In a very exciting and hard fought game of baseball the Dodgers were able to get the points on the back of an 8th inning solo home run from Lucas Price. Another dominant pitching performance from starter Rob Hogan who went the journey and restricted the Angels line up to a couple of scattered hits and some great defence kept us in the hunt throughout the game and eventually we got the job done Best with the bats were Lucas Price with 2 and Scott Wearne, JJ O'Conner, Matt Pallant, Matt Greene and Rob Hogan with 1
A2 - Berwick 8 def. Dandenong 1.
A must win game for the A2 if we were to keep in touch with the top teams against the 2nd placed Angels, and a fantastic win it was with the young Dodgers playing their best baseball for the season and running out easy winners. Sean Howe was in total control throughout and took the pressure of the defence by striking out several of the more dangerous Angel hitters, combined with errorless defence and a hitting lineup that continued to score runs from start to finish the Dodgers made the game look easy. Best of the hitters was Matt Bostock with a couple of hits early and 3 crucial RBIs
A3 - Berwick 12 def. Dandenong 10.
The boys took on second placed Dandenong and after a tight game, we came away with a 12-10 win. The game was a low scoring affair for 5 innings where we were leading 4 -1. In the 6th, we fell asleep for a while and Dandenong scored 9 unearned runs to lead 10-4. But, to the teams credit, we came back strong and scored 8 runs in the last 3 innings to take the game. We dominated in the batting box from the start with some great batting performances from young Gibbo, Brad & Quinny with 3 hits each, Symbol and Bull with 2 and singles to Gebba, Tooly, Dick and Kristol. Bull did an amazing job, pitching the whole nine innings only giving up 5 hits for the game, striking out 10 of the Dandenong hitters.
A4 - Berwick 10 def. Dandenong Gold 8.
Last Saturday we hosted the inform Dandenong Gold. After a 7 run 1 st . inning the team stopped hitting and we couldn't back Beffa up making countless errors and finally going down 14 -7. A forgettable performance.
This week we travelled to Dandenong for a return bout. With Simone Wearne back from a big win in the US this week, we re-jigged the line up. In 2006 we had the 500 kg infield. This week we played with PK at 3rd. T.V. at short, Roy boy at 2 and Beffa at 1. This would have to be the oldest infield in Dodgers History. Strangely enough we slowed, then eventually shutdown the Angels run machine, with Simone in fine form leading the way. Willy Carpenter returned to his aggressive baserunnig best. All players hit solidly in one of the best team batting efforts for a long time. The highlight which set the tone for our defence was a great diving fly from Mick Whiting and our overall attitude strengthened from the on. Against a quality Angels outfit you must play at that level to be successful. We are back at Dandenong Next Saturday to take on the Blues next week.
Till then – see you on the diamond.
Roger Greene
Under 16 - Berwick 15 def. Mornington 1.
On a cold, but rain-free Saturday morning, a great game was played in good spirits between the 2 teams with the boys taking a comfortable 15-1 win. A best-on-ground performance from Adam Silva with 4 hits, 6 R.B.I's, 5 strike-outs and 1 run scored against was ably backed up by Sam Beasley with 2 hits and singles going to Anthony Mether, Lucas Lydall, Ryan Shane, Andrew Hemmes and young Scott Simpson who got his first hit for the season, well done. Sam Beasley did a good relieving job for the last 2 innings, striking out 3 of the Mornington bats.
Under 14 - Berwick 4 def. Cheltenham Blue 0.
Off to a great start with a hit to centre field from Ethan Laurie, which got him to 1st base, then with 2 stolen bases, he was waiting at 3rd to come home, then with Daniel Wood getting a walk, then a steal to 2nd base, but then a great catch from Cheltenham made a double play and getting 2 out still leaving Ethan on at 3rd, then a strike out made 3 out. Matthew Chilcott, being the lead off pitcher, with a dropped catch at 2nd base, and a walk, Chilly then shut them down with 3 strike outs leaving 2 on base. Up to bat next for us was David Mulhall, with a huge hit to centre field going through the cones for a 2 base hit, Then Jake Bone, still on fire with that bat, hitting another 2 base hit bringing our 1st run in for the game. Then Cheltenham shut us down with 3 strike outs. So the score is 1 - 0 to Dodgers. Chilly's next pitched inning started off with 2 K2's then a hit to centre field, and a great play from short stop to 1st base, getting the next batter out. Leaving Cheltenham still with 0 runs. Innings 3 with 2 quick outs then a safe hit from Ethan Laurie to right field this time, then a 2 base hit from Daniel Wood( who had been hitting bombs all day but had been going foul),but this hit went through the cones at left field, bringing in another run. A safe hit from Matthew Chilcott, then with an early steal, causing their pitcher to BLK. Then a fly ball to short stop, getting our 3rd out, leaving Chilly on 2nd base, but scoring another 2 runs, leaving the score 3 - 0. Chilly's last pitch, with Cheltenham's first batter getting to 1st base, then their next 2 batters getting caught. Then the runner on base went out, trying to steal. Again shutting them down with 0 runs. Then with another 2 base hit from David Mullhall, then sliding in the 3rd base hurting his ankle and had to come out of the game, being replaced by Paul Klimisch, then with bases loaded, their pitcher walking another batter, scoring us 1 more run. Jesse Gavin came in as our next pitcher, 1st batter was caught out, then their next batter on base, with an error from our team, but then a great double play causing the 3 out. With our last bat there was another safe hit from Jake Bone, a couple of walks but 0 runs scored. Last pitched inning from Jesse, with 2 strike outs and a runner getting on base, with time being called. Leaving Dodgers with another win 4 - 0. Next game for us is against Mornington at home...See you all there.
Under 12 - Berwick 9 def. Frankston 7.
After a chaotic start to the day driving from Carrum Downs baseball club to Frankston baseball club after a misunderstanding, the Dodgers did very well in the very cold conditions at Frankston. A win would solidy put us amongst the finals race. Top of the 1st and Vince Liberati lead off walk and agressive base running scored Dodgers first run, followed By Tyler Cattle and Lachlan Beasley scoring to lead by 3. Bottom of the 1st and Starting Pitcher Lachlan Beasley struggled with 3 runs crossing the plate, but toughed it out and struckout the next three of four batters. Going in to the the top of the 2nd tied 3 all. Dodgers scored 2 runs on walks and some good contact by Vince Liberati and a base hit by Tyler Cattle. Bottom of the 2nd and Lachy walked the first two batters but struckout the next three with the Tomatoes having no runs scored. Top of the 3rd and Dodgers up 5-3. A lead off walk by Steve Hughes saw him score by a single from catcher Ryan Kirby. Dodgers score 2. Bottom of the 3rd and Lachy struckout three out of four batters. He finished with only two runs scored against him and 9 strikeouts.
Top of the 4th and Dodgers score 2 runs from a 2 out double by up and coming catcher Ryan Kirby. Dodgers lead 9-3 going into the last innning. In the absence of Catcher Brad Kmet who is also our relief pitcher, someone had to step up to the plate just as Ryan Kirby had. Shortstop Tyler Cattle did just that hanging in there with a 1 out 3 run home run plus another run scored beforehand. Still leading 9-7 Tyler then struck out the next two out of three batters to save the game. Great game Ryan Kirby with two hits and 3 RBI and a great day behind the dish. Great game Lachlan Beasley picthing. Great game Tyler Cattle batting and Pitching. Dodgers are now 3rd on the ladder with two games to go.
Dan
