Geelong Baycats start the season with consecutive victories

The Geelong Baycats have started their season in perfect style, including a 13-3 hammering in Round 1. Get all the stats from the state’s top baseball competitions.

Geelong Baycats have started their 2024-25 season with two wins. Picture: Jackson Geall.

A renewed focus on hitting is paying off for the undefeated Geelong Baycats so far, starting their 2024-25 campaign in fine style with two straight victories.

Geelong opened its Premier League season on October 5 with a 13-3 hammering of Sandringham at home as Jordan Ellis picked up three hits.

The game was close to over after three digs as the Baycats held a 10-1 lead with US recruit Tanner Riley striking out five batters on debut.

Then, last Saturday, Geelong was locked with Newport on four runs apiece after seven innings before the Baycats brought four runners in during the eighth to win 8-5.

Jye Robinson, James Wood and Harvey Mitchelhill picked up two hits at KC White Reserve while Sam Gibbons collected four strikeouts on the mound.

Pitcher Hayden Peoples, who won his local club Guild All-Stars’ MVP award in the Geelong Baseball Association this year, said the Baycats had improved with bat in hand after last seasons’s 14th place.

“We’re hitting really well which was a downfall last year,” Peoples said.

Geelong Baycats started their 2024-25 season 2-0. Picture: Jackson Geall.

“Against some pretty good pitching.

“As a pitcher you want run support from the bats ... it makes it easier for me to do my job and the other pitchers to do their job.”

Recording seven strikeouts so far this year, Peoples said he was coming off a “pretty big winter” – Guild lost the A Grade grand final to Belmont Saints – and was adjusting well to the sharp increase in standard.

“It’s just getting used to throwing to a better competition,” he said.

“Playing the GBA compared to playing in the Victorian league is a massive skill set jump.

“There are a few Australian guys playing in that league, pro guys.

“I think everyone on the team has thrown really well so far.

“We’ve had some big talks about accountability and doing the team thing.”

He said Riley, from Clyde in Texas, had been a strong recruit so far for the Baycats, while he expected his younger brother, also named Riley, to have a big impact in 2024-25.

“He’s definitely going to be a really handy addition, he knows what he’s doing and he’s played in some pretty high levels overseas as well,” he said of the US import.

“I’ve learnt a fair bit off him in the short time he’s been here.”

Geelong play Moorabbin this Saturday at home in the 16-team tournament.

Originally published as Geelong Baycats start the season with consecutive victories