The opening round is done and dusted, and there are four teams left in contention for the U16 and the U18 Australian Youth Championship presented by Beastwear! Check out a full recap of each game below.
U16: Victoria White 12-10 South Australia | BOX SCORE
Victoria White came from seven runs down to record a narrow win over South Australia and seal a top four finish in the U16s.
Vic White nailed 14 hits against SA, with leadoff man Travis Finney picking up a double and driving in two RBI.
Charlie O’Connell and Ryan Othen also picked up two RBI for Vic White, and in a high scoring encounter, Rhys Fairweather was excellent on the mound.
Fairwearther kept the SA offence quiet in the final two frames, as he only allowed two hits in 2 2/3 scoreless innings.
Cooper Davidson-Peacock continued his strong tournament with three RBI, with shortstop Darcy Barry picking up three of SA’s 10 hits.
Victoria White claim the four seed heading into pool play and take on NSW tomorrow, while SA own the #6 seed.
U16: Victoria Blue 3-2 Western Australia | BOX SCORE
Victoria Blue and WA played out an enthralling battle to wrap up their opening rounds, as Vic Blue held on for a one run win.
Hayden Peoples managed two hits and two RBI in warm conditions, while leadoff man Nathan Smith also claimed two hits.
Marshall Hansen, Matthew West, Kynan Jones and Nikau Pouaka-Grego kept WA’s strong offence at bay throughout, as the quartet only allowed five hits in seven innings.
Max Chipper was crucial in his 3 1/3 innings of relief, striking out four and only allowing one hit. Chipper continued his strong tournament, and only needed 33 pitches to record 10 outs.
After finishing second and third respectively, WA and Vic Blue will play each other again tomorrow.
U18: Australian Capital Territory 9-7 Victoria White | BOX SCORE
The ACT broke through for their first win of the tournament, after coming from behind against Victoria White.
Vic White lead by as many as three in the early stages, but some clutch pitching and timely hitting saw ACT get home.
Luke Readdy struck out four in the eighth and ninth inning under immense pressure to guide the ACT to a two run victory.
Grant Craft and James Warwick nailed three hits for the ACT, with Craft claiming two crucial RBI.
Harvey Mitchelhill picked up a team high three hits for Vic White, with centerfielder Riley Light chipping in with two RBI.
Vic White’s Liam Cruz tossed two innings of scoreless relief to end the ballgame, but it wasn’t enough, as ACT picked up a confidence boosting win heading into pool play.
U16: New South Wales 9-8 New South Wales Country | BOX SCORE
New South Wales left it late, but maintained their perfect opening round record with a stirring comeback against NSW Country.
NSW plated five runs in the last – highlighted by a Tyrone Fergie bases clearing double – before Tom Stancic singled to centre field to drive in the winning run.
James Nati allowed one run in his two innings of work, but it was Bradley Griffin who was immense in relief. Griffin struck out four in 2 2/3 hitless innings, to give his offence a chance.
Jed Necco doubled and claimed a team-high two RBI, as Country took advantage of some uncharacteristic errors from NSW, scoring six runs in the fifth.
NSW have wrapped up the #1 seed after going perfect in the opening round, while NSW Country have the #7 seed heading into pool play.
U18: New South Wales 5-1 Western Australia | BOX SCORE
Two late insurance runs proved crucial for NSW, who wrapped up the #2 seed in the U18s with a win over WA on Diamond 1.
Aidan Torpey only allowed one run in his four inning start, as he kept the ball on the ground in warm conditions at Blacktown.
Jaylin Rae was the only NSW player to claim multiple hits as he went 2-for-4 with a double, as Hayden Lyberopoulos, Caleb Shepherd and Taituha Nukunuku each picked up an RBI.
Jack Lee, Josh Pearl and Jo Stevens combined for five innings of relief, as the trio allowed only one hit and one walk.
Ben Drew continued his strong tournament picking up two hits, while Nick Riley went 2-for-4 with a double and also tossed 1 2/3 innings of solid relief.
WA have claimed the #3 seed and will contend for a medal in the U18s.
U18: Victoria Blue 15-2 South Australia | BOX SCORE
Victoria Blue used consistent scoring to eclipse South Australia and remain undefeated in the U18 opening round.
Chris Nielsen gave Vic Blue the perfect platform, tossing four shutout innings under lights on diamond 1. Nielsen only needed 47 pitches to navigate four innings, as he continued his strong tournament. Nielsen combined with Reece Longstaff, Kobe Greenhalgh and Zak Skinner well, as the quarter only allowed five hits in seven innings.
Conor Myles has been one of Vic Blue’s best in the first seven games, and tonight was no exception as the right-fielder went 4-for-5 with a triple, a homer and five RBI.
Josh Ledgard lead the way for SA with two hits, Seiichiro Suzuki and Will Day picked up RBIs.
Vic Blue will be the #1 seed heading into pool play, while SA will be the #4 seed.
U16: Queensland 8-4 Australian Capital Territory | BOX SCORE
Queensland used a late flurry to overcome a dogged ACT in their final opening round game tonight.
ACT held a two run lead in the fifth, but Queensland stormed home, scoring seven of the last eight runs to claim a four run win.
Jackson Grounds claimed a pair of hits and scored three times for Queensland, while Aidan Jensen picked up QLD’s only double of the night.
Joel Hogan, Bailey Jackson and Cooper Olive all threw well, limiting ACT’s free bases.
Max Lyddiard gave the ACT every chance to win, tossing four excellent innings. Lyddiard struck out four and only allowed one hit, as catcher Zak Elvy lead the way offensively, going 3-for-4 with a double and two RBI.
ACT scored a run in the fifth, but Queensland answered back straight away, plating three runs in the sixth to put the result beyond doubt.
Queensland have finished the opening round as the #5 seed, while ACT claimed the #8 seed.
U18: Queensland 12-1 New South Wales Country | BOX SCORE
Queensland left it late, but went big in the ninth inning, plating seven runs to record an 11 run win over New South Wales Country.
Franco Natale nailed the first grand slam of the 2019 championship in the ninth, highlighting Queensland’s seven run inning.
Liam MacDonald and Riki Ward each racked up four hits for Queensland.
Queensland’s Deegan Powell was sensational on the mound, allowing one hit through five innings. Jaiden Holly and Kai-Noa Wynyard were both solid in relief, tossing four shutout frames to end the ballgame.
Tom Newbold and Sam Preller claimed Country’s two hits.
Queensland have claimed the #5 seed after the opening round, while Country hold the #6 seed heading into pool play.
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