Baseball teams go head to head to strike gold and be pitch perfect

Albert Park Baseball Complex was the site of some intense baseball action at the teams battled it out to be pitch perfect.

PLAY BALL: At the Australian Senior League baseball championships in Lismore on the weekend, Liam Grant slammed the door for Cronulla's first win of the tournament, by preventing a hit or walk in four relief innings, only allowing an unearned run on the back of two sixth-inning errors.

It was all high-octane action at the 2021 Australian Senior League Championship in Lismore on the weekend.

And fans can head to Lismore’s Albert Park Baseball Complex this week to see more sensational play.

Baseball Australia’s editor in chief David Penrose said the opening games showed some sensational play.

He said strong pitching propelled New South Wales state champions Macarthur to a 3-0 win over Western Australia’s Wanneroo Giants.

“Kody Chesterton and Adam Bates combined to limit the Giants to three hits in a 3-0 win,” he said.

“Chesterton struck out three in three scoreless innings, allowing three hits and a walk, before Bates took over.

“The right-hander punched out 12 in a dominant display.

“Bates issued back-to-back walks in the fifth but hit back to finish the inning with his sixth strikeout (and) he only faced one more baserunner following a passed ball in the sixth.”

Penrose said Macarthur only managed four hits but was able to take its chances.

“They opened the scoring in the first on a dropped third strike,” he said.

“Christopher Fergie raced home to take advantage after reaching with a walk, (then) drew another walk with the bases loaded in the fifth to double Macarthur’s lead.

“Fergie scored on a wild pitch in the sixth after reaching on his fourth walk of the game.”

Penrose said Southern Mariners completed a solid day for Victorian teams, downing Cronulla 15-4.

He said the Mariners collected 12 hits to seven, led by three from Ryan Williams.

“Southern jumped to an early 3-0 lead and added to its advantage with a four-run fourth after Cronulla hit back,” Penrose said.

“Mariners rounded out the solid first hitout with a six-run top of the seventh.

“Charlie Pierson and Lachlan Stevens each drove in three runs.”

Penrose said Tyler Ellis tossed 1 2/3 scoreless relief innings ahead of Otte Moje closing out the contest by recording the final three outs.

“Victorian counterparts Eastern Athletics rode a 13-run first to a big win over Brisbane Metro earlier on day one,” he said.

“Jack Meyers led the strong performance with the bat, driving in four runs on three hits.

“Ned Hargreaves went 2-for-2 with three RBIs.”

Metro opened its account in the bottom of the third and avoided a four-inning mercy rule loss by adding five runs in the next inning.

Jock Millar’s bases-clearing double made it 16-5 to force a fifth inning.

Adelaide Armada edged Swan Hills Aces 7-6 despite Lewdon Te Mara’s two-run homer.

Sunday May 9, 2021

On day two Cronulla edged Adelaide Armada at the Australian Senior League Championship in Lismore on Sunday to set up a thrilling final day of Pool B action.

According to Penrose, the New South Wales charter’s 8-5 win left all four Pool B teams with a 1-1 record after the second day of action.

Penrose said this means Cronulla will take on Western Australia’s Swan Hills Aces and the Armada face Victoria’s Southern Mariners with spots in Tuesday’s semi-finals up for grabs for the winners.

“Liam Grant slammed the door for Cronulla’s first win of the tournament,” Penrose said.

“He did not allow a hit or walk in four relief innings, only allowing an unearned run on the back of two sixth-inning errors.

“Grant also drove in the go-ahead run to give himself a lead to work with (and) his fourth-inning double scored Noah Kelly (single) to put Cronulla up 5-4.:

Meanwhile, Penrose said Lachlan Bulmer and Jonothon Wackwitz drew bases-loaded walks to extend Cronulla’s lead.

“Adelaide pulled a run back on the errors in the sixth,” he said.

“But Grant worked a one-two-three seventh to secure the win.”

Kelly went 4-for-4 and scored three runs for Cronulla, while Hunter Mitchell and Drew Davies led the Armada with two runs batted in.

Cronulla’s must-win game against the Aces starts at 1pm.

The top two teams in each pool advance to the semi-finals.

Swan Hills earlier squared its record at 1-1 with a 5-3 win over the Southern Mariners.

Michael De Gasperis collected three hits and closed out the win, recording the final four outs.

He ended the sixth and seventh innings with the bases loaded.

Macarthur maintained its perfect record in Pool B with a walk-off win over Brisbane.

Mason McPhee’s ground ball allowed Adam Bates to score the winning run as Macarthur survived to record an 11-10 win in extras after losing an early 7-0 lead.

Eastern Athletics edged Wanneroo 9-7 in the final game of day two, locking up a top-two spot.

They will face Macarthur today (Monday May 10) in a battle for top spot in Pool A.

Day three action gets underway at Albert Park Baseball Complex from 10am.