The 2019 U14 State Winter Championships in Latrobe Valley wrapped up in thrilling fashion as Diamond Valley narrowly finished on top of Pool B and Dandenong won the Pool A Grand Final against Geelong. This has been a truly fantastic weekend, and well done to the seven teams that participated: City West, Dandenong, Diamond Valley, Geelong, Latrobe Valley, Ringwood and Sunraysia.
Congratulations to Dandenong and Diamond Valley on their championships!
Pool A Semi Final
Geelong vs. Dandenong
2 13
After a thrilling back-and-forth game yesterday afternoon that ended in a tie, the first place and second place teams met once more in the morning, and Dandenong pulled away in dominant fashion. Geelong struggled early, giving up 11 runs in the first three innings.
Dandenong scored first on a double play, bringing Shunsuke Okuda around. Cooper Drummond's RBI single was another highlight. It took only seven pitches from Okuda to retire Geelong in the bottom of the first, and when Dandenong came back up in the top of the second, they did some serious damage. They tacked on five more runs, with Okuda and Jess Gray leading the charge with big singles. Five consecutive walks helped Dandenong take a 7-0 lead.
Okuda continued his fantastic pitching performance, retiring Geelong uneventfully in the second. He had another single in the top of the third, joining Riley Riddiford who singled on a fly ball to centre field. By the time Dandenong was done batting, the score was 11-0.
Geelong managed to get one back in the bottom of the third, thanks to a beautiful double from Liam Smith, but they gave up two more runs in the next frame. Harry Jones scored Geelong's second run of the game in the bottom of the fourth for a final score of 13-2 in favor of Dandenong.
Pitching was a strong point for Dandenong, with Okuda striking out three across two innings and Riddiford getting the job done in relief.
Pool A Semi Final 2
Sunraysia vs. Latrobe Valley
9 4
In the second semi-final for Pool A, Sunraysia secured an early lead to earn a spot in the preliminary final against Geelong. Jesse Hando had two hits for Sunraysia, while Kolby Wakefield had an impressive six strikeouts in his pitching performance, three of those in the first inning.
Wakefield came around to score Sunraysia's first run of the game on a passed ball in the bottom of the first. Hando had a base hit in the same frame. Sunraysia scored four runs in the bottom of the second, with Bodhi Kane doubling. Sunraysia carried a 5-0 lead into the top of the third, when Latrobe Valley got on the board and came within one run. Three walks loaded the bases with no outs, and Latrobe Valley scored on a groundout and an error. The score was 5-4 to Latrobe Valley, and that's when Sunraysia pulled away for good in the bottom of the third. Diesel Fallon led off with a line drive single, and a walk and error to follow loaded the bases. Kolby Wakefield came up to bat and smashed a double on a fly ball to center field. By the time the inning was complete, Sunraysia had secured a 9-4 lead to win the game.
Sunraysia's Wakefield and Oliver Hayes enjoyed great outings on the mound, keeping things under control for their team and combining for an impressive nine strikeouts ahead of the preliminary final. Latrobe Valley's Jesse Wilson had an RBI, while Riley Jackway helped his team by getting on base and taking two walks.
Pool B
City West vs. Diamond Valley
7 12
Diamond Valley opened the game with four runs in the first, thanks to the hitting efforts of Home Run Derby winner Nathan Duvall, Josh Bence, and Kai Stokes. City West had an answer in their first at-bats with back-to-back singles by Josh Lucas and Carson Thomas. Two walks forced runs in to make it 4-2 heading into the top of the second.
Diamond Valley continued their scoring efforts with two walks and two singles. Cohen Breckenridge and Bence had RBI singles in the inning as they took a 7-2 lead. City West was not deterred, battling their way back in the bottom of the second to even the score at 7-7. Two walks and a hit by pitch loaded the bases with nobody out, and Josh Lucas singled to right to bring home two runners. Addison Bishop-Worn had an RBI single in the inning.
Determined to secure the win, Diamond Valley got their offense going once more in the top of the third. Jorden Doherty singled and came home on a wild pitch before Charlie Chislett doubled. Three straight walks and nine stolen bases in the inning propelled Diamond Valley to a five-run advantage, and despite three walks for City West in their last inning, they couldn't quite catch up.
Pool A Preliminary Final 1
Geelong vs. Sunraysia
12 3
Kolby Wakefield opened the game with a single for Sunraysia, but he was left stranded as they couldn't get him more. From then on, Geelong dominated the game, making a move in the first as they tallied five runs. Bradyn Barker led off with a single, Will Cavanagh walked and Christian Sollberger singled to bring home the first run of the game. Liam Smith doubled and Xavier Dew and Riley Peoples singled in the inning as well.
Sunraysia struggled to connect offensively in the top of the second, and Geelong tacked on their sixth run on an error in the bottom frame. In the top of the third, Sunraysia's bats came alive briefly with singles from Wakefield and Shady Swift, making the score 6-2. Geelong made it up and more in the bottom half, as Harry Jones doubled on a 1-1 count and Smith followed up with a single. Jones came home on an error, Peoples was hit by pitch and Dew walked to keep the inning alive. Alex Paddle singled as Geelong took an 11-2 lead.
The top of the fourth was quiet for Sunraysia, and after Geelong got one more in the bottom frame, Sunraysia brought home another run for the final score of 12-3.Geelong's pitching trio of Peoples, Sam Elsworth and Zachary Arnell did a great job with six strikeouts combined as their team booked a spot in the Grand Final against Dandenong!
Pool B
Ringwood vs. City West
3 9
After some tough results to start the tournament, City West bounced back with a fantastic team effort that saw them beat a strong Ringwood side.
City West left their mark in the first inning with two runs, including an RBI single by Rui Ota. Addison Bishop-Worn had things under control on the mound in the bottom of the first, with three strikeouts on 13 pitches. City West had four walks and a fielder's choice in the top of the second for a 5-0 lead.
Ringwood made the score 5-1 when Benjamin Tan scored on a wild pitch. When City West came back up to bat in the top of the third, Bishop-Worn continued his solid day of baseball with a single to left field. He went on to steal two bases before scoring on Levi Packer's single. City West carried a 7-1 advantage into the bottom of the third, when Bishop-Worn record three more impressive strikeouts on 14 pitches.
The top of the fourth saw three more singles for City West, with Bishop-Worn, Benjamin Dinh, and Rui Ota getting on base. The score was 9-1 going into the bottom of the fourth, when a single from Nicholas Booth and an error made it 9-3. Even so, City West secured their sweet victory and celebrated a well-earned win. Bishop-Worn and Jake Preston combined for nine strikeouts on the mound in this great game.
Pool B
Diamond Valley vs. Ringwood
3 2
The Pool B competition concluded with a tight game between top teams Diamond Valley and Ringwood. On Saturday, Ringwood narrowly won their first meeting 7-5, but the final game went in favor of Diamond Valley after a pitcher's duel.
With Charlie Chislett pitching for Diamond Valley, Ringwood jumped out to an early lead with two runs in the first. Ryder Wilson singled, Albie Thornton-Court walked and Jack Barlow grounded out to make it 2-0. Diamond Valley failed to get on base in the bottom of the first, and Nicholas Booth was left stranded after smashing a double in the top of the second for Ringwood.
Diamond Valley cut their deficit in half in the bottom frame, when Nathan Duvall singled and scored on a groundout by Josh Bence. The third was three up and three down for both sides, as the pitchers showed their best stuff. The next scoring came in the bottom of the fourth, when Diamond Valley tied things up on a passed ball. Ben Grady put Diamond Valley in front with a single, much to the cheers of his teammates and their supporters.
Ringwood's Booth had four strikeouts in three innings pitched, while Diamond Valley's Chislett had three and Duvall had four as they pulled off a huge victory after impressive showings from both sides.
Pool B
Ringwood vs. City West
3 9
After some tough results to start the tournament, City West bounced back with a fantastic team effort that saw them beat a strong Ringwood side.
City West left their mark in the first inning with two runs, including an RBI single by Rui Ota. Addison Bishop-Worn had things under control on the mound in the bottom of the first, with three strikeouts on 13 pitches. City West had four walks and a fielder's choice in the top of the second for a 5-0 lead.
Ringwood made the score 5-1 when Benjamin Tan scored on a wild pitch. When City West came back up to bat in the top of the third, Bishop-Worn continued his solid day of baseball with a single to left field. He went on to steal two bases before scoring on Levi Packer's single. City West carried a 7-1 advantage into the bottom of the third, when Bishop-Worn record three more impressive strikeouts on 14 pitches.
The top of the fourth saw three more singles for City West, with Bishop-Worn, Benjamin Dinh, and Rui Ota getting on base. The score was 9-1 going into the bottom of the fourth, when a single from Nicholas Booth and an error made it 9-3. Even so, City West secured their sweet victory and celebrated a well-earned win. Bishop-Worn and Jake Preston combined for nine strikeouts on the mound in this great game.
Pool B
Diamond Valley vs. Ringwood
3 2
The Pool B competition concluded with a tight game between top teams Diamond Valley and Ringwood. On Saturday, Ringwood narrowly won their first meeting 7-5, but the final game went in favor of Diamond Valley after a pitcher's duel.
With Charlie Chislett pitching for Diamond Valley, Ringwood jumped out to an early lead with two runs in the first. Ryder Wilson singled, Albie Thornton-Court walked and Jack Barlow grounded out to make it 2-0. Diamond Valley failed to get on base in the bottom of the first, and Nicholas Booth was left stranded after smashing a double in the top of the second for Ringwood.
Diamond Valley cut their deficit in half in the bottom frame, when Nathan Duvall singled and scored on a groundout by Josh Bence. The third was three up and three down for both sides, as the pitchers showed their best stuff. The next scoring came in the bottom of the fourth, when Diamond Valley tied things up on a passed ball. Ben Grady put Diamond Valley in front with a single, much to the cheers of his teammates and their supporters.
Ringwood's Booth had four strikeouts in three innings pitched, while Diamond Valley's Chislett had three and Duvall had four as they pulled off a huge victory after impressive showings from both sides.
Pool B
Diamond Valley vs. Ringwood
3 2
The Pool B competition concluded with a tight game between top teams Diamond Valley and Ringwood. On Saturday, Ringwood narrowly won their first meeting 7-5, but the final game went in favor of Diamond Valley after a pitcher's duel.
With Charlie Chislett pitching for Diamond Valley, Ringwood jumped out to an early lead with two runs in the first. Ryder Wilson singled, Albie Thornton-Court walked and Jack Barlow grounded out to make it 2-0. Diamond Valley failed to get on base in the bottom of the first, and Nicholas Booth was left stranded after smashing a double in the top of the second for Ringwood.
Diamond Valley cut their deficit in half in the bottom frame, when Nathan Duvall singled and scored on a groundout by Josh Bence. The third was three up and three down for both sides, as the pitchers showed their best stuff. The next scoring came in the bottom of the fourth, when Diamond Valley tied things up on a passed ball. Ben Grady put Diamond Valley in front with a single, much to the cheers of his teammates and their supporters.
Ringwood's Booth had four strikeouts in three innings pitched, while Diamond Valley's Chislett had three and Duvall had four as they pulled off a huge victory after impressive showings from both sides.
Pool A Grand Final
Dandenong vs. Geelong
12 4
These two top teams came head-to-head for the third time this tournament. They tied 8-8 in their first meeting on Saturday afternoon, and Dandenong dominated in the semi-final to remain undefeated. Geelong put up a valiant fight in the grand final, scoring right away in the first before Dandenong came up to bat and started racking up the hits. Dandenong's hard-hitting lineup proved to be too strong despite Geelong's continued efforts, including Bradyn Barker's admirable pitching performance with lots of strikes against aggressive hitters.
Geelong's Liam Smith and Harry Jones had early hits, but Dandenong's Shunsuke Okuda was in control on the mound as he and his team wrapped up their tournament with a well-deserved win.
Congratulations to the Dandenong and Diamond Valley on winning the championships, and well done to all players for giving the game their all during this lovely weekend in Latrobe Valley!
Please visit the Baseball Victoria Facebook page for photos and videos of the wonderful 2019 U14 State Winter Championships: https://www.facebook.com/pg/BaseballVictoria
Congratulations to the Dandenong and Diamond Valley on winning the championships, and well done to all players for giving the game their all during this lovely weekend in Latrobe Valley!
Please visit the Baseball Victoria Facebook page for photos and videos of the wonderful 2019 U14 State Winter Championships: https://www.facebook.com/pg/BaseballVictoria