The 2019 U16 State Winter Championships began with a beautiful day in Latrobe Valley, featuring nine action-packed games at Morwell Cougars and Traralgon Redsox Baseball Clubs. Six teams are taking part in the tournament and vying for the title of 2019 U16 State Winter Champions: Dandenong, Diamond Valley, Geelong, Latrobe Valley, Ringwood and Sunraysia.
The weather held out for a glorious winter day, and participants and spectators alike also enjoyed a terrific Home Run Derby sponsored by Ausport. Six awesome participants stepped up to the plate and tried to hit as many home runs as they could. Well done to our six hitters and their trusty pitchers and catchers: Jackson Malycha - Sunraysia, Patrick Grimmer - Geelong, Jacob Dickinson - Latrobe Valley, Angus Stals - Diamond Valley, Nicholas Bertucci - Dandenong and Harry Elustondo - Ringwood.
Jackson, Jacob, Angus and Nick progressed to the semi finals, which saw Angus and Jacob tie to force a playoff. Angus prevailed, sending him into the final round against Nick, who was crowned the 2019 U16 SWC Home Run Derby Winner! He received a $50 voucher from Ausport for his impressive performance. Congratulations, Nick!
Current standings for the 2019 U16 State Winter Championships are:
1. Diamond Valley (3-0)
2. Geelong (2-1)
3. Dandenong (1-1-1)
4. Sunraysia (1-1-1)
5. Ringwood (1-2)
6. Latrobe Valley (0-3)
Catch up on all the action from the nine games of SWC U16 below:
Game 1
Sunraysia vs. Geelong
5 14
It didn't take long for Geelong to bring their runners around, plating a pair of runs in the first inning. Harper Rickard and Noah Brennan had singles in the frame. Hayden Peoples started on the mound for Geelong, striking out three Sunraysia batters in the bottom of the first.
Rickard continued her great day at the plate with an RBI triple in the top of the second. Cooper Tipping followed up with a single to make it 4-0. Next up was Harry Fitzgerald, who was hit by pitch, and Jet Quach who knocked in a run on a single. Brennan and Tanner Stott also had singles as Geelong took a 7-0 lead.
Geelong retired Sunraysia's batters without any dramas in the bottom of the second, and a wild pitch and sacrifice fly allowed them to improve their lead to 9-0. Quach and Stott kept their hitting going strong with two singles in the third. Sunraysia broke through and got on the board in the bottom half of the third with four hits. Singles for Zach Stainer, Rahmen Martinez, and Jackson Malycha made it 9-3, and Blake Peterson tripled to score another run.
Geelong wasn't done scoring, managing five more runs in the top of the fourth on a combination of errors, walks and a single by Josh Masterson. Sunraysia put up one more for a final score of 14-5 in Geelong's favour. Harper Rickard, Tanner Stott, Jet Quach and Noah Brennan each had two hits in their opening victory, while Peoples and Martinez each recorded four strikeouts for their respective teams.
Game 1
Sunraysia vs. Geelong
5 14
It didn't take long for Geelong to bring their runners around, plating a pair of runs in the first inning. Harper Rickard and Noah Brennan had singles in the frame. Hayden Peoples started on the mound for Geelong, striking out three Sunraysia batters in the bottom of the first.
Rickard continued her great day at the plate with an RBI triple in the top of the second. Cooper Tipping followed up with a single to make it 4-0. Next up was Harry Fitzgerald, who was hit by pitch, and Jet Quach who knocked in a run on a single. Brennan and Tanner Stott also had singles as Geelong took a 7-0 lead.
Geelong retired Sunraysia's batters without any dramas in the bottom of the second, and a wild pitch and sacrifice fly allowed them to improve their lead to 9-0. Quach and Stott kept their hitting going strong with two singles in the third. Sunraysia broke through and got on the board in the bottom half of the third with four hits. Singles for Zach Stainer, Rahmen Martinez, and Jackson Malycha made it 9-3, and Blake Peterson tripled to score another run.
Geelong wasn't done scoring, managing five more runs in the top of the fourth on a combination of errors, walks and a single by Josh Masterson. Sunraysia put up one more for a final score of 14-5 in Geelong's favour. Harper Rickard, Tanner Stott, Jet Quach and Noah Brennan each had two hits in their opening victory, while Peoples and Martinez each recorded four strikeouts for their respective teams.
Game 2
Diamond Valley vs. Dandenong
5 4
Dandenong enjoyed a solid start to the game, with Angelo Reale Rontos taking a lead-off walk and Nicholas Bertucci smashing a two-run homer to center field. Dandenong threatened again in the top of the second with their first two batters getting on, but Diamond Valley's Liam Robertson kept things in control on the mound. Dandenong had a 3-0 lead going after the top of the third, but Diamond Valley put together a comeback late in the game to achieve an impressive victory.
Diamond Valley's rally started in the bottom of the third, when Declan Spiers took a bases-loaded walk to get one run. A sacrifice fly in the top of the fourth allowed Dandenong to score their fourth and final run of the day, but the rest of the offense belonged to Diamond Valley. The bottom of the fourth saw Diamond Valley load up the bases with no outs as Connor Pilatti was hit by pitch, Max Corcoran doubled and Shintaro Katon walked. Campbell Every came up to bat and hit a line drive single to knock in a run. Diamond Valley took the lead on an error, winning the game to earn a 1-0 record to start the tournament.
Bertucci led Dandenong with two hits on the day and 2 RBI's, while Mason Haimona had two hits of his own. Diamond Valley's Robertson was impressive on the mound, covering the entire game with three strikeouts and 10 fist-pitch strikes. Dandenong relied on the pitching efforts of Damien Bodey, Brodie McToldridge and Mitchell Johnston.
Game 3
Latrobe Valley vs. Ringwood
0 15
Ringwood wasted no time bringing their runners around, tallying five runs in the first thanks to back-to-back singles from Jack Ratcliffe and James Squire. With two runners on, Harry Elustondo stepped up to bat and sent a double sailing into center field to make it 2-0. By the time three outs were recorded, Ringwood had taken four walks and secured a 5-0 advantage.
Latrobe Valley's first time up at bat was quick and quiet, with a single from Mitch McGrath but no score. Ringwood picked up where they left off, tacking on five more runs in the top of the second to put the game out of reach for Latrobe Valley. It was a similar story in the top of the third, when Ringwood took a 15-0 advantage on hits from Ratcliffe, Squire and Blake Mitchell.
With just one hit in the game and four costly errors in the field, Latrobe Valley saw some areas in which they could improve for their next games. Ringwood had nine hits with Mitchell recording 3 RBI's on two hits. Zeke Doyle did a great job of getting on base for his team, taking three walks over the course of the game. Ringwood's offense was difficult to retire and could prove to be a big challenge throughout the tournament if they keep up the momentum.
Game 4
Sunraysia vs. Dandenong
7 7
This was a highly competitive matchup between two teams determined to get a win on the board after losing their opening games. Sunraysia dominated for much of the game, but Dandenong didn't give up, eventually coming back to tie the game.
Dandenong started the game with a double from Nick Bertucci, and he quickly came around to score. Sunraysia evened things up in the bottom frame, with their first six batters getting on base before an out was finally recorded. Rahmen Martinez, Jackson Malycha and Colby Lawton all had hits in the inning as Sunraysia earned some breathing room with a 5-1 lead.
Ryan Lewandowski led off the top of the second with a single for Dandenong, followed by a walk for Damien Bodey. The next two batters were retired quickly by Sunraysia, but Dandenong managed to score two runs with two outs to make it 5-3. Sunraysia answered in the bottom frame with two walks and a double by Blake Peterson. The score was 6-3 in Sunraysia's favour heading into the top of the third, when Peterson got three outs on 13 pitches. By the end of the third,
Sunraysia was ahead by four runs. That didn't last long, as Dandenong put together an electric fourth inning with four walks and a single by Nick Bertucci to tie up the game. Sunraysia tried to pull away in their last at-bats, as Hayden Chase had a lead-off single, but Dandenong shut down their efforts for the game to end in a tie, much to the cheers of a delighted crowded. Sunraysia's Peterson and Dean Bone combined for just four hits allowed and five strikeouts in the game, while Mason Haimona impressed in his 3.1 innings for Dandenong with just two earned runs allowed.
Game 5
Ringwood vs. Geelong
3 6
Ringwood was enjoying a 3-0 lead when Geelong crept back into the game late, earning the win with a strong team effort.
Finley Ronalds-Greatbach started on the mound for Ringwood, retiring three batters on 10 pitchers in the top of the first, including two strikeouts. Ringwood had success in their first at-bats, with two walks and a 2-RBI single for Aden Higgins. Geelong went down quietly in the top of the second, while Ringwood made it 3-0 their next turn at the plate with Elijah Ferguson's single and two walks.
Geelong finally got their offense moving in the top of the third with as two walks and two singles put pressure on Ringwood's pitching for the first time in the game. Jake Elderfield walked as the lead-off batter before two strikeouts. Harper Rickard and Cooper Tipping had back-to-back singles to get Geelong on the board, making the score 3-1.
With a comeback in mind, Tipping did his job on the mound for Geelong, recording three outs with nine pitches. Geelong overtook Ringwood with a five-spot in the fourth. Patrick Grimmer started things off with a single, while Jet Quach came up afterwards and reached on an error. Three consecutive walks tied the game, while an error and Hayden Peoples big single gave Geelong the push they needed. Noah Brennan closed the game for Geelong, protecting their newfound lead with three strikeouts.
Tipping was dependable on the mound for Geelong, throwing seven first-pitch strikes and three strikeouts across three innings.
Game 6
Latrobe Valley vs. Diamond Valley
3 11
Coming off a narrow comeback win against Dandenong, Diamond Valley made the most of their recipe for success: hard hitting and defensive skill. They gave up zero errors compared to Latrobe Valley's two, and they collected seven hits to help them score 11 runs.
Their offense got started right away, putting five up in the first frame on four walks, a dropped 3rd strike and a hit by pitch. Five runs scored with no hits gave Diamond Valley the determination to keep chipping away at it, and that they did, giving up just one in the bottom of the first on Josh Burgar's RBI double, before extending their lead in the top of the second. Back-to-back doubles by Angelina Kichakov and David Carroll made it 6-1. Campbell Every had a 2-out single but Diamond Valley's offense was retired until the next inning.
Latrobe Valley scored their final runs in the bottom of the second as batters Sebastian Battista and Anthony Smith had big hits. The 6-3 score was quickly replaced in the top of the third with an even larger advantage as Declan Spires had a drive line double and Thomas Medland singled to make it 8-3. Carroll and Every had additional hits on the day as Diamond Valley came away with the win, 11-3.
Another standout for Diamond Valley is Keeley Harrison, who threw three innings and had nine first-pitch strikes and four strikeouts in the Latrobe Valley game.
Game 7
Dandenong vs. Latrobe Valley
6 5
Latrobe Valley fought long and hard, but ultimately fell to this Dandenong side determined to get a win after starting their day with a loss and a tie. Jacob Dickinson doubled to left to score Josh Burgar for the first run of the game, giving Latrobe Valley an early lead that didn't last long.
Dandenong answered with two of their own in the bottom frame, thanks to Nick Bertucci's RBI double and a groundout from Jack Conell. Latrobe Valley tied things up at two apiece in the second when Felicity Clissold singled on a ground ball to left field. Latrobe's Mitch McGrath had two strikeouts in the bottom of the second before Dandenong loaded the bases. They went on to score four runs with two outs, including a hard-hit double from Angelo Reale Rontos and Callum Fulcher's single.
Latrobe Valley wasn't going down without a fight, tacking on one more in the third to make it 6-3, and they came within one run in the fourth inning. Dandenong buckled down to hold on for the win, with pitcher Tyler Memery recording the final out.
Dandenong just had four hits in the day while Latrobe Valley had three, and Dandenong struggled in the field making six errors compared to Latrobe's two. Despite some defensive miscues, Dandenong was able to get the job done when it mattered and come away with the win.
Game 8
Diamond Valley vs. Geelong
10 9
The highly competitive matchup between these two undefeated sides was full of spirit and sportmanship, with lots of cheering as both teams battled valiantly to come out with the win.
In the end Diamond Valley brought home the go-ahead run, despite Geelong's best efforts to stop them. Geelong got on the board in the first inning with three runs on hits from Darcy Stack, Harry Fitzgerland and Patrick Grimmer. Diamond Valley kept up the pace with four runs of their own in the bottom frame. From there it was back and forth as each team had their offense clicking on all cylinders.
Geelong put themselves in a good position following the top of the third with four-run lead, but Diamond Valley kept at it and Max Corcoran singled in the go-ahead run for Diamond Valley.
Game 9
Ringwood vs. Sunraysia
2 5
Sunraysia took a one-run lead early, and they kept tacking on runs as Ringwood fell behind and couldn't make up the deficit. Bailey Edgar and Jackson Malycha both had two hits for Sunraysia, while Home Run Derby participant Harry Elustondo batted in both of Ringwood's runs.
Sunraysia collected eight hits on their way to victory, compared to just two for Ringwood. They also made three errors in the field, giving Sunraysia the chance to score and ultimately improve their record to 1-1-1.
For updates and photos on the 2019 U16 State Winter Championships, please visit the Baseball Victoria Facebook Page HERE.
Game 2
Diamond Valley vs. Dandenong
5 4
Dandenong enjoyed a solid start to the game, with Angelo Reale Rontos taking a lead-off walk and Nicholas Bertucci smashing a two-run homer to center field. Dandenong threatened again in the top of the second with their first two batters getting on, but Diamond Valley's Liam Robertson kept things in control on the mound. Dandenong had a 3-0 lead going after the top of the third, but Diamond Valley put together a comeback late in the game to achieve an impressive victory.
Diamond Valley's rally started in the bottom of the third, when Declan Spiers took a bases-loaded walk to get one run. A sacrifice fly in the top of the fourth allowed Dandenong to score their fourth and final run of the day, but the rest of the offense belonged to Diamond Valley. The bottom of the fourth saw Diamond Valley load up the bases with no outs as Connor Pilatti was hit by pitch, Max Corcoran doubled and Shintaro Katon walked. Campbell Every came up to bat and hit a line drive single to knock in a run. Diamond Valley took the lead on an error, winning the game to earn a 1-0 record to start the tournament.
Bertucci led Dandenong with two hits on the day and 2 RBI's, while Mason Haimona had two hits of his own. Diamond Valley's Robertson was impressive on the mound, covering the entire game with three strikeouts and 10 fist-pitch strikes. Dandenong relied on the pitching efforts of Damien Bodey, Brodie McToldridge and Mitchell Johnston.
Game 3
Latrobe Valley vs. Ringwood
0 15
Ringwood wasted no time bringing their runners around, tallying five runs in the first thanks to back-to-back singles from Jack Ratcliffe and James Squire. With two runners on, Harry Elustondo stepped up to bat and sent a double sailing into center field to make it 2-0. By the time three outs were recorded, Ringwood had taken four walks and secured a 5-0 advantage.
Latrobe Valley's first time up at bat was quick and quiet, with a single from Mitch McGrath but no score. Ringwood picked up where they left off, tacking on five more runs in the top of the second to put the game out of reach for Latrobe Valley. It was a similar story in the top of the third, when Ringwood took a 15-0 advantage on hits from Ratcliffe, Squire and Blake Mitchell.
With just one hit in the game and four costly errors in the field, Latrobe Valley saw some areas in which they could improve for their next games. Ringwood had nine hits with Mitchell recording 3 RBI's on two hits. Zeke Doyle did a great job of getting on base for his team, taking three walks over the course of the game. Ringwood's offense was difficult to retire and could prove to be a big challenge throughout the tournament if they keep up the momentum.
Game 4
Sunraysia vs. Dandenong
7 7
This was a highly competitive matchup between two teams determined to get a win on the board after losing their opening games. Sunraysia dominated for much of the game, but Dandenong didn't give up, eventually coming back to tie the game.
Dandenong started the game with a double from Nick Bertucci, and he quickly came around to score. Sunraysia evened things up in the bottom frame, with their first six batters getting on base before an out was finally recorded. Rahmen Martinez, Jackson Malycha and Colby Lawton all had hits in the inning as Sunraysia earned some breathing room with a 5-1 lead.
Ryan Lewandowski led off the top of the second with a single for Dandenong, followed by a walk for Damien Bodey. The next two batters were retired quickly by Sunraysia, but Dandenong managed to score two runs with two outs to make it 5-3. Sunraysia answered in the bottom frame with two walks and a double by Blake Peterson. The score was 6-3 in Sunraysia's favour heading into the top of the third, when Peterson got three outs on 13 pitches. By the end of the third,
Sunraysia was ahead by four runs. That didn't last long, as Dandenong put together an electric fourth inning with four walks and a single by Nick Bertucci to tie up the game. Sunraysia tried to pull away in their last at-bats, as Hayden Chase had a lead-off single, but Dandenong shut down their efforts for the game to end in a tie, much to the cheers of a delighted crowded. Sunraysia's Peterson and Dean Bone combined for just four hits allowed and five strikeouts in the game, while Mason Haimona impressed in his 3.1 innings for Dandenong with just two earned runs allowed.
Game 5
Ringwood vs. Geelong
3 6
Ringwood was enjoying a 3-0 lead when Geelong crept back into the game late, earning the win with a strong team effort.
Finley Ronalds-Greatbach started on the mound for Ringwood, retiring three batters on 10 pitchers in the top of the first, including two strikeouts. Ringwood had success in their first at-bats, with two walks and a 2-RBI single for Aden Higgins. Geelong went down quietly in the top of the second, while Ringwood made it 3-0 their next turn at the plate with Elijah Ferguson's single and two walks.
Geelong finally got their offense moving in the top of the third with as two walks and two singles put pressure on Ringwood's pitching for the first time in the game. Jake Elderfield walked as the lead-off batter before two strikeouts. Harper Rickard and Cooper Tipping had back-to-back singles to get Geelong on the board, making the score 3-1.
With a comeback in mind, Tipping did his job on the mound for Geelong, recording three outs with nine pitches. Geelong overtook Ringwood with a five-spot in the fourth. Patrick Grimmer started things off with a single, while Jet Quach came up afterwards and reached on an error. Three consecutive walks tied the game, while an error and Hayden Peoples big single gave Geelong the push they needed. Noah Brennan closed the game for Geelong, protecting their newfound lead with three strikeouts.
Tipping was dependable on the mound for Geelong, throwing seven first-pitch strikes and three strikeouts across three innings.
Game 6
Latrobe Valley vs. Diamond Valley
3 11
Coming off a narrow comeback win against Dandenong, Diamond Valley made the most of their recipe for success: hard hitting and defensive skill. They gave up zero errors compared to Latrobe Valley's two, and they collected seven hits to help them score 11 runs.
Their offense got started right away, putting five up in the first frame on four walks, a dropped 3rd strike and a hit by pitch. Five runs scored with no hits gave Diamond Valley the determination to keep chipping away at it, and that they did, giving up just one in the bottom of the first on Josh Burgar's RBI double, before extending their lead in the top of the second. Back-to-back doubles by Angelina Kichakov and David Carroll made it 6-1. Campbell Every had a 2-out single but Diamond Valley's offense was retired until the next inning.
Latrobe Valley scored their final runs in the bottom of the second as batters Sebastian Battista and Anthony Smith had big hits. The 6-3 score was quickly replaced in the top of the third with an even larger advantage as Declan Spires had a drive line double and Thomas Medland singled to make it 8-3. Carroll and Every had additional hits on the day as Diamond Valley came away with the win, 11-3.
Another standout for Diamond Valley is Keeley Harrison, who threw three innings and had nine first-pitch strikes and four strikeouts in the Latrobe Valley game.
Game 7
Dandenong vs. Latrobe Valley
6 5
Latrobe Valley fought long and hard, but ultimately fell to this Dandenong side determined to get a win after starting their day with a loss and a tie. Jacob Dickinson doubled to left to score Josh Burgar for the first run of the game, giving Latrobe Valley an early lead that didn't last long.
Dandenong answered with two of their own in the bottom frame, thanks to Nick Bertucci's RBI double and a groundout from Jack Conell. Latrobe Valley tied things up at two apiece in the second when Felicity Clissold singled on a ground ball to left field. Latrobe's Mitch McGrath had two strikeouts in the bottom of the second before Dandenong loaded the bases. They went on to score four runs with two outs, including a hard-hit double from Angelo Reale Rontos and Callum Fulcher's single.
Latrobe Valley wasn't going down without a fight, tacking on one more in the third to make it 6-3, and they came within one run in the fourth inning. Dandenong buckled down to hold on for the win, with pitcher Tyler Memery recording the final out.
Dandenong just had four hits in the day while Latrobe Valley had three, and Dandenong struggled in the field making six errors compared to Latrobe's two. Despite some defensive miscues, Dandenong was able to get the job done when it mattered and come away with the win.
Game 8
Diamond Valley vs. Geelong
10 9
The highly competitive matchup between these two undefeated sides was full of spirit and sportmanship, with lots of cheering as both teams battled valiantly to come out with the win.
In the end Diamond Valley brought home the go-ahead run, despite Geelong's best efforts to stop them. Geelong got on the board in the first inning with three runs on hits from Darcy Stack, Harry Fitzgerland and Patrick Grimmer. Diamond Valley kept up the pace with four runs of their own in the bottom frame. From there it was back and forth as each team had their offense clicking on all cylinders.
Geelong put themselves in a good position following the top of the third with four-run lead, but Diamond Valley kept at it and Max Corcoran singled in the go-ahead run for Diamond Valley.
Game 9
Ringwood vs. Sunraysia
2 5
Sunraysia took a one-run lead early, and they kept tacking on runs as Ringwood fell behind and couldn't make up the deficit. Bailey Edgar and Jackson Malycha both had two hits for Sunraysia, while Home Run Derby participant Harry Elustondo batted in both of Ringwood's runs.
Sunraysia collected eight hits on their way to victory, compared to just two for Ringwood. They also made three errors in the field, giving Sunraysia the chance to score and ultimately improve their record to 1-1-1.
For updates and photos on the 2019 U16 State Winter Championships, please visit the Baseball Victoria Facebook Page HERE.
Game 3
Latrobe Valley vs. Ringwood
0 15
Ringwood wasted no time bringing their runners around, tallying five runs in the first thanks to back-to-back singles from Jack Ratcliffe and James Squire. With two runners on, Harry Elustondo stepped up to bat and sent a double sailing into center field to make it 2-0. By the time three outs were recorded, Ringwood had taken four walks and secured a 5-0 advantage.
Latrobe Valley's first time up at bat was quick and quiet, with a single from Mitch McGrath but no score. Ringwood picked up where they left off, tacking on five more runs in the top of the second to put the game out of reach for Latrobe Valley. It was a similar story in the top of the third, when Ringwood took a 15-0 advantage on hits from Ratcliffe, Squire and Blake Mitchell.
With just one hit in the game and four costly errors in the field, Latrobe Valley saw some areas in which they could improve for their next games. Ringwood had nine hits with Mitchell recording 3 RBI's on two hits. Zeke Doyle did a great job of getting on base for his team, taking three walks over the course of the game. Ringwood's offense was difficult to retire and could prove to be a big challenge throughout the tournament if they keep up the momentum.
Game 4
Sunraysia vs. Dandenong
7 7
This was a highly competitive matchup between two teams determined to get a win on the board after losing their opening games. Sunraysia dominated for much of the game, but Dandenong didn't give up, eventually coming back to tie the game.
Dandenong started the game with a double from Nick Bertucci, and he quickly came around to score. Sunraysia evened things up in the bottom frame, with their first six batters getting on base before an out was finally recorded. Rahmen Martinez, Jackson Malycha and Colby Lawton all had hits in the inning as Sunraysia earned some breathing room with a 5-1 lead.
Ryan Lewandowski led off the top of the second with a single for Dandenong, followed by a walk for Damien Bodey. The next two batters were retired quickly by Sunraysia, but Dandenong managed to score two runs with two outs to make it 5-3. Sunraysia answered in the bottom frame with two walks and a double by Blake Peterson. The score was 6-3 in Sunraysia's favour heading into the top of the third, when Peterson got three outs on 13 pitches. By the end of the third,
Sunraysia was ahead by four runs. That didn't last long, as Dandenong put together an electric fourth inning with four walks and a single by Nick Bertucci to tie up the game. Sunraysia tried to pull away in their last at-bats, as Hayden Chase had a lead-off single, but Dandenong shut down their efforts for the game to end in a tie, much to the cheers of a delighted crowded. Sunraysia's Peterson and Dean Bone combined for just four hits allowed and five strikeouts in the game, while Mason Haimona impressed in his 3.1 innings for Dandenong with just two earned runs allowed.
Game 5
Ringwood vs. Geelong
3 6
Ringwood was enjoying a 3-0 lead when Geelong crept back into the game late, earning the win with a strong team effort.
Finley Ronalds-Greatbach started on the mound for Ringwood, retiring three batters on 10 pitchers in the top of the first, including two strikeouts. Ringwood had success in their first at-bats, with two walks and a 2-RBI single for Aden Higgins. Geelong went down quietly in the top of the second, while Ringwood made it 3-0 their next turn at the plate with Elijah Ferguson's single and two walks.
Geelong finally got their offense moving in the top of the third with as two walks and two singles put pressure on Ringwood's pitching for the first time in the game. Jake Elderfield walked as the lead-off batter before two strikeouts. Harper Rickard and Cooper Tipping had back-to-back singles to get Geelong on the board, making the score 3-1.
With a comeback in mind, Tipping did his job on the mound for Geelong, recording three outs with nine pitches. Geelong overtook Ringwood with a five-spot in the fourth. Patrick Grimmer started things off with a single, while Jet Quach came up afterwards and reached on an error. Three consecutive walks tied the game, while an error and Hayden Peoples big single gave Geelong the push they needed. Noah Brennan closed the game for Geelong, protecting their newfound lead with three strikeouts.
Tipping was dependable on the mound for Geelong, throwing seven first-pitch strikes and three strikeouts across three innings.
Game 6
Latrobe Valley vs. Diamond Valley
3 11
Coming off a narrow comeback win against Dandenong, Diamond Valley made the most of their recipe for success: hard hitting and defensive skill. They gave up zero errors compared to Latrobe Valley's two, and they collected seven hits to help them score 11 runs.
Their offense got started right away, putting five up in the first frame on four walks, a dropped 3rd strike and a hit by pitch. Five runs scored with no hits gave Diamond Valley the determination to keep chipping away at it, and that they did, giving up just one in the bottom of the first on Josh Burgar's RBI double, before extending their lead in the top of the second. Back-to-back doubles by Angelina Kichakov and David Carroll made it 6-1. Campbell Every had a 2-out single but Diamond Valley's offense was retired until the next inning.
Latrobe Valley scored their final runs in the bottom of the second as batters Sebastian Battista and Anthony Smith had big hits. The 6-3 score was quickly replaced in the top of the third with an even larger advantage as Declan Spires had a drive line double and Thomas Medland singled to make it 8-3. Carroll and Every had additional hits on the day as Diamond Valley came away with the win, 11-3.
Another standout for Diamond Valley is Keeley Harrison, who threw three innings and had nine first-pitch strikes and four strikeouts in the Latrobe Valley game.
Game 7
Dandenong vs. Latrobe Valley
6 5
Latrobe Valley fought long and hard, but ultimately fell to this Dandenong side determined to get a win after starting their day with a loss and a tie. Jacob Dickinson doubled to left to score Josh Burgar for the first run of the game, giving Latrobe Valley an early lead that didn't last long.
Dandenong answered with two of their own in the bottom frame, thanks to Nick Bertucci's RBI double and a groundout from Jack Conell. Latrobe Valley tied things up at two apiece in the second when Felicity Clissold singled on a ground ball to left field. Latrobe's Mitch McGrath had two strikeouts in the bottom of the second before Dandenong loaded the bases. They went on to score four runs with two outs, including a hard-hit double from Angelo Reale Rontos and Callum Fulcher's single.
Latrobe Valley wasn't going down without a fight, tacking on one more in the third to make it 6-3, and they came within one run in the fourth inning. Dandenong buckled down to hold on for the win, with pitcher Tyler Memery recording the final out.
Dandenong just had four hits in the day while Latrobe Valley had three, and Dandenong struggled in the field making six errors compared to Latrobe's two. Despite some defensive miscues, Dandenong was able to get the job done when it mattered and come away with the win.
Game 8
Diamond Valley vs. Geelong
10 9
The highly competitive matchup between these two undefeated sides was full of spirit and sportmanship, with lots of cheering as both teams battled valiantly to come out with the win.
In the end Diamond Valley brought home the go-ahead run, despite Geelong's best efforts to stop them. Geelong got on the board in the first inning with three runs on hits from Darcy Stack, Harry Fitzgerland and Patrick Grimmer. Diamond Valley kept up the pace with four runs of their own in the bottom frame. From there it was back and forth as each team had their offense clicking on all cylinders.
Geelong put themselves in a good position following the top of the third with four-run lead, but Diamond Valley kept at it and Max Corcoran singled in the go-ahead run for Diamond Valley.
Game 9
Ringwood vs. Sunraysia
2 5
Sunraysia took a one-run lead early, and they kept tacking on runs as Ringwood fell behind and couldn't make up the deficit. Bailey Edgar and Jackson Malycha both had two hits for Sunraysia, while Home Run Derby participant Harry Elustondo batted in both of Ringwood's runs.
Sunraysia collected eight hits on their way to victory, compared to just two for Ringwood. They also made three errors in the field, giving Sunraysia the chance to score and ultimately improve their record to 1-1-1.
For updates and photos on the 2019 U16 State Winter Championships, please visit the Baseball Victoria Facebook Page HERE.
Game 4
Sunraysia vs. Dandenong
7 7
This was a highly competitive matchup between two teams determined to get a win on the board after losing their opening games. Sunraysia dominated for much of the game, but Dandenong didn't give up, eventually coming back to tie the game.
Dandenong started the game with a double from Nick Bertucci, and he quickly came around to score. Sunraysia evened things up in the bottom frame, with their first six batters getting on base before an out was finally recorded. Rahmen Martinez, Jackson Malycha and Colby Lawton all had hits in the inning as Sunraysia earned some breathing room with a 5-1 lead.
Ryan Lewandowski led off the top of the second with a single for Dandenong, followed by a walk for Damien Bodey. The next two batters were retired quickly by Sunraysia, but Dandenong managed to score two runs with two outs to make it 5-3. Sunraysia answered in the bottom frame with two walks and a double by Blake Peterson. The score was 6-3 in Sunraysia's favour heading into the top of the third, when Peterson got three outs on 13 pitches. By the end of the third,
Sunraysia was ahead by four runs. That didn't last long, as Dandenong put together an electric fourth inning with four walks and a single by Nick Bertucci to tie up the game. Sunraysia tried to pull away in their last at-bats, as Hayden Chase had a lead-off single, but Dandenong shut down their efforts for the game to end in a tie, much to the cheers of a delighted crowded. Sunraysia's Peterson and Dean Bone combined for just four hits allowed and five strikeouts in the game, while Mason Haimona impressed in his 3.1 innings for Dandenong with just two earned runs allowed.
Game 5
Ringwood vs. Geelong
3 6
Ringwood was enjoying a 3-0 lead when Geelong crept back into the game late, earning the win with a strong team effort.
Finley Ronalds-Greatbach started on the mound for Ringwood, retiring three batters on 10 pitchers in the top of the first, including two strikeouts. Ringwood had success in their first at-bats, with two walks and a 2-RBI single for Aden Higgins. Geelong went down quietly in the top of the second, while Ringwood made it 3-0 their next turn at the plate with Elijah Ferguson's single and two walks.
Geelong finally got their offense moving in the top of the third with as two walks and two singles put pressure on Ringwood's pitching for the first time in the game. Jake Elderfield walked as the lead-off batter before two strikeouts. Harper Rickard and Cooper Tipping had back-to-back singles to get Geelong on the board, making the score 3-1.
With a comeback in mind, Tipping did his job on the mound for Geelong, recording three outs with nine pitches. Geelong overtook Ringwood with a five-spot in the fourth. Patrick Grimmer started things off with a single, while Jet Quach came up afterwards and reached on an error. Three consecutive walks tied the game, while an error and Hayden Peoples big single gave Geelong the push they needed. Noah Brennan closed the game for Geelong, protecting their newfound lead with three strikeouts.
Tipping was dependable on the mound for Geelong, throwing seven first-pitch strikes and three strikeouts across three innings.
Game 6
Latrobe Valley vs. Diamond Valley
3 11
Coming off a narrow comeback win against Dandenong, Diamond Valley made the most of their recipe for success: hard hitting and defensive skill. They gave up zero errors compared to Latrobe Valley's two, and they collected seven hits to help them score 11 runs.
Their offense got started right away, putting five up in the first frame on four walks, a dropped 3rd strike and a hit by pitch. Five runs scored with no hits gave Diamond Valley the determination to keep chipping away at it, and that they did, giving up just one in the bottom of the first on Josh Burgar's RBI double, before extending their lead in the top of the second. Back-to-back doubles by Angelina Kichakov and David Carroll made it 6-1. Campbell Every had a 2-out single but Diamond Valley's offense was retired until the next inning.
Latrobe Valley scored their final runs in the bottom of the second as batters Sebastian Battista and Anthony Smith had big hits. The 6-3 score was quickly replaced in the top of the third with an even larger advantage as Declan Spires had a drive line double and Thomas Medland singled to make it 8-3. Carroll and Every had additional hits on the day as Diamond Valley came away with the win, 11-3.
Another standout for Diamond Valley is Keeley Harrison, who threw three innings and had nine first-pitch strikes and four strikeouts in the Latrobe Valley game.
Game 7
Dandenong vs. Latrobe Valley
6 5
Latrobe Valley fought long and hard, but ultimately fell to this Dandenong side determined to get a win after starting their day with a loss and a tie. Jacob Dickinson doubled to left to score Josh Burgar for the first run of the game, giving Latrobe Valley an early lead that didn't last long.
Dandenong answered with two of their own in the bottom frame, thanks to Nick Bertucci's RBI double and a groundout from Jack Conell. Latrobe Valley tied things up at two apiece in the second when Felicity Clissold singled on a ground ball to left field. Latrobe's Mitch McGrath had two strikeouts in the bottom of the second before Dandenong loaded the bases. They went on to score four runs with two outs, including a hard-hit double from Angelo Reale Rontos and Callum Fulcher's single.
Latrobe Valley wasn't going down without a fight, tacking on one more in the third to make it 6-3, and they came within one run in the fourth inning. Dandenong buckled down to hold on for the win, with pitcher Tyler Memery recording the final out.
Dandenong just had four hits in the day while Latrobe Valley had three, and Dandenong struggled in the field making six errors compared to Latrobe's two. Despite some defensive miscues, Dandenong was able to get the job done when it mattered and come away with the win.
Game 8
Diamond Valley vs. Geelong
10 9
The highly competitive matchup between these two undefeated sides was full of spirit and sportmanship, with lots of cheering as both teams battled valiantly to come out with the win.
In the end Diamond Valley brought home the go-ahead run, despite Geelong's best efforts to stop them. Geelong got on the board in the first inning with three runs on hits from Darcy Stack, Harry Fitzgerland and Patrick Grimmer. Diamond Valley kept up the pace with four runs of their own in the bottom frame. From there it was back and forth as each team had their offense clicking on all cylinders.
Geelong put themselves in a good position following the top of the third with four-run lead, but Diamond Valley kept at it and Max Corcoran singled in the go-ahead run for Diamond Valley.
Game 9
Ringwood vs. Sunraysia
2 5
Sunraysia took a one-run lead early, and they kept tacking on runs as Ringwood fell behind and couldn't make up the deficit. Bailey Edgar and Jackson Malycha both had two hits for Sunraysia, while Home Run Derby participant Harry Elustondo batted in both of Ringwood's runs.
Sunraysia collected eight hits on their way to victory, compared to just two for Ringwood. They also made three errors in the field, giving Sunraysia the chance to score and ultimately improve their record to 1-1-1.
For updates and photos on the 2019 U16 State Winter Championships, please visit the Baseball Victoria Facebook Page HERE.
Game 5
Ringwood vs. Geelong
3 6
Ringwood was enjoying a 3-0 lead when Geelong crept back into the game late, earning the win with a strong team effort.
Finley Ronalds-Greatbach started on the mound for Ringwood, retiring three batters on 10 pitchers in the top of the first, including two strikeouts. Ringwood had success in their first at-bats, with two walks and a 2-RBI single for Aden Higgins. Geelong went down quietly in the top of the second, while Ringwood made it 3-0 their next turn at the plate with Elijah Ferguson's single and two walks.
Geelong finally got their offense moving in the top of the third with as two walks and two singles put pressure on Ringwood's pitching for the first time in the game. Jake Elderfield walked as the lead-off batter before two strikeouts. Harper Rickard and Cooper Tipping had back-to-back singles to get Geelong on the board, making the score 3-1.
With a comeback in mind, Tipping did his job on the mound for Geelong, recording three outs with nine pitches. Geelong overtook Ringwood with a five-spot in the fourth. Patrick Grimmer started things off with a single, while Jet Quach came up afterwards and reached on an error. Three consecutive walks tied the game, while an error and Hayden Peoples big single gave Geelong the push they needed. Noah Brennan closed the game for Geelong, protecting their newfound lead with three strikeouts.
Tipping was dependable on the mound for Geelong, throwing seven first-pitch strikes and three strikeouts across three innings.
Game 6
Latrobe Valley vs. Diamond Valley
3 11
Coming off a narrow comeback win against Dandenong, Diamond Valley made the most of their recipe for success: hard hitting and defensive skill. They gave up zero errors compared to Latrobe Valley's two, and they collected seven hits to help them score 11 runs.
Their offense got started right away, putting five up in the first frame on four walks, a dropped 3rd strike and a hit by pitch. Five runs scored with no hits gave Diamond Valley the determination to keep chipping away at it, and that they did, giving up just one in the bottom of the first on Josh Burgar's RBI double, before extending their lead in the top of the second. Back-to-back doubles by Angelina Kichakov and David Carroll made it 6-1. Campbell Every had a 2-out single but Diamond Valley's offense was retired until the next inning.
Latrobe Valley scored their final runs in the bottom of the second as batters Sebastian Battista and Anthony Smith had big hits. The 6-3 score was quickly replaced in the top of the third with an even larger advantage as Declan Spires had a drive line double and Thomas Medland singled to make it 8-3. Carroll and Every had additional hits on the day as Diamond Valley came away with the win, 11-3.
Another standout for Diamond Valley is Keeley Harrison, who threw three innings and had nine first-pitch strikes and four strikeouts in the Latrobe Valley game.
Game 7
Dandenong vs. Latrobe Valley
6 5
Latrobe Valley fought long and hard, but ultimately fell to this Dandenong side determined to get a win after starting their day with a loss and a tie. Jacob Dickinson doubled to left to score Josh Burgar for the first run of the game, giving Latrobe Valley an early lead that didn't last long.
Dandenong answered with two of their own in the bottom frame, thanks to Nick Bertucci's RBI double and a groundout from Jack Conell. Latrobe Valley tied things up at two apiece in the second when Felicity Clissold singled on a ground ball to left field. Latrobe's Mitch McGrath had two strikeouts in the bottom of the second before Dandenong loaded the bases. They went on to score four runs with two outs, including a hard-hit double from Angelo Reale Rontos and Callum Fulcher's single.
Latrobe Valley wasn't going down without a fight, tacking on one more in the third to make it 6-3, and they came within one run in the fourth inning. Dandenong buckled down to hold on for the win, with pitcher Tyler Memery recording the final out.
Dandenong just had four hits in the day while Latrobe Valley had three, and Dandenong struggled in the field making six errors compared to Latrobe's two. Despite some defensive miscues, Dandenong was able to get the job done when it mattered and come away with the win.
Game 8
Diamond Valley vs. Geelong
10 9
The highly competitive matchup between these two undefeated sides was full of spirit and sportmanship, with lots of cheering as both teams battled valiantly to come out with the win.
In the end Diamond Valley brought home the go-ahead run, despite Geelong's best efforts to stop them. Geelong got on the board in the first inning with three runs on hits from Darcy Stack, Harry Fitzgerland and Patrick Grimmer. Diamond Valley kept up the pace with four runs of their own in the bottom frame. From there it was back and forth as each team had their offense clicking on all cylinders.
Geelong put themselves in a good position following the top of the third with four-run lead, but Diamond Valley kept at it and Max Corcoran singled in the go-ahead run for Diamond Valley.
Game 9
Ringwood vs. Sunraysia
2 5
Sunraysia took a one-run lead early, and they kept tacking on runs as Ringwood fell behind and couldn't make up the deficit. Bailey Edgar and Jackson Malycha both had two hits for Sunraysia, while Home Run Derby participant Harry Elustondo batted in both of Ringwood's runs.
Sunraysia collected eight hits on their way to victory, compared to just two for Ringwood. They also made three errors in the field, giving Sunraysia the chance to score and ultimately improve their record to 1-1-1.
For updates and photos on the 2019 U16 State Winter Championships, please visit the Baseball Victoria Facebook Page HERE.
Game 6
Latrobe Valley vs. Diamond Valley
3 11
Coming off a narrow comeback win against Dandenong, Diamond Valley made the most of their recipe for success: hard hitting and defensive skill. They gave up zero errors compared to Latrobe Valley's two, and they collected seven hits to help them score 11 runs.
Their offense got started right away, putting five up in the first frame on four walks, a dropped 3rd strike and a hit by pitch. Five runs scored with no hits gave Diamond Valley the determination to keep chipping away at it, and that they did, giving up just one in the bottom of the first on Josh Burgar's RBI double, before extending their lead in the top of the second. Back-to-back doubles by Angelina Kichakov and David Carroll made it 6-1. Campbell Every had a 2-out single but Diamond Valley's offense was retired until the next inning.
Latrobe Valley scored their final runs in the bottom of the second as batters Sebastian Battista and Anthony Smith had big hits. The 6-3 score was quickly replaced in the top of the third with an even larger advantage as Declan Spires had a drive line double and Thomas Medland singled to make it 8-3. Carroll and Every had additional hits on the day as Diamond Valley came away with the win, 11-3.
Another standout for Diamond Valley is Keeley Harrison, who threw three innings and had nine first-pitch strikes and four strikeouts in the Latrobe Valley game.
Game 7
Dandenong vs. Latrobe Valley
6 5
Latrobe Valley fought long and hard, but ultimately fell to this Dandenong side determined to get a win after starting their day with a loss and a tie. Jacob Dickinson doubled to left to score Josh Burgar for the first run of the game, giving Latrobe Valley an early lead that didn't last long.
Dandenong answered with two of their own in the bottom frame, thanks to Nick Bertucci's RBI double and a groundout from Jack Conell. Latrobe Valley tied things up at two apiece in the second when Felicity Clissold singled on a ground ball to left field. Latrobe's Mitch McGrath had two strikeouts in the bottom of the second before Dandenong loaded the bases. They went on to score four runs with two outs, including a hard-hit double from Angelo Reale Rontos and Callum Fulcher's single.
Latrobe Valley wasn't going down without a fight, tacking on one more in the third to make it 6-3, and they came within one run in the fourth inning. Dandenong buckled down to hold on for the win, with pitcher Tyler Memery recording the final out.
Dandenong just had four hits in the day while Latrobe Valley had three, and Dandenong struggled in the field making six errors compared to Latrobe's two. Despite some defensive miscues, Dandenong was able to get the job done when it mattered and come away with the win.
Game 8
Diamond Valley vs. Geelong
10 9
The highly competitive matchup between these two undefeated sides was full of spirit and sportmanship, with lots of cheering as both teams battled valiantly to come out with the win.
In the end Diamond Valley brought home the go-ahead run, despite Geelong's best efforts to stop them. Geelong got on the board in the first inning with three runs on hits from Darcy Stack, Harry Fitzgerland and Patrick Grimmer. Diamond Valley kept up the pace with four runs of their own in the bottom frame. From there it was back and forth as each team had their offense clicking on all cylinders.
Geelong put themselves in a good position following the top of the third with four-run lead, but Diamond Valley kept at it and Max Corcoran singled in the go-ahead run for Diamond Valley.
Game 9
Ringwood vs. Sunraysia
2 5
Sunraysia took a one-run lead early, and they kept tacking on runs as Ringwood fell behind and couldn't make up the deficit. Bailey Edgar and Jackson Malycha both had two hits for Sunraysia, while Home Run Derby participant Harry Elustondo batted in both of Ringwood's runs.
Sunraysia collected eight hits on their way to victory, compared to just two for Ringwood. They also made three errors in the field, giving Sunraysia the chance to score and ultimately improve their record to 1-1-1.
For updates and photos on the 2019 U16 State Winter Championships, please visit the Baseball Victoria Facebook Page HERE.
Game 7
Dandenong vs. Latrobe Valley
6 5
Latrobe Valley fought long and hard, but ultimately fell to this Dandenong side determined to get a win after starting their day with a loss and a tie. Jacob Dickinson doubled to left to score Josh Burgar for the first run of the game, giving Latrobe Valley an early lead that didn't last long.
Dandenong answered with two of their own in the bottom frame, thanks to Nick Bertucci's RBI double and a groundout from Jack Conell. Latrobe Valley tied things up at two apiece in the second when Felicity Clissold singled on a ground ball to left field. Latrobe's Mitch McGrath had two strikeouts in the bottom of the second before Dandenong loaded the bases. They went on to score four runs with two outs, including a hard-hit double from Angelo Reale Rontos and Callum Fulcher's single.
Latrobe Valley wasn't going down without a fight, tacking on one more in the third to make it 6-3, and they came within one run in the fourth inning. Dandenong buckled down to hold on for the win, with pitcher Tyler Memery recording the final out.
Dandenong just had four hits in the day while Latrobe Valley had three, and Dandenong struggled in the field making six errors compared to Latrobe's two. Despite some defensive miscues, Dandenong was able to get the job done when it mattered and come away with the win.
Game 8
Diamond Valley vs. Geelong
10 9
The highly competitive matchup between these two undefeated sides was full of spirit and sportmanship, with lots of cheering as both teams battled valiantly to come out with the win.
In the end Diamond Valley brought home the go-ahead run, despite Geelong's best efforts to stop them. Geelong got on the board in the first inning with three runs on hits from Darcy Stack, Harry Fitzgerland and Patrick Grimmer. Diamond Valley kept up the pace with four runs of their own in the bottom frame. From there it was back and forth as each team had their offense clicking on all cylinders.
Geelong put themselves in a good position following the top of the third with four-run lead, but Diamond Valley kept at it and Max Corcoran singled in the go-ahead run for Diamond Valley.
Game 9
Ringwood vs. Sunraysia
2 5
Sunraysia took a one-run lead early, and they kept tacking on runs as Ringwood fell behind and couldn't make up the deficit. Bailey Edgar and Jackson Malycha both had two hits for Sunraysia, while Home Run Derby participant Harry Elustondo batted in both of Ringwood's runs.
Sunraysia collected eight hits on their way to victory, compared to just two for Ringwood. They also made three errors in the field, giving Sunraysia the chance to score and ultimately improve their record to 1-1-1.
For updates and photos on the 2019 U16 State Winter Championships, please visit the Baseball Victoria Facebook Page HERE.
Game 8
Diamond Valley vs. Geelong
10 9
The highly competitive matchup between these two undefeated sides was full of spirit and sportmanship, with lots of cheering as both teams battled valiantly to come out with the win.
In the end Diamond Valley brought home the go-ahead run, despite Geelong's best efforts to stop them. Geelong got on the board in the first inning with three runs on hits from Darcy Stack, Harry Fitzgerland and Patrick Grimmer. Diamond Valley kept up the pace with four runs of their own in the bottom frame. From there it was back and forth as each team had their offense clicking on all cylinders.
Geelong put themselves in a good position following the top of the third with four-run lead, but Diamond Valley kept at it and Max Corcoran singled in the go-ahead run for Diamond Valley.
Game 9
Ringwood vs. Sunraysia
2 5
Sunraysia took a one-run lead early, and they kept tacking on runs as Ringwood fell behind and couldn't make up the deficit. Bailey Edgar and Jackson Malycha both had two hits for Sunraysia, while Home Run Derby participant Harry Elustondo batted in both of Ringwood's runs.
Sunraysia collected eight hits on their way to victory, compared to just two for Ringwood. They also made three errors in the field, giving Sunraysia the chance to score and ultimately improve their record to 1-1-1.
For updates and photos on the 2019 U16 State Winter Championships, please visit the Baseball Victoria Facebook Page HERE.
Game 9
Ringwood vs. Sunraysia
2 5
Sunraysia took a one-run lead early, and they kept tacking on runs as Ringwood fell behind and couldn't make up the deficit. Bailey Edgar and Jackson Malycha both had two hits for Sunraysia, while Home Run Derby participant Harry Elustondo batted in both of Ringwood's runs.
Sunraysia collected eight hits on their way to victory, compared to just two for Ringwood. They also made three errors in the field, giving Sunraysia the chance to score and ultimately improve their record to 1-1-1.
For updates and photos on the 2019 U16 State Winter Championships, please visit the Baseball Victoria Facebook Page HERE.