When the National Championships have ended and the players and coaches have headed back to Victoria, 12 January is likely the day in the round robin that they remember most. The five teams combined to go 7-2, a triumphant day highlighted by the Under 16 boys each winning two games against formidable foes. Trending up definitely, after three days Victorian teams have compiled a record of 13-13-1.
Given the magnitude of the wins, the U16s deserve top billing. It began at 9.15 a.m. on Diamond 1. The contest was extremely well-pitched with the White team’s Declan Croker dominating the Australian Capital Territory hitters, surrendering a sole run and allowing just two hits in 6.1 innings. He also struck out five. Cruiz Leech registered the save after relieving Croker in the seventh.
At the plate second baseman Ben Fierenzi starred again, going 4-4 from the two-hole, scoring one run and batting in another.
Their second game a pitching duel it was not. Nineteen runs on 16 hits led to an extra-inning tilt where the White squad scored four in the eighth and held on after Queensland tallied thrice in the bottom half to escape with a 10-9 victory.
At the dish, Lucas Taylor, Liam Evans and Chris Burke each had two knocks. Hitting leadoff, the shortstop Taylor knocked in three runs.
With the two wins, White is tied for fourth (with NSW Country and Queensland) with a 2-3 record. They host South Australia today at 8.45 a.m.
While the White squad were recording their first two victories of the year, the Blue team continued to roll, improving to a pristine 5-0, tops on the ladder, with a 10-7 win over New South Wales and a thrilling 8-7 triumph over South Australia.
Another fast start played a huge part in the first win. The Aces scored four in the first and then added a single run in the second and third and two more in the fourth to take an 8-2 lead. Though they surrendered five in the bottom of the fourth, Victoria added insurance runs in the sixth and seventh to reach the final margin.
Liam Madden got the win and shortstop Jarryd Dale went 4-5 with three runs and four RBI. Center fielder Aidin Willis had two hits and scored three runs and Jarrod Belbin knocked in three.
Second game same as the first: three runs in each of the first two innings plus insurance markers in the fourth and sixth frames. South Australia tallied five in the bottom of the seventh before Jai Lyttleton shut the door to secure the victory.
At the plate, Dale and Willis stayed hot, posting 4-2-3-1 and 4-2-3-2 stat lines, contributing half of the team’s hits. Starting left fielder Kyle Morrison also had three knocks for the Aces.
Looking to keep their perfect record intact, the Blue team is away against WA at 6.45 this evening.
In a bit of a reprieve from what is a daunting schedule in warm climes, both Under 18 teams had just one game fixtured. Facing undefeated Western Australia, the Blue team easily played their best game of the tournament, using sterling starting pitching and timely hitting to earn a 5-1 victory and even their record at 2-2.
Jayson Arthur started for the Aces and was superb, allowing no runs and just four hits in 3.2 innings. The winning pitcher, Jackson Boyd, was equally dominating, surrendering just one run in 3.2 innings. Mitchell Wilcox closed out the impressive win with an inning and two-thirds of dominating stuff to earn the save.
Though no Aces batter registered multiple hits, six different players had one. Third baseman Oliver Dunn recorded two runs batted in and designated hitter Justin Bourke scored twice. Some highlights, courtesy of Trevor Bird:
Southpaw Jayson Arthur limited previously unbeaten Western Australia to no runs in 3.2 innings.
Oliver Dunn had two runs batted in.
Great base running by Aaron Ouwehand with a head first slide safely into third.
Nathan Picchioni doing all the little things right.
All smiles after a big win.
A double header is on tap for the Blue squad, hosting ACT at 9.15 a.m. and then welcoming New South Wales to Diamond 1 at 12.30 p.m.
The White team ran into a buzz saw in unbeaten New South Wales Country. Like they had done to many of their opponents, NSWC was relentless, scoring one in the third, two in the fourth, nine in fifth and four more in the seventh to ensure a 16-3 win.
Jack Dunn was the lone bright spot at the plate, registering two hits.
Looking to get back on track after a 1-3 start, they play host to New South Wales at 3.15 p.m. and Queensland at 7 p.m.
The Victorian Youth women’s team went down 22-0 on Tuesday but are already back in action, facing Queensland (first pitch took place at 9 a.m.). After a break for lunch the Aces then host unbeaten Western Australia at 3.45.
The Victorian women had a banner day, whitewashing the Australian Capital Territory 18-0 and blasting Western Australia, 14-2.
In the first game, Brittany Cedelland was brilliant, allowing just two hits and ceding no runs in four dominant innings. She walked none and struck out five.
She was helped by an offensive onslaught which saw four players—catcher Bronwyn Gell, right fielder Hannah Jackson, first baseman Georgia Page and center fielder Ellen Goodrope—register two RBI apiece. Gell and third baseman Madeline Davis both scored three runs.
The bats stayed hot in their second win, pounding out 10 hits—three from third baseman Risa Tanaka and two from shortstop Abbey Kelly—while hurler Amy Collins threw a five-inning complete game, surrendering only two hits and one earned run while striking out five batters.
Georgia Page knocked in two runs in the first game.
Risa Tanaka had three hits in the second game.
Amy Collins dominated throughout her complete game victory.
The women are now 3-1 in the tournament, second on the ladder behind undefeated New South Wales. They play the Australian Capital Territory at 9 a.m. today.