Springvale 6 Defeated Doncaster 2 at Springvale.
Both of these teams came to play after four rounds of the season without a win. Springvale have been hitting well to date and infamously played in a game where they scored 21 runs and lost. Meanwhile Doncaster have had Simon Fitzmaurice starting well on the hill and have been hitting in every game but have been unable to score many runs.
That changed straight away though on Saturday afternoon when The Dragons got two in the first innings. Scott Carr led off and was HBP, then Michael Mazzacatto got on with an error, Da’Voine singled for an RBI and Brendan McDonald grounded out for another RBI.
The pitchers on both teams settled in from there and scattered the hits until the middle of the game. For Springvale Glen Richards doubled in the second, Barnden singled in the fourth and Hayle singled in the fifth. Fitzmaurice on the mound for Doncaster took those hits in his stride and managed to leave the scorebook blank and maintain the Dragon’s two run lead until the sixth.
In that innings Scott Wearne led off with a walk, then Chris Maurer crafted a safe bunt down the line to third before Glenn Mascoll, Glen Richards and Matthew Hayle (3 for4) all singled. Barnden had been HBP earlier in the innings and after he scored the Lions were ahead 6-4. Fitzmaurice left the mound with one out and was replaced by Marcel D’Avoine who then continued through the seventh. Ben Utting pitched the eighth for the visitors.
The standouts for Springvale were Freddy Flores who threw nine innings for the win after 13 strikeouts and added a hit of his own. Matthew Hayle was also outstanding with the bat for The Lions with three hits.
Hits
Springvale 9
Maurer 1, Flores 1, Mascoll 1, Barnden 1, Richards 2, Hayle 3.
Doncaster 5
D’Avoine 1, McDonald 1, Utting 1, Findlay 1 (double), Reeves 1.
Pitching Highlights-
Flores (Springvale)- Innings 9, Hits 5, Ks 13, ER 1, BB 3, BFP 38, Pitches 137, Balls 48, Strikes 89.
Fitzmaurice (Doncaster)- Innings 5.33, Hits 7, Ks 2, BB 1, ER 3, BFP 24, Pitches 81, Balls 31, Strikes 50.