All games of round two in the North East Baseball were played at Targoora Park, Wangaratta on Sunday.

It was the first game for the two junior grades when Wangaratta Rangers played Bears in the Under 11’s.  It was good to see that both clubs had very good numbers, Bears with 12 players and the Rangers had 15.  Most of the Bears played last season and were much better batters than the younger Rangers.   Bears batted in six runs in each of their turns at bat where the Rangers only scored six runs in their last dig.  Each team can only have seven batters face the pitcher in each turn at bat.  Bears won 18 to 6.

In the Under 15’s game both clubs had the full side of nine players.   Bears batted first and brought in three runs before they lost their third out.  Rangers had much the same team that they had last season with the addition of Clarence Lampa and Kazu Anderson coming in up from last seasons Under 11’s.  Rangers did in this game what Bears did in the game before losing only one batter before the seventh batter rule, bringing in six runs in each of their digs whilst holding Bears to add just one more in their next two innings.  Rangers turned the tables to win 18 runs to Bears 4.

Both Rangers “B” grade teams had good wins, Rangers Orange defeated Bears seven runs to tow.  Kelsey Burder, Brad Murdoch and Sean Whiteman all driving in runs with Burder leading the batting with two safe hits.  Rangers Grey defeated Wodonga Warriors in the other “B” grade game 16 runs to 6 .  Brendon French pitched the full game for Rangers Grey allowing only nine hits and six runs while striking out five and walking one.  Sean Warfe showed the way batting 1000, having three safe hits from three at bats.

In the “A” game Rangers Black played Bears.  Tetsu Kamiyama started on the mound for Rangers with new player Johnathan Taylor as catcher and not having played together before.  Bears first batter hit straight back to the pitcher for the first out having thrown only three pitches, second batter got on first base from a safe hit to left field but was left out there when the next two batters did not reach first base.  Rangers only had three batters face the pitcher in their turn at bat, going three up, three down.  Bears brought in one run in each of their next three turns at bat and although they were getting runners on base, they could not bring anyone home.  Bear held a three-run lead at the top of the fifth innings. 

A change in pitcher by Rangers brought Nathan Pool on the mound.  Bears run rate was topped and the Rangers lifter their game with their batting.  With two down and one run in with bases loaded, Owen Godenzi came up to bat with a full count on him.  He met the next pitch with perfection, hitting the ball over the home run line at left field for a grand slam, bringing in four runs and Rangers hit the lead.  The first time in many years against the Bears, they added another two runs in the next two digs to run out winners.  Rangers 7 runs to Bears 3.

Written by Kevin Pool