Aces punish pitchers on way to series win
GEELONG-KOREA dropped a thirdstraight series to start the Australian Baseball League season yesterday, failing to match Melbourne in an 11-1 loss.
GK was unable to tame the Aces’ offence and gave up three long balls — including Luke Hughes’s record-breaking 50th ABL homer — as it fell to a 3-1 series loss at Melbourne Ballpark.
Melbourne struck early, scoring two runs in the second.
Geelong-Korea starter Sang-Hak Lee walked Jared Cruz with the bases loaded and hit Rudy Martin with a pitch in the next at-bat.
Lee lasted one more inning, allowing the long ball to help Hughes become the first to 50 ABL homers.
He allowed three runs on three hits and three walks with three strikeouts before being replaced by Byeong-Geun Kim.
Kim fared little better, giving up seven runs (four earned) on three hits and three walks.
He allowed two homers as Melbourne continued to punish GK pitching.
Hak-Jun Noh provided Geelong-Korea’s offence on one swing of the bat.
Noh went deep for his first ABL home run with one out in the top of the third.
He finished with three hits as GK managed a total of five for the contest.
Geelong-Korea’s offence was far more productive on Saturday, collecting 12 hits as it went down 18-12 in a high-scoring tussle.
Seung-Hun Kim led the way for GK, driving in six runs, including an eighthinning grand slam to give the visitors hope.
Kwang-Min Kwon blasted his third homer of the season and Yun-Hyeok Choi also went deep.
But Geelong-Korea’s pitching allowed six homers as the Aces set up a shot at a series win.
GK’s sole victory of the series came in game one, on Thursday night.
Kwon homered and starter Jin-Yong Jang recorded eight strikeouts in seven onerun innings.
Geelong-Korea returns to Geelong Baseball Centre for a four-game series with Adelaide starting on Thursday night. more good than just winning everything,” Liddick said.
“I’m still undecided but she’s right on track.”
Liddick, a part-time coach at the National Centre of Excellence in Prahran, said Saliaris is the type of athlete that makes her want to come out of retirement and coach elitelevel gymnasts again.
“It’s made me want to come back in the gym again,” she said.
“I’m excited about her fu-