By Sean Talbot
It was another successful weekend of Tigers baseball this past weekend, with three of the Tigers seven teams picking up wins and another adding a draw in a sun-drenched weekend of baseball.
As all teams approach the pointy end of the season, Upwey finds itself in a position where all seven senior weekend teams are either secure for a spot in finals or are within striking distance of securing a top-four spot, information that will certainly buoy the spirits of all Tigers and Tigresses and provide the coaching staff with the motivation to keep working to help all players improve for a final push over the coming weeks.
Hosting the visiting Malvern Braves, the Firsts scored in five of their eight offensive innings to do more than enough to take the points, running out eventual winners 7-1. Highlighted by huge days from Jack Ratcliffe (four hits, two RBIs) and Flynn Morrison (three hits incl. a home run, four RBIs), the Tigers were able to rack up 13 team hits and five walks to ensure the offensive pressure was firmly applied to the visitors who were no match for the home side.
Staff ace Jarrod Turner got the starting nod on the day and picked up the win, working seven no-fuss innings that saw him surrender just five hits (all singles) and one earned run while issuing no free passes before teenage closer Ryder Wilson worked a scoreless eighth and ninth inning, the pair combining to give the Braves almost no chances to mount any offensive momentum, with the visitors lone run scoring in the second inning on the back of two singles and an RBI groundball.
Despite missing regular starters Josh Hendricks and Pete Schroeders, the Tigers revamped lineup made the Malvern pitchers work hard all day, with seven of the nine starters recording base hits, led by Ratcliffe, Morrison and DH Randy Senn (two hits). The top-to-bottom offensive showing is just the latest example of the Tigers depth and versatility in a season which sees them loaded with two players hitting above .400 and eight hitting above .300, while Turner is again the workhorse at the front of a rotation balanced by veterans and young arms.
The Tigers will look to ride their momentum into the coming week which will see them head to Greenwich Reserve to take on Williamstown Wolves, (Tuesday midweek) before taking a road trip down the Princes Freeway on Saturday to tackle the Geelong Baycats, both games which promise to be highly entertaining.
Hosting the Braves in the early game, the Seconds did enough early to survive a late charge from the visitors to hold on for a hard-fought, 3-2 win over the visitors. With pitcher Pat Gawith getting the start and spinning arguably his best performance of the season (five innings, three hits, 0 runs, nine K’s), and closer Dan Smith (one inning) keeping the Malvern bats in check, runs were at a premium as both sides combined for just six hits on the day, with Kyle Hubbard being the only Tiger to hit safely.
Despite the lack of base hits, the Tigers drew 10 walks and stole seven bases, more than enough to score once in the fourth and twice in the fifth to give Gawith and Smith all the run support they would require picking up the win on the day, Upwey’s 10th of the season. While the score may suggest Upwey struggled offensively, the home side put together patient at-bats and unselfishly took a team approach at the plate, a feature of the Tigers team first approach that head coach Ben Thorn has been instrumental in implementing.
The win sees Upwey’s record improve to 10-3 on the season, good enough for third place on the league ladder while remaining within 1.5 games of first placed Geelong, whom the Tigers will face in Geelong this coming weekend.
Travelling to AW Oliver Reserve to take on Moorabbin, the Thirds were unable to make up enough ground after the hosts scored a game-breaking four runs in the bottom of the first inning, taking the loss in a hard fought 5-4 result on Sunday.
Getting the jump on the home team by scoring in the top of the first inning after a Russell Jeffery leadoff walk and a Richard Ferguson double, the visitors were then left playing catch-up as a combination of five hits, a walk and a hit batter saw the Panthers send 10 hitters to the plate, heading to the second inning holding a 4-1 lead.
Scores remained unchanged until the bottom of the fourth inning when Moorabbin tacked on another run to lead 5-1 before a scoreless fifth inning set the stage for a potential late-game rally from the Tigers. With leadoff Riley Johnson reaching on a four-pitch walk, the Tigers used two hits, a hit batter and some aggressive baserunning to score three runs, however the Panthers were able to apply the clamps to the rally, stranding the tying run at third to secure the points.
Despite the loss, the Tigers still firmly hold onto second place on the ladder as they prepare to face seventh-placed Melbourne in a fortnights time.
Playing the curtain raiser, the Fourths were met with a Panther shaped brick wall as the hosts were too much on the day, putting a stranglehold on the Tigers offense and keeping the visitors to just a solitary base hit off the bat of Tim Young.
With steady hands Dom McGrath and Richard Ferguson sharing pitching duties, the Tigers were always within striking distance despite trailing 3-1 heading into the fifth inning, however a four-run fifth inning from Moorabbin chewed the clock down and ensured there would not be enough time for Upwey to have one last roll of the dice and a chance to steal victory from the jaws of defeat.
Credit must go to Moorabbin’s starting pitcher who threw a complete game, surrendering just the one hit and making life hard for the Upwey hitters.
Despite what the scoreboard showed, the Tigers had a good approach at the plate and made the home side earn their outs, but at the end of the day it was unfortunately not enough to get over the line. Upwey will be on the road to Surrey Park to take on Melbourne after the Australia Day weekend.
Hosting the visiting Chelsea Dolphins, the Fifths pulled a rabbit out of their hat with their last turn at bat, coming from behind to secure a thrilling 10-9 walk-off win.
This is a huge achievement for the team, especially considering the early season demolition job the Dolphins did on the Tigers in Round Four which saw them walk away with an 18-1 blowout win. Stats are unfortunately unavailable for this game, however the mood around the team is said to be high as the players revel in their best win of the season to date.
Playing the early game, the Sixths poured on the offense as they traded leads with the Dolphins multiple times throughout the day before time ran out before either side could throw a knockout blow, an 11-11 draw a fitting result for a game full of offensive effort and indicative of the quality of the competition in the league.
As is the case with the Fifths, the Sixths managed to avenge their 10-2 loss in Round 4 to Chelsea, a result which would undoubtedly give the playing group great pause and momentum heading into their next game in two weeks time.
Playing the morning game at the Tiger Dome on Saturday, the Tigresses found themselves trading multiple seven-run innings with the visiting Springvale. The Big Cats scored three runs in the second and a lone run in the fourth, enough to get over the line in the eventual 18-15 result that saw an extremely competitive offensive showing from both clubs.
With young arms Caitlin Kiel and Hayley Mather sharing pitching duties for the home side and doing a fantastic job keeping their defense in the game, the Tigresses proceeded to apply their usual brand of offensive pressure, racking up nine hits, seven walks and an outrageous 17 team stolen bases, led by speed demons Jess McDonald (five), Chelsea Mosbey (three), Elinor Jack, Mather and salty veteran Marika Booth (two each).
Jack and Mosbey (two hits each) led the way for Upwey, while Booth, McDonald, Victoria Chinn, Mather and Annaleise Best all chipped in with up one hit each.
Despite the Tigers constant offensive pressure, the Big Cats held tough and matched Upwey run for run, picking up 14 hits and seven walks as a team to create some breathing room in the second inning and seal the win in the fourth inning as they were able to keep the Tigresses scoreless.
Despite the loss, the Tigresses maintain third place on the ladder, as they turn their attention to Saturday week which will see them take on Pakenham White at Kings Park.
