Medal Round got underway on Day 5 of the 2024 Australian Youth Championships, with Victoria's U16 and U18 teams putting on amazing displays of baseball.
All 10 games were close as the #AYC2024 action included a no-hitter, multiple complete game shutouts, many comebacks, epic defensive plays, extra innings thrillers, home runs, and teams who booked a spot in Tuesday’s Gold Medal game.
Check out highlights below and stay tuned to socials for the latest updates from the U16 and U18 tournaments.
AYC U16 Day 5 - Medal Round
Victoria 4 def Western Australia 3 (8 innings)
It was a Mitch Langworthy special as Victoria sensationally stormed back from three runs down to defeat Western Australia in extras.
Western Australia seemed in control after scoring three early runs. Leanard Golding hit a solo shot for WA and Victoria were left stunned.
In the bottom of the fourth the game started to turn. Langworthy collected the first of three hits on the day, when he cranked a double to the wall to score the first run for Victoria.
In the bottom of the sixth Langworthy blasted a triple to the wall to cut the lead to 3-2. He scored on a sacrifice fly from Sam Walk on the next at bat. Tie ballgame.
Off to extras we go…
Liam Puncher induced a 1-2-3 inning of Western Australia in the top of the eighth.
Langworthy struck again – with a bunt single in extras to bring the winning run to third who was later scored on a bases-loaded walk.
Prisov, Golding and Samukawa had the RBIs for Western Australia.
Records: Victoria (1-0), Western Australia (0-1)
Victoria 3 def Queensland 2
Money Mitch Langworthy does it again – with the bat AND on the mound. Victoria had to comeback from multiple runs down to win again!
Queensland scored first off a sacrifice bunt and RBI groundout in the bottom of the third to lead 2-0.
Then Victoria made their move with five singles in the fifth.
The biggest of all was with bases loaded. Down 2-0, Mitch Langworthy knocked a 2-RBI single into the outfield to tie the game. Jordan Ellis followed and drove in the eventual winning run.
Ellis and Jake Bertucci finished the game going 3-for-4 from the plate.
Cooper Busch pitched 6.2 innings for Victoria, striking three while allowing no earned runs.
In the bottom of the seventh, with two runners in scoring position for Queensland and two outs, Mitchell Langworthy induced a flyout to centre field to close the game.
Crotty, Duncalf, and Pearce each recorded a base hit for Queensland.
RECORD – Victoria (2-0), Queensland (0-2)
AYC U18 Day 5 - Medal Round
Victoria 5 def New South Wales 2
A combined no-hitter for Victoria as they take the game from a late-game surge.
New South Wales were the first to get on the board with an RBI groundout from Lucas Stancic in the bottom of the first.
A fielding error by NSW with two outs in the top of the fourth allowed Victoria to capitalise on back-to-back, two-out walks to tie the game.
RBI singles by Will Kent in the top of the sixth and Matthew Johnston in the top of the seventh highlighted a two-inning, four-run surge by Victoria.
Will Kent also made the play of the game in the bottom of the seventh with an impeccable catch and throw to first off a hard-hit ball to keep the no-hitter alive.
Tane Graham pitched 3.0 innings in relief for Victoria, striking out four. Jack Ratcliffe completed the no-hitter with a 1.0-inning, two strikeout performance.
RECORDS – Victoria (1-0), New South Wales (0-1)
Victoria 1 def South Australia 0
Victoria walk it off in extra innings to punch a ticket into the gold medal game.
It was a day for the pitchers.
Ryder Wilson pitched an 8.0-inning shutout for Victoria, striking out four while only allowing four hits and a walk. Amazing.
Alistair Tanner started for South Australia, allowing just two hits and two walks as he struck out three. He also hit a top speed of 94mph.
Will Couzner pitched 3.1 relief innings, allowing only two hits and two walks as he struck out four.
Jayden Kim led Victoria on the offensive end, going 2-for-4 with a double.
Matthew Johnston’s sacrifice fly in the bottom of the eight scored the game-winning run. He finished the game 1-for-2 with a walk.
Altamura, Lucas, Thomas, and Hodges all recorded a hit for South Australia.
RECORD – Victoria (2-0), South Australia (1-1)
Read the full report on baseball.com.au.
Photos: @trent.schwarz/@baseball.com.au