We are halfway through the 2019 Australian Youth Championship presented by Beastwear, and there are some crucial games tomorrow to decide which teams will make the top four!
Check out recaps for all 12 games from today's action below.
U16: Victoria Blue 12-2 Queensland | BOX SCORE
Keeley Ronalds-Greatbatch starred as Victoria Blue picked up their fourth win of the championship after a strong performance against Queensland on Diamond 2.
Ronalds-Greatbatch struck out five and didn’t allow a hit in four innings.
Vic Blue’s offence rallied around Ronalds-Greatbatch, piling on 10 runs in the first two innings, as Blake Holding, Mitchell Thomas and Sam Skinner each picked up two hits.
Billy Richters only allowed two hits in 2 2/3 innings of relief for Queensland, while Lachlan Maurer and Declan Summerford claimed QLD’s two hits.
Vic Blue’s final opening round game is against WA tomorrow, while Queensland ends their opening round with a matchup against the ACT.
U16: Victoria White 15-11 New South Wales Country | BOX SCORE
Victoria White came from six runs down in the fourth to record their third consecutive win of the championship against New South Wales Country.
Vic White plated 11 of the last 12 runs and held off Country in warm conditions this morning.
Rhys Fairweather lead the way with three RBI for Vic White, while Nick Bertucci and Angus Stals each claimed triples.
Josh Ashen was crucial to Vic White’s success, tossing three scoreless innings of relief, which gave his offence plenty of confidence.
Seven of NSW Country’s 10 hits were doubles, as Roan North lead the way with three RBI.
Country end their opening round against NSW tomorrow, while Victoria White take on SA.
U18: Victoria Blue 22-2 Victoria White | BOX SCORE
Victoria White stuck with Victoria Blue for the first two innings, but Blue stormed home scoring 20 unanswered runs on Diamond 2.
Liam Evans nailed two doubles and picked up five RBI, while Chris Burke fell a home run shy of the cycle.
Chris Nielsen tossed 2.1 innings of scoreless relief, while Dante Caruso finished things off on the mound for Vic Blue.
Luke Socic and Kyle Douglass picked up two hits each and Douglass nailed Vic White’s only double of the afternoon.
Vic Blue take on South Australia tomorrow, while Vic White finish their opening round with a clash against ACT.
U18: New South Wales 8-3 Victoria White | BOX SCORE
A big third inning from NSW turned the game on its head as they ran out five run winners over a determined Vic White outfit.
Luke Krkovski continued his impressive tournament, surrendering only two hits in four scoreless innings. Krkovski’s efficiency was impressive, as he only needed 48 pitches to navigate four innings.
Offensively, Taituha Nukunuku belted three doubles and drove in a run for New South Wales, while first baseman Blake Cavill had a team-high two RBI.
Travis Duxson threw well in relief for Vic White, allowing one earned run in 3 2/3 innings.
Connor Hickey nailed a triple and Mason Wray picked up a double, accounting for Vic White’s two extra base hits.
Vic White end their opening round with a morning game against the ACT, while New South Wales take on WA at 3.30pm tomorrow.
U18: Victoria Blue 7-3 Western Australia | BOX SCORE
Victoria Blue will go into the final opening round game as the only undefeated team in the U18s after defeating Western Australia 7-3 on Diamond 2.
Blake Townsend again impressed for Victoria Blue, striking out four and only allowing one unearned run in four innings.
Conor Myles doubled and drove in a pair of RBI, while designated hitter Liam Evans continued his strong day, going 3-for-3.
WA quelled Vic Blue’s offence reasonably well, but some consistent scoring through the middle innings saw Vic Blue pull away.
Callum Schipp was impressive on the mound for WA, allowing only one earned run through 3 2/3 innings, while offensively, Nick Riley picked up a double and drove in a pair of runs.
Mitchell Schofield recorded a team-high two hits for WA, but it wasn’t enough as they fell to their first loss of the championship.
WA ends pool play with a battle against NSW, while Vic Blue takes on South Australia.