Aussie titles in sights
Far North young guns bolster an already strong Queensland Bandits
A NECK injury has failed to hold Far North flamethrower Brock Wollin back in his quest to make the Queensland Bandits under 18s squad with the Cairns City Reds pitcher joining teammate Riki Ward in the team for next January’s national titles.
A torn rhomboid kept the tearaway off the mound for six weeks at the start of the Cairns Baseball League season before returning in devastating form, with his off-speed pitches bamboozling batters in the back end of the year.
After being forced to start the season as an infielder, Wollin said he found it hard to hold himself back after an impressive 2017 season.
“To be honest, it was pretty frustrating watching others pitch,” he said.
“I had to work my way back into throwing and thankfully everything came good.
“Obviously, I could play elsewhere on the field but I always wanted to be up on the mound.”
With his injury now history, Wollin will be tramping the dirt behind the pitcher’s crease in Blacktown for Queensland with Ward patrolling the infield – a prospect that excites state pathways manager Shayne Watson.
“Brock had a good nationals tournament last year and competed well at the state titles in September,” Watson said.
“He and Riki are both bottom-age players. They’re just scratching the surface of their talent and they’ve still got a long way to go in their development.
“They’re a reflection of the talent we get out of Far North Queensland. We’re getting consistently good numbers out of the region for our state teams.
5 Toffee Drop $4.00 $2.20 2 Clever Dolly $4.10 1 Cliodhna NTD. Q: $23.40. E: $49.10. T: $111.60. FIRST 4: (5 2 1 7) $1,114.00. All Started.
3 Deubank $3.60 $1.70 8 Commissioner $1.00 9 Burning Success $1.40. Q: $10.20. E: $16.40. T: $40.50. A2: 3-8: $3.50, 3-9: $1.50, 8-9: $3.30. FIRST 4: (3 8 9 7) $262.00. Scr: 4.
1 Fille Gris $8.00 $2.30 3 One For Betty $1.20 5 Belle Of Cadiz $1.60. Q: $7.10. E: $14.80. T: $52.20. A2: 1-3: $3.30, 1-5: $5.20, 3-5: $2.10. FIRST 4: (1 3 5 10) $242.80. Scr: 11L,2,4.
5 Rispetta $13.20 $3.20 2 Mosserati $1.70 9 Voanaba $6.60. Q: $34.90. E: $129.60. T: $1,409.30. A2: 2-5: $9.10, 5-9: $36.70, 2-9: $15.00. FIRST 4: (5 2 9 3) $5,412.40. Scr: 1.
3 Peak Hill $6.00 $1.90 8 Prince Morpheus $3.30 2 Shuda Known Better $1.60. Q: $48.50. E: $112.80. T: $321.20. A2: 3-8: $9.10, 2-3: $2.00, 2-8: $6.90. FIRST 4: (3 8 2 5)
“(With Riki and Brock) they could potentially go down the college pathway route or have a future in the ABL but we’ll see.”
The duo will be joined by Mirai Dymond who will don the maroon in the under 16s.
“Mirai adds a bit of character and personality to the group,” Watson said.
“He’s a good young man and a real team guy outside of his performance on the field. It’s tournament baseball, so kids can end up playing anywhere. I think Mirai will probably be in the outfield but ask him to do something and he’ll do it. “He’s that type of kid.” Cairns-based coach Karina Connors will serve as one of four coaches for the Bandits at the Australian Championships, starting January 11.
Before then, the former national representative will lead the North Queensland Storm at the inaugural women’s Baseball Queensland state championships to be held in Brisbane next month.
Connors will serve as a player-coach with the team made up of players from Townsville and Cairns.
BALLINA
THEY’RE JUST SCRATCHING THE SURFACE OF THEIR TALENT AND THEY’VE STILL GOT A LONG WAY TO GO IN THEIR DEVELOPMENT. THEY’RE A REFLECTION OF THE TALENT WE GET OUT OF FAR NORTH QUEENSLAND.
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$1,893.00. Scr: 9.
2 Invincible Tammy $3.50 $1.60 4 Solo Melody $2.10 3 Passion To Win $2.70. Q: $9.20. E: $14.20. T: $110.30. A2: 2-4: $4.50, 2-3: $9.20, 3-4: $7.30. FIRST 4: (2 4 3 11) $1,815.00. All Started.
5 My Dream Lover $3.30 $1.70 11 Missile Attack $4.90 4 Mudgee Road $4.80. Q: $31.00. E: $107.20. T: $763.70. A2: 5-11: $14.00, 4-5: $13.80, 4-11: $43.20. FIRST 4: (5 11 4 9) $4,741.00. All Started.
12 Flinders Dragon $29.70 $5.90 5 Will’s Bid $1.70 6 Riva Encore $3.10. Q: $55.90. E: $112.10. T: $1,076.60. A2: 5-12: $11.40, 6-12: $36.60, 5-6: $7.90. FIRST 4: (12 5 6 9) $3,541.40. Scr: 10.
1 Fille Gris 5 Rispetta $165.80. 3 6. 5 My Dream Lover 12 Flinders Dragon $140.80. 9 9.
2 Invincible Tammy 5 My Dream Lover 12 Flinders Dragon $421.10. 2 9 9 .
3 Peak Hill 2 Invincible Tammy 5 My Dream Lover 12 Flinders Dragon $2,543.50. 5 2 9 9.
KILMORE
1 Digress $1.90 $1.00 7 Happy Pirate $1.10 5 Rip Sparkler $1.80. Q: $1.80. E: $4.20. T: $8.10. A2: 1-7: $1.00, 1-5: $2.90, 5-7: $3.30. FIRST 4: (1 7 5 4) $11.40. Scr: 3,9L.
2 The Donchess $2.70 $1.20 1 Bouffon $1.20 3 Nelsons Arch $2.30. Q: $2.20. E: $4.90. T: $12.70. A2: 1-2: $1.30, 2-3: $3.30, 1-3: $5.70. FIRST 4: (2 1 3 5) $92.60. Scr: 9L,8.
3 One For Rocky $5.40 $2.10 2 Fergus Magergus $1.40 9 Stratisfree $1.70. Q: $8.70. E: $27.60. T: $79.50. A2: 2-3: $3.70, 3-9: $5.60, 2-9: $2.80. FIRST 4: (3 2 9 6) $499.60. Scr: 7,1,4. 4 Tour Down Under $4.20 $1.30 7 Shake On It $1.30 1 Dilochta $2.60. Q: $3.10. E: $7.70. T: $43.00. A2: 4-7: $2.20, 1-4: $9.30, 1-7: $5.90. FIRST 4: (4 7 1 8) $93.80. Scr: 2,10,3,13.
10 Etana $2.50 $1.30 6 Allspice $2.00 5 High Sierra $2.30. Q: $8.00. E: $12.50. T: $61.50. A2: 6-10: $2.80, 5-10: $3.80, 5-6: $9.50. FIRST 4: (10 6 5 4) $78.60. Scr: 2,7.
1 Saucy Jack $2.70 $1.30 10 Champagne Nights $5.80 2 Esposito Gold $2.00. Q: $69.70. E: $135.70. T: $562.30. A2: 1-10: $27.10, 1-2: $4.80, 2-10: $16.40. FIRST 4: (1 10 2 5) $7,391.60. Scr: 6.
5 Yatta Izu $5.70 $2.60 3 Yeldarb $1.40 7 Run Pam Run $3.00. Q: $16.90. E: $23.80. T: $216.40. A2: 3-5: $4.30, 5-7: $12.90, 3-7: $6.70. FIRST 4: (5 3 7 9) $801.80. Scr: 8. Race 8: 3 Mister Jay $2.20 $1.40 2 Time Ford $4.40 12 Wide Open Road $6.20. Q: $17.10. E: $26.90. T: $273.70. A2: 2-3: $8.10, 3-12: $8.40, 2-12: $30.40. FIRST 4: (3 2 12 5) $1,288.40. Scr: 4,6,7. 3 One For Rocky 4 Tour Down Under $22.90. 2 7.
5 Yatta Izu 3 Mister Jay $29.10. 3 3. 1 Saucy Jack 5 Yatta Izu 3 Mister Jay $71.60. 1 3 3.
10 Etana 1 Saucy Jack 5 Yatta Izu 3 Mister Jay $241.60.
10 1 3 3 .