Editor’s Note: Apologies for the delay in getting the Weekly Wraps posted but all of us here have been chipping in to get the 3,000 Baseball Victoria Melbourne Aces Membership packs ready for Wednesday’s Presidents and Secretaries meeting. If you haven’t received your SportPass, please contact your Club President.
After an exciting weekend of Division 1 baseball, Melbourne and Waverley are still undefeated whilst Essendon sits even with Geelong with three wins after losing to the Baycats. Impressive performances from around the comp included: Geelong’s Rudy Jaramillo, Ben Utting of Doncaster, Melbourne’s Matthew Kent, Nick Rossell of Blackburn and George Callil of Cheltenham to name just a few players who have fans salivating at the prospect about what the rest of the season will bring.
Though they hit well, Doncaster and Springvale both are still looking for their first win of the season.
Waverley 6, Blackburn 5
Although they were outhit seven to nine, host Waverley managed to win a game where the elements played a significant role. Wind especially seem to affect both teams who each made critical errors.
Blackburn scored two runs in the first inning on a double by Nick Rossell (3 for 4) and some costly mistakes by the home team. Wildcats pitcher Luke Papananicolaou straightened up in the second inning when he threw three strikeouts to leave the score at 2-0. His team then came out and scored three in the bottom of the frame after singles from Andrew and Mitch Hayes and a walk to Papananicolaou. Jesse Gavin departed the mound for Blackburn during the fourth after Oliver Dunn negotiated a bases on balls. Nicholas Barret then took over, allowing singles to Justin Burke and Matthew Beattie (who knocked in Dunn), making the score 4-2 Waverley.
Blackburn evened the game in the seventh on a David Tierney double and walks by Ryan Berg and Rossell, both runs scoring on errors. In the bottom of the seventh, Jarryd Dale singled for Waverley and after a couple more errors two runs crossed the plate to put the Wildcats up two, 6-4. The Orioles got within one in the ninth after Rossell struck again with a double, but couldn’t ever even the score.
With the win the Wildcats remained unbeaten while the Orioles fell to .500 with a 2-2 mark.
Cheltenham 3, Doncaster 1
The pitchers were in complete control as the spectators had to wait until the fifth inning before a run was scored. Simon Fitzmaurice started for the hometown Dragons and showed impressive control, striking out six Rustlers on the day. The only hit that Cheltenham got before the fifth was when George Callil tripled in the second before being stranded. Callil stepped up again in the fifth and doubled with one out, then Sam Trend-Beacon, Brett Curnow and Dylan Trevorah all followed with singles to plate three runs. Although Callil didn’t get credit with an official run batted in, his at bats were critical to the win in the low-scoring affair.
Doncaster went down although they outhit their opponents, 6-5. The Dragons challenged Rustler’s pitcher Bryan Kloppe early and often, hitting three doubles and a single in the first four innings despite not scoring a run. Manager Ben Utting got three hits, two of them doubles.
After four games, Cheltenham sits at 2-2 while Doncaster has yet to record a victory.
Melbourne 10, Springvale 2
It was a day for the batters out at Surrey Park as the Demons hit safely 14 times and Springvale earned 10 knocks. Three players—Matthew Kent, Robert Hondramatis and Tristan Ford—each recorded two hits for Melbourne whilst Scott Wearne got three hits and Lucas Price added another couple for the losing side.
Springvale jumped on Melbourne immediately in the top of the first when Wearne doubled then Freddy Flores, Glenn Mascoll and Price all singled, putting the Lions up two runs. The Demons were quick to reply, though, stringing together five hits in the second inning with two outs. Adam Burton, Kent, Hondramatis, Nathan Aron and Matthew Blackmore all doubled propelling Melbourne to a 6-2 advantage. After a single run in the sixth, two hit by pitches and an error in the seventh allowed the Demons to score three more runs and provide the final margin of victory.
With the win, Melbourne remain undefeated whilst Springvale are still looking for their first triumph.
Sandringham 3, Newport 1
Despite windy conditions at Jack Guiliano Field in Sandringham, this contest was dominated by the pitchers on both teams. Cameron McNish and Stephen Pengelly threw for Newport, while Sandringham had Spencer Jack and Terry Jeon on the bump. Newport’s only run was scored in the fifth after a single by Dean Anglin with subsequent walks to Zac Siepolt and Heath Black. Scot Malthouse grounded into a double play, allowing Anglin to score.
On singles by Tony Cevec and Ryan Morris in the third, the Royals plated one run. Then a walk and a couple of wild throws by Rams infielders cost Newport dearly.
Sandringham went ahead for good with two outs in the fourth inning when Jordy Barnett singled and came home on sacrifice fly by Jake Wonnacott.
Original report supplied by Geoff Francis of Sandringham Baseball Club.
Geelong 5, Essendon 0
The Bombers didn’t perform at their best but you can’t take anything away from the visiting Baycats. Geelong looked great, buoyed by a star performance from Rudy Jaramillo both on the mound and at the bat. For more details on this match see our Match of the Round section.
Preston 13, Sunshine 1
Thanks to two runs in the first, one in the second, eight in the third and one in the fourth, the Pirates dominated the Eagles, 13-1, in Sunshine. Five players for Preston—Leigh Bertrand, Edward Buzachero, Cameron Deeble, Ryan Evans, and Jorday Ley—all had multiple hits and Taisuke Sakaguchi contributed a triple to the Pirates’ cause.