15 Unsung heroes of the AIC First XI cricket season; 20 Players of the Week following round 6
Fifteen unsung heroes of AIC First XI cricket have been identified, as we highlight 20 star players of round 6, ahead of an unofficial grand final on Saturday.
Local sport
Don't miss out on the headlines from Local sport. Followed categories will be added to My News.
The AIC First XI season has reached its grand final weekend, with St Patrick’s College and Marist College Ashgrove striving for the premiership.
Paddies (10) and Ashgrove (10) lead the competition, with Villanova (8) and St Peters Lutheran College (8) both outside chances to share the premiership.
But most likely the winner will come from either Ashgrove – who play St Edmund’s in Ipswich – or St Patrick’s who head to Iona College in Wynnum.
BRISBANE LIONS MOVE ON AIC AFL TALENT
Ahead of the final round on Saturday, and the naming of our Team of the Season next week, we pay tribute to 15 unsung heroes this season.
Stick around for the Players of the Round.
UNSUNG HEROES
Daniel Gray (St Laurence’s):
Gray would win a gold medal if they presented them for application. He has stood over his bat for 412 minutes this season, putting a great value on his wicket while constructing a valuable average of 32.50.
Ben Naish (St Edmund’s):
Naish consistently top scored for Eddies this season and was a big hearted performer at the bowling crease, culminating in a three wicket effort that almost snared St Edmund’s its first win last weekend.
Liam Johns (Iona College):
He has been a loyal lieutenant to batting prime-movers Zayne Thomas and Harley Malpass. Johns has taken the shine off the new ball for his batting aces, while also scoring 207 runs at 34.50. He also chipped in with wickets.
Zac Joyce (Villanova):
Joyce was a little bit of everything for Villa, taking seven wickets at 28.71 and mustering 145 runs at 36.25. He will be looking to finish the season with a flourish this Saturday.
Tom Stenhouse (St Laurence’s College):
Stenhouse has had another season to be proud of for Laurie’s, amassing 214 runs at 42.80. He also got within sight of a century with 80 not out against St Edmund’s.
RELATED LINKS
AIC FIRST XI LATEST – BEST SINCE BRADMAN BATTING AVERAGE
AIC SWIMMING CHAMPIONSHIP STORY
Mitchell Hartshorn (St Patrick’s College):
There was no shortage of effort from Hartshorn this season. A little like Liam Johns (mentioned earlier), Hartshorn has played second fiddle to a run machine (Steve Hogan), but his 313 minutes at the crease have been valued by his teammates. He also took four wickets with the ball.
Lachlan Allen (St Patricks):
Allen made the bowlers work for his wicket, pouring almost 500 minutes of concentration into protecting St Patrick’s batting order and supporting batting ace Steve Hogan. He averaged 27.80.
Bailey Tristian (Villanova):
Finn Thallon was Villanova’s batting trump this season but around him Bailey Tristian dug in, putting a high price on his wicket. He has averaged 24.60, but his contribution goes deeper than that.
Thomas Wex (Ashgrove):
Wex worked hard for his runs and although he is averaging just 22, his wicket came at a price to the bowlers who never found him easy to remove. A top score of 51 was a nice individual reward around his team play.
It was a great season for the Year 12.
Thomas Rieck (Villanova):
It won’t be the same without Rieck in the Villa First XI next season and he is going out in style. The three season First XI veteran has taken 10 wickets at 18, and has a top score of 60 not out.
Luke Dyer (St Peters Lutheran College)
Dyer has had limited opportunities with the bat, but in four innings has an average of 30.25, and taken six wickets in his support role with the ball, going for just 2.62 runs an over.
Will Webster (Padua College):
Webster was a wholehearted campaigner, taking eight wickets at just 23, with a best of 4-33 during his succession of tidy spells. But when he batted as a tail ender, he also had a dig down the order despite not overly impacting the scoreboard.
Tom Davies and Sam Lewis (Ashgrove):
The Ashgrove bowling unit has worked as a team and although Louis Morris has been a runaway success at the bowling crease, both fast bowling enforcer Lewis (9 wickets at 20.67) and outswing bowler Davies (10 wickets at 19.80) have played their part.
Adam Richter (Iona College):
He claimed seven wickets at 21, but it was his economy rate – 2.94 – which helped build pressure for the bowler at the other end. He also fired off a top score of 82.
OTHER STANDOUTS FROM ROUND 6
Tristan Bailey (Villa)
It takes some effort to down Iona and it was Bailey who made that possible for his team, Villa clinching a five wicket win thanks to his 59 run knock opening the batting.
Connor Moloney and Finn Thallon (Villa)
Like they did earlier in the season against Ashgrove, Thallon (41*) and Moloney were Villa’s gamechangers in the middle order. They put on a masterclass, with Fallon’s three fours and one six, and Moloney’s three fours and two sixes, surging Villa to the Duckworth-Lewis adjusted total of 188.
Liam Johns and Harley Malpass (Iona)
The fact Johns is in Year 10 and Malpass Year 11 should really excite Iona supporters. The pair was super in their 99 run partnership Saturday, with both young guns’ 67 stretching their side’s total to 211. A score they should be proud about despite the result.
Ashish Neredumilli (St Peters)
How about this guy. 4-10 off less than five overs. At one stage in the game it was the Neredumilli show, the right arm swing bowler collecting three consecutive batsmen each for naught. Pacy Broadhurst persisted but eventually he too was dismissed by the danger man.
Quack was the word with the ball in his hands.
Luke Dyer (St Peters)
Dyer had his best knock of the year with a tremendous 63 not out pushing Peters past 200, setting Padua a daunting chase challenge at Mayer Oval in Indooroopilly.
Ethan Ketelhohn and Pat Albion (Eddies’)
It was almost upset central at Curlew Park, with Ketelhohn (33) and Albion’s (25) 59 run partnership charging Eddies’ towards 200. They ended up with a sensational 192, thanks to their run-a-ball stand but somehow Paddies had enough magic dust to pull of a miracle late in the day.
Cooper Read (23), Liam Costello (41) and Ben Naish (25) were also superb, beginning the innings like Kingmakers capable of pulling of a miraculous win.
Lachlan Allen and Mitch Hartshorn (Paddies)
Allen kicked off the chase in great fashion, scoring 37 off 54. Hartshorn (54) followed suit with a half century down the order, before Mathew Pereira (21) and Ryan Jessep (24*) threw on their capes in an exciting finish.
Pereira faced 20 balls for his 21 and Jessep just 16, the pair hitting two boundaries each to snatch victory with one wicket to spare.
Will Nickelson (Ashgrove)
It should come as no surprise seeing Ashgrove’s gloveman on here.
The Year 11 star brought up his second century (100 off 156) of the season on Saturday, edging his name in the AIC history books.
Bringing his average past 100 (104.25) on Saturday, Nickelson bolsters the very exciting contingent of schoolboy cricket guns returning for another year in 2024.
Xavier Santos (Laurie’s)
Santos (40) scored more than half of his side’s total on Saturday (78) and that alone earns him a spot here. Throw in the fact he bowled seven overs and came away with 1-14 then it really is a no-brainer.
Louis Morris, Sam Lewis and Joey Laner (Ashgrove)
There’s little wonder why Ashgrove have been so successful this year with a team possessing countless strike bowlers. At times it seems one’s off week is another’s Saturday of dreams.
But at the weekend, the terrific trio had no problems sharing the spoils with Morris’ 3-14, Lewis’ 2-20 and Laner’s 2-14 doing the job 13 overs early.
Watch now: Queensland Schools Premier League Football Grand Finals
Kelvin Grove and Cavendish Road will be among the schools to keep a close eye on as a big season for junior and intermediate players comes to a climax. Catch six games LIVE across two fields.
Players to Watch: 50+ excitement machines set to light up All Schools rugby 7s
The All Schools Rugby 7s tournament has unearthed star sisters Teagan and Maddison Levi. Who’s up next? Named here are more than 50 real deal x-factor players to watch in this weekend’s bumper event. FULL LIST