Braves annihilate Pirates
Kiama Braves recorded their second giant killing performance of the season with a 21-6 annihilation of Bulli Pirates in round 13 Illawarra Baseball League fixtures played Saturday. The big win over the in form third placed Pirates follows the 6-2 win over second placed Berkeley Eagles in round 8.
Braves pulled off the win with some outstanding batting where the offence amassed 22 hits to the opposition’s 9. All of the batting line-up got amongst the hits but the standouts were Anthony Larsen (5 / 5, 3RBI’s, Matthew Sneddon (4 / 5, 1 RBI) Josh Parker (3 / 4, 2RBI’s) and Brett Single who batted 2 / 4 with 3 RBI’s including two runs on a homer in the sixth inning.
The Pirates pitchers had no answer to the relentless Braves. Starting pitcher Brendan Lower came out of the game having pitched 4.2 innings conceding ten earned runs on eleven hits. Reliever Travis Dutton, who pitched very well in last week’s drawn game against competition leaders Cardinals, copped some stick conceding nine hits and ten earned runs in 1.2 innings.
By comparison Braves used one pitcher, Doug Ineson, who allowed nine hits and three earned runs in eight innings. Although Pirates got away to a 4-0 lead in the first Braves pegged this back by the third. Braves then went 6-4 ahead in the next inning and obliterated any chance of a Pirates comeback when they ran in ten runs in the fifth. In this inning 14 Braves hitters stepped up to the plate and 8 safe hits were recorded.
The remaining game for the round saw Berkeley Eagles extended by traditional rivals Dapto Chiefs before winning 4-3 at Fred Finch Park, Berkeley. This was the third occasion this season Chiefs have lost by a solitary run. Chiefs outhit Eagles 8-7 with an error count at 2-2. Chiefs’ shortstop Craig Leighton had an outstanding game with the bat registering 3 from 4.
Eagles two left handed pitchers had outstanding games, starter Joe Anson allowing no earned runs on 5 hits in 5 innings and reliever Chris Morgan pitching 3 innings for 3 hits and one earned run. Chief’s starter Aaron Wirth pitched 4 innings allowing 3 hits and one earned run and reliever Aaron Mills pitched two innings for 4 hits and 2 earned runs. Closer Jonathon Hall struck out all three batters he faced in the final inning.
Eagles move to the same win / loss percentage at leaders Cardinals (75%) but take the top position on the table by virtue of a slightly better for / against. Pirates hold third place on 45% with Chiefs next on 40%. Braves move to 20% with their win.
In second grade the results were Braves 5 defeated Pirates 1; Eagles 6 overcame Chiefs 4; Mariners 5 defeated Cardinals 2. In third grade Pirates 8 defeated Braves 4; Eagles 26 thrashed Chiefs 2; Warriors 11 were too strong for the Mariners 1. In the minor league Warriors scored 22 to overcome Panthers (4) who scored 13, while Panthers (3) defeated Braves by 19 – 2.
In next week’s round 14 Major League fixtures Berkeley Eagles play Bulli Pirates at Eagles Field, Fred Finch Park, Berkeley. And Kiama Braves host Wests Cardinals at Gainsborough Reserve, Kiama Downs. Dapto Chiefs have a bye in firsts but play Shoalhaven Mariners in lower grade games at Hector Harvey Reserve, Dapto. First grade games commence at 2.15pm. Hawks swoop on Bears in WABL
Last weekend the Illawarra Hawks Waratah Australia Basketball League (WABL) men’s team took on the Norths Bears at Beaton Park. In a comprehensive display the Hawks were too strong for the Bears running out winners 106 – 83.
Top point scorers for the Hawks were Troy Pilon (18), Brad Simpson (18), Daniel Jackson (16) and Luke Higgins (14). For the visitors, Tim Wright with 16 and James Maccaan (15) scored the most. This win enabled the Hawks to leap frog the Bears and move into 7th spot on the ladder. Junior Wolves have big day out at Bankstown
In last weekend’s Premier Youth League games the Wollongong Wolves travelled away to take on Bankstown City. Wollongong fans were able to travel home happy as the Wolves picked up 4 wins and a draw in the five encounters. Only the under 13s had to be satisfied with a draw.
The high flying 15s continued on their merry way with a 5 – 1 victory while 14s, 16s and 18s all won without conceding a goal. Nearing the end of the preliminary rounds the best placed Wolves team is the 15s who are in second spot by two points but have a game in hand compared to table topping Blacktown. Of the other Wolves teams the 16s and 18s have the best chances of making the five team play-offs. Both teams are sixth, just out of the top five in their respective grades.
Full results for Round 18 between Wollongong Wolves and Bankstown City were:
Under 18: Wolves won 2 nil
Under 16: Wolves won 2 nil
Under 15: Wolves won 5 - 1
Under 14: Wolves won 3 nil
Under 13: Wolves drew 1 all
For stories on previous games and links to overall competition tables go to: http://wollongong.sportslive.com.au/index.pl?page=2812 Hurley takes on Hackett and Co at Grand Prix
Last weekend, Australia’s Olympic team had a final championship hit out in the Telstra Grand Prix meet in Sydney. Wollongong’s Robert Hurley went very well against Grant Hackett in the 400m final to finish second. Hurley stuck with the champion for the first 200m before Hackett was able to move away to win by just under three seconds. Craig Stevens, Australia’s other qualifier for the 400m, couldn't swim because of rib injuries but is expected to be OK for the Olympics.
Hurley also swam well in the 200m freestyle races. In the heat swim he finished 2nd to Grant Brits in a good time of 1:49.93. This event was just 10 minutes after he raced the 50m (two man semi final) backstroke head-to-head against Ashley Delaney in fast time. In the 200m freestyle final he finished 5th in 1:50.31 (slower than heat swim) apparently tiring after all the racing over the three day meet. He still managed to finish ahead of some Olympic team members.
He also finished 3rd in the 200m backstroke. With a second and two thirds, Hurley was able to pick up some cash.
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