Media Release - Mets, Gold Coast Show Their Heals

Mets, Gold Coast Show Their Heels 

With three days now completed in the Inaugural National Regional Youth Baseball Championships Gold Coast and the Murray Mets have emerged as the leading contenders.

The AAA’s Mets accounted for South Australia Country South (SACS) in the cool of the afternoon with an emphatic 11 – 2 win.   SACS could not hold Murray out in the second when the Victorians put on an 8 run blast to scuttle their rivals.   SACS stayed in the game, putting on runs in the third and fourth innings, whilst holding out the Mets.   As the innings ticked by, Mets held out for the win.

Ryan Fisher was the best with the bat for SACS, whilst Stefan Best, Kirk Harwood and Kale McBain all picked up three hits a piece for the Mets.

In the other game of the double header, SACS were humbled by a solid FNC outfit 13 – 3.

In the AA’s Gold Coast has now asserted its dominance at the end of the first round without conceding a single loss.   Far from having the competition all their own way, Macleay Valley tested the Sand Dogs to the full extent of their abilities in today’s game.   Gold Coast set the pace early with five runs in two innings, but it Macleay capitalised on 13 walks and 2 hit batters to get back into the game at 7 all in the bottom of the fifth.   Gold Coast held their nerve for the win with a five run surge in the top of the sixth and excellent close out of the bottom for the game.

For the Gold Coast the hits were shared throughout the line up.   Rhys Nht, Michael Blair and Corey Butty all enjoyed two hits each, whilst Macleay’s Kim McMillan and Joel Townsend picked up two walks and a hit to further their team’s game.

Meanwhile Newcastle enjoyed a winning double header, accounting for SACS 8 – 7 in the morning and FNC 8 – 6 in the afternoon in a tight encounter on Thew Field.   Casino catcher, Patrick Kelly answered the call for the locals, pitching a sensational game against the Novocastrians to put his side back in with a chance.   Andrew Donaghue shone with the bat for the visitors, picking up 2 hits for the afternoon, whilst Shane Davis continued his excellent form for the locals with two hits of his own.

In the A’s the Gold Coast Gold demolished Newcastle 11 – 6 to get their campaign for the tournament title back on track.   Leigh Halpin pushed the Novocastrian hopes forward with a hit and two walks to lead the batting, whilst Alex Simpson let his feet doing the running with 4 stolen bases for the Gold side.

Gold Coast Blue marched to the top of the ladder when they thumped the locals 24 – 7.   With pitching at a premium for the FNC, the Queenslander’s capitalised on the inexperienced pitching to move past Newcastle for the top position.

Jesse Michel, Brendan Hopkins and Mason Johnson all had good hits, whilst Connor O’Gorman dominated the hitting with a single and two doubles for the Sand Dogs.

For more information on the tournament go to www.fnc.baseball.com.au.