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SHOWCASE ROUND  Game 9  Sat 6 Dec 2008

PATRIOTS RAVAGE RAMS 9-4!

Those great rugby league State-of-Origin rivals New South Wales and Queensland always seem to put on hard-fought contests in any sport and baseball is rarely an exception. In this case we had the makings of another terrific battle… that is until the Patriots sent no less than 13 batters to the plate in the fifth inning to torment three different Rams pitchers. Our correspondent at Blacktown suggested that it was like watching an inning he thought might never end! The outcome was a game-wrecking seven spot that took most of the competitive sting out of the contest.

There may have been a sign of how this game would ebb and flow in the third inning when a 0-0 tie would be broken. In the top half of the frame Queensland may have opened the scoring had it not been for young James Linger trying to stretch a leadoff single and finding himself out at second base. A subsequent Trent Baker double would have likely scored the first run of the game and, with none out, things may have been a lot different for the Rams. On the flip-side, NSW were to cash in singles by Kandilas and Pender with some help from a baulk and an error, with both runs scoring on ground outs.

Former Boston Red Sox professional and Claxton 2008 Golden Arm Award winner Tim Cox probably would have been able to preserve a two run advantage, but when this was blown out to NINE, well, that was game over folks! Cox, who had to be extra special last year to beat WA’s Mark Kelly and Liam Hendriks for the big award, was mighty good again. Any chance that the Queenslanders may have had to rattle his gilded cage disappeared when they failed to take advantage in that third inning.

Cox handed the chucking reins to 27yo Matt Bennett who is competing in his ninth AMLB campaign and, for a while, it looked like he was going to collect his fourth career save without too much fuss. He did allow David Sutherland to break the shutout with a solo homer in the eighth, but this was little cause for alarm. Eight runs is still a massive lead coming into the ninth inning, but when Queensland rallied with SIX successive singles to open the inning there would have been the hint of a twitch in the Patriots’ dugout with two runs on the board, bases loaded and still nobody out… yep, the tying run had just started warming up in the on deck circle! It wasn’t to be on this day, but you can never quite trust our game of baseball to follow any type of script.

Former professional league journeyman Chris Mowday looked capable of keeping his team in the contest until he was knocked off the mound by Michael Lysaught’s two-RBI triple in the fifth when 78 pitches was just about enough for him. Former Minnesota Twins rookie league pitcher Nathan Crawford, who played Independent League ball in 2008, was next to face the music in that fateful fifth inning. He would not have enjoyed trading four hits and four runs for his solitary out. He did nail the second out of the inning when he struck out the first batter he faced, but things turned sour when Tim Atherton took him deep for a three-run bomb three batters later.

Young Atlanta Braves rookie pitcher Matt Timms finally locked down the fifth and he didn’t allow a run from his 3.1 innings in another decent display. Veteran AMLB rookie Brett Montgomery was given the chance to exorcise some demons from his nightmare debut on Wednesday but, although he managed to avoid any further damage to his ERA, it was another shaky effort. A double-play at the end helped him to work around a double, a walk, a wild pitch and a hit batter in the eighth.

No less than five Queensland batters managed two hits in a game where the hit count was 14 each. Wade Dutton and Matt Studeman both added a walk to their two-hit efforts, while emerging young pros Naughton, Linger and Baker each batted a solid 2-4. The Rams' runs were supplied by the Dutton brothers, Roneberg and Sutherland with one apiece. David Sutherland claimed his RBI via the third home run of his AMLB career with a solo shot to right field.

The bulk of New South Wales’ runs came from former pro Michael Lysaught with three and rookie pro Tim Atherton who delivered three with his one home run swing to centre field in that fifth inning uprising. Pat Maat continues to prove his batting talent with another 3-4 plus a walk, while fellow young tyros David Kandilas (2-3 plus a walk) and Shannon Pender (2-4) also continue to impress. Former Florida Marlins pro Trent D’Antonio also produced two hits to continue his fine competition.

A valuable win for New South Wales and a loss for Queensland… they will meet again in 2009.

SHOWCASE ROUND  Game 7  Fri 5 Dec 2008

WA HANGS TOUGH 4-3 v NSW!

Not for the first time in this 2009 Claxton Shield Showcase Round has our wonderful game of baseball dished up two very different types of contests on the same day. Once again in complete contrast to the untidy “slugfest” between Queensland and SA this afternoon, the nightcap between NSW and WA would bring a refreshingly tight pitcher’s duel. It was not entirely unlike their Grand Final match-up at the pointy end of Claxton 2008.

In the blue corner would be the highly experienced pitching presence of NSW Wayne Lundgren who has played professionally with the Boston Red Sox, St.Louis Cardinals and a couple of Independent League teams since 2000. Opposing him would be a Claxton Shield debutant Daniel Schmidt, who has been signed by the Philadelphia Phillies but who is yet to play at this level. What may have appeared to be a mismatch of experience turned into a very even battle with almost identical pitching lines after both were relieved during the sixth inning. Lundgren having allowed three runs and Schmidt just two in his final inning when his petrol tank was reading “E”! Both guys could be quite proud of their efforts in this game, but especially Daniel Schmidt who had just made a tremendous AMLB debut!

Once again the Patriots bullpen would hold the experience edge with their reliever Todd Grattan allowing one run from 2.2 innings of solid work, versus impressive newcomer Benn Grice who allowed only one unearned run from his most efficient 3.1 innings. The effectiveness of the pitching is why this contest went right down to the wire.

Seasoned former Detroit Tigers catcher Andrew Graham was the man to finally tag Schmidt when, with his pitch count nearing 90, he nailed a two-run dinger over left field to put his team right back into the contest. Graham’s 2-4 with the two-run long ball shadowed emerging team mate Shannon Pender who was the only other Patriot to nail two hits. Leadoff guy Michael Lysaught also did his job to near perfection by adding two walks to his 1-3 batting effort.

Philadelphia pro Tim Kennelly and dangerous Dan Floyd both batted 3-4 with a RBI as top contributors for the Heat but, once again, they would also stand slightly behind former Provincial Nick Kimpton. Nick spiced his 2-4 effort with a home run to right field and a RBI double to provide half the scoring for his adopted state… what a superb pick-up he has been in Claxton 2008! The ever-competitive Lachlan Dale also contributed 2-4.

Here is the rub folks. Some may suggest that WA have had a slice or two of luck in winning so many close games over the past couple of Claxton Shield competitions but, for ‘Flintoff & Dunn’, you usually make your own luck in baseball… at least over a long period. What they have certainly done routinely over this term is to cash in ruthlessly on opposition errors, like they did today when Mitch Graham reached on an error in the ninth and extended the inning for the winning run to score. If he had been out you never know how that inning may have unfolded differently? Another thing you can most often say about teams that seem to win a high proportion of close games is that they usually have strong pitching and defence… and Western Australia has definitely had that!

SHOWCASE ROUND  Game 6  Fri 5 Dec 2008

RAMS OVERRUN SOUTH IN 11-9 SLUGFEST!

I suppose that it was always destined to be a “slugfest” when you look at the way both teams aligned their pitching rotations for this game. Queensland’s teenage Boston Red Sox signing Justin Erasmus came with only one AMLB appearance under his belt for the 2008 Australian Provincial team. He was to make his first start for the Rams in this game. His opponent, or opponents, would be a committee of SA hurlers who are either unknown to Claxton Shield baseball or who are yet to really prosper at this level.

On any other day Erasmus, who was pretty decent overall, would have been unlikely to escape a loss after supplying eleven hits and two walks from his seven inning start. But, on this occasion, it was not too difficult for his offensive team mates to reel in the six runs he allowed. In the end it was the well performed Simon Morriss who collected the win, even though it was also far from his best showing and he nearly wobbled in the final frame.

It would not serve much purpose to dwell on the frailty of the SA pitching again here. Let’s just say that newcomers Michael Ewart and Chris Doyle struggled mightily at the beginning of the game and another rookie Adam Crabb was pitching in the wrong place at the wrong time to take the loss. Nick Talbot couldn’t buy an out and Chris Lawson didn’t have a lot to do while nailing down the last two Queensland outs. Probably the best of South’s pitching on this day was Lachlan Eldridge but even he was not without problems in a contest when the bar was set horribly low for South Australia’s bullpen once again.

However, for all that SA’s offence was up to the task of leaping out in front and giving their team a real chance of a morale boosting win. It would be redundant to report that leading from the front for them would be, no prizes for guessing, that most prolific of Claxton Shield “Money Men” ‘Bashing Ben’ Wigmore. Ben’s first two at bats yielded a two run homer and a three run homer, both over right field… our correspondent suggested that his third might have been another big fly but he just missed the perfect contact and he flied out to right. ‘Wiggy’ added another single late in the game to round off YET ANOTHER brilliant game with 3-5 and FIVE huge RBIs… say no more!

The underrated Dan Wilson enjoyed a terrific 4-5 game while dangerous veteran Craig Watts rolled back the years with 2-3 that included a RBI and two walks. We lauded veteran pitcher Darren Fidge for knocking his first AMLB hit yesterday but he wasn’t prepared to rest on that when he hammered a single, a double and a two-RBI triple to end up just a home run short of hitting for the cycle! After sixteen years of pitching at this level ‘Fidgey’ might yet have several more years left as a batter?

One guy whose career numbers could stack up with Wigmore’s is superstar Brett Roneberg, but even his 2-4 plus a sacrifice fly RBI would take a back seat to his Queensland team mates Dutton (times two) and Sutherland. Former LA Dodgers minor league pro David Sutherland continues to be a consistent star at AMLB level with his 4-4 and two RBIs here. Brad Dutton, a current Independent League pro, just outstripped him with 4-4 and three ‘ribbies’. Why, you might ask, do we mention brother Wade Dutton who was not listed among the safe hitters in this game… well, how about FOUR walks for an effort? Phillies minor league catcher Joel Naughton delivered three big RBIs with a double and a walk.

So, it wasn’t the prettiest of Claxton Shield contests but Queensland will grab the points with both hands as you never take anything for granted at this level. SA won’t often enjoy compiling 16 hits in one game and they might well bemoan the fact that they could not engineer a victory out of their 16-12 hit advantage. Then again when your pitchers combine to issue eight walks versus two you don’t have to look much further for your answer!

SHOWCASE ROUND  Game 5  Thu 4 Dec 2008

NSW PATRIOTS SNEAK PAST SA 4-3!

Not even our favourite Sydney-based correspondent could get too excited about his Patriots earning a first up victory over the South Aussies on this occasion. Following the afternoon epic between WA and Victoria witnessed by a handful of addicted fans, the marginally larger evening audience were treated to (or endured) what he termed “a scrappy affair” with few highlights. This guy loves good defence and I think the four NSW errors detracted from his appreciation of what was another even contest.

Forty-six pitches, of fifty we guess, must have been the limit for former major league pitcher Chris Oxspring who took the mound first for the home team. Back-to-back doubles to Wigmore and Pett leading off the second inning would cost him a run but that was the only damage he allowed with four strike outs from his 3.1 inning start. Boston Red Sox rookie pro Michael Lennox, who hit brilliantly for the Australian Provincials in Claxton 2008, was next to take the ball for NSW. His solitary out was to cost him a run after serving up a hit and two walks as the ball must have felt like a hot potato for the youngster… he will have better days.

Lennox was replaced by San Diego Padres rookie leaguer Allessio Angelucci who enjoyed a reasonably successful AMLB debut. He started by striking out the final batter in the fourth to snuff out a threat, then he induced double-plays in both the fifth and sixth to limit any further damage to just one run from his two frame relief outing. Maybe NSW had left their best pitching until last when a maturing Vaughan Harris, who has been most impressive in the past two Claxton competitions, strode to the mound. He really deserved the win after finishing of the last 3.1 innings without the slightest hint of a late uprising from a SA team that trailed by just the single run. He even had the poise to work around two errors in an otherwise tense ninth inning that he throttled with a game-ending double-play.

Taking the hill for the South Aussies was the familiar sight of 38yo journeyman Phil Brassington who owns more uniforms from his long AMLB career than you would find at AUSPORT! The re-invented knuckleballer, who pitched for Australia at the 2006 World Baseball Classic, must be hoping for another opportunity to attend the same event in 2009. In somewhat typical style for a “knuckler” Brassington and his team had to ride the roller-coaster of his 110 pitch, six inning start.

There was a rather balanced appearance to his line that recorded six innings, for six hits, with six walks and six strike outs. Perhaps the saddest reminder about the vagaries of knuckleball pitching would come to haunt the SA team in the fifth inning when NSW plated their last and game-deciding fourth run. A two-out walk to Tim Auty would be followed by a stolen base, a passed ball and a run scoring wild pitch… that stings folks!

Chris Lawson walked two but got two outs in the seventh before handing over to former Cincinnati Reds professional Tom Fiebig who struck out Andrew Graham to end the inning. Nick Talbot allowed a couple of base runners before shutting down a scoreless eighth and final frame for the hosts.

Offensively that hard-hitting New York Mets minor league catcher/first baseman Patrick Maat continues to attract our attention with his two doubles, a RBI and a walk as a major contributor for NSW. There were no others with more than one hit in this game for the Patriots but Trent D’Antonio’s two RBI double was the big scorer in the game and he also walked twice to cap a fine game. Young Colorado Rockies signing David Kandilas, who showed some of his class with the Aussie Provincials in Claxton 2008, also added two walks to his 1-2 batting.

The last time we saw Jeremy Cresswell he was being taken away from Woodville Baseball Club in Adelaide via ambulance after taking a nasty pitch in the face during a Claxton 2008 game against Victoria. It was just great to see him back in action and supplying the only two-hit game for the ‘Croweaters’ here. Brendan Pett and newcomer Jared Kempf were the “rib-eye” men for SA, while young Angus Roeger walked twice. Just finally, SA’s stalwart pitcher Darren Fidge is in his 16^th AMLB season this year and during that time he has had just two fruitless at bats. This ended today when he grasped the opportunity to poke a pinch-hit leadoff single in the final inning… nice one old fella!

So, a pipe-opening win for the Patriots and another unhappy loss for the South Australians who were unable to take much advantage from four NSW errors. Baseball can be a frustrating game… but we love it!

SHOWCASE ROUND  Game 4  Thu 4 Dec 2008

WA OUTLASTS ACES 6-5 IN 11TH!

Not Kelly and Hendriks again? Well, NO, but sort of! The 2008 Claxton Shield Southern Series went right down to the wire when WA and Victoria battled through some very tight contests and the tradition continued here in Sydney when the rivals locked horns again in another “barn burner”. Unfortunately for the Aces, the result would be annoyingly similar when WA sneaked away with the points after an 11-inning epic.

It wasn’t Mark Kelly this time cutting a swathe through the opposition batting but his older brother Ryan who has also been a pretty useful performer for the West, if not as brilliant as “junior” has been these past two campaigns. In this game Ryan was able to navigate through 6.2 innings while yielding only four earned runs from his 100 pitch start. Most importantly, he was able to apply a muffler to the very loud noise made by the Victorian offence against Queensland the previous day.

Young Liam Hendriks, who was a superstar as WA’s No.1 starter during Claxton 2008, has just come off an injury de-railed pro season that included minor back surgery. We assume that this is why he is being used prudently at this stage of the year, but he quickly reminded most of us that he had lost none of his quality or his competitive instincts. After a shaky start Liam settled into his work very nicely and, in typical fashion, he polished off the vital seventh and eighth innings with six successive groundball outs. The Hendriks family has recently relocated to Melbourne and, while they will be proud of their lad again today, I don’t suppose that there will be too much bragging over the back fence to their new Victorian neighbours!

Brendan Wise paid for a couple of walks when Brad Harman’s RBI single cashed in Grant Karlsen’s one-out walk to tie the contest in the ninth inning. Former Atlanta Braves infielder Dean White continues to earn his stripes as a very tidy relief pitcher and his poised two frame closure of this game in the hot kitchen of extra innings was worthy of the win.

Taking the ball for the Victorians would be a matured right-hander Daryn Cassidy who last played for the Aces as a 17yo way back in Claxton Shield 2000. In the meantime Cassidy also played in the IBLA and later with the Australian Provincials from 2004 to 2006. Although he is playing Division Two ball in Melbourne these days, Cassidy has earned his reputation as a tough competitor who, on his day, can be as tough as anyone to hit… the kind of pitcher who will occasionally bend, but rarely break.

Cassidy lived up to this reputation once more with a lion-hearted effort for the Vics. There must have been quite a few moments during his nine innings of twelve hit pitching that manager Phil Dale was considering the hook, but Daryn continued to battle. It would not have surprised many who have followed his career that Andrew Kyle’s leadoff double in the seventh inning would be the last of the twelve hits he allowed as he seemed to get stronger near the end of his outing with nine successive outs. The simple fact that he was able to stretch out nine innings for the Aces could prove a most valliant contribution to the ongoing team setup this week.

Matthew Blackmore owns the remarkable record of three wins and four saves from his total of eight appearances at Claxton Shields 2007 and 2008. With some run support he might have captured another victory here, but Nick Kimpton’s RBI double in the eleventh would deal him his first AMLB loss.

WA are entitled to point to their 15-10 advantage in the safe hits column as a fair indication that they deserved their narrow success in this contest, but our NSW correspondent at Blacktown has suggested to us that some brilliant WA defence was also a major contributing factor in stopping the Aces from grasping any advantages that may have presented themselves. One superb throw to prevent the winning run from scoring and to end the tenth inning was a perfect example of this.

Former Anaheim Angel and Aussie Provincial Nick Kimpton is clearly enjoying his return to the AMLB stage as he added another three hits to his portfolio in this game, not to mention of course his game winning RBI. 19yo Cleveland Indians rookie pro Jason Smit has only just dipped his toe into Claxton Shield baseball, but there are already signs that he is starting to belong at this level with his two hits, the second of which resulted in the winning run, along with a run batted in. Lachlan Dale, Andy Kyle and Tim Kennelly are more familiar with plural-hit performances. Young Chris House couldn’t quite manage a third successive triple… he could only manage a leadoff double in the fourth inning.

Australia’s 26^th major league player Brad Harman continues to demonstrate the type of quality it takes to get to that level with another standout game here. His 2-4 with a walk produced two RBIs, the second of which came at the most important time when he squared up the game in the bottom of the ninth. Former pro Brett Tamburrino added another two knocks and another stolen base, while Tristan McDonald drove in a run from his two-hit effort. Dangerous Danny Berg blasted a RBI triple in the first inning but they managed to keep him quiet after that.

No doubt Western Australia will be pleased about securing those vital competition points, but the Victorians will not be feeling too downhearted after what was, after all, another mighty tight encounter. This battle will be rejoined later on this summer folks!

SHOWCASE ROUND  Game 3  Wed 3 Dec 2008

KELLY & WA BLANK SA 7-0!

9.0ip 1h 0er 1bb 7k… that was Mark Kelly’s amazing pitching line from the Championship clinching Grand Final game against NSW at the end of Claxton Shield 2008. His very next appearance on the national stage would deliver a near identical 8.0ip 1h 0er 3bb 8k as he combined with newcomer Benn Grice for a one hit shutout of the hapless South Aussies. I simply can’t add any more superlatives to those that poured out following his virtuoso Grand Final effort but, BOY OH BOY, is this guy enjoying Claxton Shield baseball! We know nothing about Grice but, suffice to say, he couldn’t choose a better situation in which to make his Claxton Shield debut.

Young Toronto Blue Jays’ catching prospect Chris House hammered his second triple in successive games to compliment his brilliant 3-4 that included a RBI. Either he has the knack of finding the deepest part of the yard, or this catcher has “wheels” folks! Dangerous Dan Floyd was the only other player in the game to register more than one hit and his 2-4 included a double. House was beaten for the biggest blow of the game by team mate Lachlan Dale who “went yard” to left field with his two run blast in the opening inning.

It was in that five run opening frame that things very quickly went sour for SA’s mighty pitching warrior Darren Fidge who hit the second batter he faced with a pitch and then saw two errors compound what might have been a much better outcome for him. Those five first inning runs would be PLENTY for Mark Kelly to ride home to victory. Fidge settled admirably to cruise through the next four innings until he struck trouble again in the sixth. In that frame a Chris House leadoff single was turned into another "virtual triple" when he advanced to third on a botched pickoff attempt.

One thing that the South Australian team can take away from this game was the relatively good performance of their bullpen. Lachlan Eldridge, Chris Doyle and Tom Fiebig were quite impressive in this game to provide hope that they will fare much better towards the end of games than the SA relievers did during Claxton 2008. Let’s face it, it wouldn’t be difficult to improve upon that.

Oh, and just for the record, I wonder who was the lonely chap that produced South Australia’s only hit? I reckon that I could have won the “cupie doll” blind-folded! What on earth would SA’s offence be without ‘Bashing Ben’ Wigmore? He might not have been at his devastating best on this day but he simply refused to go quietly.

Was Kelly just too good once again, or was our prediction about SA’s offence a portent for a relatively barren tournament? We’ll have to keep watching a few more games to find out. MARK KELLY, phew, what more can you say about this guy!

SHOWCASE ROUND  Game 2  Wed 3 Dec 2008

VICTORIA MERCILESS IN 13-3 WIN v QLD!

Don’t try to touch any Victorian hitters today, because they were running so hot in this game that you would be sure to end up with third degree burns! Even against some talented Queensland pitchers the Aces' batters dined out with a massive 16 hits from seven innings to inflict a 13-3 “Mercy Rule” defeat. Not in their worst of nightmares could the Queenslanders have imagined the typhoon of batting that would await them after their opening game victory the previous night.

All nine Victorian players would enjoy at least one hit for the game and no less than SEVEN of them would enjoy two hits for the game. Rising Minnesota Twins ‘AA’ professional Danny Berg probably snatched the headlines with his 2-3 that included a booming leadoff home run in the third inning, two RBIs, a hit-by-pitch and a walk… not a bad afternoon’s work! Not far behind him would be a couple of other former Twins’ pros Brett Tamburrino and Paul Rutgers who each had two hits plus a sacrifice fly each for two and three RBIs respectively. Tamburrino also swiped a couple of bags to put some icing on a terrific game. McDonald, Dingle, McIntyre and Wearne were the other multi-hit gamers for the Aces and on any other day they would have earned more print here. Australia’s most recent new major leaguer Brad Harman may have managed only one hit amid the mayhem, but his RBI double was complimented by two walks as a very handy contribution.

Taking the brunt of the Victorian barrage was the man we have nicknamed ‘Drew-K’ Drew Naylor who has been mowing down pro hitters with the Philadelphia Phillies in the US minor leagues, but he ran into a stumbling block in this game and was chased from the hill after throwing 60 pitches over just two innings. It may have taken Brett Montgomery until the ripe young age of 38yo to reach the pinnacle of Australian baseball competition, however, any joy he derived from this was short lived. There is no way to sugar coat his pitching line of seven hits, two walks and six runs from just 1.1 innings… it can only get better for him!

Former Minnesota professional and 2008 Independent League hurler Nathan Crawford did stop the rot in middle relief, but he dam walls crashed open again when the seasoned John Veitch took a rare hammering. Young Atlanta Braves' professional Matt Timms put a swift and merciful end to the Victorian batting with two strike outs in the seventh frame.

Until today Queensland’s Wade Dutton probably carried the unfortunate handle of “Brad Dutton’s brother” but in this game he stood alone for the Rams with two hits, including a double, plus a walk. His brother Brad and Luke White delivered the only RBIs for the maroons.

Keeping the Queensland bats subdued on this occasion was former Boston Red Sox and Independent League left-hander Adam Blackley who is a maturing star. Blackley has developed the very useful habit of being able to pitch in and out of trouble as he did in this game when he allowed just one earned run from a dangerous average of one hit and one walk per inning. One thing that really helped him BIG TIME was twice getting Queensland star Brett Roneberg to ground into double-plays… he wouldn’t want to count on that happening every time, or maybe ever again! It was still a terrific win for Adam Blackley.

After a solid debut with the Australian Provincial team in Claxton 2008, Kable Hogben did a decent job with his first inning of relief work for the Aces. Even as a diehard Victorian baseball fan I am embarrassed to say that I know nothing whatever about the teenager Blake Cunningham who polished off this game for the Aces with two strike outs in the final frame… but I guess I’ll soon find out!

Queensland fell quickly back to earth after their strong opening night victory, while the Victorian Aces served an early warning of their capabilities. The fact that the game was concluded in seven innings might just benefit the pitching reserves of both teams as the Showcase Round progresses this week.

SHOWCASE ROUND  Game 1  Tues 2 Dec 2008

RAMS RATTLE WEST 8-2!

Not that I’m having a crack at my old mate Ben Foster at Baseball Australia, but I noticed his headline after this game suggested Queensland’s bats had dominated WA in this game. Well, I’m not so sure? Our correspondent in Sydney gave us his view that the hitting in this game was quite balanced and the scorecard would provide some evidence of this. On sheer numbers, the Rams out-hit the Heat by just 12-10, while WA left 10 on base compared with Queensland’s 8.

‘Flintoff & Dunn’ are going to suggest that the reasons for the somewhat lop-sided score were more likely two of the age old baseball mantras… TIMELY hitting and, you guessed it, WALKS! There is no doubt that the ‘Banana Benders’ made by far the better of their scoring chances and they also made sure that they made WA pay dearly for the walks they issued. For instance, in the eighth inning, the Rams cashed in two leadoff walks with a bunt and two separate ground out RBIs. They even scored a run in the second via a wild pitch on a dropped third strike.

On the contrary, of WA’s ten knocks for the game, their only two runs came via solo homers and much of their hitting came with two already out in the inning. I’m not going to go as far as suggesting that WA batted equally as well as the Queenslanders in this game, because they didn’t, it’s just that the gap between the offence of the two teams was not as wide as may have been broadcast.

With their No.1 gun from 2007 Liam Hendriks coming off an injury interrupted season, former Anaheim Angels’ professional Dylan Peacock was the man given the ball for WA’s opening start this year. Peacock had been very good in relief during the past two Claxton Shield competitions, but this would be only his second start at this level. Let’s just say that eight hits and three walks produced a few too many base runners from his 5.1 innings on this occasion and he paid the ultimate price with the loss.

Former professional infielder Dean White mopped up a bit of a mess in the sixth with a fly ball double-play before handing the ball to closer Chris Goadby. Goadby has been quite effective in his brief Claxton Shield career but he was untidy on this occasion, allowing Queensland to stretch their lead in the seventh and eighth inning.

Although their hitters got the headlines, it was the pitching of seasoned starter Chris Mowday and reliever Simon Morriss who clearly outgunned their WA opponents in this game. Former journeyman professional Chris Mowday returned to play Independent League baseball with the Edmonton Crackercats (whatever they are?) in 2008 and his experience surely helped him to minimise the damage of eight hits from 6.1 innings. The most impressive Morriss didn’t remotely look like letting WA back into the game with his conclusive 2.2 inning end-game. The pair issued just one walk between them to highlight their efficiency.

Regardless of the circumstances, the cream usually rises to the top when the Claxton Shield competition rolls around. We had been warned that our prolific Hall-of-Famer Brett Roneberg may not be near his peak after battling injury and missing pro baseball this year for the first time in ages. Well, if 3-5 with a double and a RBI is below par, this only goes to remind us what kind of talent he is! His young team mate Trent Baker, who is signed by the Cleveland Indians, didn’t show a lot during Claxton 2007, but his 3-5 with two doubles and two RBIs may be an indication of an emerging star.

Philadelphia Phillies’ star defensive catcher Joel Naughton may be ready to really impose himself on AMLB with his 2-5 that included a home run. Linger, Dutton and Rooke drove in the Rams other runs in what was a solid and balanced team offence. 

We did say in our preview that WA might struggle to replace the big bats of Balgera nd Hughes this year, but perhaps we overlooked the inclusion of former ACT and Anaheim Angels professional Nick Kimpton, who already owns an impressive .317 average over four tours of duty with the Australian Provincials at this level. Kimpton made a magnificent return to the biggest Australian stage with his 3-5 that included a double and a home run. Andrew Kyle shrugged aside his reputation as a “light hitter” with his excellent 3-5 in this game, while Matt Kennelly supplied WA’s other run via his second inning leadoff homer. Young Toronto Blue Jays catcher Chris House gave a glimpse of his talent with a triple in his AMLB debut.

It’s early days, but every win will be vital in this competition and Queensland now have one on the board.