DAY FIVE:     NSW strikes gold in a nail-biter

 

New South Wales is the Australian Schools champion for 2018 after a thrilling 2-1 extra innings win over South Australia at West Beach in Adelaide this afternoon. As expected, it was a high quality pitching and defensive game in which both teams were limited for scoring opportunities as tension increased and the pressure intensified on all players, coaching staff – and most certainly on supporters.

 

Leading all the way for a 9-3 result over Queensland, Victoria took the bronze medal for the tournament, while Western Australia and Australian Capital Territory slugged out a 7-7 draw in a timed clash to decide fifth and sixth.

 

Congratulations to New South Wales on its second successive title! Well done to all teams on another outstanding display of youth baseball. 

 

NOTE:   Images will be posted as they become available.

 

Gold Medal Playoff:    NEW SOUTH WALES 2 defeated SOUTH AUSTRALIA 1

 

Two hits and aggressive base-running produced a run in the first for New South Wales before a sacrifice flyball by Seichiro Suzuki squared the ledger after two as starters Austin McClure (South Australia) and Aidan Torpey settled into their work. Scattering five hits over seven, McClure was quite outstanding before handing the ball to Kynan Skein, while the equally impressive Torpey was efficiently relieved by Ky Jackson with bags loaded in the fifth. Three walks gave NSW a chance in the eighth and Flynn Luders was called from the SA pen to mop up when Skein again struggled in the top of nine. A lead-off walk and a sacrifice bunt looked promising for South Australia, which came up empty as NSW played solid defence and forced the game to extras. Leaving two runners on base in the bottom of ten, South Australia was placed under enormous pressure in the eleventh, when two defensive errors allowed a run to cross the plate for New South Wales. While the home state was typically gutsy in landing two runners on base with two out, Jackson induced a pop-up for the final out to see New South Wales emerge victorious after a brilliant game of baseball featuring outstanding pitching by both sides.     GAME STATS

 

Bronze Medal Playoff:     VICTORIA 9 defeated QUEENSLAND 3

 

Plating a run in the first, Victoria was never headed in this contest, scoring in the first four innings – including multiples in the second and fourth to chase Queensland starter Byron Humble from the hill – while starter Chris Neilsen (eight innings, seven hits, no walks and two earned runs) was dominant for the Vics aside from conceding a two-run bomb to Josh Marriott in the fourth. A fielder’s choice and a Will Tucker double in the eighth gleaned two more for the Vics before Riley Light closed out the last. Nine players made a contribution with the bat for Victoria – among the best being Dante Caruso (four hits and an RBI), Tucker (two and one), Liam Evans (one and two, with a walk), Cody Rodwell (one and one), Mack Turley (one and one), Reece Longstaff (two hits, including a double) and Conor Myles (two hits), while Marriott, Brandon Bidois (two hits) and Brock Wollin headed a subdued Queensland offence.   GAME STATS

 

Fifth and Sixth Playoff:      WESTERN AUSTRALIA 7 drew with AUSTRALIAN CAPITAL TERRITORY 7

 

After Western Australia passed up a scoring opportunity in the first, ACT was first on the board with a two-run second – compliments of an error and a wild pitch – and another on a James Lee RBI-double in the third. Responding with two in the bottom of the frame, Western Australia scooted away with a five-spot in the fifth after two walks, a HPB, a Lachlan McKinnon single and run-scoring doubles by Lewis Rignen and Mitch Field. It was a short-lived lead, however, as ACT bunched its hits in a four-run sixth – including a James Warwick two-run double, a Nick Hosie sacrifice and a fielder’s choice that levelled the scores before the time limit expired. Rignen (three hits and an RBI), Field (one and two) and Raleigh Pelkonen (hit, two walks and an RBI) were productive for Western Australia, while Warwick, Lee and Oliver Davies were best of the ACT hitters.   GAME STATS

 

DAY FOUR:     SA and NSW to play for gold

 

Despite losing a tight game to Queensland, South Australia will take great confidence into Saturday’s Schools Baseball Championship gold medal playoff against New South Wales, which will still fancy its chances of going back-to back against a state that has not yet won a title.

 

Victoria won both of its Friday games and will face Queensland in the bronze medal final, while Western Australia will meet Australian Capital Territory to decide other placings.

 

Australian Schools Championship action will conclude in Adelaide on Saturday, with all games covered live on Play by Play by South Australian Baseball Scorers Association (see links above). 

 

VICTORIA 10 defeated AUSTRALIAN CAPITAL TERRITORY 0

 

Retired in order for the first two innings, Victoria came alive in a blistering bottom of the third, blasting seven runs on a combination of an error and six hits – including a two-run single by Will Tucker and a two-run double by Cody Rodwell. Putting the game beyond reach with another three in the fourth – all unearned – the Vics played errorless defence in support of Tim Reid, who recovered from a shaky first innings to throw a hitless complete game. Although ACT reliever Grant Craft was solid over two, the Victorian offence had productive contributors in Rodwell (two hits and three RBIs), Tucker (one and two), Kobe Greenhalgh (hits and walk for two RBIs) and Mitch Homfray (two hits).   GAME STATS

 

 

NEW SOUTH WALES 1 defeated QUEENSLAND 0

 

In an enthralling contest dominated by pitching and defence, New South Wales scored the only run of the game in the second – when Luis Gonzalez doubled and crossed the plate on a Hayden Lyberpoulos single into centre. Striking out seven and scattering three hits, Blake Cavil was outstanding for NSW, although his counterparts in Maxim Watson (five innings for four hits and an unearned run) and Brandan Bidois were not too shabby either in restricting scoring opportunities to a handful. Gonzalez (double), Lyberpoulos, Mitch Ellison and Jo Stevens were the only players to hit safely for New South Wales, while Kane Swanson (double), Jaiden Holly and Josh Marriott (hit and a walk) posted knocks for Queensland in a match completed in just over ninety minutes.  GAME STATS

 

 

WESTERN AUSTRALIA 5 defeated AUSTRALIAN CAPITAL TERRITORY 0

 

Scoring in each of the first three innings, Western Australia posted insurance runs in the sixth, when two hits, an error and a fielder’s choice gleaned two more against an opponent that battled for offensive production against Broadee Binder, who conjured up a terrific complete game by whiffing ten and scattering two hits. After Cooper Morgan and Sean Bennett had kept the WA offence reasonably quiet early on, ACT set-up man Jacob van Leeuwen spun two quality innings before the decisive late flurry by the west. Daniel Choi (two hits and an RBI), Nicholas Parkes (two hits – including a double), Aaron Callaghan, Lachlan McKinnon and Mitch Field were prominent with the bat for Western Australia.  GAME STATS

 

 

QUEENSLAND 4 defeated SOUTH AUSTRALIA 2

 

Queensland was off to the perfect start, with Kane Swanson belting a two-run homer in the first, although the yet undefeated South Australia hit back in the bottom of the frame on a HPB with bases juiced. With Callum Pike (Queensland) and Jack Higginbotham both spinning quality starts, scores remained unchanged until the sixth, when the South Australian defence slipped up but recovered to score on a wild pitch in the bottom of the frame. Three hits in the top of the seventh – including an RBI-single by Liam MacDonald – stretched the break marginally before Kai-Noa Wynyard closed out the game for Queensland. Quality pitching held both teams to just five hits – with Swanson and MacDonald delivering the decisive blows for Queensland, while Harry Knuckey (two hits) and Blake Farr (hit and RBI) were best with the stick for South Australia.  GAME STATS

 

 

VICTORIA 2 defeated WESTERN AUSTRALIA 0

 

In another contest highlighting pitching dominance, Victoria reversed the scoreline of its Day One loss to Western Australia, with Liam Evans spinning a complete-game blinder for one hit and a staggering sixteen punchouts in a ninety-minute thriller. Super-impressive for the west, Raleigh Pelkonen also went the distance, striking out seven and conceding a solitary earned run – on a Will Tucker RBI-triple in a two-run second innings for the Vics. With three hits – including a double and the triple – Tucker was a standout for Victoria, which played errorless defence against an opponent that was simply starved of scoring opportunities.   GAME STATS

 

 

SOUTH AUSTRALIA 3 defeated NEW SOUTH WALES 2

 

With both looking to secure a berth in Saturday’s tournament finale, this game developed into a ding-dong contest between superb teams, with the host state plating two in the fourth, on a Carey McLeod single, and another in the fifth on a Curtis Mead double – before NSW exploited a defensive error to score two in the sixth. An error and a Jack Lee single with one out for NSW in the seventh spelled the end of a terrific start by ace Will Kortekaas (6.1 inn for seven hits and no earned runs) before Kynan Skein retired the last two hitters. Doing a solid job on the hill for NSW, Josh Pearl and Luke Vivian enjoyed offensive support from Ethan Stacy (two hits and an RBI) and Rhys Dewick (one and one) among six players hitting safely, while Mead, McLeod and Seichiro Suzuki were productive with the bat for South Australia.  GAME STATS

 

DAY THREE:     South Australia unbeaten: NSW flexes offensive muscle

 

After completion of round-robin games in the Australian Schools Championship being played in Adelaide, South Australia (5-0) leads the standings ahead of New South Wales (4-1) – which had a crushing win over Victoria (2-3).

 

Queensland (2-3) won both of its Wednesday games, while Western Australia (2-3) dropped both and Australian Capital Territory (0-5) came up just short in its two encounters.

 

There will be no play on Thursday – for an Educational Excursion – before action resumes on Friday, with teams re-ranked for the next phase of competition. 

 

SOUTH AUSTRALIA 14 defeated WESTERN AUSTRALIA 0

 

Exploding in offence after a quiet first two frames, South Australia constructed three big innings – including a nine-run fifth – as it went on to post its fourth successive win at the tournament. Assisted by twelve passes and eight unearned runs, the host state played errorless defence behind starting pitcher Austin McClure (4.2 scoreless innings for two hits) before Seichiro Suzuki mopped up with the last out. Prominent among several offensive contributors for South Australia were Curtis Mead (two triples and a walk for four RBIs), Mason Clavell (three hits and a walk for two ribbies) and Sean Maple (two hits and two walks for three RBIs), Blake Farr and Jacob Scott, while Ben Drew (double and Daniel Choi hit safely for a subdued Western Australia.  GAME STATS

 

QUEENSLAND 4 defeated AUSTRALIAN CAPITAL TERRITORY 3

 

Recovering from an early deficit, Queensland managed to edge ahead in the bottom of six and hold on for its first win of the tournament against an ACT side that manufactured a run in the first and took advantage of a string of walks to plate another couple in the second. However, in spinning a terrific relief stint for Queensland, James Schultz (5.2 innings for one hit and six strikeouts) stifled the opposition hitters, while his own side exploited scoring opportunities generated by Liam MacDonald (two hits), Kane Swanson (two hits), Kai-Noa Wynyard (hit and RBI), Franco Natale Davila, Alex Skepton and Angelo Natale Davila. Both with a hit, a walk and an RBI, Cooper Morgan and Nick Hosie were best with the bat for ACT, which incurred its second one-run loss of the tournament.  GAME STATS

 

SOUTH AUSTRALIA 5 defeated AUSTRALIAN CAPITAL TERRITORY 3

 

Again super-competitive in this contest, ACT used four of its pitchers in keeping the lid on a powerful South Australia after conceding two unearned runs in the first. After a Curtis Mead double in the fourth and a costly wild pitch stretched the lead in the top of five, ACT took advantage of three walks and a couple of defensive miscues to hit back with a three-spot. Under a degree of pressure, South Australia posted an insurance run in the top of the last – off the bat of Carey McLeod, who had been outstanding at the plate (three hits and two RBIs) in support of Flynn Luders, Seichiro Suzuki and Mason Clavell, who combined to scatter four hits against a gutsy ACT side.  GAME STATS

 

QUEENSLAND 6 defeated WESTERN AUSTRALIA 0

 

Queensland posted its second win of the day – and the tournament – by blanking Western Australia in a high-quality defensive contest. While both sides had their scoring opportunities, it was Queensland that was better able to capitalise, by bunching its hits in second and third innings that both produced three runs. Tossing the complete game for Queensland, Brock Wollin (seven innings for six hits and seven strikeouts) was super-impressive – with only Ashley Barnes (three hits, including a double) providing offensive spark for the west.  Although Mitchell Field and Ben Drew were solid on the hill for WA, Queensland had standout contributors in Brandon Bidois (walk and two hits – including a double – for three RBIs), Faenza Bishop (two hits), Angelo Natale Davila (two hits) and Franco Natale Davila (single and an RBI).  GAME STATS

 

NEW SOUTH WALES 15 defeated VICTORIA 2

 

Off to a flier in a much-anticipated contest, Victoria plated two in the first – on a wild pitch and a Cody Rodwell single – before NSW launched an offensive assault with a three-run second, all unearned after Vic starter Ben Fierenzi had retired the first two hitters. Sharing around the pitching duties, the Vics found it hard to contain a NSW offence that scored in the third and fourth before exploding with a three-run fifth and a game-breaking seven-spot in the sixth. Delivering on the hill for New South Wales, Lachlan Guilieri (3.1 innings) and Jack Lee (2.2 scoreless) scattered six hits – three of those to Victorian short stop Dante Caruso – while the NSW hit parade was led by Daniel Bannon (two hits and three RBIs), Aidan Torpey (two and two, with a walk), Ethan Stacey (one and one, with three walks), Hayden Lyberpoulos (triple and three walks for three RBIs), Mitch Ellison and Luis Gonzalez.  GAME STATS

 

DAY TWO:     Home state flying high after Day Two

 

Undefeated from three games, South Australia (3-0) heads the standings after Day Two of the Australian Schools Baseball Championship being played in Adelaide.

 

While there is much to happen before playoffs are decided for Saturday, New South Wales (3-1) has shown strong form along with Western Australia (2-1) and Victoria (2-2), while Australian Capital Territory (0-3) has played high quality baseball as well as Queensland (0-3), with both keen to open their account.

 

The tournament continues on Wednesday, with games slated to start at 8.30 AM local time and kindly covered live by South Australia Baseball Scorers Association.  

 

SOUTH AUSTRALIA 5 defeated NEW SOUTH WALES 0

 

Yet to have a run scored against, South Australia picked up from where it had left off on Monday by blanking a powerful New South Wales on the back of terrific pitching by starter Kynan Skein (5.1 Innings for just one hit and two walks) before Jacob Scott closed out an errorless game by his team. Although Josh Pearl was solid with the start for NSW, South Australia plated an unearned run in the first and forged ahead with two out in the fourth, thanks to a Carey McLeod triple, a Brock Keding RBI single and a two-run triple off the bat of Seichero Suzuki. With wayward pitching producing a fifth run in the fifth, South Australia cruised to a clear-cut win.  GAME STATS

 

VICTORIA 5 defeated QUEENSLAND 4

 

In another brilliant pitching and defensive contest through the early innings, Victoria conceded a two-run lead in the bottom of the fifth before exploding with five in the top of the last for a break that was very nearly tracked down by a gutsy Queensland outfit that rallied with two out to come up just short. Scattering four hits over 4.1 innings, Callum Pike gave Queensland a superb start, while Chris Neilsen and Mitch Homfray combined well on the hill for Victoria. With both sides evenly matched on offence – amassing eight knocks apiece – the Vics had solid contributors in Reece Longstaff (double and two RBIs), Mack Turley (hit and an RBI) and Conor Myles (two hits), while Alex Skepton, Liam MacDonald and Kai-Noa Wynyard had two hits apiece for Queensland.  GAME STATS

 

NEW SOUTH WALES 6 defeated QUEENSLAND 1

 

Perhaps smarting from an early morning loss, New South Wales smacked five in the first – on a combination of three walks, a HPB, an error and three hits to make life tough for Queensland starter Josh Marriott, who received grand relieving support from Brandon Bidois and Jaiden Holly but very little in the way of offence from his side – which could muster just two hits, including an Alex Skepton RBI-triple in the top of the last. Whiffing seven and going hitless over five, Ky Hampton was magnificent for New South Wales before Jack Lee closed out the game in favour of his side, which was well-served by Rhys Dewick (three hits and an RBI), Luis Gonzalez (one and two), Jo Stevens (two walks and an RBI) and Mitch Ellison (double).   GAME STATS

 

SOUTH AUSTRALIA 5 defeated VICTORIA 4

 

Giving South Australia a great start with three scoreless innings, Jack Higginbothan was accorded early run support with one in the first - scoring on a wild pitch – and another in the third on a Curtis Mead RBI-triple before the Vics hit back with a Cody Rodwell RBI-single and a run-scoring Jordan Gavin double. While a wild pitch and a Brock Keding RBI-single handed South Australia a break after five, Victoria swung the pitching changes to effect and maintained offensive pressure to again draw level – in the top of seven – when walks, a HPB and timely hitting by Gavin and Ben Fierenzi were converted. Hitting safely to lead off the equaliser, Blake Farr was replaced by pinch runner Jacob Scott, who advanced on a sacrifice bunt, went to third on an error and crossed the plate on an infield play to pinch a thrilling contest that leaves South Australia unbeaten after three games.  GAME STATS

 

WESTERN AUSTRALIA 4 defeated AUSTRALIAN CAPITAL TERRITORY 3

 

Posting a run in the second on some aggressive base-running, ACT rode a magnificent start by Cooper Morgan (six innings for nine strikeouts and two hits), adding another run in the top of seven before Ben Drew doubled for Western Australia to score Daniel Choi – who had earlier singled off reliever Patrik Paramonov. Still well in the contest thanks to solid pitching, the west conceded an unearned run in the top of eight before forcing a defensive error in the equaliser to draw level at three apiece. With the game on the line, Callum Shipp tossed a scoreless ninth for Western Australia before hitting a crucial single and scoring on an Aaron Callaghan two-out single that forced a defensive error for the go-ahead run.  . Four errors and two unearned runs did not help the ACT cause, despite the best efforts of Nick Hosie (three hits and two walks for the capital).    GAME STATS

 

 

DAY ONE:   New South Wales impressive in early wins

 

With two wins from two, the current champion state was off to a strong start at the 2018 School Sports Baseball Championship that commenced in Adelaide today.

 

Among many highlights was an intriguing pitchers’ duel between Western Australia and Victoria – which rebounded to post a big win over Australian Capital Territory – while host state South Australia tasted early success by overpowering Queensland after a tight early contest.

 

The tournament continues on Tuesday, with games slated to start at 8.30 AM Adelaide time and kindly covered live on play by play by South Australia Baseball Scorers Association.

 

WESTERN AUSTRALIA 2 defeated VICTORIA 0

 

With starters Raleigh Pelkonen (WA) and Liam Evans dominant for their respective sides, there was little happening in offence until the top of five, when Broadee Binder tripled and scored on a passed ball for the west. Adding to the strikeout tally – which numbered twelve in all for his side – Western Australian reliever Mitchell Field continued to stifle the Victorian hitters while his own side plated another in the seventh when a run was walked across the plate. Outstanding with eleven strikeouts over five for the Vics, Evans received minimal offensive support – just two hits – while WA did enough to exploit its own limited scoring opportunities.  GAME STATS

 

NEW SOUTH WALES 6 defeated AUSTRALIAN CAPITAL TERRITORY 1

 

New South Wales started brightly with a run in the first – on an Ethan Stacy double – before both pitchers put up zeroes until the top of six, when NSW went after ACT reliever Hayden Lindsay to put up a game-breaking five spot compliments of five hits, including a two-RBI triple by Hayden Lyberpoulos. Despite scoring with two out in the bottom of seven, it was a bridge too far for the ACT as NSW pitcher Luke Vivian completed a stellar complete game (two hits, three walks and three RBIs). Conceding a solitary hit and whiffing three over five innings of work, Thomas Symonds was similarly impression for the ACT, but two hits to five was never going to be enough to deal an early loss to a powerful New South Wales outfit looking to go back to back.  GAME STATS

 

NEW SOUTH WALES 17 defeated WESTERN AUSTRALIA 3

 

A scoreless first was the calm before the storm as NSW blasted four in the second off Broadee Binder – including a solo homer by Luis Gonzalez. While Ben Drew (two-RBI double) was instrumental in a three-run reply, New South Wales pressed on with another four in the bottom of three on a combination of four hits and two defensive errors. With Aidan Torpey solid on the hill for NSW, his side took to reliever Nicholas Parkes for a massive nine-run fourth built around a couple of walks, defensive slip-ups and timely hitting that included doubles to Jack Lee and Mitch Ellison – who enjoyed a day out with three hits and six of his side’s RBIs. Grand support was provided by several other players, including Jaylin Rae (hit and three ribbies) and Lachlan Guilieri (hit and walk, for two RBIs). Torpey tossed the complete five-innings contest for five hits, including two by Jacob Lewis.  GAME STATS

 

VICTORIA 13 defeated AUSTRALIAN CAPITAL TERRITORY 2

 

Well held in its first game, the Victorian offence exploded against ACT with four in the top of the first - compliments of two passes, two hits and an error. While the territory hit back with two in the second on RBI-singles to Anthony Lee and Cooper Morgan, Victorian starter Tim Reid settled into his work and was provided with serious run support in a five-run fourth that included an RBI-double by Kobe Greenhalgh. When Keenan Spence left the yard with a three-run blast in the fifth, a Victorian win was assured as Riley Light was called on to close out the game. Of eight players who posted hits for the Vics, Spence led the way along with Ben Fierenzi (two hits), Greenhalgh (two hits and a walk for two ribbies), Reece Longstaff and Cody Rodwell.  GAME STATS

 

SOUTH AUSTRALIA 9 defeated QUEENSLAND 0

 

The home state was off to a flier when Blake Farr smacked a two-out, two-run double in the bottom of the first for a handy lead that was protected by starter Will Kortekaas, who whiffed six over seven innings of quality work to card the win for his team. While the margin was clear-cut, Maxim Watson was solid on the hill for Queensland early days, with the game only getting away from his team in a blistering seven-run sixth – when the South Australians fully cashed in on three walks, a HPB, an error and four timely hits. Both tossing an inning of scoreless work towards the end, Austin McClure and Flynn Luders kept tabs on the Queensland offence, while South Australia would be delighted with the offensive contributions of Farr (two hits and a walk for two RBIs), Sean Maple (two hits and two ribbies), Harry Knuckey (two and one), Mason Cavell and Carey McLeod.       GAME STATS