The 2019 U12 State Winter Championships got out to a fantastic start at Werribee Baseball Club on Saturday as nine determined teams from across Victoria battled it out in pursuit of the U12 State Winter Champions title. Bendigo, City West, Dandenong, Diamond Valley (Red), Diamond Valley (Black), Geelong, Latrobe Valley, Ringwood and Sunraysia all had a blast with obvious excitement and enthusiasm as they made the most of this opportunity. With event apparel company The Regatta Shop on hand printing tee shirts and hoodies, as well as visits from Wyndham City Council, Ausport and a special coffee van, the U12 State Winter Championships are the place to be this weekend.
The Outfield Relay Competition was well-received by participants and coaches who loved having many players involved on the field, and Diamond Valley (Red) won the competition with Latrobe Valley following closely behind. The U12 Home Run Derby sponsored by Ausport is scheduled for Sunday afternoon at 1:10pm.
Well done to all players on such a wonderful first day of the U12 State Winter Championships! Thanks in large part to our sponsors, Viva, Ausport, Wyndham City Council and The Regatta Shop, as well as a great turnout of participants, this tournament is off to a stellar start.
Standings after Day 1 are:
POOL A
Diamond Valley (Red) (3-0)
Dandenong (2-1)
Ringwood (0-1-1)
Geelong (0-1-1)
Sunraysia (0-2)
POOL B
City West (3-0)
Diamond Valley (Black) (2-1)
Latrobe Valley (1-2)
Bendigo (0-3)
Bendigo (0-3)
Pool A
Game 1
Dandenong vs. Ringwood
11 3
Dandenong struck first with a five-run first inning, during which two singles and two doubles made a big difference. Jack Garbett-Davidson took the mound for Dandenong, keeping Ringwood off the board and giving his team the chance to score bigtime in the bottom frame. Theodore Rutgers led off with a single, followed by Harrison Brodie's walk and Will Kent's 2-RBI double. Hunter Richardson followed up with an RBI double, and Ned Johnson kept the scoring going with an RBI base hit. Archer Quelch knocked in the fifth run of the inning on a groundout.
Ringwood answered with two runs in the top of the second as Lucas Tucker singled, Cooper Holloway took a walk and Ethan Rashleigh put runners in scoring position with a single. Brodie Trevean brought in the first run on a bases-loaded walk, while Finlay McGrotty grounded out to make it 5-2. Jax Clarke led off for Dandenong in the bottom of the second, and Garbett-Davidson scored him on an RBI single. Ishant Dittakavi singled and T. Rutgers walked but Dandenong was retired without scoring anymore.
A quiet inning for Ringwood in the top of the third brought Dandenong back up to bat, and that's when they tacked on five more runs on a collection of hits and walks. Richardson led off with a base hit, and three straight walks made it 7-2 before a wild pitch and T. Rutger's RBI double scored three more. Brodie and Kent collected base hits as Dandenong continued to dominate.
Ringwood was able to make it 11-3 in their last at-bat, but Dandenong held their ground. They collected 12 hits and gave up just four to Ringwood over the course of the game, while each team had one error on the day. T. Rutgers and Kent both had 2 RBI's, while Richardson led Dandenong with three hits. Both Ringwood's Noah Traplin and Garbett-Davidson threw six first-pitch strikes.
Game 2
Sunraysia vs. Diamond Valley (Red)
4 20
Diamond Valley (Red) swung the bat well as Evan Sertis, Darcy Squire and Roy Chang each collected two hits in their first game at the U12 SWC. Four five-run innings sealed the deal for Diamond Valley as they sailed to a massive victory.
Darcy Squire singled and Evan Sertis doubled on a live drive to right field, scoring the first run. Three errors and a walk kept Diamond Valley coming around the bases, as Windsor Breckenridge batted in the fifth run. Honor Hereora did a great job on the mound for Diamond Valley, keeping Sunraysia at bay in the bottom of the first.
Diamond Valley was at it again in the top of the second, when lead-off hitter Lachlan Brennan reached on an error and Hereora walked. Squire singled and came around to score on a wild pitch, and Roy Chang and Kycen Dowling had base hits to score runs as well.. By the time three outs had been recorded, Diamond Valley had worked their way to a 10-0 advantage.
Ben Prince singled for Sunraysia in the bottom half of the inning, but otherwise Hereora kept things under control. Seven walks and a second hit in the game for Sertis made it 15-0 for Diamond Valley in the top of the third. Things were looking up for Sunraysia in the bottom of the third as they got on the board and scored three runs. Zac Scott walked to start the inning and Oliver Hayes singled before the next two batters were retired. Diesel Fallon stepped up to the plate and smashed a double to score one run with two outs, followed by RBI base hits for Deegan Cox and Prince.
Despite giving up a few runs, Diamond Valley was still far in front, confident and controlled. They loaded the bases once again with three consecutive walks in the top of the fourth, two more base on balls and R. Chang's 3-RBI double.
Although Sunraysia was able to score one more run in the bottom frame on a fielder's choice, the victory belonged to Diamond Valley. Both sides showed teamwork and positivity through and through. "We lost but we had a great fight," Sunraysia's Ben Prince said. "We all did well, we all had a good bat and a good field and we all had fun," added Diesel Fallon.
Sertis led Diamond Valley with 4 RBI's, followed by R. Chang's 3 RBI's and two apiece for Breckenridge, Squire and Reeve Hammond. In her 3.2 innings on the mound, Hereora recorded an impressive 12 first-pitch strikes, proving that she will be one of the many players to watch in this tournament.
Game 3
Diamond Valley (Red) vs. Dandenong
8 7
Coming off of first-game victories, both sides were determined to go 2-0, and it showed in their consistent efforts as they battled back-and-forth. Austin Caulfield singled for Diamond Valley (Red) but otherwise it was a quiet first inning for both teams.
Dandenong got their scoring started in the top of the second as Hunter Richardson led off with a single and Jax Clarke walked. A 1-out double by Ned Johnson brought the first runner home, and two more scored on a passed ball and a wild pitch for a three-run advantage. Diamond Valley tried to get something started in return, but a leadoff walk was all they got in the bottom of the second with a pair of strikeout and a fly out.
Diamond Valley had a nice double play in the top of the third to retire Dandenong, and it was in the bottom frame that they evened the score. Darcy Squire and Evan Sertis singled while R. Chang's walk and ground-outs from Caulfield and Windsor Breckenridge also made a difference.
The score was level at 3-3 heading into the top of the fourth when Dandenong tacked on two runs. Hunter Richardson, Archer Quelch and Charlie Waugh had base hits along with Clarke's double to propel Dandenong ahead of their competition. It wouldn't last long as Diamond Valley kept up with them, putting a five-run bottom of the fourth on the board. Lachlan Brennan and Kycen Dowling started things off with singles, and Squire followed up with a base hit of his own. Two walks and a double from Caulfield and a triple from Breckenridge gave Diamond Valley a three-run lead.
Dandenong had two outs and two on in their last inning when an error and a single brought them within one. Andy Chang struck out the final batter to secure Diamond Valley's huge victory. Johnson led Dandenong with three hits in the game and seven first-pitch strikes thrown during his 1.1 innings of work. Breckenridge had 3 RBI's as Diamond Valley collected eight hits compared to Dandenong's 10. Diamond Valley only had one error while Dandenong committed three.
Game 4
Ringwood vs. Geelong
13 13
A terrific game between Ringwood and Geelong saw both teams battle back-and-forth, ultimately resulting in a draw despite brilliant batting efforts from each side.
Finlay McGrotty started for Ringwood, walking the first two batters before settling in and notching three strikeouts on 13 pitches. Xavier Galang took the mound for Geelong, allowing a base hit to Lucas Tucker prior to recording three outs on six pitches. The second inning was a different story scoring-wise as both teams got on the board. Thomas Rome and Beau Spencer walked for Geelong, and Tylah Laurie singled to load the bases. Allistaire Lang took a base on balls to force the run in.
Geelong's one-run lead didn't last long as Ringwood countered in the bottom of the second with five runs. Declan Marshall walked and Denzel Wynne-Primus reached on a error to put two runners on with no outs. Three walks and another error followed as Ringwood worked their way to a 5-1 lead.
Geelong was eager to get back on the board, and they did just that in the top of the third, beginning with a single by Jordan Ellis. A walk and an error set Rome up for an RBI double, and Laurie's RBI base hit brought Geelong within one. A walk and an error loaded the bases for Ellis, who finished the inning with a grand slam!
Despite their newfound deficit, Ringwood didn't slow down, instead putting up five runs in the bottom of the third. McGrotty and Masakiyo Yamamoto had big hits in the inning, while four walks and an error propelled Ringwood to a narrow 10-9 lead. Geelong battled back, with a walk and Reid Sexton's base hit to start the inning. Luke Morrow singled in the go-ahead run, and after Laurie reached on a error and Jake Chapman's double, Geelong was ahead by three runs.
In Ringwood's last chance at bat, they tied the game for a draw thanks to two walks, an error and McCrotty's timely hit. 13-13 was the final score after the valiant effort from both sides. McCrotty allowed only one hit with five strikeouts in two innings of work, while Yamamoto had two big strikeouts in his relief appearance. Geelong's pitching trio of Galang, Sexton and Charlie Bell combined for four hits allowed and three strikeouts.
Geelong's Ellis led both sides with 4 RBI's on two hits, while Marshall did a great job getting on base for Ringwood with three walks. Errors were a problem on both teams as Geelong made six and Ringwood committed three, something they'll look to control in their upcoming games as the Grand Final draws closer.
Game 5
Geelong vs. Diamond Valley (Red)
6 16
Diamond Valley (Red) opened the game with an outburst of offense, starting with Darcy Squire reaching on an error and coming around to score on a single by Evan Sertis. Kycen Dowling was next up to bat, sending a line drive single to centre field. The next three batters walked as Diamond Valley enjoyed a five-run lead.
Geelong was retired on just 11 pitches in the bottom of the first, and although Diamond Valley put two runners on in the top of the second, Tylah Laurie stopped them from extending their lead.Geelong got one run back in the bottom of the second. Jordan Ellis reached on an error and Jake Chapman doubled as one run scored on a passed ball.
Geelong couldn't escape the top of the third unscathed as Diamond Valley piled on five more runs. Austin Caulfield walked to lead things off, followed by a hard-hit double from Minsung Shin. Oliver Every knocked in two runs on a single, and Honor Hereora, Oliver Von Tuck and Squire joined in the fun with RBI singles of their own. The game was 10-1 in favour of Diamond Valley going into the top of the fourth. Caulfield pitched well, recording two strikeouts on 11 pitches before passing the glove over to Von Tuck who recorded the third out with a fielder's choice.
Ellis singled for Geelong in the bottom of the fourth, but they were kept scoreless as well. The top of the fifth saw Diamond Valley increase their run total to 16, as Shin walked and Every doubled before Windsor Breckenridge brought them both home on a single. Hereora had another single and Von Tuck walked, just in time for Roy Chang to step up to bat and smash his first-ever home run!
This was a big moment for Chang at his first State Winter Championships, made even better by his team's big win. Geelong didn't go down without a fight though, battling through the end and adding five runs in their last inning. Thomas Rome singled, Allistaire Lang doubled and Xavier Galang had an RBI single on a hard-hit ground ball. Ellis doubled, Pat Johnson walked and Chapman and Maisen R got more runners home on fielder's choice.
Chang led Diamond Valley with 3 RBI's while Every and Hereora both had two hits in the game. Diamond Valley had 11 hits overall while Geelong had six. Errors proved costly for both teams as Diamond Valley made one and Geelong made three. This thrilling result put Diamond Valley at 3-0 after day 1, while Geelong has one draw and one loss.
Game 6
Dandenong vs. Sunraysia
8 5
Sunraysia battled hard, but ultimately Dandenong prevailed, bouncing back after a heartbreaking one-run loss to Diamond Valley (Red) the game before.
Harrison Brodie got the start for Dandenong, retiring the side on 17 pitches with two strikeouts in the first inning. Dandenong made the most of their chances, putting up four runs in the first on singles from Theodore Rutgers, William Kent, Ned Johnson, and Jack Garbett-Davidson. Ishant Dittakavi and Brooklyn Riwaka also walked in the inning.
With a 4-0 lead, Dandenong headed into the second with renewed confidence and momentum. They ended up giving up two runs as Diesel Fallon hit a lead-off single before four walks and a base hit from Benji Hayes put two runs on the board. The score didn't stay 4-2 for long, as their next time up Dandenong got one back as Archer Quelch singled and T. Rutgers batted him in.
Sunraysia tied things up 5-5 in the top of the third as a series of walks and hit by pitch batters helped them get their runners on. Determined to win, Dandenong gave their final at-bats a hearty effort, with three walks and a Jax Clarke double getting the job done.
Alex Kane had 2 RBI's in the game to lead Sunraysia, as the team will look to get a win on the board tomorrow morning.
Pool B
Game 1
Diamond Valley (Black) vs. City West
5 15
City West made the most of their scoring opportunities as they prevailed over Diamond Valley (Black) to start their U12 SWC campaign out on a high note. The scoring began early, as City West tacked on five runs with hits from Finn O'Neill and Cooper Bishop-Worn, followed by a run-scoring groundout from Fletcher Wilson. Four straight walks and a wild pitch helped City West take an early five-run lead.
Diamond Valley took two walks in the bottom of the first but they couldn't get on the board. Fielding mistakes proved costly for Diamond Valley as City West extended their lead to 10-0 on two errors, two walks and a hit by pitch in the top of the second. The bottom frame saw Diamond Valley make up some runs with a five-spot on five walks, two hit by pitch and one error.
City West turned their 10-5 lead into a 15-5 advantage in the top of the third as a lead-off double, four walks and Nicholas Kain's single got the job done. Mason Bavdek did an excellent job on the mound to close out the game in favour of City West, retiring the side on 15 pitches with two strikeouts.
Wilson stood out for City West with 2 RBI's and two strikeouts in his inning of work. All in all, City West's pitchers struck out six batters in the game while throwing a no-hitter. Diamond Valley had two errors while City West had just one. Sawyer Fisher and Noah Chun stole bases for Diamond Valley, while Noah McCurdy and O'Neill had two each.
Game 2
Latrobe Valley vs. Bendigo
11 6
Great pitching by Liam Duncan in the first inning gave Latrobe Valley the chance to focus on their offense. Four walks in the bottom of the first was enough to give them a 1-0 lead, which Bendigo quickly took care of. In the top of the second Bendigo recorded six runs on five walks and a fielder's choice that left the bases loaded for Ryan Kinkade. In his first at-bat at his first-ever championships, Ryan smashed a grand slam to give his team a five-run advantage, much to their cheering and enthusiastic support.
Bendigo's lead was short-lived as Latrobe Valley responded bigtime in the bottom of the second. Riley Duncan led off with a single, and seven walks allowed them to tie the game up at six apiece. Jack Thomas retired Bendigo easily in the third, bringing Latrobe Valley up once again. Both Duncan boys walked and Connor McKenzie singled to load the bases. Jackson Amos walked to force in a run, and a sacrifice fly made it 8-6. By the time the inning ended, two walks, a hit by pitch and Cooper Gray's single had given Latrobe Valley an 11-6 victory.
Bendigo's Kinkade led the way with 4 RBI's, while Thomas and Harry Kus each knocked in two runs. L. Duncan threw five first-pitch strikes in 1.2 innings, while both sides did a great job of keeping hits allowed to a minimum. Latrobe Valley had just three in the game while Bendigo had one.
Game 3
Bendigo vs. Diamond Valley (Black)
6 15
Diamond Valley (Black) put up five runs in each of their three innings to cruise to a big victory over Bendigo, an exciting result for the team that suffered a challenging loss to City West to start the day. Diamond Valley collected seven hits to Bendigo's one hit in the game.
Oliver Baillargeon singled to lead off, followed by doubles to Zachary Papadimitriou, Joshua Antonacci and Luke Easthope. Three walks and a hit by pitch made it 5-0 in favour of Diamond Valley. Baillargeon pitched well in the bottom of the first, retiring the side on nine pitches with two strikeouts. Diamond Valley scored two more runs on four runs and two errors in the top of the second.
Bendigo got three back in the bottom frame on a walk, hit by pitch and an error. This didn't faze Diamond Valley as they kept up their pattern of five runs per inning. Six walks and hits by Sawyer Fisher, Joseph Herriman and Easthope gave Diamond Valley a big boost. Bendigo managed three more runs in their last at-bats as four walks and a double by Felix Hughes brought runs home.
Diamond Valley's pitching trio of Baillargeon, Fisher and Libby Morgan recorded six strikeouts, and Easthope led his team with two hits and 2 RBI's.
Game 4
City West vs. Latrobe Valley
11 10
A nail-biter finished in favour of City West as Liam Roswell collected 5 RBI's to lead his team to victory. Baxter Maynard showed off some great pitching in the top of the first with two strikeouts, keeping Latrobe Valley off the board.
City West scored five runs in the bottom frame, with back-to-back base hits by Mason Bavdek and Cooper Bishop-Worn and three straight walks. Nicholas Kain hit an RBI double to make it 5-0. City West gave up seven walks and a big single to Jarrod Turner as Latrobe Valley tied the game in the second.
Noah McCurdy led off for City West in the bottom of the second, hitting the ball hard but Jack Thomas was there for the catch. Five consecutive walks set Liam Roswell up for a thrilling grand slam, putting City West in front 11-5. Latrobe Valley managed seven walks and a hit by pitch to come within one run, but they couldn't quite tie it up. Kain singled at the end of the game and stole two bases but he didn't come around to score. Walks were a problem spot for pitchers in this one-run result, as City West gave up 15 base on balls and Latrobe Valley gave up nine, something both teams will hope to improve moving forward.
Alex Smith did a great job of getting on base for his team, taking three walks and scoring 2 RBI's for Latrobe Valley.
Game 5
Bendigo vs. City West
5 15
Despite only collecting three hits on the day, City West scored 10+ runs for their third straight game, working their way to a 3-0 record at the end of Day 1. They put up five runs in each of their three innings, while Bendigo remained scoreless until the third inning.
Fletcher Wilson doubled and Nicholas Kain singled to bring home the first two runs of the game. Baxter Maynard followed up with an RBI double of his own, and two more walks made it 5-0. Cooper Bishop-Worn pitched well for City West in the bottom of the first, striking out three batters and giving his team the chance to get back up to bat and score more runs.
City West took six walks in the top of the second to extend their lead to 10-0. Bendigo had two runners on base in the bottom frame, but Zak Banks-Broome and Elliot Cole were left stranded. Eight more walks made City West's advantae 15-0 after the top of the third.
Bendigo got five back to finish the game on a high note, with hits to Lachlan James, Darcy Pump and Ryan Kinkade.
Game 6
Diamond Valley (Black) vs. Latrobe Valley
16 15
Both teams made a valiant effort, but a huge grand slam in the last minutes of the game secured the win for Diamond Valley.
Latrobe Valley got off to a good start by taking seven walks and a hit by pitch to score five runs. Five walks and Joshua Antonacci's single helped Diamond Valley score three of their own in the bottom frame. By the time Latrobe Valley was retired in the top of the second, they were ahead 10-3 thanks to another handful of walks.
The pattern continued in the bottom of the second as Diamond Valley took six base on balls, Luke Easthope doubled and Noah Chun singled.
With Diamond Valley trailing but just two runs, Latrobe Valley tried to pull away with the lead once again in the top of the third, tacking on another five runs on consistent walks. Diamond Valley knew they had to make up a lot of ground in the final inning to get the job done, and they certainly did just that. A collection of walks and hit by pitch batters brought Diamond Valley within three, and that's when Easthope came up to bat with the bases loaded. With a mere minute left in the game, he smashed a grand slam to score the go-ahead run and seal a sweet and very memorable victory for Diamond Valley.
Pool A
Game 1
Dandenong vs. Ringwood
11 3
Dandenong struck first with a five-run first inning, during which two singles and two doubles made a big difference. Jack Garbett-Davidson took the mound for Dandenong, keeping Ringwood off the board and giving his team the chance to score bigtime in the bottom frame. Theodore Rutgers led off with a single, followed by Harrison Brodie's walk and Will Kent's 2-RBI double. Hunter Richardson followed up with an RBI double, and Ned Johnson kept the scoring going with an RBI base hit. Archer Quelch knocked in the fifth run of the inning on a groundout.
Ringwood answered with two runs in the top of the second as Lucas Tucker singled, Cooper Holloway took a walk and Ethan Rashleigh put runners in scoring position with a single. Brodie Trevean brought in the first run on a bases-loaded walk, while Finlay McGrotty grounded out to make it 5-2. Jax Clarke led off for Dandenong in the bottom of the second, and Garbett-Davidson scored him on an RBI single. Ishant Dittakavi singled and T. Rutgers walked but Dandenong was retired without scoring anymore.
A quiet inning for Ringwood in the top of the third brought Dandenong back up to bat, and that's when they tacked on five more runs on a collection of hits and walks. Richardson led off with a base hit, and three straight walks made it 7-2 before a wild pitch and T. Rutger's RBI double scored three more. Brodie and Kent collected base hits as Dandenong continued to dominate.
Ringwood was able to make it 11-3 in their last at-bat, but Dandenong held their ground. They collected 12 hits and gave up just four to Ringwood over the course of the game, while each team had one error on the day. T. Rutgers and Kent both had 2 RBI's, while Richardson led Dandenong with three hits. Both Ringwood's Noah Traplin and Garbett-Davidson threw six first-pitch strikes.
A quiet inning for Ringwood in the top of the third brought Dandenong back up to bat, and that's when they tacked on five more runs on a collection of hits and walks. Richardson led off with a base hit, and three straight walks made it 7-2 before a wild pitch and T. Rutger's RBI double scored three more. Brodie and Kent collected base hits as Dandenong continued to dominate.
Ringwood was able to make it 11-3 in their last at-bat, but Dandenong held their ground. They collected 12 hits and gave up just four to Ringwood over the course of the game, while each team had one error on the day. T. Rutgers and Kent both had 2 RBI's, while Richardson led Dandenong with three hits. Both Ringwood's Noah Traplin and Garbett-Davidson threw six first-pitch strikes.
Game 2
Sunraysia vs. Diamond Valley (Red)
4 20
Diamond Valley (Red) swung the bat well as Evan Sertis, Darcy Squire and Roy Chang each collected two hits in their first game at the U12 SWC. Four five-run innings sealed the deal for Diamond Valley as they sailed to a massive victory.
Darcy Squire singled and Evan Sertis doubled on a live drive to right field, scoring the first run. Three errors and a walk kept Diamond Valley coming around the bases, as Windsor Breckenridge batted in the fifth run. Honor Hereora did a great job on the mound for Diamond Valley, keeping Sunraysia at bay in the bottom of the first.
Diamond Valley was at it again in the top of the second, when lead-off hitter Lachlan Brennan reached on an error and Hereora walked. Squire singled and came around to score on a wild pitch, and Roy Chang and Kycen Dowling had base hits to score runs as well.. By the time three outs had been recorded, Diamond Valley had worked their way to a 10-0 advantage.
Ben Prince singled for Sunraysia in the bottom half of the inning, but otherwise Hereora kept things under control. Seven walks and a second hit in the game for Sertis made it 15-0 for Diamond Valley in the top of the third. Things were looking up for Sunraysia in the bottom of the third as they got on the board and scored three runs. Zac Scott walked to start the inning and Oliver Hayes singled before the next two batters were retired. Diesel Fallon stepped up to the plate and smashed a double to score one run with two outs, followed by RBI base hits for Deegan Cox and Prince.
Despite giving up a few runs, Diamond Valley was still far in front, confident and controlled. They loaded the bases once again with three consecutive walks in the top of the fourth, two more base on balls and R. Chang's 3-RBI double.
Although Sunraysia was able to score one more run in the bottom frame on a fielder's choice, the victory belonged to Diamond Valley. Both sides showed teamwork and positivity through and through. "We lost but we had a great fight," Sunraysia's Ben Prince said. "We all did well, we all had a good bat and a good field and we all had fun," added Diesel Fallon.
Sertis led Diamond Valley with 4 RBI's, followed by R. Chang's 3 RBI's and two apiece for Breckenridge, Squire and Reeve Hammond. In her 3.2 innings on the mound, Hereora recorded an impressive 12 first-pitch strikes, proving that she will be one of the many players to watch in this tournament.
Game 3
Diamond Valley (Red) vs. Dandenong
8 7
Coming off of first-game victories, both sides were determined to go 2-0, and it showed in their consistent efforts as they battled back-and-forth. Austin Caulfield singled for Diamond Valley (Red) but otherwise it was a quiet first inning for both teams.
Dandenong got their scoring started in the top of the second as Hunter Richardson led off with a single and Jax Clarke walked. A 1-out double by Ned Johnson brought the first runner home, and two more scored on a passed ball and a wild pitch for a three-run advantage. Diamond Valley tried to get something started in return, but a leadoff walk was all they got in the bottom of the second with a pair of strikeout and a fly out.
Diamond Valley had a nice double play in the top of the third to retire Dandenong, and it was in the bottom frame that they evened the score. Darcy Squire and Evan Sertis singled while R. Chang's walk and ground-outs from Caulfield and Windsor Breckenridge also made a difference.
The score was level at 3-3 heading into the top of the fourth when Dandenong tacked on two runs. Hunter Richardson, Archer Quelch and Charlie Waugh had base hits along with Clarke's double to propel Dandenong ahead of their competition. It wouldn't last long as Diamond Valley kept up with them, putting a five-run bottom of the fourth on the board. Lachlan Brennan and Kycen Dowling started things off with singles, and Squire followed up with a base hit of his own. Two walks and a double from Caulfield and a triple from Breckenridge gave Diamond Valley a three-run lead.
Dandenong had two outs and two on in their last inning when an error and a single brought them within one. Andy Chang struck out the final batter to secure Diamond Valley's huge victory. Johnson led Dandenong with three hits in the game and seven first-pitch strikes thrown during his 1.1 innings of work. Breckenridge had 3 RBI's as Diamond Valley collected eight hits compared to Dandenong's 10. Diamond Valley only had one error while Dandenong committed three.
Game 4
Ringwood vs. Geelong
13 13
A terrific game between Ringwood and Geelong saw both teams battle back-and-forth, ultimately resulting in a draw despite brilliant batting efforts from each side.
Finlay McGrotty started for Ringwood, walking the first two batters before settling in and notching three strikeouts on 13 pitches. Xavier Galang took the mound for Geelong, allowing a base hit to Lucas Tucker prior to recording three outs on six pitches. The second inning was a different story scoring-wise as both teams got on the board. Thomas Rome and Beau Spencer walked for Geelong, and Tylah Laurie singled to load the bases. Allistaire Lang took a base on balls to force the run in.
Geelong's one-run lead didn't last long as Ringwood countered in the bottom of the second with five runs. Declan Marshall walked and Denzel Wynne-Primus reached on a error to put two runners on with no outs. Three walks and another error followed as Ringwood worked their way to a 5-1 lead.
Geelong was eager to get back on the board, and they did just that in the top of the third, beginning with a single by Jordan Ellis. A walk and an error set Rome up for an RBI double, and Laurie's RBI base hit brought Geelong within one. A walk and an error loaded the bases for Ellis, who finished the inning with a grand slam!
Despite their newfound deficit, Ringwood didn't slow down, instead putting up five runs in the bottom of the third. McGrotty and Masakiyo Yamamoto had big hits in the inning, while four walks and an error propelled Ringwood to a narrow 10-9 lead. Geelong battled back, with a walk and Reid Sexton's base hit to start the inning. Luke Morrow singled in the go-ahead run, and after Laurie reached on a error and Jake Chapman's double, Geelong was ahead by three runs.
In Ringwood's last chance at bat, they tied the game for a draw thanks to two walks, an error and McCrotty's timely hit. 13-13 was the final score after the valiant effort from both sides. McCrotty allowed only one hit with five strikeouts in two innings of work, while Yamamoto had two big strikeouts in his relief appearance. Geelong's pitching trio of Galang, Sexton and Charlie Bell combined for four hits allowed and three strikeouts.
Geelong's Ellis led both sides with 4 RBI's on two hits, while Marshall did a great job getting on base for Ringwood with three walks. Errors were a problem on both teams as Geelong made six and Ringwood committed three, something they'll look to control in their upcoming games as the Grand Final draws closer.
Game 5
Geelong vs. Diamond Valley (Red)
6 16
Diamond Valley (Red) opened the game with an outburst of offense, starting with Darcy Squire reaching on an error and coming around to score on a single by Evan Sertis. Kycen Dowling was next up to bat, sending a line drive single to centre field. The next three batters walked as Diamond Valley enjoyed a five-run lead.
Geelong was retired on just 11 pitches in the bottom of the first, and although Diamond Valley put two runners on in the top of the second, Tylah Laurie stopped them from extending their lead.Geelong got one run back in the bottom of the second. Jordan Ellis reached on an error and Jake Chapman doubled as one run scored on a passed ball.
Geelong couldn't escape the top of the third unscathed as Diamond Valley piled on five more runs. Austin Caulfield walked to lead things off, followed by a hard-hit double from Minsung Shin. Oliver Every knocked in two runs on a single, and Honor Hereora, Oliver Von Tuck and Squire joined in the fun with RBI singles of their own. The game was 10-1 in favour of Diamond Valley going into the top of the fourth. Caulfield pitched well, recording two strikeouts on 11 pitches before passing the glove over to Von Tuck who recorded the third out with a fielder's choice.
Ellis singled for Geelong in the bottom of the fourth, but they were kept scoreless as well. The top of the fifth saw Diamond Valley increase their run total to 16, as Shin walked and Every doubled before Windsor Breckenridge brought them both home on a single. Hereora had another single and Von Tuck walked, just in time for Roy Chang to step up to bat and smash his first-ever home run!
This was a big moment for Chang at his first State Winter Championships, made even better by his team's big win. Geelong didn't go down without a fight though, battling through the end and adding five runs in their last inning. Thomas Rome singled, Allistaire Lang doubled and Xavier Galang had an RBI single on a hard-hit ground ball. Ellis doubled, Pat Johnson walked and Chapman and Maisen R got more runners home on fielder's choice.
Chang led Diamond Valley with 3 RBI's while Every and Hereora both had two hits in the game. Diamond Valley had 11 hits overall while Geelong had six. Errors proved costly for both teams as Diamond Valley made one and Geelong made three. This thrilling result put Diamond Valley at 3-0 after day 1, while Geelong has one draw and one loss.
Game 6
Dandenong vs. Sunraysia
8 5
Sunraysia battled hard, but ultimately Dandenong prevailed, bouncing back after a heartbreaking one-run loss to Diamond Valley (Red) the game before.
Harrison Brodie got the start for Dandenong, retiring the side on 17 pitches with two strikeouts in the first inning. Dandenong made the most of their chances, putting up four runs in the first on singles from Theodore Rutgers, William Kent, Ned Johnson, and Jack Garbett-Davidson. Ishant Dittakavi and Brooklyn Riwaka also walked in the inning.
With a 4-0 lead, Dandenong headed into the second with renewed confidence and momentum. They ended up giving up two runs as Diesel Fallon hit a lead-off single before four walks and a base hit from Benji Hayes put two runs on the board. The score didn't stay 4-2 for long, as their next time up Dandenong got one back as Archer Quelch singled and T. Rutgers batted him in.
Sunraysia tied things up 5-5 in the top of the third as a series of walks and hit by pitch batters helped them get their runners on. Determined to win, Dandenong gave their final at-bats a hearty effort, with three walks and a Jax Clarke double getting the job done.
Alex Kane had 2 RBI's in the game to lead Sunraysia, as the team will look to get a win on the board tomorrow morning.
Pool B
Game 1
Diamond Valley (Black) vs. City West
5 15
City West made the most of their scoring opportunities as they prevailed over Diamond Valley (Black) to start their U12 SWC campaign out on a high note. The scoring began early, as City West tacked on five runs with hits from Finn O'Neill and Cooper Bishop-Worn, followed by a run-scoring groundout from Fletcher Wilson. Four straight walks and a wild pitch helped City West take an early five-run lead.
Diamond Valley took two walks in the bottom of the first but they couldn't get on the board. Fielding mistakes proved costly for Diamond Valley as City West extended their lead to 10-0 on two errors, two walks and a hit by pitch in the top of the second. The bottom frame saw Diamond Valley make up some runs with a five-spot on five walks, two hit by pitch and one error.
City West turned their 10-5 lead into a 15-5 advantage in the top of the third as a lead-off double, four walks and Nicholas Kain's single got the job done. Mason Bavdek did an excellent job on the mound to close out the game in favour of City West, retiring the side on 15 pitches with two strikeouts.
Wilson stood out for City West with 2 RBI's and two strikeouts in his inning of work. All in all, City West's pitchers struck out six batters in the game while throwing a no-hitter. Diamond Valley had two errors while City West had just one. Sawyer Fisher and Noah Chun stole bases for Diamond Valley, while Noah McCurdy and O'Neill had two each.
Game 2
Latrobe Valley vs. Bendigo
11 6
Great pitching by Liam Duncan in the first inning gave Latrobe Valley the chance to focus on their offense. Four walks in the bottom of the first was enough to give them a 1-0 lead, which Bendigo quickly took care of. In the top of the second Bendigo recorded six runs on five walks and a fielder's choice that left the bases loaded for Ryan Kinkade. In his first at-bat at his first-ever championships, Ryan smashed a grand slam to give his team a five-run advantage, much to their cheering and enthusiastic support.
Bendigo's lead was short-lived as Latrobe Valley responded bigtime in the bottom of the second. Riley Duncan led off with a single, and seven walks allowed them to tie the game up at six apiece. Jack Thomas retired Bendigo easily in the third, bringing Latrobe Valley up once again. Both Duncan boys walked and Connor McKenzie singled to load the bases. Jackson Amos walked to force in a run, and a sacrifice fly made it 8-6. By the time the inning ended, two walks, a hit by pitch and Cooper Gray's single had given Latrobe Valley an 11-6 victory.
Bendigo's Kinkade led the way with 4 RBI's, while Thomas and Harry Kus each knocked in two runs. L. Duncan threw five first-pitch strikes in 1.2 innings, while both sides did a great job of keeping hits allowed to a minimum. Latrobe Valley had just three in the game while Bendigo had one.
Game 3
Bendigo vs. Diamond Valley (Black)
6 15
Diamond Valley (Black) put up five runs in each of their three innings to cruise to a big victory over Bendigo, an exciting result for the team that suffered a challenging loss to City West to start the day. Diamond Valley collected seven hits to Bendigo's one hit in the game.
Oliver Baillargeon singled to lead off, followed by doubles to Zachary Papadimitriou, Joshua Antonacci and Luke Easthope. Three walks and a hit by pitch made it 5-0 in favour of Diamond Valley. Baillargeon pitched well in the bottom of the first, retiring the side on nine pitches with two strikeouts. Diamond Valley scored two more runs on four runs and two errors in the top of the second.
Bendigo got three back in the bottom frame on a walk, hit by pitch and an error. This didn't faze Diamond Valley as they kept up their pattern of five runs per inning. Six walks and hits by Sawyer Fisher, Joseph Herriman and Easthope gave Diamond Valley a big boost. Bendigo managed three more runs in their last at-bats as four walks and a double by Felix Hughes brought runs home.
Diamond Valley's pitching trio of Baillargeon, Fisher and Libby Morgan recorded six strikeouts, and Easthope led his team with two hits and 2 RBI's.
Game 4
City West vs. Latrobe Valley
11 10
A nail-biter finished in favour of City West as Liam Roswell collected 5 RBI's to lead his team to victory. Baxter Maynard showed off some great pitching in the top of the first with two strikeouts, keeping Latrobe Valley off the board.
City West scored five runs in the bottom frame, with back-to-back base hits by Mason Bavdek and Cooper Bishop-Worn and three straight walks. Nicholas Kain hit an RBI double to make it 5-0. City West gave up seven walks and a big single to Jarrod Turner as Latrobe Valley tied the game in the second.
Noah McCurdy led off for City West in the bottom of the second, hitting the ball hard but Jack Thomas was there for the catch. Five consecutive walks set Liam Roswell up for a thrilling grand slam, putting City West in front 11-5. Latrobe Valley managed seven walks and a hit by pitch to come within one run, but they couldn't quite tie it up. Kain singled at the end of the game and stole two bases but he didn't come around to score. Walks were a problem spot for pitchers in this one-run result, as City West gave up 15 base on balls and Latrobe Valley gave up nine, something both teams will hope to improve moving forward.
Alex Smith did a great job of getting on base for his team, taking three walks and scoring 2 RBI's for Latrobe Valley.
Game 5
Bendigo vs. City West
5 15
Despite only collecting three hits on the day, City West scored 10+ runs for their third straight game, working their way to a 3-0 record at the end of Day 1. They put up five runs in each of their three innings, while Bendigo remained scoreless until the third inning.
Fletcher Wilson doubled and Nicholas Kain singled to bring home the first two runs of the game. Baxter Maynard followed up with an RBI double of his own, and two more walks made it 5-0. Cooper Bishop-Worn pitched well for City West in the bottom of the first, striking out three batters and giving his team the chance to get back up to bat and score more runs.
City West took six walks in the top of the second to extend their lead to 10-0. Bendigo had two runners on base in the bottom frame, but Zak Banks-Broome and Elliot Cole were left stranded. Eight more walks made City West's advantae 15-0 after the top of the third.
Bendigo got five back to finish the game on a high note, with hits to Lachlan James, Darcy Pump and Ryan Kinkade.
Game 6
Diamond Valley (Black) vs. Latrobe Valley
16 15
Both teams made a valiant effort, but a huge grand slam in the last minutes of the game secured the win for Diamond Valley.
Latrobe Valley got off to a good start by taking seven walks and a hit by pitch to score five runs. Five walks and Joshua Antonacci's single helped Diamond Valley score three of their own in the bottom frame. By the time Latrobe Valley was retired in the top of the second, they were ahead 10-3 thanks to another handful of walks.
The pattern continued in the bottom of the second as Diamond Valley took six base on balls, Luke Easthope doubled and Noah Chun singled.
With Diamond Valley trailing but just two runs, Latrobe Valley tried to pull away with the lead once again in the top of the third, tacking on another five runs on consistent walks. Diamond Valley knew they had to make up a lot of ground in the final inning to get the job done, and they certainly did just that. A collection of walks and hit by pitch batters brought Diamond Valley within three, and that's when Easthope came up to bat with the bases loaded. With a mere minute left in the game, he smashed a grand slam to score the go-ahead run and seal a sweet and very memorable victory for Diamond Valley.
Game 2
Sunraysia vs. Diamond Valley (Red)
4 20
Diamond Valley (Red) swung the bat well as Evan Sertis, Darcy Squire and Roy Chang each collected two hits in their first game at the U12 SWC. Four five-run innings sealed the deal for Diamond Valley as they sailed to a massive victory.
Darcy Squire singled and Evan Sertis doubled on a live drive to right field, scoring the first run. Three errors and a walk kept Diamond Valley coming around the bases, as Windsor Breckenridge batted in the fifth run. Honor Hereora did a great job on the mound for Diamond Valley, keeping Sunraysia at bay in the bottom of the first.
Diamond Valley was at it again in the top of the second, when lead-off hitter Lachlan Brennan reached on an error and Hereora walked. Squire singled and came around to score on a wild pitch, and Roy Chang and Kycen Dowling had base hits to score runs as well.. By the time three outs had been recorded, Diamond Valley had worked their way to a 10-0 advantage.
Ben Prince singled for Sunraysia in the bottom half of the inning, but otherwise Hereora kept things under control. Seven walks and a second hit in the game for Sertis made it 15-0 for Diamond Valley in the top of the third. Things were looking up for Sunraysia in the bottom of the third as they got on the board and scored three runs. Zac Scott walked to start the inning and Oliver Hayes singled before the next two batters were retired. Diesel Fallon stepped up to the plate and smashed a double to score one run with two outs, followed by RBI base hits for Deegan Cox and Prince.
Despite giving up a few runs, Diamond Valley was still far in front, confident and controlled. They loaded the bases once again with three consecutive walks in the top of the fourth, two more base on balls and R. Chang's 3-RBI double.
Although Sunraysia was able to score one more run in the bottom frame on a fielder's choice, the victory belonged to Diamond Valley. Both sides showed teamwork and positivity through and through. "We lost but we had a great fight," Sunraysia's Ben Prince said. "We all did well, we all had a good bat and a good field and we all had fun," added Diesel Fallon.
Sertis led Diamond Valley with 4 RBI's, followed by R. Chang's 3 RBI's and two apiece for Breckenridge, Squire and Reeve Hammond. In her 3.2 innings on the mound, Hereora recorded an impressive 12 first-pitch strikes, proving that she will be one of the many players to watch in this tournament.
Game 3
Diamond Valley (Red) vs. Dandenong
8 7
Coming off of first-game victories, both sides were determined to go 2-0, and it showed in their consistent efforts as they battled back-and-forth. Austin Caulfield singled for Diamond Valley (Red) but otherwise it was a quiet first inning for both teams.
Dandenong got their scoring started in the top of the second as Hunter Richardson led off with a single and Jax Clarke walked. A 1-out double by Ned Johnson brought the first runner home, and two more scored on a passed ball and a wild pitch for a three-run advantage. Diamond Valley tried to get something started in return, but a leadoff walk was all they got in the bottom of the second with a pair of strikeout and a fly out.
Diamond Valley had a nice double play in the top of the third to retire Dandenong, and it was in the bottom frame that they evened the score. Darcy Squire and Evan Sertis singled while R. Chang's walk and ground-outs from Caulfield and Windsor Breckenridge also made a difference.
The score was level at 3-3 heading into the top of the fourth when Dandenong tacked on two runs. Hunter Richardson, Archer Quelch and Charlie Waugh had base hits along with Clarke's double to propel Dandenong ahead of their competition. It wouldn't last long as Diamond Valley kept up with them, putting a five-run bottom of the fourth on the board. Lachlan Brennan and Kycen Dowling started things off with singles, and Squire followed up with a base hit of his own. Two walks and a double from Caulfield and a triple from Breckenridge gave Diamond Valley a three-run lead.
Dandenong had two outs and two on in their last inning when an error and a single brought them within one. Andy Chang struck out the final batter to secure Diamond Valley's huge victory. Johnson led Dandenong with three hits in the game and seven first-pitch strikes thrown during his 1.1 innings of work. Breckenridge had 3 RBI's as Diamond Valley collected eight hits compared to Dandenong's 10. Diamond Valley only had one error while Dandenong committed three.
Game 4
Ringwood vs. Geelong
13 13
A terrific game between Ringwood and Geelong saw both teams battle back-and-forth, ultimately resulting in a draw despite brilliant batting efforts from each side.
Finlay McGrotty started for Ringwood, walking the first two batters before settling in and notching three strikeouts on 13 pitches. Xavier Galang took the mound for Geelong, allowing a base hit to Lucas Tucker prior to recording three outs on six pitches. The second inning was a different story scoring-wise as both teams got on the board. Thomas Rome and Beau Spencer walked for Geelong, and Tylah Laurie singled to load the bases. Allistaire Lang took a base on balls to force the run in.
Geelong's one-run lead didn't last long as Ringwood countered in the bottom of the second with five runs. Declan Marshall walked and Denzel Wynne-Primus reached on a error to put two runners on with no outs. Three walks and another error followed as Ringwood worked their way to a 5-1 lead.
Geelong was eager to get back on the board, and they did just that in the top of the third, beginning with a single by Jordan Ellis. A walk and an error set Rome up for an RBI double, and Laurie's RBI base hit brought Geelong within one. A walk and an error loaded the bases for Ellis, who finished the inning with a grand slam!
Despite their newfound deficit, Ringwood didn't slow down, instead putting up five runs in the bottom of the third. McGrotty and Masakiyo Yamamoto had big hits in the inning, while four walks and an error propelled Ringwood to a narrow 10-9 lead. Geelong battled back, with a walk and Reid Sexton's base hit to start the inning. Luke Morrow singled in the go-ahead run, and after Laurie reached on a error and Jake Chapman's double, Geelong was ahead by three runs.
In Ringwood's last chance at bat, they tied the game for a draw thanks to two walks, an error and McCrotty's timely hit. 13-13 was the final score after the valiant effort from both sides. McCrotty allowed only one hit with five strikeouts in two innings of work, while Yamamoto had two big strikeouts in his relief appearance. Geelong's pitching trio of Galang, Sexton and Charlie Bell combined for four hits allowed and three strikeouts.
Geelong's Ellis led both sides with 4 RBI's on two hits, while Marshall did a great job getting on base for Ringwood with three walks. Errors were a problem on both teams as Geelong made six and Ringwood committed three, something they'll look to control in their upcoming games as the Grand Final draws closer.
Game 5
Geelong vs. Diamond Valley (Red)
6 16
Diamond Valley (Red) opened the game with an outburst of offense, starting with Darcy Squire reaching on an error and coming around to score on a single by Evan Sertis. Kycen Dowling was next up to bat, sending a line drive single to centre field. The next three batters walked as Diamond Valley enjoyed a five-run lead.
Geelong was retired on just 11 pitches in the bottom of the first, and although Diamond Valley put two runners on in the top of the second, Tylah Laurie stopped them from extending their lead.Geelong got one run back in the bottom of the second. Jordan Ellis reached on an error and Jake Chapman doubled as one run scored on a passed ball.
Geelong couldn't escape the top of the third unscathed as Diamond Valley piled on five more runs. Austin Caulfield walked to lead things off, followed by a hard-hit double from Minsung Shin. Oliver Every knocked in two runs on a single, and Honor Hereora, Oliver Von Tuck and Squire joined in the fun with RBI singles of their own. The game was 10-1 in favour of Diamond Valley going into the top of the fourth. Caulfield pitched well, recording two strikeouts on 11 pitches before passing the glove over to Von Tuck who recorded the third out with a fielder's choice.
Ellis singled for Geelong in the bottom of the fourth, but they were kept scoreless as well. The top of the fifth saw Diamond Valley increase their run total to 16, as Shin walked and Every doubled before Windsor Breckenridge brought them both home on a single. Hereora had another single and Von Tuck walked, just in time for Roy Chang to step up to bat and smash his first-ever home run!
This was a big moment for Chang at his first State Winter Championships, made even better by his team's big win. Geelong didn't go down without a fight though, battling through the end and adding five runs in their last inning. Thomas Rome singled, Allistaire Lang doubled and Xavier Galang had an RBI single on a hard-hit ground ball. Ellis doubled, Pat Johnson walked and Chapman and Maisen R got more runners home on fielder's choice.
Chang led Diamond Valley with 3 RBI's while Every and Hereora both had two hits in the game. Diamond Valley had 11 hits overall while Geelong had six. Errors proved costly for both teams as Diamond Valley made one and Geelong made three. This thrilling result put Diamond Valley at 3-0 after day 1, while Geelong has one draw and one loss.
Game 6
Dandenong vs. Sunraysia
8 5
Sunraysia battled hard, but ultimately Dandenong prevailed, bouncing back after a heartbreaking one-run loss to Diamond Valley (Red) the game before.
Harrison Brodie got the start for Dandenong, retiring the side on 17 pitches with two strikeouts in the first inning. Dandenong made the most of their chances, putting up four runs in the first on singles from Theodore Rutgers, William Kent, Ned Johnson, and Jack Garbett-Davidson. Ishant Dittakavi and Brooklyn Riwaka also walked in the inning.
With a 4-0 lead, Dandenong headed into the second with renewed confidence and momentum. They ended up giving up two runs as Diesel Fallon hit a lead-off single before four walks and a base hit from Benji Hayes put two runs on the board. The score didn't stay 4-2 for long, as their next time up Dandenong got one back as Archer Quelch singled and T. Rutgers batted him in.
Sunraysia tied things up 5-5 in the top of the third as a series of walks and hit by pitch batters helped them get their runners on. Determined to win, Dandenong gave their final at-bats a hearty effort, with three walks and a Jax Clarke double getting the job done.
Alex Kane had 2 RBI's in the game to lead Sunraysia, as the team will look to get a win on the board tomorrow morning.
Pool B
Game 1
Diamond Valley (Black) vs. City West
5 15
City West made the most of their scoring opportunities as they prevailed over Diamond Valley (Black) to start their U12 SWC campaign out on a high note. The scoring began early, as City West tacked on five runs with hits from Finn O'Neill and Cooper Bishop-Worn, followed by a run-scoring groundout from Fletcher Wilson. Four straight walks and a wild pitch helped City West take an early five-run lead.
Diamond Valley took two walks in the bottom of the first but they couldn't get on the board. Fielding mistakes proved costly for Diamond Valley as City West extended their lead to 10-0 on two errors, two walks and a hit by pitch in the top of the second. The bottom frame saw Diamond Valley make up some runs with a five-spot on five walks, two hit by pitch and one error.
City West turned their 10-5 lead into a 15-5 advantage in the top of the third as a lead-off double, four walks and Nicholas Kain's single got the job done. Mason Bavdek did an excellent job on the mound to close out the game in favour of City West, retiring the side on 15 pitches with two strikeouts.
Wilson stood out for City West with 2 RBI's and two strikeouts in his inning of work. All in all, City West's pitchers struck out six batters in the game while throwing a no-hitter. Diamond Valley had two errors while City West had just one. Sawyer Fisher and Noah Chun stole bases for Diamond Valley, while Noah McCurdy and O'Neill had two each.
Game 2
Latrobe Valley vs. Bendigo
11 6
Great pitching by Liam Duncan in the first inning gave Latrobe Valley the chance to focus on their offense. Four walks in the bottom of the first was enough to give them a 1-0 lead, which Bendigo quickly took care of. In the top of the second Bendigo recorded six runs on five walks and a fielder's choice that left the bases loaded for Ryan Kinkade. In his first at-bat at his first-ever championships, Ryan smashed a grand slam to give his team a five-run advantage, much to their cheering and enthusiastic support.
Bendigo's lead was short-lived as Latrobe Valley responded bigtime in the bottom of the second. Riley Duncan led off with a single, and seven walks allowed them to tie the game up at six apiece. Jack Thomas retired Bendigo easily in the third, bringing Latrobe Valley up once again. Both Duncan boys walked and Connor McKenzie singled to load the bases. Jackson Amos walked to force in a run, and a sacrifice fly made it 8-6. By the time the inning ended, two walks, a hit by pitch and Cooper Gray's single had given Latrobe Valley an 11-6 victory.
Bendigo's Kinkade led the way with 4 RBI's, while Thomas and Harry Kus each knocked in two runs. L. Duncan threw five first-pitch strikes in 1.2 innings, while both sides did a great job of keeping hits allowed to a minimum. Latrobe Valley had just three in the game while Bendigo had one.
Game 3
Bendigo vs. Diamond Valley (Black)
6 15
Diamond Valley (Black) put up five runs in each of their three innings to cruise to a big victory over Bendigo, an exciting result for the team that suffered a challenging loss to City West to start the day. Diamond Valley collected seven hits to Bendigo's one hit in the game.
Oliver Baillargeon singled to lead off, followed by doubles to Zachary Papadimitriou, Joshua Antonacci and Luke Easthope. Three walks and a hit by pitch made it 5-0 in favour of Diamond Valley. Baillargeon pitched well in the bottom of the first, retiring the side on nine pitches with two strikeouts. Diamond Valley scored two more runs on four runs and two errors in the top of the second.
Bendigo got three back in the bottom frame on a walk, hit by pitch and an error. This didn't faze Diamond Valley as they kept up their pattern of five runs per inning. Six walks and hits by Sawyer Fisher, Joseph Herriman and Easthope gave Diamond Valley a big boost. Bendigo managed three more runs in their last at-bats as four walks and a double by Felix Hughes brought runs home.
Diamond Valley's pitching trio of Baillargeon, Fisher and Libby Morgan recorded six strikeouts, and Easthope led his team with two hits and 2 RBI's.
Game 4
City West vs. Latrobe Valley
11 10
A nail-biter finished in favour of City West as Liam Roswell collected 5 RBI's to lead his team to victory. Baxter Maynard showed off some great pitching in the top of the first with two strikeouts, keeping Latrobe Valley off the board.
City West scored five runs in the bottom frame, with back-to-back base hits by Mason Bavdek and Cooper Bishop-Worn and three straight walks. Nicholas Kain hit an RBI double to make it 5-0. City West gave up seven walks and a big single to Jarrod Turner as Latrobe Valley tied the game in the second.
Noah McCurdy led off for City West in the bottom of the second, hitting the ball hard but Jack Thomas was there for the catch. Five consecutive walks set Liam Roswell up for a thrilling grand slam, putting City West in front 11-5. Latrobe Valley managed seven walks and a hit by pitch to come within one run, but they couldn't quite tie it up. Kain singled at the end of the game and stole two bases but he didn't come around to score. Walks were a problem spot for pitchers in this one-run result, as City West gave up 15 base on balls and Latrobe Valley gave up nine, something both teams will hope to improve moving forward.
Alex Smith did a great job of getting on base for his team, taking three walks and scoring 2 RBI's for Latrobe Valley.
Game 5
Bendigo vs. City West
5 15
Despite only collecting three hits on the day, City West scored 10+ runs for their third straight game, working their way to a 3-0 record at the end of Day 1. They put up five runs in each of their three innings, while Bendigo remained scoreless until the third inning.
Fletcher Wilson doubled and Nicholas Kain singled to bring home the first two runs of the game. Baxter Maynard followed up with an RBI double of his own, and two more walks made it 5-0. Cooper Bishop-Worn pitched well for City West in the bottom of the first, striking out three batters and giving his team the chance to get back up to bat and score more runs.
City West took six walks in the top of the second to extend their lead to 10-0. Bendigo had two runners on base in the bottom frame, but Zak Banks-Broome and Elliot Cole were left stranded. Eight more walks made City West's advantae 15-0 after the top of the third.
Bendigo got five back to finish the game on a high note, with hits to Lachlan James, Darcy Pump and Ryan Kinkade.
Game 6
Diamond Valley (Black) vs. Latrobe Valley
16 15
Both teams made a valiant effort, but a huge grand slam in the last minutes of the game secured the win for Diamond Valley.
Latrobe Valley got off to a good start by taking seven walks and a hit by pitch to score five runs. Five walks and Joshua Antonacci's single helped Diamond Valley score three of their own in the bottom frame. By the time Latrobe Valley was retired in the top of the second, they were ahead 10-3 thanks to another handful of walks.
The pattern continued in the bottom of the second as Diamond Valley took six base on balls, Luke Easthope doubled and Noah Chun singled.
With Diamond Valley trailing but just two runs, Latrobe Valley tried to pull away with the lead once again in the top of the third, tacking on another five runs on consistent walks. Diamond Valley knew they had to make up a lot of ground in the final inning to get the job done, and they certainly did just that. A collection of walks and hit by pitch batters brought Diamond Valley within three, and that's when Easthope came up to bat with the bases loaded. With a mere minute left in the game, he smashed a grand slam to score the go-ahead run and seal a sweet and very memorable victory for Diamond Valley.