Wildcats in wintry win

THERE was no change to the A Grade status quo — and there was literally just cold comfort for the vanquished — as players shivered their passage through a bleak senior Round 11 of Geelong Baseball Association.

BELLARINE 8 DEAKIN 2

Three walks, a wild pitch and an error — combined with some clean hitting — gleaned three in the first for Bellarine, which stretched its lead in the top of four before the Blues challenged with RBI-hits to Andy Medew and Pat Moulton in the equaliser.

But while starter Simon Murry (four innings for the two runs) and reliever Lachlan Hockey held sway on the hill for Bellarine, its offence was irresistible in creating a number of scoring opportunities that produced runs in the fifth and sixth before Lewis Weldon put the contest beyond doubt with a two-run homer in the top of the last.

LARA 11 COLAC 1

While the 10-run margin was a rare blowout in favour of the Wildcats this season, they by no means had it their own way — only producing a late surge against a Braves outfit that could hold its head high.

With Chris Lewis again going the distance for Lara, it was not until the sixth that his side gained the ascendancy with a four-spot that was followed by a game-breaking seventh that yielded a half a dozen as the Braves’ defence faltered under pressure.

GUILD 14 MOUNTIES 6

Guild rode a solid start by workhorse Brad Egan to score regularly through the first four innings — including a five-run third that made it super tough for the Mounts given the absence of key players. Although Mounties starter George Davidson and back-up in Jedd Miller and Xavier Woolley gave it their best shot, the Lions were able to amass a match-breaking 17 hits before Mounties hit back with a late rally against Guild reliever Jarryd Wood — who had a day out with the bat (three hits and a walk for two RBIs) but was taken for five runs in the last.

NEWPORT 11 SAINTS 0

With both sides missing key personnel, it was the equal league-leading Rams who were better able to adjust by scoring at will and forcing an early finish to this game.

Continuing to highball at the top of the table, Newport will face a stern test away to Bellarine next Saturday, while fifth-placed Saints may be seeking divine redemption when they play host to Mounties.