Webb drives Deakin to a season-changing win

SPEARHEADED by a stellar complete game outing from Chris Webb, Deakin produced a major A Grade form reversal to down league-leading Lara Wildcats in a Geelong Baseball Association thriller.

A free-scoring Guild Lions turned on the attack for a 10run result over Mounties and Saints stormed home for a one-run win over Bellarine.

DEAKIN 4 LARA 1

Incurring two big losses in the past fortnight and struggling to consistently cover for the loss of key players from last season, Deakin entered this clash as a clear underdog yet managed to come away with an uplifting win that may yet be pivotal.

While a complete-game outing by Chris Webb was the catalyst, the Blues gained an early ascendancy — for a three-run lead off quality Wildcats starter Cameron Forbes that would have inspired great confidence despite Lara hitting back with an unearned run in the fourth on a rare defensive slip by Deakin.

In a game dominated by pitching and defence, it was Deakin that was better able to convert its opportunities — enabled largely by the contribution of Andy Medew (two hits and two of his side’s RBIs) — while Ross Wilson (two hits and an RBI) was a standout for Lara in a tight contest that gleaned just five base hits for each club.

Deakin will play host to Bellarine in a potential blockbuster next Sunday, while Lara will make the trek to Ballarat intent on atoning — against Mounties — for its surprise loss to the Blues.

GUILD 13 MOUNTIES 2

Coming off a punishing win last week, Guild again produced the serious attack to easily account for Mounties — scoring five in the second and another four in the third before cruising to a massive win over a side that struggled to cover the loss of established players and that slipped up five times in defence.

Again the workhorse for Mounties, Scott Jones stuck to his task over four before handing the pill to teenager Mitch Collins — who conceded more walks than he would have liked while still showing plenty to suggest that he is a player of the future.

Collecting just five hits — two of those to Jason Sculley — Mounties struggled against one of the league’s best in Brad Egan, who conceded two earned runs before Jarryd Wood closed out the game for Guild, which has strengthened its hold on second.

Playing its customary tight defence, the Lions had nine players collecting hits and simply packed too many attacking guns — among the best of which were Liam Spence (two hits and three RBIs), Tony Kilfoyle (two and two), Ryan Stewart (two and one — with two walks), Harry Levy (one and two), Jarryd Wood (two and one), Ben Jensz (one and two) and a re-energised Troy Snarey (hit and three walks).

Guild will face a rapidly improving Saints at Pioneer Park on Saturday, while Mounties will seek to exploit any home ground advantage when it plays host to Lara.

SAINTS 6 BELLARINE 5

With Josh Lee (Saints) and Josh Crotty (Bellarine) both conjuring up terrific starts, this game remained an arm wrestle until the top of five, when the visitors strolled away with a three-spot that spelled trouble for an East Belmont outfit that surely had memories of two thumpings at the hands of the Bears already this season.

While Saints responded with a run and the two clubs traded scoring blows in the seventh, a two-run break into the bottom of the last of a terrific defensive game would have presaged — for most — an honourable loss for the haloes, but surely no cigar.

Saints clearly had another scenario in mind, as a lead-off walk was backed up by a Coleby Alldis single and a sacrifice bunt that placed runners at second and third with one out — an opportunity exploited by Luke Sherwell (with an RBI double) before the decisive, matchwinning blow by Hiro Sekine in the form of a single into centrefield that plated two and handed the hosts a stunning win.

Although Lee and Crotty went deep into the contest, both sides enjoyed scoring opportunities provided by the likes of the Bears’ Matt Sage (three hits and an RBI), Cameron Brown (three and one) and Chris Barker (two and one), while Sekine (four hits and three RBIs) was indeed the — ahem — hero for Saints, along with Sherwell (two and one) and manager Charles Thompson (two hits).

Buoyant after two big wins on the trot, Saints may fancy their chances at home to Guild on Saturday.