2016 National Schoolboys Baseball Championship
Involving teams from Australian Capital Territory, New South Wales, Victoria, Queensland, South Australia and Western Australia, the National Schoolboys Championship was held in Perth from Monday 2 May through to Saturday 7 May 2016.
DAY SIX: Western Australia takes championship in a slugfest
Kingsley Collins
7 May 2016
The 2016 National Schoolboys Championship ended in sensational fashion with Western Australia withstanding a late challenge from New South Wales to win the final 16-10 and secure its third title – its first since 2008.
Blasting seven in the second, the home state appeared well in control when it breezed to a nine-run lead after five, although New South Wales was not about to lie down, hitting back with a six-spot in the sixth to make the game a contest. Out-hitting its opponent seventeen to twelve, Western Australia had standouts in Ulrich Bojarski (two hits, including a home run, for four RBIs), Alex Hall (four hits, including a home run, for two RBIs), Dawson Summers (three and three, including a homer), Josh Diggins and Jess Williams. With three hits for three ribbies – including two home runs – Matthew Martinson was a star for New South Wales, who had other fine contributors in Harrison Fullerton (three hits) and Jaeden Cavill (two hits, including a round tripper, for two RBIs). While all three New South Wales pitchers came in for some treatment at the end of an arduous tournament, Maclain Wilson earned the win for the west with five innings of sterling work before his bullpen mopped up under enormous pressure from a quality team.
Congratulations to Western Australia. Well done to New South Wales, a perennial finalist that has been the benchmark of this tournament for many years. BOX SCORE
Victoria earned the bronze medal in a thrilling 3-2 win over Queensland, which showed great form in the latter stages of the tournament. Scoring a run in the first, Queensland was subsequently well held by Victorian left-armer Emerson Rickard, who tossed six super innings and was provided with timely run support when his side scored singles in the fifth, sixth and seventh innings against equally impressive arms in Duane Johannsen and Josh Bedggood. In a game controlled by pitching and defence, Bedggood and Conor Laverty were multiple hitters for Queensland, while Aaron Ouwehand, (two hits and an RBI), Tim Lane and Cooper Goodman were productive for Victoria in a contest that produced just one walk – testament to the quality of the pitching on both sides. BOX SCORE
Australian Capital Territory finished fifth overall with a powerful 8-3 result over South Australia (sixth), which could manage just two hits against ACT pitching trio of Thomas Phelps (two innings), Zac Rauter (three innings, for the win) and Tim Dutton (one inning). Two of South Australia’s runs came in the first, while ACT scored in five of the six innings in a strong offensive display led by catcher Nick Hosie (three hits for two RBIs), closing pitcher Tim Dutton (two and four) and Sam Kimmorley (two hits). BOX SCORE
DAY FIVE: Tension rises heading into final day
Kingsley Collins
6 May 2016
After dealing an extra-innings loss to New South Wales, Western Australia is in a rich vein of form and looms as a great chance of securing the National Schoolboys Championship on home soil.
New South Wales cashed in on scoring opportunities for a 9-0 win over Victoria, although the Vics remained in touch until a four-run breakout in the last innings. Tossing the complete game for New South, Josh Robins scattered three hits and conceded just two walks in a dominant outing, while Victorian starter Jackson Boyd and reliever Blake Hodgson were placed under offensive pressure that was not helped by early walks and their side committing three defensive errors. With two hits (including a triple) for three RBIs. outfielder Mathew Martinson was in fine form for New South Wales, along with Sam Langler (two and one) and Ben Tsui (two and one, with a pair of walks). BOX SCORE
In a thrilling contest limited to two hours under tournament rules, South Australia and Queensland played out a 2-2 draw, despite South Australia producing a late flurry of four runs before time was called and scores reverted back. Walks were costly for the Queensland pitching despite their conceding just three hits in total. Starter Jack Stead was steady for South Australia before handing the pill to Kynan Stein to retire the last two hitters he saw, with Queensland using fifteen players – eight of them posting safe hits but unable to post a winning score against an errorless defence and a pitching duo that conceded just a solitary walk. BOX SCORE
Western Australia dealt Victoria its second loss of the day by gaining an early break and posting a three-spot in the fifth to set up a clear-cut 7-2 victory. Although the sides were evenly matched on hits – with nine – Western Australia was the recipient of half of a dozen walks and cashed in on the timely hitting of Ulrich Bojarski (two hits, two RBIs, two walks), Jake Taylor (two hits and a walk), Josh Diggins, Joel Beches and Ryan Nuttall. Although Cooper Goodman and Mitch Wilcox were dangerous with the bat, the home state played errorless defence behind strong outings from winning pitcher David John (five innings for one earned run) and closer Lochlan Southee (two scoreless innings). BOX SCORE
South Australia backed up from its early game by scoring in five of the six innings to emerge a commanding 6-1 winner over Australian Capital Territory, which was strangled to the tune of three hits by dominant SA starter Jack O’Loughlin (two hits and four hits while whiffing ten) before John Inglis chimed in for the save. Jordan Coffey (5.1 innings) and Will Simkin (1.2) did a serviceable job for ACT, which was not able to match the hitting production generated by the likes of Kody Kautsky (two hits, including a solo homer), O’Loughlin (two-run homer in the first) and catcher Ryan Broome. BOX SCORE
Queensland registered its second win of the tournament after scoring in four of the six innings played – including a four spot in the third – to register an 8-2 result over Australian Capital Territory. Using five pitchers, Queensland conceded just three hits with its only runs coming off middle reliever Nathan Porter in the fourth. Itself using three on the hill, ACT gave up eight walks and a HPB to help create opportunities that were exploited by the likes of William Carseldine (two hits, an RBI and a walk), Josh Bedggood (a hit and two RBIs), Dermot Fritsch, Duane Johannsen, Chase Eldridge and Thomas Lord. BOX SCORE
In what shaped as a championship game preview, New South Wales and Western Australia traded blows to have scores deadlocked at five apiece after five and the tie-breaker having to be brought into effect to gain a result. Western Australian hurlers Ethan Cooper, Ashley Barnes and Dawson Summers contained a strong NSW offence that was led by Jaeden Cavill (walk, double and triple for two RBIs), Matthew Martinson (two and one), Tali Tardrew-O’Meara (two and one) and Harrison Fullerton (two hits), while Western Australia had standout hitters in Jess Williams (three hits, including a double and triple), Jake Taylor (two hits and an RBI) and Josh Diggins (two and one). The game was eventually decided in sensational fashion, after both sides plated two in the eighth and Western Australia scored the go-ahead on a passed ball in the bottom of the last for an 8-7 win that placed the home state in top placing entering the final day. BOX SCORE
Final playoffs will be held on Saturday, starting at 9.00 AM (AWST). The gold medal game will start at 3.00 PM (AWST). Live scoring is available HERE, compliments of Western Australia Baseball Scorers Association.
DAY THREE: Three sides locked on four wins
Kingsley Collins
4 May 2016
With Pool Play scheduled for Friday, New South Wales, Victoria and Western Australia have all finished the Round Robin series on four wins and a loss, while Queensland, Australia Capital Territory and South Australia round off a symmetric ladder with a win and four losses apiece.
Western Australia notched its third win of the tournament with a convincing 7-2 result over tournament favourite New South Wales. Exploding with five in the second as the New South defence was placed under pressure, the home state would be delighted with the outings of Conor Merton (four innings), Ethan Cooper (the win) and Ashley Barnes, who collectively held New South to three hits – two of those (and a walk) to Harrison Fullerton. Their own offence was shared between seven players, with Josh Diggens (two hits and two RBIs), Alex Hall, Ulrich Bojarski and Joel Beches the more prominent. BOX SCORE
Rebounding immediately from the loss, New South Wales produced some of its best baseball by trouncing Victoria 9-1, which incurred its first loss of the tournament. Getting after Victorian starter Malachi Kere, New South was out to a five-zip lead after two, thanks to timely hitting by the top order. While Matthew Stenhouse collected a pair of hits, the Vics were well held by winning pitcher James Roberti (six innings) and Josh Robins, while New South Wales had terrific contributors in Ben Tsui (two hits and four RBIs), Harrison Fullerton (three and two), Matthew Martinson (two and two) and Nick Anderson-Vine (two and one). BOX SCORE
South Australia won its first match of the tournament by holding on 6-3 in a thriller over Australian Capital Territory, which scored all of its runs in the third and passed up some late scoring opportunities while its opponent posted two insurance runs in the top of the last. Tom Vassallo earned the win with 4.1 innings of scoreless work in an offensively evenly-matched contest. Tyson Arnold (three hits for RBIs was a start for South Australia, along with Thomas Norley (two and one) and catcher Ryan Broome (solo home run and two walks), while Mark Zhang (two hits), Jordan Coffey and Angus Wallace all drove in runs for ACT. BOX SCORE
Western Australia rode a six-run third innings to post a comprehensive 7-1 result over Queensland for its fourth win of the tournament. Although Luke Turner and Chase Eldridge kept the lid on the WA offence after the big innings – which included three unearned runs - the damage had been done in support of great outings by Western Australia Jess Williams, set-up man Ryan Nuttall (with the win) and Dawson Summers. Both sides could manage just five hits, with Joel Beches (a hit, a walk and two ribbies) and Louis Scaramelli best for Western Australia, while Queensland had minimal scoring opportunities whilst its pitchers conceded seven free passes. BOX SCORE
Victoria became the third state to finish on four wins by blanking Queensland 5-0 in the Wednesday evening game. Plating two in the third and again in the fifth, the Vics played errorless defence behind Josh Meyer (three innings), winning pitcher Warwick Purchase and closer Cooper Goodman – who collectively conceded just three hits, two of those to Matthew Watson. Catcher Rhys de Highden (three hits, including a double) led the Victorian offence along with Goodman (a hit and two RBIs in a terrific individual game) and Lucas Anderson. With only two of the Victorian runs earned, Queensland would be well pleased with their pitching staff of Josh Bedggood, Tyson Zamora and Dermot Fritsch. BOX SCORE
Thursday will be an educational excursion day before Pool Play resumes on Friday, when the six teams will be split into two groups of three according to ladder standings. Final playoffs will be held on Saturday. Live scoring is available HERE, compliments of Western Australia Baseball Scorers Association.
DAY TWO: Vics, NSW remain unbeaten: a battle for third
Kingsley Collins
3 May 2016
Coming off a successful doubleheader on Monday, Victoria stretched its winning record to three with a hard-fought 7-4 result over Western Australia, which conceded four in the first and another run in the second before reliever Mason Talbot applied the clamps over six innings. Emerson Rickard was solid with the start for Victoria before Mitch Wilcox sealed the win with six terrific innings for a sole unearned run. Amassing eleven hits to eight, the Vics were well-served by Alex Barling (three hits and three RBIs), Aaron Ouwehand (two and one) and catcher Rhys de Highden (three hits), while Alex Hall (two and two) and Ulrich Bojarski (two hits) were best with the bat for the home state. BOX SCORE
After dropping both of its Monday games, Australian Capital Territory produced the offence against Queensland, smacking three in the first and again in the second to set the base for a 10-3 win that owed plenty to Mark Zhang (three hits and an RBI), Jordan Coffey (one and two) and Zac Rauter (one and two). Thomas Phelps scattered four hits and carded the win with a complete game (three earned runs), while five pitchers used by Queensland conceded a damaging total of eleven walks in a disappointing display. BOX SCORE
Perhaps stung by the first-up loss, Queensland exploded against South Australia with three in the first and two in the second to drive SA starter Todd Marshall from the hill before the game settled into a tight contest that saw Queensland run out a 6-1 winner. Both sides used four pitchers and Nathan Porter earned the win with two scoreless innings against an opponent that was ultra-competitive after the first innings. Best with the bat for Queensland were Conor Laverty (three hits, three RBIs) and Duane Johannsen (two and one), while centrefielder Brodie Arriola had a day out for South Australia with two hits and two walks. BOX SCORE
While its three wins virtually assured Victoria of a top three finish in Round Robin play, reigning titleholder New South Wales continued its impressive form with another massive win – this time a thumping 14-1 result over South Australia, which was clearly outplayed in both offence and defence. A seven-spot in the second did the damage for New South Wales, which capitalised on an error, two wild pitches and six hits, while South Australia struggled for production against Josh Robbins and Tali Tardrew-O’Meara. Eleven players contributed to the NSW total of fifteen hits, while South Australian first-sacker Tyson McKee posted two of his side’s four hits. BOX SCORE
New South Wales joined Victoria at the top of the table with a 9-4 over a valiant Australian Capital Territory in the nightcap. While ACT matched its opponent with a three-spot in the first, New South slipped away through the middle innings with some timely hitting in support of Nick Hickson and Alex Osbourne, who collected the win with his 3.1 innings of scoreless work – for six strikeouts. While Jake Amos (two hits and two ribbies), Sam Langler (one and three), Harrison Fullerton (two hits, including a triple) and Ben Tsui (triple) packed plenty of punch for New South, ACT relied heavily on the in-form Mark Zhang (another two hits) and Jordan Coffey (two and one). BOX SCORE
National Schoolboys action continues on Wednesday, with games scheduled from 9.15 AM start (AWST) through to 6.00 PM start (AWST). Live scoring is available HERE, compliments of Western Australia Baseball Scorers Association.
Thursday will be an educational excursion day before Pool Play resumes on Friday, when the six teams will be split into two groups of three according to ladder standings. Final playoffs will be held on Saturday.
DAY ONE: Victoria, New South and WA set the early pace
Kingsley Collins
2 May 2016
Reigning champion New South Wales was off to a flier in its opening game, scoring freely throughout to dispense with Queensland 13-3. While Dermott Fritch amassed three hits for Queensland, his side was generally subdued, only posting late runs against winning pitcher Oliver Howitt, who scattered seven hits over a complete-game outing that gleaned nine strikeouts. Harrison Fullerton (three hits for four RBIs) and Mitchell Driver (two and three) were outstanding in offence for New South Wales. BOX SCORE
Facing a Day One doubleheader, Victoria took the honours in both, although it was certainly not plain sailing at Barbagallo, the home of Perth Heat. Leading throughout against South Australia in its opening foray, the Vics posted a 5-3 win that owed much to the outings of starter Jackson Boyd, closer Matthew Stenhouse and the versatile Emerson Rickard, whose two-run double – his team’s only hit -was vital to Victoria, who were gifted by eight walks en route to the win. BOX SCORE
Riding a terrific start by Lucas Anderson over six, Victoria held the lead throughout over Australian Capital Territory, who tied it up with two in the top of the last, only for the Vics to score a run at the death for a thrilling 6-5 result. Sam Kimmorley (three hits and an RBI), Mark Zhang (two and two) and Nick Hosie (two and one) were terrific with the bat for ACT, while Alex Barling, William Day and Emerson Rickard were productive for the Victorian offence. BOX SCORE
Home state Western Australia was in control against Australian Capital Territory, running out a 6-2 winner in a contest that saw Lachlan Southee and Joel Beches dominate from the hill in conceding just two hits over seven innings. Receiving more passes than the ACT pitching staff would have liked, Western Australia took full advantage of its scoring opportunities and already looms as a tough side to beat. BOX SCORE
South Australia and Western Australia faced off for the evening fixture and it was the host state that proved too strong - in a quality defensive game - by plating three in the first and another three in the third to set the base for an 8-2 win. David John, Conor Merton and Louis Scaramella shared mound duties for the west, racking up a total of ten strike outs and holding their opponents to single runs in the second and third. Ulrich Bojarski spanked a home run in his two knocks for Western Australia, which was well-served, too, by Joel Beches (two hits, two ribbies) and Jake Taylor (two and one). BOX SCORE
National Schoolboys action continues on Tuesday, with games scheduled from 9.15 AM start (AWST) through to 6.00 PM start (AWST). Live scoring is available HERE, compliments of Western Australia Baseball Scorers Association.
LINKS:
FEATURE: SCHOOLBOYS A LAUNCHING PAD FOR BASEBALL OPTIONS
TOURNAMENT SCHEDULE AND RESULTS
SQUADS:
