Div 3 16/01/10 – Sturt Stifled by Eagles

The first game back after the xmas break has traditionally seen the WT Div 3 lads, struggling to come to grips with their added KGs from the festive season, get belted by a lower ranked team. This season however was a different story with the Eagles managing a 7 – 4 victory against a competitive Sturt outfit. Assistant Coach Stephens still in holiday mode when he arrived to the ground with the div 5 gear bag and no lumber in sight.

 After sorting out a rent to own arrangement of the Div 4 gear the Eagles failed to trouble the scorers in the top of the first. Big Noblett had starting dome duties and shut down the top part of the Saints lineup in the first. A couple of walks followed by some opposite field power by Stan The Man Laziridis plating a run and a sac up by Broady in the second to give WT a lead they would not relinquish.

 Nobby worked brilliantly on the hill and was ably backed up by his field. In particular Brett Lacy covering the ground in CF to make a sweet sliding catch to end an inning and Stan, playing at 3b, making a nice pick from a bad hop off the lip and making the throw to extinguish another threat.

 Patience at the plate enabled the Eagles to continually have base runners however at times opportunities were wasted with many left on base throughout the game. A total of 11 free passes received by the Eagles for the day. Highlight on the offense would have to be Ben Zoontjens legging out a triple, yes a triple, proving the 36Litres of Bavarian brew consumed by the big man at the previous weeks Shizenfest has not slowed him down one bit.

 In the end a solid win after a layoff with special mention to Nobby for toughing out the complete game with 7 strong innings knowing the relief pitching stocks were very thin. A great effort particularly appreciated by Stephens, Broadbridge and Zoontjens who were all in line for a throw.

 Hits: Zoontjens 2, Louzikiotis, Lacy 1