Guild and Newport too good with the bat
HEAVY scoring was the order of the day in Geelong Baseball Association A Grade competition on another picture-perfect Saturday across the region, with Guild and Newport posting massive wins to remain undefeated.
Across the league, Bellarine spanked East Belmont Saints and Deakin had a 10-run win over Mounties.
GUILD 16 d COLAC 0
Although the Braves were coming off a confidence-boosting win over Mounties, they were no match for the reigning premier, who took full toll of a surfeit of walks — 13 in all — and some costly defensive errors to register another thumping win.
Historically an aggressive hitting side, Colac had no answer to the Guild pitching combination of former Braves ace Brad Egan, youngster Angus McNee and closer Jarrod Durston, who combined for a rare no-hitter in a mismatch that saw the Braves land just five runners on base overall.
Using Alex Lewis and Josh Hay on the hill, Colac restricted the damage to two in the first before the Lions put up big numbers in the second and third — thanks largely to a spate of unearned runs and the offensive conversion of another former Brave in Troy Snarey (three hits and three RBIs), Tony Kilfoyle (three and one), Ryan Stewart (one and three), James Renouf (one and two) and Lee Harty (two ribbies).
Highballing atop the A Grade table — with a miserly five runs against over five games — Guild will face a tougher test away to Newport next Saturday in what should be a ripper game, while Colac is at home to another serious title contender in Bellarine.
DEAKIN 10 d MOUNTIES 0
Fancying their chances of a first win, Mounties were strangled for offensive production in this game — managing just four hits and landing six scat- tered runners on base for the seven-innings contest.
An ugly bottom of the first gleaned five runs for the Blues, who were contained for a couple by Mounties reliever Gavin Smith, before again breaking out in the fourth — with a five spot — against an opponent that was well held by Pat Moulton and Chris Webb. Both displayed excellent control after Deakin manager Andrew Brady had spun a scoreless first.
Webb (two hits and two RBIs), Sam Fraser (two and two) and Glenn Morris (one and two) were best of the Deakin offence, while George Davidson collected two knocks for Mounties.
Sitting mid-table after five games, Deakin will be away to the Saints next Saturday, while Mounties will be at home to Lara.
BELLARINE 10 d SAINTS 0
Coming off a tough loss against Guild, the Bears responded in the best possible manner with a decisive win over East Belmont, which could muster just five hits off Bellarine starter Lachlan Hockey — who earned the win before Brock Wells mopped up with the final out.
Three hits in the first presented the only real scoring opportunity for the Saints, while the home club plated two in the second and another in the third for a handy break that was extended by a solo Wayne Visser homer in the fifth off Jordan Isbister.
With the game still up for grabs even then, two walks and a muffed flyball gleaned three more for the Bears — two of those unearned — before Manager Cameron Brown iced the contest by leaving the yard with a three-run blast in the bottom of seven.
Although starter Emerson Rickard and Isbister were both solid on the hill for the Saints, their side could not match the offence delivered by Brown (three hits, including the threerun homer), Lachlan Stott (two hits and two RBIs), Visser (two and one) and Wells (two hits).
Clear in third, Bellarine will make the trek to Colac next Saturday, while Saints will play host to Deakin.
NEWPORT 17 d LARA 1
Newport continued to build its A Grade season with a blistering win over Lara.
Plating two in the first and coasting away through the third and fourth frames, the Rams made it tough for lionhearted Wildcats starter Chris Lewis before Jarrod Fraim was called to the hill to face a late onslaught.
Although Steve Baumann (three hits) and Ross Wilson (two) were standouts with the bat for Lara, evergreen David Asp (four scoreless innings), Aaron Green and closer Jayde Thorne combined to effect on the hill for the Rams — who would be delighted with the offensive contributions of Reece Longstaff (three hits and two RBIs), Keenan Spence ( two and three), Green (three and one), Lachlan Condie (two and three), Troy Malthouse (two and one), Dean Marnell (two and one) and Zac Seipolt (two hits).