Malvern Braves took a 1-0 lead in the VSBL Division 2 Grand Final Series with a big 12-4 win over Williamstown Wolves on Thursday night at Melbourne Ballpark.
The Braves came in hot, piling on three runs in the first inning before another runner came around to score in the second. Malvern kept up the pace, extending the scoreline to 5-0 in the third. Williamstown battled back, scoring three in the fourth to get right back in the game, but the Braves weren't fazed, scoring another run in the fifth and three more in the sixth.
Gavin Woolger continued his red-hot streak, smashing a triple, and by the end of the seventh his team was up 12-3.
Sean Cruz had a quality start before handing it over to Mitch Kennedy for a scoreless eighth. While the Wolves got one back in the ninth, the Braves still cruised to a crucial first game victory.
Dennis Neal took the mound for Williamstown at the start of the game, although the Braves jumped on the pitches early. In contrast, Cruz kept things under control for the first few innings for Malvern. "He had a solid quality outing, he wasn’t as sharp as he has been in the last couple of weeks but he still produced, he competed really well and gave us a good quality start," Malvern Coach Phil Dale said. "He gave us a chance, the main thing last night was offence, we started producing straight away."
While Woolger, Ryan Dale and Jack Hanger contributed effectively at the plate, it was a great effort by the entire Malvern lineup that made this win possible. "Everybody put in some good at-bats to score 12 runs," Dale said. "We're lucky we got off to a good start. Williamstown bounced back and got three runs in the fourth, but we came straight back with some more runs."
While the Braves have the advantage going into Saturday's game, they know they can never be too careful or prepared. "It's going to be a tough battle Saturday, with different weather conditions," Dale said. "I feel a lot better going into there with one win, but we have to play a really tough game. That second one is probably the most important game, anything can happen."
Defense will be at the forefront of Malvern's approach on the weekend. "Jon Kennedy will be on the mound for us, so we've got a quality starter," Dale said. "Williamstown's starters are good, last night the wind was just blowing out a little for more offense but Saturday will be more defensive with tighter pitching."
While Woolger, Ryan Dale and Jack Hanger contributed effectively at the plate, it was a great effort by the entire Malvern lineup that made this win possible. "Everybody put in some good at-bats to score 12 runs," Dale said. "We're lucky we got off to a good start. Williamstown bounced back and got three runs in the fourth, but we came straight back with some more runs."
While the Braves have the advantage going into Saturday's game, they know they can never be too careful or prepared. "It's going to be a tough battle Saturday, with different weather conditions," Dale said. "I feel a lot better going into there with one win, but we have to play a really tough game. That second one is probably the most important game, anything can happen."
Defense will be at the forefront of Malvern's approach on the weekend. "Jon Kennedy will be on the mound for us, so we've got a quality starter," Dale said. "Williamstown's starters are good, last night the wind was just blowing out a little for more offense but Saturday will be more defensive with tighter pitching."