Interview with David White, Newport Baseball Club. Can't see the player? Click here.
The game started with two lefties when Kline took the hill for Newport and Yarran for Upwey. Both gave up a run in the first. Newport however took four walks and five stolen bases for their one run to let Upwey off the hook.
Weir lead off with a walk in the top of the 2nd then Kline singled to shallow centre. Jordan Young bunted for a sacrifice to put them both in scoring position. Vicary-Lovegrove drove deeper to centre to score Weir on a double. The in-form Malthouse then brought in another on a sac fly to left but Vicary-Lovegrove got tagged trying for third to end the innings in the same play. Newport was then leading 3-1.
Cassidy walked in the bottom of the frame but with two out Kline threw a low breaking curve to finish it with a strikeout.
In the top of the 3rd Seipolt hit a long single to advance Jeremy young to 3rd, after he had earlier beat out a single deep into the hole at short. Yarran steadied though and that's where they stayed.
Kline got hold of the situation in the bottom of the 3rd and finished it with a curve ball strike out again.
Vicary-Lovegrove walked for Newport with one out to start the action in the top of the fourth then he advanced to second on a pass ball and stole third standing up. After Malthouse walked Yarran of the Tigers made way on the mound for Mark Jones. Vicary-Lovegrove then scored on a wild throw from the catcher and Heath Black walked to make it second and third occupied with one out. Jeremy Young walked and Seipolt snuck by a tag at 1st to score an RBI with two out then a groundout finished it off. Newport was then leading 5-1.
Kline hit a batter in the bottom of the dig but other than that looked in command for the 3 outs.
Rice of Upwey made a good play at short to back up Jones for the second out in the top of the 5th. Vicary-Lovegrove got HBP and Malthouse walked with two out. Vicary-Lovegrove scored on an error before Jones finished it with a strikeout. Newport was then leading 6-1.
Kline sat down the batters in order again in the bottom of the frame.
Foreman of Newport singled to right, and then advanced on an error to start the 6th. Jeremy Young singled and Foreman scored on another error. Young made it to 3rd after a sac fly, but Jones used his field to end it there. Newport was then leading 7-1.
Bottom 6 and Jeremy Young of the Rams made a sharp bare handed play from third to steal a running bunt off Rice. Elliott got on after an error with two out but Kline was in control and ended the dig shortly after as time was running out for the Tigers.
Top seven and Pengally pinch hit for Newport with two out and walked, as Upwey moved towards their last chance at bat with 15 minutes remaining. Jones kept his composure on the hill though and gave his side a chance when the inning ended with a pop- up.
McNish came in to close for Newport after Kline vacated the mound. Cassidy walked with one out and Lewis got HBP. Shroeders also walked to load them up and this created some interest from the crowd. Donovan Hendricks singled to right to score one and reduce the Tigers deficit to 5, meaning the tieing run was in the dugout. Nick Rice ratcheted up the tension when he batted in two with a ground ball single through short to make the difference three runs. Josh Hendricks was then the tieing run at the plate, with two runners on base he was caught in deep to centre for the second out. McNish managed it after that and finished the game with a strikeout.
Final score Newport 7 Upwey 4.
Report by Cam Gleeson
@valiantcam
@baseballvic
All photos for this article were supplied courtesy of Darren Malthouse from Newport Baseball Club.