ROUND 20

DIVISION ONE

Twilight away v Kensington 1.03.22 Lost 5-10

Weiny started on the mound and was solid with the scoreline showing one down after the first two. But then his defense let him down big time in the third and - along with some powerful hitting - they put on nine big ones - and we looked set for an early night. Enter Nathan Nicholson, who kept them scoreless for their next three innings, while we put on five ourselves thanks to two two run homers from Troy W and Cesar. Not the first time this season that Nathan has stopped the rot and slowed the scoring to a walk, they just can't handle his style of pitching. At last we started to look a bit menacing with Joel hitting and then Todd and Wade also hit and we scored with an Ethan sac fly - but unfortunately, that was our lot. Hits: Cesar Perez (HR) 2, Wade Moore, Troy Nicholson, Luke Rackerbrandt, Joel Chapman, Troy Wirnert (HR), Todd Dunstall 1.

DIVISION ONE

Home at Don Klaebe Field 5.02.22 v Adelaide

WON 4-0 Now this was a case of duckeggs for nine innings as Tolsy just weaved his magic in his time on the mound in amassing fifteen (yes fifteen) strikeouts, and really making some of their batters look a little lost in the box. We didn't exactly set the world on fire with our hitting. and we were guilty of leaving runners out there twice and it took a passed ball to get our first run in the fifth, but Todd's infield hit scored our second and Joel's hit scored another two for us in the eighth. We were never in real trouble, as our defence was tight all day and their bats weren't as potent as some others. Thanks to Tolsy - three votes I reckon. Hits: Todd Dunstall, Ryan Muggleton 3, Wade Moore, Joel Chapman, Chris Sims 1.

DIVISION TWO

Home at Don Klaebe Field 5.02.22 v Adelaide

WON 10-8 Strange game - they loaded the bases in the first but we killed that with a double play but when it was our turn to bat we ran into the most extraordinary circumstance ever when their starter walked the first four, then another walk, a sac fly, “two hit" Tommy and a three RBI Muggsie and we were off to the races with seven on the board. Things got a bit jittery in the fifth when they got a couple and Tyson had a sit and we were wondering where our next out was coming from. However we managed to weather the storm and it was left to Petty to give us a little breathing space with a timely double to score one. That was enough. Hits: Kieran Pett 2, Ryan Muggleton, Rhys Owen, Mitch Fienemann, Craig Abbott, Andrew Chapman, Nathan Nicholson 1.

DIVISION THREE

Home at Don Klaebe Field 5.02.22 v Adelaide

Lost 3-5 First loss since Christmas for this finals bound team. All day we put plenty on base, but the home plate was elusive. Taheney's sac fly got us on the board and Jimmy Chu's double put on another, but runs weren't coming easily. Joe was having a quiet one in the lead up to finals, so one game in the minor round to go and let's just get on with it. Hits: Breandan Taheney, Jarrod Marsland, Richard Olson, Jimmy Chu 1.

DIVISION SIX

Not a bad result for the last game of the season for the Div Six boys who haven't had the best of seasons. We will take an 8-8 draw to end proceedings and hope that it was an enjoyable time for most. Hits: Moore, Harmer, Mortimore, McCormack 1.

DIVISION SEVEN

Top win leading into finals for this team. Let's hope they don't get over zealous and decide to have a training session this week. Why break a standing tradition.. But the 14-0 trouncing at the weekend means that they are finely tuned. Watch out! Hits: Behr 3, Jarvis, Cuz, China 2, Flash, Cam, Nate 1.

DIVISION EIGHT

Showing off in front of their adoring home crowd, they went one better than their defeat of the second top team last week, by knocking off the top team 9-5. Got behind early but came back with a vengeance with four in the second and five in the third, Justin's stand up triple being the stand out highlight. Special mentions (gee, sounds like junior presentation nights) to Azza on the mound, and Lawrie. Well done over the season to all you guys. Very, very enjoyable.

WOMAN'S LEAGUE

Great way to end the minor round with the thrashing of Glenelg 14-0 last week and the trouncing of the Redsox today with the baker's dozen 13-6. Kid's - ask your folks what a baker's dozen is. So it went like this - no Darna on the mound, no Lisa at first, no worries! Everybody did their bit, with Molly belting a three RBI single in the first as we powered our way to five big ones, followed by another four in the second and two in the third. Meanwhile Carly was being particularly mean from the middle and the defence held up really well. Thanks Cloggsy - the after game layabout on the grass with terrific, food was sensational. Hits: Sarah McMahon 3, Megan Boers-Veen, Alyssa Lasscock, Darna Boers-Veen, Molly Brown 2, Carly Moore, Kensi StGeorge 1.

JUNIORS Last games this season for all our juniors and whilst not having the success that they were anticipating, it is unreal the improvement that they have all shown. Their coaches all deserve the highest congratulations for their efforts, and the parents were enthusiastic and encouraging all season. Please all show your appreciation by turning up to support them all at the presentation evenings coming up.

ROUND 19

DIVISION ONE

Away v Sturt 26.02.22

Lost 2-4

Sturt sneaked a couple in the first with a bit of cheeky small stuff, and that was all they got until the last, when they scored two more after Tolsey had to put his cue in the rack after another stellar performance, netting eleven strikeouts. His effort was matched by his opposite pitcher, who went toe to toe all game in what was an enthralling afternoon. Love to see that enfold in many more games - so much so that over the course of the game, not a home run was scored on a diamond that lends itself to fence busters. We clawed our way back into contention in the eighth when Wade and Ethan got home from a hit and an error, and it squared the game away and an upset was on the cards - but snuffed out when the Saints got those last two. Could have, should have, didn't - story of the season. Hits: Joel Chapman 2, Troy Nicholson, Troy Weinert, Daniel Chapman 1.

DIVISION TWO

Away v Sturt 26.02.22

Lost 6-7 Fascinating game that really should have been put away earlier when we had a commanding lead, being in front six to two before the last. Muggsy's triple got us going in the second when he got two home and we got three in the sixth after they intentionally walked him and Rhys knocked in three with a biggie out to the fence. We got a bit of stage fright at this point, and after Tyson's earlier gallant efforts on the mound, we coughed it up. Hits: Rhys Owen, Daniel Chapman 2, Ryan Muggleton, Richard Olson, Craig Abbott, Nathan Nicholson 1.

DIVISION THREE

Away v Sturt 26.02.22

WON 13-2 Creamed them from the start with four in the first, and with Joe continuing on with his great form this season, we didn't give them much of a sniff all game. Talk about history repeating itself - Breandan walloped a triple in the fourth and next up Jarrod doubled, only for the exact same scenario in the next dig to see us chime in with nine big ones, Joe cooled his heels and the experienced Doggie put them to bed. Hits: Breandan Taheny, David Lodge 3, Jarrod Marsland, Shane Brown 2, Kosuke Ikeda, Aldo McCormack 1.

DIVISION SIX

Went down to Sturt at Don Klaebe Field 12-16 after holding a 12-10 lead earlier. Hits: Behr, Scott Harmer 3, Mignone, Casey Moore, Owen Williams (triple) 2, Shaun Wallis, Flash, Mort, Barry Eime, Leigh Pedder 1.

DIVISION SEVEN

Lost to the top side in this division 8-9 and let's bring on the finals. Hits: Behr 3, Flash and Nick McCormack 2, (although his base running is in question), Rev, Cuz, Sully, Dorny, Cam 1.

DIVISION EIGHT

Defeated Sturt at their home ground 17-9 in a very competent display in which Azza pitched a blinder and Laurie Sinclair knocked in five RBI's during his doubles and triples exhibition. The boys were told before the game of the foibles of the unusual playing conditions at Sturt whereby for a home run at right field you have to go two fence panels up and to the right (or left?) of a white post. They were all intent on this information until someone said - what are we thinking, none of us can hit that far anyway! Hits: Laurie Sinclair 4, Greg Oxenham3, Aaron Petros, Derek Milne, Brad Atkinson, David Deng, Justin Randall 2, Mike Chemny 1.

WOMAN'S LEAGUE

Played away against the Bays and gave them a comprehensive old fashioned hiding 14-0 in a terrific lead-up to finals which are only one week after the last game next week. Really, this is the place to be on a Sunday afternoon as the game is played in a fantastic, fun-filled atmosphere, and it is all inclusive. Darna was superb as she is honing in on an important milestone - eighty strikeouts for the season (bearing in mind she had a bit of time off to get married). All the girls contributed, from Carly's lead off and her triple, and Kensi scoring a couple getting Skye and Katie home, and Leah's RBI and Smaks 2 RBI. The list goes on. Be on hand next week at Don Klaebe Field for celebrations after the last home game . Hits: Carly Moore, Sarah McMahon 3, Darna Veen 2, Leah Turner, Megan Boers, Alyssa Lasscock, Kensi StGeorge 1.

JUNIORS U15 Lost to GGCD 0-19 U13(1) had a terrific win ove GGCD 14-11 U13(2) Lost 9-13 U11 lost to Norths 1-5 Peewees went to Adelaide

ROUND 18

DIVISION ONE

Two twilights in the one week - both against the same opponent and with different results - one a travelling game to Golden Grove and the other a home encounter.

Away v GGCD Tuesday 15.02.22

Lost 3-14 Got off to a shocker, with seven against in the first two digs. We stopped them for a while with Nat getting into his work, but they powered away towards the end and with their aggressive approach and our errors, we were never in the hunt. Hits: Todd Dunstall 2, Cesar Perez, Troy Nicholson, Troy Weinert, Ethan Marchioro 1.

HOME v GGCD Thursday 17.02.22

WON 4-3 One run apiece in the first, and just as we got momentum, we were on the end of a rare triple play - out at second, the double to first and the put-out at home on the steal attempt. They scored next, in the fourth with two, and we took the lead when Cesar hit to make base and we were lucky enough to get two walks to load 'em up. Tom and Ethan both hit to score three. Weiny was powering away from the hill, allowing no more and Cesar closed out the last to record the victory. A bit of relief on the back of Tuesday's disappointment - one all is definitely not what we were wanting - but better than nothing. Onwards and upwards. Hits: one each to Wade Moore, Cesar Perez, Troy Nicholson, Troy Weinert, Ethan Marchioro and Tom Dineen.

HOME v Goodwood 19.02.22

WON 6-3 We took them on with a much depleted side due to birthday celebrations in Darwin and various other reasons, but they were unaware that we were ready to unleash Tolsy on to them. In 8.1 innings of mastery, he amassed eighteen strikeouts against the top hitting team in the competition and gave up one solitary walk, leaving Cesar to strike out the remainder. First dig - 1,2,3 out and we got three with Ethan, Cesar and Troy N combining for one run and Muggsy's broken bat hit giving him two RBI's. Troy N belted the first of his two homers for the game in the third to make it four - nothing, and his next in the eighth with a runner on rounded out the score. The Goodwood's solo hit was a three run home run in their fourth inning, off the bat of an ex Senator. Just shows that we can mix it with any side, with inconsistency being our major bugbear. Hits: Troy Nicholson (2HR) 3, Ethan Marchioro 2, Callum Park, Cesar Perez, Ryan Muggleton, Joel Chapman 1.

DIVISION TWO

v Goodwood at Don Klaebe Field 19.02.22

Draw 8-8 We got behind early giving up four in the first two innings, but would not lie down and came back with a vengeance in the third when a sac fly by Kieran got us on the board. But the best was yet to come and we piled on six in the fourth when Muggsy walked, Kossi and Abbey and Rhys all hit and Kieran's two run homer almost sealed the deal. Tyson took a rest from the mound, and one by one, the Indians managed to even it up and we really had a chance in the bottom of the last, but couldn't quite get there. Hits: Rhys Owen, Daniel Chapman, Kieran Pett (HR) 2, Richard Olson, Kosuke Ikeda 1.

DIVISION THREE

v Goodwood at Don Klaebe Field 19.02.22 WON 9-0 With Joe in fine form in the middle and his Dad in even finer form in the canteen with his chilli sauce on chips and hot dogs, we cruised to a relatively easy win, made easier in the first when their starter couldn't get his radar working and gave us a good beginning. We were steady all game, and it was important that we put up a solid performance with finals looming. Kossi got us going, and finished with a two RBI hit to seal it. Lodgy's catch was a beauty. Hits: Kosuke Ikeda 2, Harrison Kiss, David Lodge, Shane Brown, Joe Chapman 1.

DIVISION SIX lost to Goodwood 0-11 with Nick McCormack getting the sole hit.

DIVISION SEVEN also played away at Goodwood but fared much better, recording a 17-5 win on the back of Tyson Jarvis's fine pitching and solid hitting from Flash, Cam 3, Nate, Behr 2, Tyson, Cuz, Nicko and Dorney 1.

DIVISION EIGHT Lost at home to Goodwood 3-8 Azza was our starter and gave up a few early but really dried them up in the middle innings - probably his best outing for the season. Good effort. There wasn't really all that much in it, we had some moments and had chances. Highlights - Lawrie's triple, Shane's hoovering job at short, and Tim"s catch. Hits: One each to Aaron Petros, Derek Milne, Lawrie Sinclair, Shane Nicholson and Mike Chemney.

WOMENS LEAGUE

The girls had a bye - raring to go next week.

JUNIORS

U15 Junior League.

Great effort to get consecutive wins, this week beating Glenelg 10-2

U13(1) Little League.

Also beating Glenelg 7-6 in a nailbiter with Alice striking out the last three batters.

U13(2) Little League.

Lost to Golden Grove 5-15. Jazz, Owen, Felix and Luke all had hits.

U11 Minor League.

Lost to H & G 2-6

Peewees continue to have fun.