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DIVISION 3 - 4ths MATCH REPORTS.

 

Round 10 - Berwick 15 def. Bonbeach 8.

Back to the beach with overcast skies and junior games washed out with a lackluster start, it was more like back to the field! As the top of the cougar order failed to make it past first base. After his driving lesson the start was given to Brad for his first appearance on the mound for the 4th's. The Bonbeach batters were not kind to the young Sale lad as they took the bat to anything he put near them. Two-thirds the way through the Bonbeach lineup with none down; it was time for a change on the hill. Well rested after watching last weeks game from the bench it was up to Beefer to stem the tide of what was to be a 8 run innings for the bluejays.

Staring at an 8-0 score line in the top of the 2nd, some inspiration was needed. Fortunately this was provided by Dane with a deep fly ball that just kept on going for his first home run and going opposite field too! This rallied the team to post another 5 runs between them to claw their way back into the game. Bottom of the 2nd one pitch and one out thanks to a huge foul fly by the Prince. It was now obvious the towels were back in the bags and the cougars were not going to just lounge around on the sand lying in the sun,as they shut the bluejays down with out them scoring.

Top of the third saw the cougar hitters pawing on the pressure with Dane coming up; with a triple to back up his bomb and single in the 2nd. With a little help from the rest of the team, 8 runs crossed the plate. Again keeping the bluejays scoreless in the third with a gem of a fly ball from, I think we can now call him a catcher, Troy. Going into the 4th a lead off triple from Paul saw him score on a ground ball from Scott as we kept the score board ticking over.

With the beefer's body telling him it's done, it was up to Jess to finish it off with a royal effort in the shape of a diving/falling catch from the Prince at first base. It was clear to Jess she had the field behind her, going on to throw 6 strikes and only 1 ball for the innings, the field taking care of the rest, it was yet another shutout dig.

With time running out; Dane found himself in a rare position leading off needing a double to complete the cycle. Maybe the pitcher had woken up or just not wanting to help but on a full count the big fella watched a rare chance go by taking ball 4 and had to settle for hitting 1000 in a winning game. Oh well, maybe next time.

Others who used the bat were Paul with 4 hits, Dane only 3, Scott and Brad 2 each and one each to Rob , Kyle , Reuben and Troy.

 

Round 10 - Berwick 21 def. Bonbeach 8.

Cougars big day out on the beach with 26 hits shared amongst the team. There was no time for bird watching as the cougars tore apart the blue jays defence to record their third straight win in as many weeks.
Once again the start fell to Jess who again shut the opposition down for 2 innings giving us the opportunity to go ahead. With 5 runs in the first and another solo boom from the Berwick Butcher in the second, 6 runs up; we now looked to Mr Movember Paulie to shut down the blue jays.

Conceding only 1 run due to a timely double play by newbie second baseman Scott, this led to what was the only low point in the game for us as we were shut out in the 3rd leaving 1 runner stranded as it seemed the tide was turning. Not only did it turn, it came in fast in a 7 run flood ! With wet paws the Cougars to their credit shook this off and found a 9 run answer with Reuben eclipsing Hillie's solo blast with a in the park grand slam!

With Kyle wild thing James closing out the Bonbeach batting it was left up to the Berwick boys to go about their merry way piling on another 6 runs before the fat lady sung. The song was 21 to 8 a tune we need to hear on high rotation play for the rest of the season.

With the bat Hillie 5 from 5, Reuben and Kyle 4 , 3 each to Dane ,Brad and Scott, 2 to Paul and Troy and 1 to Ben.

Next week back to the beach for hopefully more fun in the sun.

 

Round 9 - Berwick 8 def. Springvale 7.

Cougars take down the king of the jungle.
With all the cougars on the sponges and a couple of the big cats lending a paw the swamp that met us on arrival was slowly transformed into once again a baseball ground. Cleanup over it was down to work with Beefa on the mound shutting down the lions in the first 2 innings the game was there for the taking. Stepping up to do the taking was the sale speedster Ruben taking advantage of some slow hands at 2nd base to leg out what would have been a certain out for any of the rest of the team,then steeling 2nd a miss from the shortstop the center-fielder over running the ball and our first run flashed across the plate.

Rallying in the top of the 3rd the big cats came out claws out swinging scoring 3 runs. To there credit the cougars struck back to protect the slim lead with a 4 run reply. On the ropes the lions had no reply being shut out for the next 3 digs. With the cougar hitters putting on 3 more runs in 3 innings and with a 5 run buffer in our favor the big cats started to claw away at our lead with 2 runs in the 7th and again in the 8th as the sun finally made an appearance the tying run heading to 3rd out outfield combined to snuff out the chance to square the ledger the final hitter grounding out the game ours.

Some good hitting from Paul, Dane and Beefa with 2 each and Kyle a timely triple 1 also to All Pender (thanks for the help) Ruben and Brad.

 

Round 8 - Berwick 17 def. Sandringham 5.

With a quick throw and a break in the rain, the cougars took the field well 8 out of 9 with Jess volunteering for the umpiring duty until the last minuet call up could come. The royals found the gaps and with 8 and no sub it was no Easter egg hunt. The gaps were there, 3 runs later with the princes arrival Jess was free to bat.
With 2 down and now one on it was the berwick butcher hilly who proceeded to chop up the opposition with a solo boom!

Moving into the second the bleeding was slowed to a 1 run trickle. With Ben frosts lead off walk, hits to the next 2 hitters we scored our 2nd run but it was to be only 1; at least we were scoring. But so again were the royals as they matched our 1 but could not raise fortunately for us. Finding ourselves 3 runs down it was go time. The flag dropped; the foot went down and with a 7 run dig the bats were finding the ball and the ball was finding the gaps.

Shutting down the royal hitters for the remainder of the game the foot was not coming up. Adding 2 runs then another 6 to finish off the game.

Hits: 4 to hilly, 3 to Droy, Kyle, 2 to Reuben, Beefa, Shane and 1 each to Jason, Ben and Jess after colliding with Beefa in the field coming back and hitting. Gutsy effort.

 

Round 7 - Berwick 9 lost to Mulgrave 10.

The best start to a game this season saw the rebels without a clue. Thirteen hitters in the first dig 7 hits 7 runs WOW it was all smiles ,high 5's and all good.

With runs to play with we took the field, Jess on the hill trying to back up last weeks start. Only giving up 3 runs to a determined rebels side we had a chance to add to our 1st innings and just like last nights lotto draw we came up short.

Two more on the debit column and it was our turn again, resting on our Lorels or still in total awe of our first innings just like a Toorak house wife at a Botox clinic , we failed to turn back the clock with the bat.

Giving up four in the third chasing runners and giving the old red pencil a workout (4th's baseball style. ) In future try not to slow dance with the runners, just get the ball and tag them. With a pitching change and the innings over, again we took up the bats. Three hits and only one run to show for the hard grind, we were showing singes of life in the box; but found our selfs back in the field trying to stay in touch.

Opportunity knocked with a shut out and the top of our order coming up. The question was asked; can lightning strike twice? With only 1 run, the answer was a no! All tied up, with time against us the best we could do was a draw.

Some say that a draw is like kissing your sister. This we won't know as the tide could not be held back and the run that counted for so much scrambled across the plate to end the game.

With the bat: 3 to Beef, 2 to Porno and 1 each to Kyle , Jess , Jason B , Ruben and Ben.

 

Round 6 - Berwick 7 def. Newport 3.

Cougars cut a ram from the herd.
With Jess on the mound and a Jason on each corner, speed in the out field all was in balance and the cougars were ready to pounce! Pounce they did as Jess threw 2 shut out innings against the top of the table rams. Backed up by some errorless fielding it was our day. Four hits five runs with Jess done the ball was thrown to round 3 winning pitcher Porno to start the 3rd dig 1 batter 1 out the plan was coming together,I love it when a plan comes together !
Two hit pitch balls later the plan was unraveling faster than a kitten let loose with the knitting time for an unscheduled change that was surely to upset first time scorer Lydia,who did a wonderful job. It was beef now on the hill with the runners put on base scoring we were now 5-2 up!
With 4 more hits in 3 diggs bringing only 2 runs and 1 run conceded in the top of the 4th after this the batters were just like rams to the slaughter as they were shut down in the 5th and 6th for the cougars 2nd win.
Special mention to the sale speedsters in the outfield not putting a catch down all game and rookie catcher Troy backing up last weeks performance behind the dish good job buddy stay down.
Next week we get a chance to redeem against mulgrave.

 

Round 5 - Berwick 12 lost to Sunshine 13.

On an overcast dreary day with the heavens threatening rain and the only sunshine to be seen was the team in the opposing dugout the brave 7 took to the field helped only by the 2 subs lent to us by our opponents only giving up 1 run with BB turning up to lend a hand we were now 8. Eight that found their way back into the field far to quick with no result and then out came the dreaded red pencil! This was not entirely unexpected as first time catcher Troy first time 1st baseman Shane (a left hander who never played 1st base before go figure) these were not the only offenders 7 runs down Brad managed to leg out an infield hit then 2 hitters later Reuben showed of his speed legging one out with both the sale boys scoring we were on our way. Shutting out sunshine in the third we came away with 2 more in the 3rd we were clawing our way back. Picking the gaps with the bat and our 8 man defense working overtime and that red pencil 5 more runs were added. Down but not out Jason the bmx bandit got on his bike and beat out a throw from third and scored on a Beefer double then a sack fly from Kyle 2 more runs to the total our little rally ended by the blank. Then 1 more run to chase and chase we did 6 hits in succession 6 runs but then with 2 down up came the BLANK game over with only a 1 run deficit.
A great first up effort behind the dish by Troy and the sale speedsters.

 

Round 4 - Berwick 3 lost to Mulgrave 10.

Brimming with confidence from last weeks win we took the field against mulgrave with the return of starting pitcher Kyle wild thing James on the hill it was down to business 2 strikeouts balanced with 2 walks and a fly ball only 1 run conceded it was our turn with the bat. A lead off hit to Paul 1 of his 3 for the day ,a walk a pass ball and we had runners at the corners with none down a stollen base and a wild pitch saw us level the score as our next 3 hitters were retired in order. 3 up 3 down and we got the go ahead opportunity alas there was to be no joy in Mudville today. With a top 3rd 7 run blow out we were on the back foot well and truly 2 more scoreless innings with the bat and we were staring at a 9 run loss with a 2 run rally in the last the score line was reduced but the result unchanged. Next week we need to do better than only 3 hits for the game.

 

Round 3 - Berwick 8 def. Sandringham 7.

On the road we took on sandringham jumping out of the gates with 3 runs it was left up to Paul making his return to the hill to keep the lead. Job done only 2 runs scored the cougar bats ran hot with 5 hits and 4 runs crossing. In the second although he was 1000 K's away Paul looked a bit like Kyle hitting 3 batters ,with some help from the field we escaped with only 2 more to the royals total. No joy in the third for ether side. But the top of the 4th a single from Dane and Steve the ring in Johnson spanking a double making Dane run the next 3 to score. Defending well in the bottom of the 4th retiring the opposition in order we then failed to score in the next 2 the 4 run buffer was just enough to hold off a late rally and escape with a well fort win.
A great job from Dane 3 hits Steve & Jason b 2 and Paul ,Shane,Jason g and Troy 1 each.

 

Round 2 - Berwick 2 lost to Springvale 17.

This week the best of the rest took on last years finalists in Springvale . With 4 juniors playing their first game with us and 3 down from the starting lineup last week we put our best foot forward. With beef on the mound some miscommunication in the field and the well seasoned springy boy's& girl were out to an early lead a lead we were unable to chip away at until the 3rd were we scrounged our first run. With consistent performance from our opponents and unfortunately a consistent effort from us the lead grew only stemmed briefly when Ben" rookie" Frost hit a triple and scored on a over ambitious wayward attempt to put him out standing up into third. Other hits went to Paul with 2 and 1 to Jason B, Dane and Troy.
With the game out of reach of our offense we took the opportunity to through the ball to the big man with two first names Dane Roy to see what he could do and with some work we may be seeing him up there again. Baseball lesson learnt next week is a new game.

 

Round 1 - Berwick 2 lost to St. Kilda 7.

We took on the saints in our first outing of the season on there home turf. Once the casualty from the practice match before had been taken from the ground we kicked off with a slow start not getting to our number 4 hitter and in a flash we found ourselves out in the field with Kyle ( wild thing ) James on the hill striking out one and walking five and the field taking care of the rest.
Looking at a 3 run deficit we got our first runner on base but no joy.
With Kyle struggling to find the zone in the 2nd and an injured ginger ninger from a diving attempt at a fly 2 more walks it was time for a change with Beefer in to throw a pitch to get us out of the innings.
Hits flowing from the berwick bats we were in the best position all season then the blank and it was over in the 5th we scored our first the second runs and on a roll shut the saints out in the field.
Unfortunately too little to late a great first game from Dane 2 hits to jason goodie and Beefer with Paul , Kyle , Tumbles and Dane. Thanks to Tumbles for filling in. Saints7 Cougars2 get well soon Darren..