven wins from their 11 games, while Vic White managed four wins sealing a fourth place finish.
U18 BRONZE MEDAL GAME: Western Australia 12-5 South Australia | BOX SCORE
Cayden Nicoletto concluded his fine tournament with a stellar performance, sealing the bronze medal for WA.
Nicoletto was a double shy of the cycle, as he went 4-for-5 with a triple, a homer and four RBI.
Nicoletto has fired all week for WA, after spending time on the Perth Heat roster earlier in the ABL season.
WA scored early and often, as they plated runs in each of the first five innings.
Lachlan Waite settled after giving up an early run, going 6 1/3 innings, striking out three and allowing four runs.
Carter Powell and Jacob Scott claimed two hits apiece for SA, while Seiichiro Suzuki drove in two of SA’s five runs.
SA claimed three wins at the 2019 Australian Youth Championship, while WA recorded seven.
U16 SEVENTH PLACE PLAYOFF: New South Wales Country 12-11 South Australia | BOX SCORE
New South Wales Country scored the last four runs of the ballgame to eclipse South Australia and claim seventh place in the U16s.
Luke Jacobs doubled to right field with one out, scoring Brandon Tangaroa and sealing a seventh place finish.
Jacobs and Harrison Dobb were crucial at the top of Country’s lineup, each claiming three hits.
Mathew Clements produced one of the offensive performances of the tournament, going 4-for-4 with a double and six RBI.
SA hit well as a team, with Liam Westdijk and Tom Paparella each claiming two RBI.
Country came back from five runs down early, as they claim seventh place in the U16s.
U16 FIFTH PLACE PLAYOFF: Queensland 9-6 Australian Capital Territory | BOX SCORE
Queensland scored five in the first and never looked back, claiming fifth spot in the U16s with a three run win over the ACT.
Luke Smith was outstanding for Queensland, going 4-for-4 with three stolen bases. Smith scored three times as Queensland picked up their third win in the last three days.
Cain McClelland went 3-for-3 and continued his strong tournament, while starting pitcher Joel Hogan allowed three runs in 4 2/3 innings.
Lochlainn Varian finished his strong tournament with a double and a triple, while reliever Zak Elvy tossed 3 1/3 strong innings of relief.
U18 5TH PLACE PLAYOFF: Queensland 14-4 New South Wales Country | BOX SCORE
Queensland exploded early and never looked back, topping NSW Country in their final game of the championship.
In the blink of an eye, Queensland plated five in the first as Liam MacDonald, Angelo Natale, Seth McClelland and Jaiden Holly all claimed RBI.
QLD starter Deegan Powell needed 59 pitches to navigate three innings, but he did so successfully, fanning five and only allowing one hit.
Alex Skepton picked up three hits in the leadoff spot for QLD, while Holly claimed a team-high three RBI.
Bailey Van Leeuwen drove in a pair of runs in the sixth thanks to an RBI double, and reliever Josh Smith was solid, allowing one run in 3 2/3 innings of relief.
Country plated four of the last five runs of the ballgame, but it was too late as Queensland sewed up fifth spot.
U18 7TH PLACE PLAYOFF: Victoria White 6-1 Australian Capital Territory | BOX SCORE
Donnie Poole lead from the front as Victoria White ended their championship on a high with a win over the ACT.
Poole struck out five in 6 1/3 outstanding innings, as he kept the ACT off the scoreboard in the first six frames. Riley Trad picked up where Poole lead off, striking out two in 2 2/3 scoreless innings of relief.
Victoria White broke the scoreless deadlock in the fourth, as Connor Hickey, Harvey Mitchelhill and Riley Light crossed the plate.
Mitchelhill finished with two hits for Vic White.
Cooper Morgan drove in the ACT's only run of the day in the seventh, but it was too late as Vic White claimed a seventh place finish.
U18 GOLD MEDAL GAME: Victoria Blue 14-2 New South Wales | BOX SCORE
Victoria Blue claimed their first Australian Championship in 15 years, as they defeated New South Wales 14-2 on Diamond 1.
Blake Townsend set the platform for Victoria Blue early, as the Mariners farmhand tossed five stellar innings.
Townsend, who was named the 2019 Golden Arm, only allowed three hits and allowed two unearned runs in his third quality start of the championship.
The seventh inning proved the difference, as Victoria Blue made the most of their opportunities. Both NSW and Vic Blue had two runners on base with no outs, but NSW failed to capitalise. Vic Blue on the other hand plated four and put the game beyond reach.
Relief pitcher Lachlan Hockey was immense for Victoria Blue, and was overjoyed after the game.
"The coaches just told me to pound strikes and let the defence work behind me," Hockey said.
"I've been playing with these guys together for the past few years, we're all really good mates and I couldn't be prouder."
Conor Myles capped off his MVP tournament with two hits and three RBI for Victoria Blue, while catcher Chris Burke picked up two hits of his own.
Aidan Torpey kept NSW in the ballgame through the middle innings, as the reliever only allowed one hit and striking out three.
Victoria Blue jumped on NSW starting pitcher Luke Krkovski early and kept the pressure on throughout, claiming their first U18 championship since the 2004 Australian Championship in Geelong.
U16 GOLD MEDAL GAME: New South Wales 10-3 Victoria Blue | BOX SCORE
New South Wales capped off an undefeated tournament with a hard-fought 10-3 win over Victoria Blue to claim the U16 Australian Championship.
After a perfect tournament in 2018, NSW again went undefeated, but not before coming back from three runs down.
After trailing by three runs in the early stages, NSW’s offence jumped on Vic Blue’s pitching through the middle innings, plating 10 unanswered runs to end the ballgame.
James Lynch worked well through the first two frames, but NSW’s offence clicked into gear in the fourth, as the defending champions scored three crucial runs.
NSW starter Jaxon Forbes gave up three early runs, but maintained his composure.
“I just wanted to bounce back and take it inning-by-inning,” Forbes said.
“This is the best team I’ve ever been a part of, I knew the guys could back me up offensively.”
Forbes was relieved by Solomon Maguire, who tossed three scoreless innings under pressure.
Maguire was also a threat with bat in hand, going 2-for-3 with a double and driving in three runs.
Charlie Collins set the tone early for Victoria Blue, nailing a triple off the first pitch of the ballgame, but NSW stormed home to claim their 21st consecutive win in the U16 age group.
U16 BRONZE MEDAL GAME: Western Australia 8-0 Victoria White | BOX SCORE
Western Australia scored early and never looked back, claiming the U16 bronze medal against Victoria White.
Max Chipper capped off a stellar tournament for WA with a pair of hits and an RBI, while first baseman Tye Kazmierowski picked up two RBI.
Dustin Brown struck out three in his 2 1/3 innings and was followed up perfectly by BJ Cooke.
Cooke only needed 47 pitches to get through four sparkling innings of relief, allowing one hit.
Leadoff hitter Travis Finney went 2-for-3 for Vic White, while Nick Bertucci and Jimin Lee claimed singles.
WA claimed seven wins from their 11 games, while Vic White managed four wins sealing a fourth place finish.
U18 BRONZE MEDAL GAME: Western Australia 12-5 South Australia | BOX SCORE
Cayden Nicoletto concluded his fine tournament with a stellar performance, sealing the bronze medal for WA.
Nicoletto was a double shy of the cycle, as he went 4-for-5 with a triple, a homer and four RBI.
Nicoletto has fired all week for WA, after spending time on the Perth Heat roster earlier in the ABL season.
WA scored early and often, as they plated runs in each of the first five innings.
Lachlan Waite settled after giving up an early run, going 6 1/3 innings, striking out three and allowing four runs.
Carter Powell and Jacob Scott claimed two hits apiece for SA, while Seiichiro Suzuki drove in two of SA’s five runs.
SA claimed three wins at the 2019 Australian Youth Championship, while WA recorded seven.
U16 SEVENTH PLACE PLAYOFF: New South Wales Country 12-11 South Australia | BOX SCORE
New South Wales Country scored the last four runs of the ballgame to eclipse South Australia and claim seventh place in the U16s.
Luke Jacobs doubled to right field with one out, scoring Brandon Tangaroa and sealing a seventh place finish.
Jacobs and Harrison Dobb were crucial at the top of Country’s lineup, each claiming three hits.
Mathew Clements produced one of the offensive performances of the tournament, going 4-for-4 with a double and six RBI.
SA hit well as a team, with Liam Westdijk and Tom Paparella each claiming two RBI.
Country came back from five runs down early, as they claim seventh place in the U16s.
U16 FIFTH PLACE PLAYOFF: Queensland 9-6 Australian Capital Territory | BOX SCORE
Queensland scored five in the first and never looked back, claiming fifth spot in the U16s with a three run win over the ACT.
Luke Smith was outstanding for Queensland, going 4-for-4 with three stolen bases. Smith scored three times as Queensland picked up their third win in the last three days.
Cain McClelland went 3-for-3 and continued his strong tournament, while starting pitcher Joel Hogan allowed three runs in 4 2/3 innings.
Lochlainn Varian finished his strong tournament with a double and a triple, while reliever Zak Elvy tossed 3 1/3 strong innings of relief.
U18 5TH PLACE PLAYOFF: Queensland 14-4 New South Wales Country | BOX SCORE
Queensland exploded early and never looked back, topping NSW Country in their final game of the championship.
In the blink of an eye, Queensland plated five in the first as Liam MacDonald, Angelo Natale, Seth McClelland and Jaiden Holly all claimed RBI.
QLD starter Deegan Powell needed 59 pitches to navigate three innings, but he did so successfully, fanning five and only allowing one hit.
Alex Skepton picked up three hits in the leadoff spot for QLD, while Holly claimed a team-high three RBI.
Bailey Van Leeuwen drove in a pair of runs in the sixth thanks to an RBI double, and reliever Josh Smith was solid, allowing one run in 3 2/3 innings of relief.
Country plated four of the last five runs of the ballgame, but it was too late as Queensland sewed up fifth spot.
U18 7TH PLACE PLAYOFF: Victoria White 6-1 Australian Capital Territory | BOX SCORE
Donnie Poole lead from the front as Victoria White ended their championship on a high with a win over the ACT.
Poole struck out five in 6 1/3 outstanding innings, as he kept the ACT off the scoreboard in the first six frames. Riley Trad picked up where Poole lead off, striking out two in 2 2/3 scoreless innings of relief.
Victoria White broke the scoreless deadlock in the fourth, as Connor Hickey, Harvey Mitchelhill and Riley Light crossed the plate.
Mitchelhill finished with two hits for Vic White.
Cooper Morgan drove in the ACT's only run of the day in the seventh, but it was too late as Vic White claimed a seventh place finish.