New South Wales strikes gold at Schoolboys Championship
Kingsley Collins
6 May 2017
Atoning for its loss to Western Australia in 2016, New South Wales edged out Victoria 5-2 in a high-qualify final to take the Australian National Schoolboys Championship that concluded at Trinity Beach, Cairns, this afternoon.
While the gold-medal game delivered a thrilling end to the tournament, there was intense earlier competition between the other three states, with Queensland beating both South Australia and Australian Capital Territory to finish third overall.
Congratulations to the winner! Well done to all participating teams, to officials, organisers and volunteers on an outstanding series that drew plaudits from many, including School Sport Australia Baseball Secretary Neil Barrowcliff.
NEW SOUTH WALES 5 defeated VICTORIA 2
Fittingly an errorless nine-innings contest between two quality squads, New South Wales gained a break with three in the third and was never headed by a Victorian side given solid service by pitchers Hugo Leropoulos (four innings for two earned runs) and Josh Meyer (four innings for one) but which was unable to match its opponent in offence despite terrific games from Ben Fierenzi (three hits, including a triple, for an RBI) and Rhys De Highden (three hits.
Undoubtedly one of the stars of the show was New South Wales starter Liam Holm – who scattered six hits for two earned runs over eight innings before handing the pill to Christopher Rofe to close out the game. In a strong all-round batting performance by New South, Nick Anderson-Vine posted three hits, Rhys Dewick two (with an RBI), Rixon Wingrove (one and two) and Luis Gonzalez (one and one). BOX SCORES
In play-off games for the bronze medal, South Australia was a first-up 3-2 winner over Australian Capital Territory before Queensland blanked South Australia 6-0 before edging Australian Capital Territory 1-0 in a nail-biter to secure third placing overall. ALL GAME DETAILS
“Saturday games were a fitting way to finish an outstanding tournament,” School Sport Australia Baseball National Secretary Neil Barrowcliff told Australian Baseball Alumni late today.
“The weather was great and all of the feedback that I have received suggests that the teams and accompanying personnel had a wonderful time.”
“Cairns is just the ideal complex for an event of this type,” he said, “with two quality fields right next to each other and presented in such terrific order throughout the week.”
“The local community was just so welcoming and so hospitable, with a dedicated team of volunteers working behind the scenes to ensure that everything was in order.”
“I sincerely thank every person who contributed to making the tournament such a success,” he said.
“One of the striking and very pleasing features was that the competition was so close. That drawn game between Victoria and New South Wales set the tone for a tight series in which Australian Capital Territory and Queensland were still a chance of a gold medal playoff into the Friday. And let us not forget, even though South Australia only won two games, that the first one was against New South Wales.”
“All in all another very successful series that reflects very well on the worth of the National Schoolboys as an opportunity for kids to represent their states at an elite level while putting themselves out there as potential college or professional baseball players,” Neil Barrowcliff said.
Southern rivals qualify for final
Kingsley Collins
5 May 2017
Evenly-matched squads who have already toughed out a thrilling draw, Victoria and New South Wales will play off for gold in the finale of the National Schoolboys Baseball Championship at Trinity Beach on Saturday afternoon.
Although Victoria headed the tournament through the Round Robin games, New South Wales did it somewhat harder in having to win both of its Friday games and force Queensland, Australian Capital Territory and South Australia into a three-way shootout for the bronze medal.
Covered live by Queensland Baseball Scorers Association, the tournament will conclude on Saturday, with first pitch of the gold medal game scheduled for 12.00 PM.
VICTORIA 8 defeated SOUTH AUSTRALIA 0
Plating two in the second and forging away towards the end, Victoria blanked South Australia to seal a berth in Saturday’s championship game. Although Jack Collett and Lachlan Jackman-Tilley were solid on the hill for South Australia, their team offence was held to two hits as Tim Lane whiffed seven over four innings for Victoria and Cody Rodwell tossed two hitless frames to close out the game. With ten hits, Victoria had standout players in Josh Meyer (two-run homer), Oliver McMahon (two hits and two RBIs), Ben Fierenzi (double, for two RBIs) and Rhys De Highden (two hits). BOX SCORES
QUEENSLAND 7 defeated AUSTRALIAN CAPITAL TERRITORY 4
A game of great importance remained scoreless through four until Queensland put up a four-spot and was immediately challenged before driving in three more in the sixth. ACT starter Nicholas Graham was terrific over 2.2 innings (one hit and four Ks) before the Queensland offence came alive – largely through the efforts of Ryota Kusumoto (three hits and two RBIs) and Tom Lord (one and two). Queensland starter Kaiku Furutani was equally as impressive as his counterpart (one hit over 3.2 innings) and Maxim Watson closed out the game despite conceding some late walks that kept hopes alive for the territory. BOX SCORES
QUEENSLAND 8 defeated VICTORIA 4
Both teams scored three in the first of what developed in a tight and errorless contest that was effectively decided in the fourth, when Queensland drove four across the plate on a combination of walks, a wild pitch and two timely hits. While Victoria used three pitchers in an effort to stay in the contest, Tyson Zamora (4.2 innings, 2 hits and five Ks for an earned run) was outstanding for Queensland, which had grand contributors in Takumi Kimoto (two hits and a walk for three RBIs), Ray Easton (one and one) and Hayden Michie (two ribbies). Of a total Victorian team output of two hits, Oliver McMahon tripled to score a run in the second, while Will Kline-Marantelli and Jamie Young both drew two walks. BOX SCORES
NEW SOUTH WALES 10 defeated SOUTH AUSTRALIA 0
Scoring in the first three innings of a rain-affected contest, New South Wales blasted six in the fourth to set up a comfortable win that owed plenty to the complete-game outing by Josh Gessner (two hits and four strikeouts). Although collecting just four hits, New South Wales took toll of seven walks conceded by South Australian hurler Kynan Skein. Ryan Wingrove (three RBIs, including two sacrifice flyballs) and Thomas Holland (two RBIs, including a sacrifice fly) were productive for the New South Wales offence, along with Nick Anderson-Vine (hit and RBI) and Luis Gonzalez (two walks). BOX SCORES
NEW SOUTH WALES 9 defeated AUSTRALIAN CAPITAL TERRITORY 4
Needing the win to ensure a championship berth, New South Wales exploited a couple of defensive errors and a string of hits to plate six in the second against an ACT outfit that tried bravely to stay in the contest but never quite came to terms with the Blues pitching duo of James Boree and Lachlan Giulieri – who conceded just one hit over six innings. ACT starter Bailey Biden found it tough going against a New South Wales offence led by Thomas Holland (three hits and two RBIs), Luis Gonzalez (two and two), Mitchell Driver (two and one) and Mitchell Ellison (two hits), while Tim Dutton (a hit and two RBIs) was best with the bat for ACT. BOX SCORES
Championship remains wide open
Kingsley Collins
3 May 2017
Four of the five participating states remain in contention for the gold medal final after the fourth day of Australian National Schoolboys competition at Trinity Beach Cairns today.
While its win over Australian Capital Territory and a thrilling draw sees Victoria atop the table with two Round Robin games to play, New South Wales, Australian Capital Territory and Queensland all savoured playing success – and all remain well among the action ahead of South Australia, which may yet have a say in the makeup of Saturday finals.
Covered live by Queensland Baseball Scorers Association, the tournament will take a break for an educational activity tomorrow before games resume on Friday. You can follow all games HERE.
QUEENSLAND 9 defeated SOUTH AUSTRALIA 0
Although the final result was decisive, this game produced a tight first three innings before Queensland scooted away with three in the fourth and another five in the fifth behind some great pitching by Matthew Roberts, who went six scoreless for four strike outs and just two hits – doubles to Brodie Arriola and Jack Stead. South Australia did not help its cause with five defensive errors and Queensland made the most of a six-hit output featuring contributions by Ryota Kusumoto (two hits and two RBIs), Jonathon Winlaw (one and two) and Tom Lord (one and two) BOX SCORES
VICTORIA 12 defeated AUSTRALIAN CAPITAL TERRITORY 4
ACT was out to a three-run lead by the middle of the third but was rocked by a seven-run reply followed by a three spot in the fourth. While all three territory pitchers came in for some punishment, Victorian relievers Alex Barling, Luke Cartwright and Cody Rodwell stemmed the flow after the third. Will Simkin (two hits and an RBI), Nicholas Graham (two and one) and Tim Dutton (two hits) were productive in offence for ACT, while an eleven-run Victoria hit parade was engineered largely by Rodwell (two and two), Will Kline-Marantelli (two and two), Flynn Morrison (two hits), Koby Greenhalgh (double and a walk for three RBIs) and Jarrod Belbin (two walks and a hit for two ribbies). BOX SCORES
AUSTRALIAN CAPITAL TERRITORY 8 defeated SOUTH AUSTRALIA 3
Although amassing just five hits to four, ACT took advantage of its offensive opportunities – created in part by seven free passes – and scored on a regular basis throughout this contest. Will Simkin and Sean Bennett were terrific on the hill for the territory, which held the South Australian hitters in check, aside from Sean Maple – whose grounder in the fifth and double in the seventh gleaned all three runs for South Australia. Leading the offence for Australia Capital territory were Nicholas Graham (two hits and two RBIs), Nicholas Hosie (walk and a hit for two RBIs) and Tim Dutton (three walks and an RBI). BOX SCORES
NEW SOUTH WALES 5 defeated QUEENSLAND 1
After a tight first three innings, New South Wales edged away with two in the fourth and another three in the sixth to set up a hard-fought win against an opponent that was well-served by starter Ryan Woodrow over 3.2 innings before New South Wales bunched its hits in the bottom of four. Combining to allow just a handful of runners on base, New South Wales starter Christopher Rofe (five innings for two hits and one earned run) and Mitchell Driver (two scoreless innings) were outstanding for New South, which was delivered timely offence by Lachlan Guilieri (triple and single for three RBIs), Rhys Dewick (one and one) and Driver (two hits). BOX SCORES
NEW SOUTH WALES 2 drew with VICTORIA 2
A thrilling contest and pitcher-dominated affair, this game remained scoreless through five as Ben Fierenzi spun a two-hit starting stint for Victoria and Ky Jackson (five innings for no hits, no walks and five strikeouts) was perfect early days for New South Wales – who took advantage of two walks and an intentional walk to plate two in the top of six. With time at a premium, Victoria responded with one in the equaliser and another in the seventh to draw level. Out-hitting its opponent six to two in a terrific defensive game that may well be a gold medal game preview, Victoria delivered the telling offence through Tim Lane (a hit and an RBI) and Reece Longstaff (one and one). BOX SCORES
Schoolboys share honours on Day Two
Kingsley Collins
2 May 2017
Notwithstanding two of the games becoming relative blowouts in beautiful playing conditions, Day Two competition was fierce with the honours shared across all five states when the National Schoolboys Championship resumed in Cairns today.
With victories over Queensland and South Australia, Victoria (three wins and a loss) heads the standings ahead of New South Wales (two and two), Australian Capital Territory (two and two) and Queensland (two and two), while South Australia (one and three) stunned New South Wales with a remarkable comeback.
Covered live by Queensland Baseball Scorers Association, this prestigious tournament will resume on Wednesday before a rest day on Thursday. You can follow all games HERE.
QUEENSLAND 11 defeated AUSTRALIAN CAPITAL TERRITORY 0
Dominant over the six-innings contest, Queensland pitcher Mac Butler conceded a solitary hit while striking out four to lead his team to a thumping win against an opponent that conceded five unearned runs under extreme offensive pressure. With nine players sharing its total of thirteen hits, Queensland was especially well-served by Takumi Kimoto, Jonathon Winlaw and Callum Pike – who each drove in two runs during a strong offensive display. BOX SCORES
SOUTH AUSTRALIA 7 defeated NEW SOUTH WALES 5
Winless on Day One, South Australia started Tuesday wonderfully with a come-from-behind result over a powerful New South Wales outfit that blasted five in the first before Blake Farr settled into his work to complete the game with no further damage. Replying early with three, South Australia forged ahead in the later innings, compliments of some terrific offence by Sean Maple (three hits and two RBIs), Curtis Mead (two and one) and Ethan Chuck (two and one), while Rixon Wingrove (two and three), Mitchell Ellison (two and one) and Thomas Holland (two hits) were standouts for New South Wales. BOX SCORES
NEW SOUTH WALES 5 defeated AUSTRALIAN CAPITAL TERRITORY 1
In a high-standard game that saw the territory hold a lead into the middle of four, New South Wales plated three in the bottom of the frame and another two in the fifth to set up its win against a quartet of ACT pitchers that conceded just five hits and three earned runs. Spinning five innings of work for three hits and eight strikeouts, Lachlan Guilieri was pivotal in a tough win that takes his state – the reigning silver medallist - to a two and two record that it shares with two other teams. BOX SCORES
VICTORIA 7 defeated QUEENSLAND 3
Handing Queensland a superb start, Maxim Watson conceded one earned run over three innings on the hill before Victoria applied sustained offensive pressure through the likes of Oliver McMahon, Jamie Young, Rhys De Highden and Will Kline-Marantelli (all with two hits) while pitchers Brock Wells and Tim Lane combined to scatter two hits over a combined 5.1 innings of work. Already having a solid series, Queensland player Tyson Zamora was credited with both knocks. BOX SCORES
VICTORIA 12 defeated SOUTH AUSTRALIA 3
After a tight first innings, the Vics exploded with five in the second and another six in the fourth to place the game well beyond reach of a South Australian squad that could muster just three hits off three pitchers used by their opponent – two of those to Brodie Arriola and one (with an RBI) to Curtis Mead. Although Victoria was contained to the tune of a modest nine knocks, their conversion was outstanding - led by Jarrod Belbin (a double and a triple for five RBIs), Reece Longstaff (two hits, two RBIs) and Jamie Young (one and two). BOX SCORES
Victoria sets benchmark on Day One
Kingsley Collins
1 May 2017
With two wins from two outings - but with one of those results reversed on a rules breach - Victoria has emerged as tournament favourite after Day One of the Australian National Schoolboys Championship that started today at Trinity Beach Cairns.
In the absence of titleholder Western Australia, New South Wales, Queensland and Australian Capital Territory all posted wins, while South Australia is yet to open its account after being edged out by ACT in a thriller before a quality match-up against Queensland later in the day.
The tournament – which will run until 6 May – is being scored lived by Queensland Scorers’ Association, which is accessible via THIS LINK.
VICTORIA 7 defeated NEW SOUTH WALES 2.
Making a string of damaging defensive errors, last year’s silver medallist was strangled to the tune of one hit as Victorian pitchers Jamie Young and Josh Meyer both spun impressive stints. Tim Lane (three hits – including two triples - for two RBIs) and rightfielder Alex Barling (two hits) led the Victorian offence against a New South Wales outfit that drew level in the second but was unable to withstand a late assault after Josh Gessner had tossed a superb first four innings. BOX SCORES
AUSTRALIAN CAPITAL TERRITORY 7 defeated SOUTH AUSTRALIA 6
Benefitting from some opposition defensive errors, South Australia blasted four in the top of the last for a substantial break in this game, but was unable to hold off a late charge that yielded five for the territory team in the bottom of the frame. Scattering two hits and not conceding an earned run over four, Nicholas Graham gave ACT a terrific start (seven strikeouts) against a side that could not produce the offence – apart from Tim Rundle, who drove in both of the South Australia runs. BOX SCORES
QUEENSLAND 5 defeated SOUTH AUSTRALIA 0
Although South Australia was well-held by Queensland pitchers Tyson Zamora (four innings) and Ethan Wenban (three) – who together racked up fifteen strikeouts – it remained well in this contest until the northern state forged away with three in the bottom of the sixth, when Doug Briese, Hayden Michie and Ryan Woodrow all produced timely hits. While playing a better brand of defence than in their first game, South Australia conceded more walks – nine – than it would have liked. BOX SCORES
VICTORIA 16 defeated AUSTRALIAN CAPITAL TERRITORY 1
Already looking strong for this tournament, Victoria embarked on a scoring spree that produced seven in the second and a match-breaking eight in the fourth as Josh Meyer (three hits and two RBIs), Flynn Morrison (two and three) and Oliver McMahon (two and three) turned on the offence against three hurlers used by the territory, while Hugo Leropoulos went the distance for the Vics in scattering four hits and whiffing seven over a five-innings contest. While it appeared a comprehensive win for the Victorian team, the result was reversed as a 9-0 forfeit to ACT after a technical breach of tournament rules had been detected. BOX SCORES
NEW SOUTH WALES 10 defeated QUEENSLAND 2
New South Wales rebounded from a morning loss with a comprehensive result over Queensland, which scored a couple in the fourth but used four pitchers in battling against an errorless opponent that had grand offensive contributors in Rixon Wingrove (two doubles for two RBIs) and Rhys Dewick (one and three). Jack Lee was terrific in relief for New South Wales when Queensland threatened through timely hitting that was led by Ethan Wenban and Takumi Kimoto. BOX SCORES
LINKS
SCHOOLBOYS SERIES HIGHLIGHTS EMERGING TALENT
SCHOOL SPORT AUSTRALIA BASEBALL PAGES
QUEENSLAND BASEBALL SCORERS’ ASSOCIATION
AUSTRALIAN NATIONAL SCHOOLBOYS CHAMPIONSHIP SCHEDULE 2017
