Weekend wrap 7/02/10
Junior Eagles put the pedal to the metal
This weekend the brooms were out again as the Junior Eagles swept all comers posting six wins from six games, scored 90 runs offensively and conceded 20 runs in defense!!
In the process, 3 home runs were hit, a triple, several doubles and many, many singles. It is fair to say that WT had a day out offensively! Just as impressive in defense, were the pitching stats where the K’s were racked up in earnest, the double plays were turned, and the number in the ‘E’ column was very low indeed. The only pity is that our Claxton Shield team didn’t have quite as much success. Congratulations to Nathan Vanderlinden who made his run on debut for the Division 1’s on Sunday in a team that posted a win against high-flying Sturt. Nathan played Short Stop and posted his maiden hit in A-grade. At 15 years of age, this is a meteoric rise for a talented, yet modest young man.
The finishing post is in sight
I am delighted to report that the response to my entreaty to pick up the intensity at training was met with overwhelming enthusiasm by our dedicated coaching staff who also recognise the imperative of being ready to play finals baseball. To whit, training was sharp, intense and focused and didn’t it show on the diamond with all of our teams playing to their full potential. It was also fantastic to see the impact the likes of Bob Baker make on our pitchers as they fine-tune their technique to add strength to their body and speed to their fast ball. We are extremely lucky to have a dedicated pitching coach with Bob’s passion and knowledge for the game. Bob is running bull pens on Wednesday and Friday nights from 4.30 for Little League and 5.30 for U/14 and 16 pitchers.
It is now more important than ever that you attend training
As we enter the final phase of the Minor Round, I am delighted to report that ALL of our Junior teams are going to play in the finals. (LL Minors excepted because there are no finals in this Division)
It is our goal now to finish as high as possible on the ladder, as we have many clubs breathing down our necks hoping that we slip up and give up our top spots. We must work hard to make sure we succeed. We face some challenges in the last few games by some talented ball clubs. We cannot assume success. We must earn it.
Finals Baseball
During the regular season, we expect our coaches to rotate their squads through different positions, infield, outfield, pitching, catching and whatever their skill and experience allows. They also shuffle the batting order to make sure that players are given a fair opportunity at bat. When we enter the finals race, coaches are allowed to choose what they consider to be the line-up that best suits the team’s positional needs. They will endeavour to include all of the squad, but cannot guarantee that every player will see game time.
The club scoreboard for this week reads as follows:
WT Result Opponent Season Ladder
Division 1 19 defeated Sturt 2 8 – 9 (9th)
Division 2 6 lost to Sturt 9 12 – 3 – 2 (2nd)
Division 3 13 defeated East Torrens 2 13 – 2 (1st)
Division 4 7 lost to Henley & Grange 9 5 – 8 – 1 (7th)
Division 5 5 lost to Adelaide 10 5 – 10 (9th)
Division 6 14 defeated East Torrens 4 11 – 2 – 2 (3rd)
Under 18 7 defeated Golden Grove 2 11 – 1 (1st)
Under 16 25 defeated Glenelg 1 10 – 1 (1st)
Under 14 (1) 23 defeated Port Adelaide 0 11 – 1 (1st)
Under 14 (2) 13 defeated Kensington 7 9 – 3 (3rd)
LL Major 8 defeated Sturt 2 10 – 1 – 1 (1st)
LL Minor 11 defeated Hawks 6 7 – 5 (4th)
Under 18’s continue Dodgers’ Dodgy record at the nest
The Under 18’s flew back to the nest this week to resume hostilities with a feisty Dodgers outfit whose finals aspirations were on the line. They are now all but extinguished. With Sam Bawden on the mound returning from injury, the Eagles coughed up an early run and trailed into the third dig before the bats exploded with power and purpose to post a five spot featuring a powerhouse triple from Mitch Harvey and some consistent hitting through the order with Alex McDonald, Tom McGarry, Dylan Chuck and Joel Ettridge carving shots into the outfield and pushing around runners. After 4 innings of 1 run ball, Bawden came out for Dylan Chuck, and he and McGarry behind the plate combined to render the Dodger bats ineffective. Chucky’s curve ball danced its way through a bemused batting line up. The Eagle bats followed up with a further 2 runs in the 4th dig before giving up a late run in the 5th that brought some respectability to the margin. As time expired, Chucky posted another goose egg and the Eagles continued to shore up their position at the top of the ladder. A much more consistent performance than previous weeks and an ominous warning to rival clubs.
Under 16’s cage tame Tigers
Rick Mead’s team made a confident start against the Tigers at the Den, and with a 2 – 1 score line after the first, the game was shaping as a tight affair. At the top of the second, the Eagle bats exploded and the constant pressure of putting the ball in play, running the bases hard and threatening every pitch we maxed out at 9 for an 11 – 1 spread at the change. Bryce Fulton was on the mound to Todd Dunstall and the pair combined to shut the Tigers down and leave the second frame with a ten run lead. The subsequent innings saw the same sort of results with our sustained aggression eroding our opponents’ confidence. The highlight of the day in offense was Bryce Fulton’s in the park home run, hit to deep centre, turning the fielder around and bouncing off the fence. Defensively, Fulton came out after three innings and was replaced on the mound by Matt Scharenberg who threw a nasty screwball, completely shutting down the opposition offense. Coach Mead made numerous positional and personnel changes through the game, but by the time game was called, the Eagles had posted two maximum innings and a 25-1 spread. A good effort with bigger fish to fry in weeks to come.
Green Machine flex their muscles
The Under 14 Green Machine ventured down to the Port to face the Magpies after having been stretched to the limit last week. Sam McGarry was given his first assignment for the season on the mound and his two innings saw him throw 27 pitches for 4 strikeouts, two hits and no runs. Mason Pickard, also throwing for the first time this season, replaced him, and his two innings of work featured a strikeout and a double play by a hard working infield. Brad Dedrick assumed the closing duties and his speed and accuracy were too much for the deflated Magpie hitters. A powerhouse performance from the Eagle pitchers. Just as impressive were the monster Eagle bats that showed great discipline at the plate, discretion, technique and power, getting the ball into play, hitting with 2 strikes on the batter, scoring runs with 2 out and swinging hard. The outstanding moment was Brad Dedrick’s 3 run homer deep over left field, but there were a number of fantastic performances including Lucas Hunter going 3 for 4 including two doubles and a single, Ethan Haylock hit a double, Brad Dedrick was 4 for 4 (including the HR) and his day was a triple short of the cycle, posting two doubles and a single to go along with the bomb. William Bourchier had his best day for the season going 2 for 3 with a pair of well-struck singles to centre. Altogether, an imposing performance from the league leaders.
Dineen Machine building momentum
The Under 14 Dineen machine continued to consolidate their position on the table with another solid win against the Cardies at home. This team is now assured of playing in the finals and it is their goal to finish as high as possible on the ladder. It is impressive to watch this team improve behind the pitching of William Lampard as the starting pitcher. Will’s numbers each week make favourable reading. The support in the field has improved tremendously and the offense has given the defense enough lead to hold on to. The challenge is to be as good as we can be in preparation for playing the League Leading Norths whose talents are formidable.
Little League Majors make sinners of Saints
The battle of the Titans took place down at Flinders on Sunday afternoon when the top two teams squared off with both teams boasting identical records, but head-to-head the Sturt boys had our number. This didn’t faze the Boydon/Mead led Eagles who squared that ledger up in emphatic fashion and took the lead in the Division with a couple of rounds remaining in the season. If we can maintain our consistency, we will be a chance to host a home final.
Little League Minors swoop the Hawks
Ronnie Paulus’ Little League Minor team took on the Hawks from Southern Districts on Sunday and posted a solid 11 – 6 win in a game featuring a couple of our younger Eagles taking their first steps on the mound. It is always an exciting time for these youngsters and is vital in the preparation and development of the young players that are the future of our club. It may not always be so for the coach, but Ronnie’s work in getting this team ready has been tremendous and this team refuses to stop trying and keeps holding their own against teams with older players. A great job by all.
February 14 our games are as follows:
Little League Minor: Coach: Ron Paulus
Southern Districts, Home on the Junior Diamond
Starting at 10.00am (report 9.00am)
Little League Major: Coaches: Jamie Boydon and Tim Mead
Adelaide, Home on the Junior Diamond
Starting at 12.00pm (report 11.00am)
Under 14 (2): Coach: Rob Dineen
Sturt, Home on the Junior Diamond
Starting at 2.30pm (report at 1.30pm)
Under 14 (1): Coach: David Green
Adelaide, Home on the Main Diamond
Starting at 10.00am (report at 9.00am)
Under 16: Coach: Rick Mead
Golden Grove, Home on the Main Diamond
Starting at 12.30pm (report at 11.00am)
Under 18: Coach: Brett Ettridge
East Torrens, Away on the Main Diamond
Starting at 10.00am (report 9.00am)
Fees and Quiz Night
Thank you for the tremendous response in finalising your child’s fees for 2009/10. For a variety of reasons, the club’s income has been lower than forecast and your committee needs all subscriptions fulfilled to meet our obligations to Baseball SA. We are a fiscally sound club, but we need to make operating surpluses if we are continue to add to the amenity of our club environment. To this end, can I urge you all to make the effort to support one of our last fundraising opportunities for the season and attend the ‘Quiz Night” to be held at the clubrooms on Friday night February 19.
See you at the Ball Park.
Yours in Baseball
Mark McGarry
Junior Chairman
West Torrens Baseball Club
