Match Report- Division 1- Preston @ Doncaster
Saturday 15th January 2015
#vsbl
Interview with Ben Utting of Doncaster.
Direct link to podcast is at this link.
Doncaster returned from the break with some confidence after seven wins in conference 1, their last in their final game of 2014 against Melbourne. Meanwhile Preston are sitting second in conference 2 and were looking to continue their strong season. Both teams have strong left handed starting pitchers and no midweek games until the 20th of January so it promised to be a pitching tussle and the game didn’t disappoint.
Starting line up for Preston- Evans 4, Bass 5, Deeble 3, Ley 6, Betrand 2, Hood 9, Smiley 1, Farrell 7, Legge 8.
Doncaster- Unland 5, Carr 4, Utting 6, McDonald 7, Lethborg 9, Cutt DH, Findlay 2, Mazzacacatto 8, Reeves 3. Wesphal DH.
1st Innings- Westphal of Doncaster was on target and threw two strikeouts and an infield pop-up to start the game. Smiley of Preston was also accurate. However, Utting continued his form with a two out single that dropped short of the left fielder’s glove and then stole 2nd without a throw coming over. It wasn’t enough for the Dragons as Smiley finished it with a strikeout.
2nd Innings- Carr of the Dragons took a good catch at 2nd for the 1st out to rob Ley of a hit, and then Betrand walked for the Pirates and almost got picked off at 1st. Another strikeout and a wild throw put him into scoring position but he was left there as Westphal threw another strikeout to end it.
Lethborg led off with a hard hit ground ball to deep right. Cutt bunted then advanced to second on a wild throw but Smiley got three infield contact outs to leave the two runners in place. Nil all after two.
3rd Innings- Westphal looked like he really had his eye in as he started with two strikeouts. Back at the top of the Pirates order and Evans drew a two out walk. Westphal took it in his stride and added to his tally when he threw a curve that dropped off the table nicely for the third out.
Smiley of the Pirates wasn’t to be outdone and sat the batters down in order. Both teams were making contact so it looked like some runs could be scored. Both pitchers had good control of the game. Score nil all.
4th Innings- Ley hit to right, then advanced on a pass ball. Betrand grounded out and got him to 3rd with two out. However Westphal worked a grounder to 1st and we went to the bottom of the frame.
Smiley was looking like he had honed in and sat them down in order again to give Preston another go at the plate.
Smiley batted for Preston and got on after a dropped 3rd strike. Then Legge scored him after Farrel sac bunted. Another bunt got Evans on and put Legge into scoring position but Westphal took control again and finished it with a strikeout. Score Preston 1, Doncaster 0.
Michael Mazzacatto hit to left then showed great base running skill to steal second after an attempted pick-off move by the left handed Smiley. At the top of the Doncaster order again and Unland lined a single to centre to score the run and tie the game. Carr hit to 3rd and got a favourable bounce for two out and two on for the in-form Utting. Unland stole 3rd but Utting grounded out and Smiley maintained control. Score 1-1.
5th Innings Both Westphal and Smiley stayed in control to keep the game even.
6th Innings- Westphal struck out one then Bertrand walked and nearly got picked off again after the second K. Doncaster left it there and went into the bottom to try and break the deadlock.
McDonald hit deep into left but Farrell of the Pirates ran it down to make a good catch and Smiley sat the others down in order again.
7th Innings- Westphal worked another strikeout and got the Preston batters in order.
Travis Bass took the hill from Smiley after the Preston lefty completed a powerful display. Findlay singled to centre right and Mazzacatto bunted safely to put him into scoring position. Reeves sac bunted to advance both runners which brought up the top of the Doncaster order. Unland grounded to the infield and an error at the plate scored the tie breaker. Doncaster 2, Preston 1. Utting got on with an intentional walk to load them up with two out but Bass absorbed the pressure and a groundout to 2nd finished the innings. Doncaster 2, Preston 1.
8th Innings- Westphal also vacated after dominating for seven innings and Andrew Chesterton took the hill for Doncaster. Bass walked but got caught stealing 2nd after a strikeout and a pop-up ended it. Doncaster still leading 2-1.
Bass had his eye in and finished the dig with a strikeout looking.
9th innings- Callum Lethborg took the mound to close for Doncaster nursing a one run lead. Hood of the Pirates doubled to left with one out and became the tieing run. He was unable to advance on a pop-up to right then Farrell got HBP to make it 1st and 2nd occupied. Lethborg steadied and finished with a comeback groundout to 1st.
Great pitching from both teams, Smiley didn't throw a walk and Westphal threw 14 strikeouts. There was also some great base running from Doncaster.
Doncaster won 2-1.
Smiley- Innings 6, Hits 4, K 3, BB 0, Balls 28, Strikes 54, Pitches 82.
Westphal- Innings 7, Hits 3, K 14, BB 3, Balls 38, Strikes 67, Pitches 105.
Report by Cam Gleeson
All images courtesy of Sharon Fittock from Preston Baseball Club.
Match Report- Division 1- Preston @ Doncaster
Saturday 15th January 2015
#vsbl
Interview with Ben Utting of Doncaster.
Direct link to podcast is at this link.
Doncaster returned from the break with some confidence after seven wins in conference 1, their last in their final game of 2014 against Melbourne. Meanwhile Preston are sitting second in conference 2 and were looking to continue their strong season. Both teams have strong left handed starting pitchers and no midweek games until the 20th of January so it promised to be a pitching tussle and the game didn’t disappoint.
Starting line up for Preston- Evans 4, Bass 5, Deeble 3, Ley 6, Betrand 2, Hood 9, Smiley 1, Farrell 7, Legge 8.
Doncaster- Unland 5, Carr 4, Utting 6, McDonald 7, Lethborg 9, Cutt DH, Findlay 2, Mazzacacatto 8, Reeves 3. Wesphal DH.
1st Innings- Westphal of Doncaster was on target and threw two strikeouts and an infield pop-up to start the game. Smiley of Preston was also accurate. However, Utting continued his form with a two out single that dropped short of the left fielder’s glove and then stole 2nd without a throw coming over. It wasn’t enough for the Dragons as Smiley finished it with a strikeout.
2nd Innings- Carr of the Dragons took a good catch at 2nd for the 1st out to rob Ley of a hit, and then Betrand walked for the Pirates and almost got picked off at 1st. Another strikeout and a wild throw put him into scoring position but he was left there as Westphal threw another strikeout to end it.
Lethborg led off with a hard hit ground ball to deep right. Cutt bunted then advanced to second on a wild throw but Smiley got three infield contact outs to leave the two runners in place. Nil all after two.
3rd Innings- Westphal looked like he really had his eye in as he started with two strikeouts. Back at the top of the Pirates order and Evans drew a two out walk. Westphal took it in his stride and added to his tally when he threw a curve that dropped off the table nicely for the third out.
Smiley of the Pirates wasn’t to be outdone and sat the batters down in order. Both teams were making contact so it looked like some runs could be scored. Both pitchers had good control of the game. Score nil all.
4th Innings- Ley hit to right, then advanced on a pass ball. Betrand grounded out and got him to 3rd with two out. However Westphal worked a grounder to 1st and we went to the bottom of the frame.
Smiley was looking like he had honed in and sat them down in order again to give Preston another go at the plate.
Smiley batted for Preston and got on after a dropped 3rd strike. Then Legge scored him after Farrel sac bunted. Another bunt got Evans on and put Legge into scoring position but Westphal took control again and finished it with a strikeout. Score Preston 1, Doncaster 0.
Michael Mazzacatto hit to left then showed great base running skill to steal second after an attempted pick-off move by the left handed Smiley. At the top of the Doncaster order again and Unland lined a single to centre to score the run and tie the game. Carr hit to 3rd and got a favourable bounce for two out and two on for the in-form Utting. Unland stole 3rd but Utting grounded out and Smiley maintained control. Score 1-1.
5th Innings Both Westphal and Smiley stayed in control to keep the game even.
6th Innings- Westphal struck out one then Bertrand walked and nearly got picked off again after the second K. Doncaster left it there and went into the bottom to try and break the deadlock.
McDonald hit deep into left but Farrell of the Pirates ran it down to make a good catch and Smiley sat the others down in order again.
7th Innings- Westphal worked another strikeout and got the Preston batters in order.
Travis Bass took the hill from Smiley after the Preston lefty completed a powerful display. Findlay singled to centre right and Mazzacatto bunted safely to put him into scoring position. Reeves sac bunted to advance both runners which brought up the top of the Doncaster order. Unland grounded to the infield and an error at the plate scored the tie breaker. Doncaster 2, Preston 1. Utting got on with an intentional walk to load them up with two out but Bass absorbed the pressure and a groundout to 2nd finished the innings. Doncaster 2, Preston 1.
8th Innings- Westphal also vacated after dominating for seven innings and Andrew Chesterton took the hill for Doncaster. Bass walked but got caught stealing 2nd after a strikeout and a pop-up ended it. Doncaster still leading 2-1.
Bass had his eye in and finished the dig with a strikeout looking.
9th innings- Callum Lethborg took the mound to close for Doncaster nursing a one run lead. Hood of the Pirates doubled to left with one out and became the tieing run. He was unable to advance on a pop-up to right then Farrell got HBP to make it 1st and 2nd occupied. Lethborg steadied and finished with a comeback groundout to 1st.
Great pitching from both teams, Smiley didn't throw a walk and Westphal threw 14 strikeouts. There was also some great base running from Doncaster.
Doncaster won 2-1.
Smiley- Innings 6, Hits 4, K 3, BB 0, Balls 28, Strikes 54, Pitches 82.
Westphal- Innings 7, Hits 3, K 14, BB 3, Balls 38, Strikes 67, Pitches 105.
Report by Cam Gleeson
All images courtesy of Sharon Fittock from Preston Baseball Club.