Another successful State Winter Championships wrapped up on Monday with the Geelong Baseball Association playing through some close contests to win the Metro Division of the tournament over the City team. GBA scored early in the contest and with the pitching of Rowe and Lee they saw the game out. Zablan also chipped in and hit a 2 run blast to break the game open in the middle innings.
In the Country Division North East had a convincing win over Mt.Gambier in the morning but were outdone by Sunraysia in the championship game. Sunraysia had sealed their place in the final on Saturday afternoon and ran out winners 6-1.
Baseball Victoria was happy with the weekend with both competitions the strongest they had been for a number of years. Both the Metro and Country Divisions were evenly poised in pitching and hitting. The Country Division finalists were not decided until all of the scheduled matches were complete. Names like Daryl George (Aces Academy), Taylor Rowe (GBA), Blake Cunningham (DBA) as well as Jason Lester and Luke Ables (City) all showed their talents with the latter two excelling in the showcase game on Saturday night when the Academy side lost to GBA 1-0.
The crowds were up over the weekend and whilst the Senior Winter Championships are not as popular as they once were momentum is building as more and more people get behind the tournament. The addition of the academy team was a success and added to the strength of the competition as a whole. Hopefully next year the Diamond Valley and Ringwood associations can add teams and take it back to a six-team competition.
Thanks to the hosts Guild, GBA and the East Belmont Saints for hosting and providing food as well as the fantastic playing arenas. Thanks also to Stuart Howell and the crew of umpires and to all of the players who gave up their long weekend to play such an impressive brand of baseball.
Author: Cam Gleeson
For all match reports done over the weekend go to the link below.
http://baseballvictoria.com.au/News-Events/Around-the-Grounds
GBA website
http://www.geelongassociation.baseball.com.au/
Podcasts
https://soundcloud.com/search?q=Cam%20Gleeson
For all match reports done over the weekend go to the link below.
http://baseballvictoria.com.au/News-Events/Around-the-Grounds
GBA website
http://www.geelongassociation.baseball.com.au/
Podcasts
https://soundcloud.com/search?q=Cam%20Gleeson