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HOME & AWAY ROUND 6  Game 40 - Holloway Field  Sun 18 Jan 2009

QLD ENDS SA AGONY 2-1 FOR SWEEP!

In order to start this final report for our Queensland and South Australian fans on a positive note, we will begin by complementing the Queensland Rams on finishing their 2009 Claxton Shield campaign with a series sweep that has them finishing just one game behind New South Wales. Being hard to please, it may be scant consolation for them that they narrowly missed a semi-final opportunity. They will no doubt replay in their minds a few of the games that they might have won during the journey. There is nothing for them to be ashamed about in such a tight and keenly contested competition such as this.

Unfortunately for our many friends and Subscribers in South Australia this last, torture ending, game was somewhat of a “microcosm” of all the things that have gone wrong for them in 2008/09, much as it did in 2007/08. Yet another desperately close contest simply refused to go in their favour. In baseball, like most sports, you generally make your own luck, but one can’t help but feel that anything that could go wrong just about has for the ‘Croweaters’ once again this summer.

Let’s start right here by recounting that SA lost this game by the skinniest of 1-2 scorelines. The first run they allowed came via a leadoff walk, followed by a sacrifice bunt and it crossed the plate on a wild pitch. The second came after a single, then a hit batter, later a passed ball and it scored on a fielder’s choice ground out. This, readers, is typical of the kind of ways the South Australians have found to gift runs and to thereby lose games these past couple of years.

On this occasion they could not sheet much of the blame to their veteran-of-evergreen starters Phil Brassington who has now put a lid on his 12^th season of Australian major league baseball, in a career that spans even longer than his 19 years that we have chronicled! ‘Brasso’ went deep into this game to allow only one run from seven innings, matching three hits with three strike outs. The tell-tale issue for all “knuckleballers” was the eight walks, three wild pitches and a hit batter… These stats come with the knuckleball territory, but this time they did not hurt as much as they might have on another day.

Inexperienced second-year Claxton pitcher Mitch Fienemann was the unlucky lad to take the loss when he was unable to secure an out in the eighth and one of his two base runners eventually crossed the plate on a fielder’s choice for the winning run. Darren Fidge is one of the very few to have seen more AMLB action that Brassington and, typically, he was a tremendously valuable servant for his team with both bat and ball today.

Boston Red Sox rookie Justin Erasmus has been largely struggling to find his feet at senior National level at this early stage, but he ended his 2009 Claxton Shield campaign on a very positive note with a solid, quality start here. OK, he walked a few more than he would have preferred, but only two hits and one run from five innings is a definite confidence builder looking ahead to his 2009 professional season.

Nathan Crawford was not particularly tidy in this game, while Atlanta rookie Matt Timms was a lot neater with no action of note happening during his one inning stint. Chicago Cubs ‘A’ leaguer Ryan Searle demonstrated his potential class by making sure that a tenuous one-run lead would be maintained for the Rams across the final two innings. He could do no more than to sit down the last six SA batters in unbroken sequence.

Another lingering concern for South Australian baseball to ponder, apart from their relief pitching, is that annoying habit of failing to score runs when their opposition is limited, then scoring plenty when their shaky bullpen leaks just one or two more! This was painfully evident again here when the combined SA offence, which is far from shabby, could only cobble together three hits, the best of which being a double from renowned pitcher Darren Fidge.

Stalwart Jeremy Cresswell drove in South’s only run via a sacrifice fly to add to his early walk. As we have mentioned, it was great to see him back as good as ever after that horrific whack in the face he copped from a pitch in their home series against Victoria at Woodville near the start of Claxton 2008.

I’m not sure why productive sibling Wade Dutton didn’t continue his great competition in this series, but the family was more than adequately represented by Brad Dutton, who batted a handsome .311 for the Independent League Rockford Riverhawks in 2008. As the only two-hit performer in this game, Brad took his final competition average to .393 to prove once again what a naturally gifted hitter he is.

Unobtrusive former ABL pitcher Matt Studeman is demanding attention as a hitter after a strong Claxton 2009 where his .466 on base percentage tells us that this guy can really handle a bat. To prove this again in his last appearance for the competition, Studeman accumulated two walks on top of his single. Cleveland Indians’ signee Trent Baker supplied Queensland’s single RBI via his game-winning fielder’s choice ground out in the bottom of the eighth.

I did see one reporter use the nickname South Australian BITE during this competition and I’m not sure if it is a throwback to the 2000 Claxton Shield, when WA still called themselves the Heelers, or if it is still in common use? I really don’t want to prolong any pain for the South Aussies this year but, it must be concluded, their bite has certainly lacked a fair few teeth lately. It sounds gratuitous, but the only way for them has to be UP! SOS John Challinor and Dushan Ruzic… and anyone else they can find!

The Queensland Rams, as most expected, were right in the mix and ‘Flintoff & Dunn’ would suggest that the passing of time will take care of itself for them. There are plenty of young Queenslanders refining their trades in US professional ranks and these guys will only get better. As long as they don’t let their proven leaders like Brett Roneberg, John Veitch and others move on, they will continue to pose a very real threat every time a National competition rolls around.

HOME & AWAY ROUND 6  Game 39 - Redlands  Sat 17 Jan 2009

RAMS' RAIDERS STRIKE LATE TO BEAT SA 7-6!

If the South Australian baseball team comprised any animal other than humans, the RSPCA would have been visiting Redlands claiming cruelty! For the second game running they put up a big crooked number in the top of the second inning only to be overrun, this time narrowly, in yet another heart breaking Claxton Shield loss this season. For the umpteenth time over the last couple of campaigns they were unable to make a grand-slam-plus lead hold up.

Interestingly, the SA bullpen tandem of rookie Adam Crabb and evergreen Darren Fidge were very good and only a pair of unearned runs, one each, clawed the Rams to a single run win. Kansas City Royals ‘AAA’ pro Paul Mildren took the ball first for South Australia and he could have enjoyed a great outing if not for the menacing presence of our Hall-of-Famer Brett Roneberg who has a habit of making life unpleasant for the best of pitchers. Roneberg was responsible for four of the five runs driven in from Mildren’s offerings via two extra base hits, plus he walked first time up.

Let’s move straight into the Queensland offence which was, of course, headlined by ‘Roneberg the Wrecker’ who crushed a two-run homer over centre field in the third, then followed with a two-RBI double in the fifth that chased Mildren from the hill. Experienced Independent Leaguer Brad Dutton also batted 2-2 with a double, a bunt single, a sac bunt and a walk. Atlanta rookie league pro James Linger doubled and singled, while reliable Matt Studeman singled and walked for a RBI. Joel Naughton drove in the Queensland's other run.

To start with the South Aussie batting, six different players made up all their safe hits and six different players scored their total of six runs. Stefan Welch and Jared Kempf supplied the bulk of South’s runs with two RBIs each, while Tommy Brice added a pair of walks to his solid 1-1 game. Only Kempf and Todd Langman delivered extra base hits for the guests as they were generally held in check by Queensland’s pitching, aside from their isolated second inning eruption.

Former New York Mets ‘AA’ pro and Athens Olympic silver medallist Wayne Ough made his first and only appearance for the Maroons in this competition and it wasn’t exactly memorable when SA’s six run second inning saw him assigned to an early shower. Just days from his 31^st birthday, John Veitch maintained his high standards in AMLB competition with four efficient scoreless innings that leaked only two base runners. Likewise recent ‘AAA’ and ‘AA’ pro Tristan Crawford who grabbed the win with four dominant shutout innings that were blemished only by three walks.

It should be annoying the heck out the low-confidence South Australians that opposing teams seem to find just enough to beat them, even when they work hard to establish winning positions. However, ‘Flintoff & Dunn’ would like to give them a token of our respect for continuing to wave the flag for their state under fairly demoralising circumstances. Refusing to quit means a lot in sports and it does say a fair bit about the character and spirit of their players and management. Teams that persist always have a chance to turn things around… those who don’t won’t!

HOME & AWAY ROUND 6  Game 38 - Geelong  Sat 17 Jan 2009

VICTORIA NAILS NEW SOUTH WALES 12-2!

Unfortunately, it’s never a great thing for any game as a spectacle when teams have so obviously little to play for… Then again you cannot blame the management of the teams for taking every possible precaution to position themselves for the bigger battles looming on the horizon. In this case both the Victorian Aces and the New South Wales Patriots were well aware that they would be meeting again in Melbourne for the Claxton Shield semi-final next weekend. Their pitching management and numerous defensive changes certainly indicated that there were no sheep stations riding on this result.

This was evident very early when NSW chose to lift their terrific starter Tim Cox after just one frame and, unless he had an unknown injury, I don’t think that his two first inning walks would have brought about this knee-jerk penalty. The next indication was the “cannon fodder” approach taken with reliever Todd Grattan who was, well, as my partner Adrian Dunn would say, dreadful… yet he was allowed to plod along until giving up near double-digit runs.

High quality professional relievers Brad Tippett and Rich Thompson, who we Aussies used to call RICHARD, restored sanity to the no-contest with a tidy scoreless frame of work each. The final confirmation of the towel being thrown into the ring came when star hitter Tim Auty was called upon to make a rather inauspicious AMLB pitching debut. His arrival to the mound would only serve to hasten the implementation of the “Mercy Rule” as paying customers were required to settle for a slightly short straw!

The Victorians didn’t have to implement quite the same revolving door approach with their pitching due to the relatively solid start of Geelong “home boy” Dean Barker and the ever more impressive Darryn Cassidy. Barker, as he sometimes does, started in very unconvincing fashion with two hits, two hit batters and a wild pitch in his opening frame. Then, as he can also do, he did demonstrate the capacity to re-group and his control was quite good after that. Evergreen Cassidy was outstanding again here with six strike outs over four scoreless innings, ensuring that the Victorian brains trust didn’t have to think too hard about how to preserve their other arms.

Arizona’s hot asset Trent Oeltjen stood out like a beacon again for the visitors as the only duplicate hitter for his team, while Andrew Graham was hit by a pitch before driving in one of the NSW runs in the third inning. Trent D’Antonio recorded the other New South RBI when he was “plonked” by Barker in the first inning. There really wasn’t too much else to catch the eye about the offence produced by the lads from the mid-north on this occasion.

One thing that might be significant about this game, following on the heels of Game 2, is the fact that New South Wales has allowed the previously dormant Aces offence to spring to life and most of the host’s hitters seem to have got back on track just in the nick of time. Maybe chief among them is recent major league slugger Justin Huber who refused to make an out after taking some time to scrape off the rust earlier this summer. He hit twice, walked twice and was hit by a pitch, while supplying the game-killing two RBI double in the seventh stanza.

Maturing Victorian catcher Grant Karlsen is growing in stature with every series in this Claxton Shield and his self belief would have sky-rocketed after hammering a monster rainbow shot for a three run “tater” over the scoreboard at left field. Grant also “took one for the team” when he was pinged for his fourth RBI. Brett Tamburrino had also gone a little quiet recently, but he was back making plenty of noise tonight with his two-run bomb over centre-right in the third inning. Usual suspects Danny Berg, Paul Rutgers and Jim Beresford were the other run producers. Rutgers supplied two with a sweetly hit double, while Berg and Beresford were patient enough to earn theirs via milking walks.

Even though the announcement may have come early, at least Victoria’s conclusive victory in this game would mean that there could be few second-guesses about Melbourne hosting the semi-final series having secured second place on the final table. This was probably “politically pre-ordained”, quite reasonably, after Sydney hosted the entire Showcase Round at Blacktown while Melbourne was assigned only one fixture that was, naturally, washed out! The Victorian Aces have held a decisive head-to-head supremacy over the Patriots in the Claxton 2009 competition so far, but they will both start with a clean slate when the semi-final series starts this coming Friday night. Only one of these fine teams will be left standing to face Western Australia for the Shield Championship.

Our now standard recognition for umpires Stewart HOWE, Greg HOWARD and David MILTON. 
 

HOME & AWAY ROUND 6  Game 37 - Redlands  Fri 16 Jan 2009

QUEENSLAND QUELLS SA IN 16-6 ROMP!

Even allowing for the fact that the South Australians went down in order in the top of the first, our correspondent at Redlands tells us that, after three half-innings, he felt like this game might never end. The Rams got going quickly against hapless SA starter Jay Ziersch when leadoff batter James Linger went yard to left field, followed by Brad Dutton’s double and Mike Collins’ two-run jack to left field. There was a momentary respite when Ziersch finally secured the first out, but Matt Studeman delivered another crushing blow with his home run vanishing over straight-away centre.

It probably sounds harsh to say, but this was not a total shock given the woes of SA’s pitching in recent times, but what happened next to Rams’ starter Chris Mowday was somewhat unexpected when the ‘Croweaters’ hit back with a “five spot” in the top of the second. In this case the South Aussies sent nine batters to the box, but the ninth didn’t bat when the innings ended via an ill-advised caught stealing. Two of the five runs allowed were unearned.

More sedate viewing was restored after that when the seasoned former pro Mowday settled in nicely to allow only one more run in what he skilfully transformed into a deep seven innings, quality start. Ziersch was lifted after his shell-shocked single inning, handing over to Chris Lawson who has been as good as any of the South Australian relievers on occasions, but not on others. This time he was very good to scoot through the following three innings, however, we can only surmise that he was to become a “sacrificial lamb” when he was butchered in the fifth inning… surely beyond his “use by date” in terms of his pitching stamina.

One feels that the unlucky Lawson could have ended this game with much better numbers if the SA management had more confidence in their bullpen that has been as shaky as a plate of aeroplane jelly. I guess the immediate evidence of this was the performance of their next hurler, young Michael Ewart, who simply wasn’t capable of averting the “Mercy Rule” defeat at the end of eight frames. Conversely, Rams’ closer Matt Timms was about as impressive as you can be, walking Ben Wigmore in the middle of striking out three batters to kill off the top of the eighth.

Los Angeles Angels’ Michael Collins is doing his best to counter the brilliance of his ACT compatriot Nick Kimpton as a terrific “import player” for the Queenslanders. His 3-5 included TWO home runs and he plundered five RBIs. Matt Studeman, Steven Greer, James Linger and Jay Nillson each enjoyed two-hit outings, while Nilsson nailed four RBIs and Linger went deep for one… Greer also drew a stroll to first, while Studeman did this twice. As often the Queensland production line was represented by ‘Brilliant Brett’ Roneberg and Dave Sutherland who manufactured two RBIs each, while Brad Dutton supplied one. Roneberg's coming via the explosive "long route" deep over right field.

Tom Brice came to the fore with three hits to show how much he has been missed by his team for large parts of this competition, while Todd Langman knocked another two to prove that he refuses to wave the white flag. Wigmore, Fidge, Cakebread, Cresswell and Corbett were the men to drive in one run each for the out-slugged South Aussies.

HOME & AWAY ROUND 6  Game 36 - Geelong  Fri 16 Jan 2009

ACES AWAKEN TO POUND PATRIOTS 13-7

Brrringggg!... the alarm clock finally awoke the slumbering Victorian offence just before they would have to present themselves at the unemployment office seeking an alternative pay packet! The Aces were tentatively riding a four game losing streak into this contest and, sorry to report, there wasn’t too much optimism among the very sparse crowd on hand for the cool evening gathering of baseball “tragics” at Geelong.

Major league star Travis Blackley did everything he could to bring victory for Victoria in Game 1 of this series but, knowing him, he would have been delighted that brother Adam earned the “W” in Game 2 with an effort that was built more around mental toughness than overwhelming skills. The former Red Sox minor leaguer is a high quality pitcher in his own right, but he has got used to the idea of living in the considerable shadow of Travis. In this venture he had to work around a few too many base runners, but he once again demonstrated that he has the attitude to take care of his business and to clean up any mess that he has created himself. In baseball speak, this guy is a “GAMER”!

If Adam Blackley battled hard, then his club mate Donnie Hendricks pitched like a man on a mission, shutting down two innings with only one hit in what seemed like speed-up mode, while closer Matt Blackmore struck out three in his final inning of the game while allowing two hits and a run against his ledger.

Baltimore Orioles seasoned ‘AAA’ left-hander Craig Anderson has always been a most difficult customer for AMLB offences, but the recently success-starved Victorians were in the mood for a feast and they made a tasty meal of him for once with seven hits from his shortened 3.1 innings start. That said, he departed with only two runs on the home half of the scoreboard and his NSW team leading 3-2.

The man to take the loss in sorry circumstances was all-rounder Tim Atherton who has been useful with both bat and ball, but not on this occasion. The San Diego Padres’ hitter suffered the ignominy of walking three and then seeing three runs cashed in with the assistance of the next Patriot to the hill, Vaughan Harris. Harris was not at his best either as the snoozing giant that had been the Victorian batting lineup started to flex its muscle.

Victorian Claxton Shield rookie Scotty Wearne is really enjoying his re-birth as a National level baseballer after years of loyal toil in the lower grades of Victorian club ball. He has long been admired as a front-line player but he had always put club loyalties ahead of his own aspirations. It surprises few of us who know Wearne that he is starting to shine in the 2009 Claxton Shield and his 2-3 included a rare home run to the Baycats' distant right field, three RBIs, plus a pair of walks.

The ever productive Paul Weichard batted 2-4 with two RBIs, while the consistent Jimmy Beresford was the Aces’ other two-hitter. Stalwart Victorian star Paul Rutgers finally enjoyed some decent playing time and he made a loud statement for himself with his long ball to left field. Rutgers and Grant Karlsen also walked twice each to keep the carousel rotating on the basepaths for the home team. Big leaguers Justin Huber and Brad Harman had only one hit each, but delivered four and two RBIs respectively… Harman also walked in a run, while Huber was nailed by a pitched ball.

There were familiar names up in lights for the Patriots offence, brightest of which was ‘Terrific Tim’ Auty who put on a laser show with TWO home runs, the second of which appeared like a replay of the first as it cleared the same segment of fence at left field… no doubt his five RBIs were a mighty contribution. Likewise the surprise-packet Mark Holland who owns a career “buck seventy-four” AMLB average, but he has enjoyed some very productive games in this his sixth campaign for New South Wales. His 3-5 with three RBIs here was something we have not expected from him in the past. Young pro tyros Pat Maat and David Kandilas each added two more hits, while Trent Oeltjen was subdued, partly because of a walk and hit by pitch.

Victoria’s uplifting win levels this home series and, more importantly for them, you could sense the low tide of confidence start to swell again in the Aces dugout. At the end of the day, this series will not mean a lot as the teams are now certain to collide again in the upcoming semi-final.

Our now standard recognition for umpires David MILTON, Stewart HOWE and Greg HOWARD. 
 

HOME & AWAY ROUND 6  Game 35 - Geelong  Thu 15 Jan 2009

VICTORIAN ACES TRUMPED 2-1 BY NSW

If this Claxton Shield has turned into a crap shoot, then the Victorian Aces will be feeling like they have been throwing nothing but “snake eyes” lately. The Aces were sitting comfortably on top of the 2009 table at the Christmas break with two fewer losses than any other team in the competition but, since their untimely extended break, they simply cannot take a trick and any drop in form has been matched by a total desertion of any good fortune.

In what was a tantalising pitcher’s duel of really high quality, the home-standing Aces clearly out-hit the visiting Patriots 10-6, however, in three of the first five innings the Aces managed to erase base runners by hitting into double-plays… two of those via desperately unfortunate line outs. Fortune or not, there was also some truly splendid defence on show in this game. Outfield catches by Danny Berg and Paul Weichard of Victoria and Trent Oeltjen of New South Wales were right out of the very top drawer. Just to rub salt into stinging Victorian wounds NSW third baseman Mark Holland literally plucked from the air Brad Harman's bullet shot that would have surely tied the game in the bottom of the ninth.

You could take your pick of the two starting pitchers in this game in terms of who to give the most credit. Patriots’ seasoned pro Wayne Lundgren wasn’t nearly as overpowering as Victoria’s major leaguer Travis Blackley, but then he was also a bit tidier and some of his own fielding was like Merlin the Magician! Both went five and two-thirds innings to give their respective teams every chance, before Blackley finally allowed the game breaking two runs, one unearned, when he tired in the top of the sixth.

To be fair, Victoria seemed much more likely to get on top of Lundgren but he was able to wiggle his way off the hook on each threatening occasion with, as we said, a deal of help from his defence and, just maybe, a few smiles from lady luck. Nevertheless, Lundgren was worthy of the win in this tight contest, while Travis Blackley was certainly unfortunate to take the loss and to allow his first earned run for two seasons. Blackley struck out seven to emphasise his potency, but he wouldn’t be overjoyed about the three walks he issued at the same time.

Young Minnesota Twins pitcher Brad Tippett walked the tightrope for most of his 1.2 innings and he also needed a little fortune to keep the Aces at bay, even though the only run scored during his tenure was unearned. Recent LA Angles’ major league pro Rich Thompson was solid enough at the pointy end of the game to seal the win for the Patriots with a polished save.

If anything, we’d have to say that Victoria’s relievers were slightly more impressive on this day to make sure that there was no adding on for NSW in a game where any extra late innings runs would have been deadly. Rockies’ ‘AA’ left-hander Adam Bright was pretty sharp, facing one more than the minimum, but evergreen Russell Spear was even better at Geelong. The 31yo former professional hasn’t pitched a lot this summer at any level, but he was really dealing at the end of this game to face the minimum five hitters, while striking out three of them, as did Bright. Overall the Victorian pitchers struck out 13 Patriots compared with only five of their own batters going down on strikes… whatever that means?

For New South Wales ‘Damaging David’ Kandilas once again made sure that he could not go unnoticed as the only player on his team to rack up multiple hits against some top notch pitching, while another young pro, Mitch Dening found himself on base three times via a walk, a hit by pitch and a single. A third young professional, New York Mets’ Pat Maat, persists in being a RBI machine with a walk and a RBI, even though he didn’t register a safe hit. Mark Holland walked and singled, while former Florida Marlin Trent D’Antonio drove in the Patriots’ huge second run of the game.

Paul Weichard has both hit and pitched as a minor league pro and he has just about always risen to the occasion of National level baseball. He nailed two hits for Victoria in this game, while catcher Grant Karlsen singled from his only at bat, which he followed with a nice sacrifice bunt. Rikki Johnston didn’t manage a hit in this game, but he milked Victoria’s only two walks. One kind of tell-tale statistic from this game was that neither team recorded an extra base hit… whatever that means?... Most likely tough pitching.

People at the game might be screaming at their computer screens that I have overlooked mentioning the Aces’ 19yo ace short stop Jimmy Beresford… seriously, would we ever? The mercurial Minnesota Twin has already earned high praise for his polished play as a third year “kid” in Australian major league baseball and his development simply continues at a pleasingly consistent pace. This year he has been content to do his customary proficient job, whether at short stop or when sharing time at second base with Brad Harman. I started this report by mentioning some of the breathtaking defence in this game. Well, I have to tell you that there were gasps and faces of almost disbelief following one of Beresford’s full-length diving efforts that produced a freak out from what should have been a safe hit. And, just for good measure, he also banged out another two hits to add to the overwhelming evidence of what a complete player he already is.

Winners are grinners and New South Wales have every reason to smile about the first-up victory in this important series that sees them entrenched in the semi-final. The Victorian Aces may feel somewhat snake-bitten to have suffered their fourth straight deflating defeat. As my old grandfather would often say at times like this… “They are like the boy with the wheel barrow, they have the job in front of them!”