SURFERS PARADISE, QLD. — Surfers Paradise lived up to its name on the second day of the Australian Junior League Championships. In tune with Day 2, doubles and a pair of grand slams led the scoring as four games went final over the course of the day.
Game 1: Perth Metro North 11, Canberra 6
Perth Metro North scored 11 runs in the final four innings to cruise to an 11-6 win over Canberra.
After home team Canberra got on the board first with a run in the bottom of the third frame, Perth Metro North rallied for three runs in the top of the next innings, capped off by a two-run home run by Shane Turner. But Canberra tied the game at 3-3 with two runs in the bottom of the innings. The Metros roared back for four runs in the next innings, reclaiming the lead for good.
Game 2: Adelaide South 14, Hills 0
Adelaide South opened its pool play with a strong 14-0 shutout win over Hills in five innings, highlighted by a six-run third innings.
The winning team jumped ahead to an early 3-0 lead in the first frame, entering the pivotal sixth innings already with an advantage. Five different batters drove in runs, highlighted by a two-run home run off the bat of Cameron Blackwell. The inning ended when the Hills rightfielder made an acrobatic leaping catch near the outfield fence. Adelaide South added one run in the fourth and four more in the fifth to claim a 14-0 victory in five innings.
Game 3: Perth Metro Central 11, Brisbane North 0
The Perth Central Firebirds needed five innings to win their first game of the tournament over Brisbane North, claiming an 11-0 win as the home team.
The Firebirds struck first in the bottom of the second innings, when Shane Turner rose to the occasion with the bases loaded, hitting a grand slam to put Perth ahead 4-0. Luke Houston added to the Firebirds’ lead with a two-run home run in the third innings, and the team scored five more times in the ballgame to seal a shutout win.
Game 4: Yarra Rangers 23, Ryde 1
Led by a stellar day from shortstop Jarryd Dale, the Yarra Rangers made a splash in pool play with a dominant victory 23-1 victory over Ryde.
Dale went 4-for-4 at the plate with two home runs, a double, and a triple. His first home run, a three-run shot in the first innings, highlighted a four-run frame for the Rangers. Yarra pulled away even further with seven runs in the second innings, four in the third on a grand slam. Visiting team Ryde pushed one run across the plate in the top of the fourth innings, but the Rangers added eight more in the bottom of the fourth to close the book on the win.
After two days of interrupted play due to wet weather, Day 3 should see the tournament back on track. Diamond 1 is scheduled to start at 7:30am with Southern Mariners v Brisbane South. Some games will also be moved to Runaway Bay Baseball Club as grounds all over South East Queensland start to dry out. View the Schedule updates, watch full game replays and highlights at ABLTV.com and all event information at LITTLELEAGUE.ORG.AU/AJLC
SURFERS PARADISE, QLD. — Surfers Paradise lived up to its name on the second day of the Australian Junior League Championships. In tune with Day 2, doubles and a pair of grand slams led the scoring as four games went final over the course of the day.
Game 1: Perth Metro North 11, Canberra 6
Perth Metro North scored 11 runs in the final four innings to cruise to an 11-6 win over Canberra.
After home team Canberra got on the board first with a run in the bottom of the third frame, Perth Metro North rallied for three runs in the top of the next innings, capped off by a two-run home run by Shane Turner. But Canberra tied the game at 3-3 with two runs in the bottom of the innings. The Metros roared back for four runs in the next innings, reclaiming the lead for good.
Game 2: Adelaide South 14, Hills 0
Adelaide South opened its pool play with a strong 14-0 shutout win over Hills in five innings, highlighted by a six-run third innings.
The winning team jumped ahead to an early 3-0 lead in the first frame, entering the pivotal sixth innings already with an advantage. Five different batters drove in runs, highlighted by a two-run home run off the bat of Cameron Blackwell. The inning ended when the Hills rightfielder made an acrobatic leaping catch near the outfield fence. Adelaide South added one run in the fourth and four more in the fifth to claim a 14-0 victory in five innings.
Game 3: Perth Metro Central 11, Brisbane North 0
The Perth Central Firebirds needed five innings to win their first game of the tournament over Brisbane North, claiming an 11-0 win as the home team.
The Firebirds struck first in the bottom of the second innings, when Shane Turner rose to the occasion with the bases loaded, hitting a grand slam to put Perth ahead 4-0. Luke Houston added to the Firebirds’ lead with a two-run home run in the third innings, and the team scored five more times in the ballgame to seal a shutout win.
Game 4: Yarra Rangers 23, Ryde 1
Led by a stellar day from shortstop Jarryd Dale, the Yarra Rangers made a splash in pool play with a dominant victory 23-1 victory over Ryde.
Dale went 4-for-4 at the plate with two home runs, a double, and a triple. His first home run, a three-run shot in the first innings, highlighted a four-run frame for the Rangers. Yarra pulled away even further with seven runs in the second innings, four in the third on a grand slam. Visiting team Ryde pushed one run across the plate in the top of the fourth innings, but the Rangers added eight more in the bottom of the fourth to close the book on the win.
After two days of interrupted play due to wet weather, Day 3 should see the tournament back on track. Diamond 1 is scheduled to start at 7:30am with Southern Mariners v Brisbane South. Some games will also be moved to Runaway Bay Baseball Club as grounds all over South East Queensland start to dry out. View the Schedule updates, watch full game replays and highlights at ABLTV.com and all event information at LITTLELEAGUE.ORG.AU/AJLC