Lions roar into form
ALREADY shaping as a spirited contest in the run to postseason play, Geelong Baseball Association A-Grade competition tightened up even further in Round 10 with Guild Lions awakening from their slumber and Saints continuing a push towards the top of the table.
Paced by a Jarrod Durston gem on the hill, Guild belted five in the first on its way to a crushing 15-0 win over leagueleading Bellarine, while Saints were never seriously threatened in their 10-2 away victory against Ballarat Royals.
GUILD 15 BELLARINE 0
Having a tough time of it recently, the Lions roared back into form with a massive win over Bellarine, which was highballing along at the top of the table before this timely reminder that there is still plenty more work to be done.
A lead-off single by Pat Brackley was quickly negated as Guild starter Jarrod Durston proceeded to dominate the Bellarine hitters, while his own side launched a full-on assault against Josh Crotty — taking him for a five-run first, including three hits, two walks and a HPB.
It was an outburst that clearly rattled the visitors, who coughed up three unearned in the second and four more of five scored in a ragged fourth innings that placed the game well beyond reach of a side that could muster just five hits as Durston went the distance, whiffed four, did not concede a walk and did not allow a runner past second base.
Durston also picked up a lazy four hits and three RBIs to be among offensive contributors including Ben Jensz (three hits and an RBI), Angus McNee (two and three) and Chris Durston (two and one).
SAINTS 10 ROYALS 2
The visitors were out of the blocks early, with a three-spot in the first off former hurler Jordan Isbister, who spun a solid second frame before Saints tacked on another three against a Royals outfit that found it tough going and appeared strangely out of sorts for a club challenging for second spot.
With Scott Kerr playing a starring role at centrefield and with the bat, the Royals finally plated a run in the fifth and still appeared a chance until Cody Anderson stroked a triple in the top of six and scored on a hit that drew Brendan Robinson from the Ballarat pen in relief.
A wild pitch and a sacrifice flyball gleaned two more for Saints, who called on Tyler Huisman to close out the game and preserve a well-earned win for starter Emerson Rickard, who scattered six hits and conceded a solitary earned run.
With two timely hits and three RBIs, Anderson was a serious factor in offence for Saints, along with Mark Freijah (two hits and two ribbies), Steven Fox (one and two), Keenan Spence (two hits) and Dion Kirchner (two hits).
DEAKIN 9 LARA 1
Leading throughout and never really challenged in this contest, Deakin posted an important win that draws the Blues fractionally closer to third-placed Ballarat Royals.
The Wildcats squandered a scoring opportunity in the first and were soon behind the eight-ball when the home club plated a run in the equaliser and tacked on three more in the third.
While Deakin starter Pat Moulton was on song in putting up zeros, Chris Lewis was relieved early in the fourth by Dan Anson, who struggled to contain a Blues offence that forged further ahead and put the result beyond doubt.
Of a team total of seven hits, Stuart Forbes (two) and Travis Arandt (two) were best for the Wildcats, who were comprehensively outgunned by a Deakin outfit that amassed 14 knocks — with the standouts being Kobe Greenhalgh (three hits and three RBIs), nine hitter Russ Millard (three and one), winning pitcher Moulton (two and one), Medew (one and two) and Zac Seipolt (two hits).