By Sean Talbot
It was a mixed bag of results for the Upwey Ferntree Gully Tigers over the weekend, as four of the clubs seven senior teams recorded wins across a competitive round of summer league baseball.
Travelling to the city by the bay, the Tigresses ensured that their fourth inning lead would stick, continuing to score runs on the way to a strong 8-4 win over the home St Kilda Saints.
With Victorian team member and budding superstar Hayley Mather getting the start for the Tigresses, the teenager was sensational over a five and one third inning stint that saw her surrender just five hits, one walk and record three strikeouts, undoubtedly her best appearance on the mound this season.
12 team hits and another 17 team stolen bases, the Tigresses saw their entire line-up contributing in multiple ways, led by power-hitting Zienna McCulloch (three hits, two RBI, four stolen bases), Victoria Chinn (two hits, three RBI) and Jess McDonald (two hits, two stolen bases).
The rest of the Upwey order added five hits and 11 stolen bases in a whole team display that head coach Russell Jeffery must surely not tire of seeing. The Upwey defense also ensured they played an aggressive and supportive style of defense behind Mather and closer Chelsea Mosbey as all 12 team members in uniform found a defensive position on the day.
The win was an all too welcome site for the Tigresses after a washout last weekend as they now look forward to another competitive game against Berwick this coming weekend, one the team will be sure to want to win to stay in the finals hunt as the Christmas break looms.
On the road at KC White Reserve, the Firsts scored early, often and without reciprocity as they played in dominant fashion to take out a commanding 10-0, mercy-run rule win over the hosting Newport Rams on Saturday afternoon.
In complete control of the game from start to finish, the Tigers offense put on another incredibly strong showing after last weeks 29-run win over Sandringham, scoring three in the first, two in the second, two in the third, one in the sixth and two more in the eighth to provide the necessary runs to end the game early via the ten-run mercy rule.
With staff ace Jarrod Turner working a commanding seven innings which saw him surrender a measly six hits (all singles) and Staci Rogers working a straightforward last, the Tigers were presented with plenty of chances to increase their early lead as Flynn Morrison (three hits, one RBI), Randy Senn (two hits, two RBI) and Jack Ratcliffe (two hits, one RBI) ensured that the Upwey lower half of the order provided plenty of punch as the top order hitters spent the day getting on base and applying pressure to the Rams defense.
The Tigers were gifted nine walks, three wild pitches and four errors along with their 13 team hits, the team consistently had runners on base and ensured they took full advantage, never being headed and running away with the result. They will turn focus to Berwick (midweek, Tuesday) and Moorabbin (Saturday) as it looks to continue its recent purple patch of form.
Playing the early game at the graveyard, the Seconds did enough early on to head off a late attack from Newport, running out eventual 8-5 winners in a game that proved difficult for both defences.
Pat Gawith (three innings, three runs) and Dan Smith (two innings, two runs, win) sharing the workload for the pitchers, Ben Thorn’s boys were led by veterans Michael Oxworth (two hits), Fossil Jones (two hits, one RBI) and Manning Davison (two hits, one RBI) while Ash Geary-Smith (one hit, one RBI), Kyle Hubbard (one hit), Smith (one hit, two RBI) and Gawith (one hit) all assisted the cause.
Birthday boy and new homeowner Matt “Moustache” Cameron chipped in with a walk, an RBI and a stolen base while playing some sublime second base in support of the Tigers pitchers.
The win sees the Tigers just a half game behind Geelong and Waverley on percentage as they look ahead to seventh placed Moorabbin next weekend.
In the game of the round, the Thirds travelled to Surrey Park to take on Melbourne and, despite racking up 13 team hits, were unable to quite get over alate-game hurdle despite posting a seven-run sixth inning, falling 10-8 to the Demons.
Player/coach Tarquin Booth leading the way and lining balls to every corner of Surrey Park, picking up four hits on four hard hit balls from the cleanup spot, Richard “Not Russell” Ferguson (two hits, three RBI), Mitchell Thorne (two hits, one RBI) and Will Yon (two hits) provided plenty of support of the hot hitting skipper in the top half of the order, allowing the Tigers to consistently put runners on base during the see-saw contest.
Such is the balance of this Tigers lineup that despite the power in the middle order, seven of the nine Upwey hitters reached base, certainly not the first time this season that has been achieved in what is no doubt credit to the hard work the players and coaching staff led by Donavon Hendricks has been putting in.
Tyler Kilby was handed the start and was able to weather an early onslaught, navigating his way through a rocky second and third innings before Harry Snoxell firmly tightened the screws in a scoreless relief appearance that saw him take the ball in the bottom half of the fourth for Booth, no doubt provided the skipper with plenty to be happy about as he allowed just one hit and one walk on the day.
Exploding for a seven-run innings in the sixth the Tigers sent 11 hitters to the plate, the game remained in the balance, with Upwey threatening to put on a further late charge and steal one at the death before Melbourne veteran Slade Squire threw a scoreless last inning to wrap up the exciting contest.
Despite the loss, the Thirds remain in first place on the ladder as they turn their attention to next weekend and third-placed Chelsea at home at Kings Park in what should be an absolute corker of a game.
Playing in the early game on Sunday, the Fourths found themselves in a high scoring and entertaining affair but were unable to avoid a walk-off hit as Melbourne’s winning run scampered home, the last score in a game that saw four lead changes.
Dom McGrath threw the complete game over the innings played, Upwey were kept firmly in the contest as they went about scoring as many times as they could in as many innings as they could, however they were unable to overcome being outhit 8-4 which ultimately proved the difference.
Youngster Riley Johnson was absolutely sensational on the day, recording two hits from the tenth hitting position in the line-up to give his side as many scoring opportunities as he could, while Thomas Hurley and Daniel Chambers (one hit apiece) responsible for the other two team hits.
Despite the negative result, the team still maintains second place on the league ladder as it will be looking to rebound against fourth placed Chelsea next weekend in what should be another tightly fought contest.
Travelling to Ormond to take on the Hunters, the Fifths found themselves in an incredibly close contest but were unable to secure the points, taking a loss in an exciting 5-4 ballgame.
While no stats are available for this game, it says a lot to the players on both teams who came into the game with records under .500 yet played their game with grit, determination and perseverance, something that undoubtedly both coaches and both clubs can be incredibly proud of as a result.
Ormond Glenhuntly picked up their first win of the season and Upwey showed that they can go toe-to-toe with anyone in the league on their day, it will be worth watching this team in coming weeks as they look to continue their form and pick up more wins.
The Fifths will host Melbourne next weekend in a game that could certainly go either way and will almost definitely have some moments for the highlight reel.
Playing in the early game in Ormond, the Sixths played fantastic team baseball, scoring runs early, often and with purpose on their way to their first win of the season, an eventual 11-6 result over the home side.
The result speaks to the continued improvement of the team that is made up of juniors playing seniors, veterans and some seniors playing their first year of baseball, so a day in which double digit runs were scored is certainly one to be very proud of, something the senior coaching staff will be looking to celebrate during the week.
