Round 18.
Berwick Dodgers 7 def Cheltenham 2.
A quick game is a good game, & that was the case at Cheltenham on Saturday as the C1’s pulled off a neat 7-2 victory over the home team. With Sok returning from a very long injury break, the Dodgers were able to put the full 12 into battle, with all but Bags getting two at bats, Dykstra using his for a single & a double. Duff also drove in two runs with a double to right.
On the mound, young Rydge got his first senior start and went three innings, giving up two runs on four hits, whilst striking out 5, and working in all Hogan battery. Mick then finished off the final inning with another 2 K’s.
Having the oldest batboy, Daz, come down & help also came in handy with Daz able to do some running repairs on Jordy’s glasses, which had come unstuck. Unfortunately, as he was coming home to score another run for the Dodgers, a sniper popped Jordy & down he went , doing a fine impression of the Columbian goalkeeper, Rene Higuita & his famous Scorpion Kick as he headbutted the plate. Her he wasn’t the only one in the wars, with Hoges also copping a knock to the calf.
I”d like to take this opportunity to thank Sharni for scoring for us all season & for being totally unbiased in her scoring. And a huge thanks to Rachelle for all her amazing baking all year. Also to all the wives & partners, and members of the other teams at the club for coming along to our games & supporting us, thanks. We like to think we support the club the best we can and it is greatly appreciated to have that support reciprocated. We would like to offer our best wishes to the A1 team, who also made the finals. Next week we start our finals campaign against Dingley, and hope to see you out there.
Round 17.
Berwick Dodgers 10 def Dandenong 1.
The C1’s returned to Cyril on Sunday for the last home game of the season. With Stu chasing headhunters & Sok being Sok, the remaining 10 took on Dandenong, the only team to have bettered them this season, in a fixture originally set for Dandy, but after a few words for the Prez, baseball (or the close proximity to it that is played in the C1’s) returned after a few wet weeks to the Dodgerdome.
Things started slowly for both teams until the Dodgers got things started in the third. After RJ hustled up the line to pressure Dandy into error, & Dykstra moved him around with a single to left. Then Hoges came up and smashed a ball deep to centrefield that bobbled out of the fielders glove and allowed the two runners to score. Dandy were quick to answer in the next inning with a run of their own, despite a fine effort by Adz.
In the bottom of the fourth, the Dodgers came back with a reply of their own. Wearnie smacked the first pitch he saw for a hit & then with the help of two wild pitches, made his way to third before being bought home by scored by Steve on a slow groundball to short.
Things remained tight for the next few innings, with Mick continuing to shut out there hitters with a mixture of good pitching & some solid defence backing him. Rydge was a outstanding at short, & Jordy made a great play to turn a doubleplay on a rundown at third. That wasn’t the end for Jordy & doubleplays, for the next innings he took a fine catch at third & made a good throw to pick off the runner at first.
After a walk & a single to start of the eighth inning for Dandy, Wearnie handed the ball to Hoges to stop any thought of rally, which he quickly did. The bottom of the eighth also saw a change in pitching for Dandy & the floodgates opened with the Dodgers batting around and scoring 6 runs to finish out the game with a 10-1 win to the good guys.
Mick & Dykstra led the offence with 3 hits each, Bags 2 hits & 2 SB & Hoges batted in 3. Wearnie was outstanding throwing 7 1/3 innings & 99 pitches (70 for strikes) of one run baseball. Thanks to all those who came down to watch and support the boys, whilst also helping out the club after a few lean weeks at the canteen. However, there was no luck with the punt thanks to a quiet day for Nat Fyfe. Next week the C1’s finish out the season at Cheltenham.
Round 14.
Berwick Dodgers 8 def Dingley Blue 2
Having overcome Dingley Gold on the lower diamond at KH Wearne Field a week previous, the powers that be decided that instead of playing a rare fixture at the Cyril, we could do the Dingley double, and take on the Dingley Blue team on the top diamond at Dingley. While the team was still without Coft Sok and also minus Black Adam, the boys did gain Heyyy Rowser for his game to qualify for the trip to Canberra at the end of the season.
As the venue was an away one rather than a home one, it was decided we should hit first, and we got on the board early, with Dykstra rapping a ball inside third base, stealing second and coming home on the scribes double over the head of the right fielder. A passed ball and an Obi Wan hit to left and the Dodgers had scored twice in the first innings. A couple of unearned runs levelled the score in the bottom of the innings, which finished the scoring until the fourth, when the scribe beat out an infield single, went to second on Hoges’ walk, took third on a passed ball and then scored on a wild pitch. Hoges then scored on a #Wearnie13 hit to left and the Dodgers had again given Hoges a two run lead.
On the hill, Hoges looked in complete control, giving up just two hits between the first and seventh innings, en route to recording eleven strike outs. In the field, Duff took a nice snaffle in left, Obi Wan was solid at second, while replacing Black Adam, who had made our first play from third for the season the previous week, #Wearnie13 started a staggering three 5-3 plays for the day.
Back in the batters box, the Dodgers continues to extend their advantage. In the fifth, Duff reached on an error, scratched his way to third and then scored on Rydge’s single before Dykstra’s aggressive running eventually set-up a 2nd and 3rd situation for Hoges, who again came through with one of his two-RBI hits. In the seventh, Hoges walked and then stole with two outs and eventually scored on the Muscle’s full count walk. Rowser then struck out on three pitches. See you on the trip away big guy!
Going into the game, it was disappointing to lose the chance to play a game at Cyril, but the phrase “Anywhere, Anytime” is one that will stay with the team for the rest of the year.
Final Score: Berwick Dodgers 8 defeated Dingley Blue 2
Hits: 3 – Stuart Capel (1x2b). 1 – Rob Hogan (2b), Rydge Hogan, Ben Bartlett, Steve Smith, Gavin Devonshire, Mick Wearne.
With Thanks: Cammo for umpiring, and Sharni for scoring. Angie was watching both games on, with a husband on one ground and brother on the other (husband had more hits btw), Kel, Deb, Beefa and Hilly & Son were all there.
Baking: Rachelle maintained her #1 ranking with fine raspberry and white chocolate muffins. I need a new thesaurus for more superlatives to describe this lady and her baking prowess.
Punters: Not Rowser’s best day. Duff to take a selfie…I mean punt, this week.
Next Week: Pakenham at…somewhere. If it’s at Sweeney, we will require Jordie to check the ground.
Round 7.
Berwick 10 defeated Dingley Blue 2.
Dingley Gold or Blue hosted the C1 Dodgers in a battle of the two undefeated teams of the competition. It was Berwick’s number one ranked offense versus Dingley Blue’s (OK, I admit it, I got tired of trying to come up with names for them so looked it up) number one ranked defence. On a wet track at Dingley, it was always going to be an interesting game, though the edge was taken off the game in the curtain-raiser with one of the Boneo players rolling out the barrel on a dive into third base.
Dingley had given up just six runs over the first six rounds of the season, giving up more than one run on just one occasions, however Berwick had two on the board after just three hitters.
Leading off the game, RJ walked and Dykstra then laced a double to left centre to put runners at second and third for the Scribe, who beat out an infield sin…E6? (Wow! Sharni ‘The Scorer who Hates Me’ gave that diving play an E6 – harsh) that plated both RJ and Dykstra to give the Dodgers an early 2-0 advantage.
The Dodgers had further chances to add to their lead but left five runners on base over the next two innings, and looked like it could be another three LOB in the fourth after Obi Wan, the returning T-Bags and the Maple Leaf Muscle all reached base combined to provide the potential for a two-out rally which was duly capped off by Jordie, who was 0-2 before lacing a long ball to deep right field, avoiding residual chalk, to score the three base runners with his first double of the season and arguably the biggest hit of the career.
Jordie’s hit took on extra significance in the bottom of the innings when Dingley strung five hits together, though Sokhom Un’s brave tag on a base runner for the first out of the innings at third base, capped the Dingley drive at two runs.
From there, the Dingley hitters went a combined 2-15 as the Dodgers took over the game. Scoring in three of the final four innings, Berwick tallied ten runs in an effort that saw everyone reach base on at least one occasion.
#Wearnie13 struck out the side in the fifth and got through the sixth before handing the ball over to Hoges, who didn’t let a ball get out of the infield…though a bat did its best to get past RJ at shortstop! Unfortunately for Hoges however, this was not a save situation!
The two hour game was the most complete performance the C1 side has put together for the season, with everyone making a contribution in some positive way. While we have just one game over the next three weeks, it is important that our fixture against Pakenham is played in the same fashion.
Final Score: Berwick 10 defeated Dingley Blue 2
Hits: 2 – Ben Bartlett (1 x 2b) Michael Wearne. 1 – Jordan Russell (2b), Stuart Capel, Rob Hogan, Adam Black, Gavin Devonshire. Robbed – Stuart Capel.
With thanks: Sharni, Mandi, Deb, Kellie, Jax, who made up our support crew for the day. Much appreciated ladies.
Baking: Back in action this week after a Jordie-balk last week, Rachelle made a moist and delicious chocolate mud slice. We knew it was a chocolate mud slice as that was what Rachelle wrote on the post-it note in the cake tin!
Quote of the Week: The first hitter Hoges faced hit a ground ball to RJ at shortstop, who had to fend off all but the handle of the bat, which also made its way towards shortstop. “That’s a four hundred and sixty dollar at-bat baby” noted pitcher to still stunned hitter.
Punters Club: On-line poker? We haven’t had that one yet but it seemed to work, with Dykstra pulling off a solid win. Back to back wins and we’re rollin’ towards Canberra. Dykstra will go for the hat-trick this week.
Next Week: We get around one of our teammates, Adam Black, who sadly lost his mother early this week. The C1 boys will be part of a Charity game down at Berwick’s main ground on Saturday afternoon. We encourage all club members to get down to the club and be a part of the day.
Round 6.
Berwick 19 defeated Dingley 4
Having started the season in solid form, the Berwick C1s began their Dingley Duology against the Blue and Gold teams at Sweeney Reserve against either the Blue or Gold team. We weren’t sure which one it was, but we did know they were third on the table and would most likely provide us with a challenge.
Once again we were without T-Bags, who was still overseas getting phonebooked in another country, and the Adzman, who was on important family duties, so we had ten, which became nine after three club umpires rang in unavailable and we had to take someone out of our line-up. Obi-Wan took the guide dog by the lead and went out for officiating duties. He was later replaced by the Maple Leaf Muscle.
A lead-off double and a ground ball through the legs of an infielder gave Dingley a run in the first innings, and while the Dodgers spread three hits throughout the line-up first time around, they were unable to get Sharni ‘The Scorer who Hates Me’ to colour in any circles in the middle of the book. An error gave Dingley another two runs in the third innings, giving the Blue or Gold a 3-0 lead.
In the bottom of the third however, the bats started to show some signs of things to come. Hoges reached on an error, RJ walked, and after Dykstra lofted a towering fly ball as far as the…catcher, the Scribe launched a ball to centre right that was deep and long and I don’t think it was playable. The three-run shot tied up the game as the bats began to show signs of life.
Dingley scored in the top of the fourth on a play which saw a runner that was tagged out at second walk-off the ground content he was short of the bag while his manager was arguing he was safe. Either way, the kaleidoscopes were back ahead 4-3.
Jordie led off the bottom of the fourth with a single, which set off the Berwick bats on a seven-hit, one walk and one HBP rampage, to quickly tally a seven run innings on just thirty pitches. Having led off the innings, it was somewhat fitting that Jordie’s second knock of the frame capped the scoring with the Maple Leaf Muscle crossing the plate to end the dig.
From there, #Wearnie13, himself en route to a five hit game, was a lock on the hill, giving up just one hit over the final two innings, while the Dodger hitters banged out another eleven hits. Jordie picked up a career-high third knock, Obi Wan got in on the act having handed over the white cane, while even Hoges managed to get himself a knock, lacing a ball to centre field for two bases, scoring Obi Wan for the run that made it fifteen runs the difference.
Final Score: Berwick 19 defeated Dingley 4
Hits: 5 – Michael Wearne (1 x 2b). 3 – Stuart Capel (1 x HR 1 x 2b), Ben Bartlett (1 x 2b), Sokhom Un, Jordan Russell. 2 – Mark Le Nepveu (1 x 2b), Rob Hogan (1 x 2b). 1 – Rydge Hogan, Steve Smith, Ben Williams.
With Thanks: Again we thank our wonderful scorer, Sharni ‘The Scorer who Hates Me’, and to our spectators, who in a rare occurrence, were outnumbered by the Kaleidoscopes mums and dads.
Baking: For as good as Jordie played in this game, his posting of a slice and cake on the team forum led the Official Team Baker to believe baking was being provided by an external source for the game. I think everyone felt the same when they found out there was no baking: “FOCK!”
Quote of the Week: Following Jordie’s career best third hit, it was unusual to here the umpire making thmentary, but the Maple Leaf Muscle’s call of “Anmarie is going to be sore tonight” was a classic and well timed line.
Punters Club: Dykstra took his first punt with the team and didn’t disappoint, though given he backed half of the field at Flemington, it is perhaps little surprise that he came up trumphs. Still, by any means necessary and the Punters had a solid win. Get on board to…Fyshwick!
Next Week: We take on the other Dingley team. They have conceded six runs once around the block this season sans for playing us. A good test to see where we are at.
Round 5.
Berwick 21 defeated Bonbeach 2.
Following a shaky effort on the road, the Dodgers returned to the friendlier confines of Sweeney Reserve where we were hoping for a better performance in our first themed game of the season – South-East Asian day.
Our opponents, Bonbeach, were our opponents in our first ever game, and it was the first meeting between the two sides since the infamous tie at Bicentennial Park on Mexican Day in 2012. Would the result be different this time around?
Rowser wouldn’t be catching and flying out to left field every AB this time around, so our chances would be that much the better.
Fielding first, #Wearnie13 took the mound resplendent in his rice cutters hat, and became the first player in DBA to strike out an opposition player in said headwear. Working around a fielding error, #Wearnie13 would go on to retire the side comfortably without conceding a run.
Under pressure to repeat his excellent hitting from last week, Rydge responded with a double to centre field to lead off the game with what would be the first of his four hits. Following Obi Juan’s ground out (number two hitters are 0-4 in the first innings this season btw), Benny Dykstra reached on a MUFFLED FLY, scoring RJ, before hits to Stu, Sokhom and the Maple Leaf Muscle saw the Dodgers score four runs to take an early lead.
Controlling the Bonbeach hitters throughout the first five innings, #Wearnie13 gave up just four hits and struck out five, throwing just forty-five pitchers, qualifying himself for the win. Upon reaching the point where he became the pitcher of record, #Wearnie13 retired to Berwick to cook the evening’s entrée.
Keen to put together a full games performance, the Dodgers (except for Hoges) kept hitting the ball hard throughout the game, banging out eight doubles and twenty-three hits in total en route to tallying twenty-one runs for the game.
Stu took over the pitching duties for the last two innings, and managed to throw the occasional strike, but gave up a run in the sixth, before giving up another run in the seventh without getting an out.
Ahead in the count 0-2 to Bonbeach’s most dangerous hitter, the pitch was lined straight at Hoges at second who caught the ball as both runners took off. Instead of trotting to second for the tag of the advancing runner and touch of the bag for the unassisted triple play, Hoges flipped the ball to RJ, who in turn threw to Steve at first for the third out of the triple play.
Keeping score at home? The triple play went Father, to Son, to Obi Wan.
Even on the back of twenty-three hits and #Wearnie13’s awesome start, this was one great way to finish a baseball game.
Just under an hour and a half for the seven innings as well. Kind of helps when your pitcher throws five balls for the first five innings!
Our defense was solid, aside from an error in the first innings. RJ at short responded from a bad hop that took him in the cheek to stand tall in front of an oncoming runner to turn a double play, then turn another one, and then be a part of the triple play. Those efforts, plus the four hits unquestionably gave him the Gold Goblets for the day.
Rare to see a C1 game not feature a single walk, though there were back-to-back swings on 3-0, but the hitting was solid throughout the line-up. Even #Wearnie13 batting at number eleven hit the ball hard it took a fair piece of fielding at third base to retire him. That would have been a hit most other weeks. He’s now 0-10 at home this season.
Demonstrations of emotion? We had those again this week. Benny Dykstra began proceedings, lining a ball to left centre and then turning around to flex his muscles…only for the ball to drop short of the cones. The Adzman, fresh off a quadruple tech foul in Thursday night basketball got back on the angry list as well, throwing his glove after not coming up with a ball in centre field. No doubt the Maple Leaf Muscle enjoyed his run after the ball in lieu.
In making jest of Dykstra’s puny arms, it would be amiss not to mention he did have three hits, as did Obi Wan, who channelled his inner Stefan Edberg with some of his opposite field hitting. Inspired by South-East Asia Day, Sokhom had three hits and scored three times on hits and a sacrifice by Duffman (how many times do you see someone being driven home by ‘10’ in the scorebook?). Adz had two hits and was again aggressive on the bases, while the Maple Leaf Muscle kept his steady start to the season going with another two hits.
End of the day saw the Dodgers win comfortably, and settle down to a good feast of Spring Rolls and Fried Rice, coupled with some Bintang and Chang to wash it all down.
Final Score: Berwick 21 defeated Bonbeach 2
Hits: 4 – Rydge Hogan (1 x 2b), Stuart Capel (1 x 2b). 3 – Ben Bartlett (3 x 2b) Steve Smith (2 x 2b) Sokhom Un. 2 – Adam Black (1 x 2b) Mark Le Nepveu, Ben Williams.
With thanks to: Sharni again for scoring, and we hope you liked the flowers the team presented you for your birthday. The second half of your present was that we didn’t sing! Angie and Rachelle for spectating, and a few of the thirds for coming down – Pres and the First Lady, Rowser and Hilly Dodger, fresh off a well mixed combination in Candy Crush, all managed to GPS it to Sweeney, as did our old B3 teammate Stevie Hughes, who had finished his A2 game.
Special mention however to big Hughesy, who umpired a fine game throughout. I can’t think of one ball or strike call that was incorrect and he kept the game flowing and lighhearted. Even though he wasn’t in a South-East Asian penis suit, he did a great job. Thanks big guy!
We’ll also throw in a thanks to Annie Wearne, who I’m hearing had a hand in the Spring Rolls and Fried Rice.
Baking: While waiting for #Wearnie13’s return with the grub, Rachelle supplied a fine entrée of muffins. Were they Blueberry or Gojiberry muffins? I heard both from different people, but either way, they were fabulous.
Quote of the Week: “Fock.” You who said it…you know who you are!
Punters Club: For the first time in five years it wasn’t safe to bet against Jack Watts. In other punting news, Obi Wan has been released. We have received confirmed confirmation of Benny Dykstra being given the opportunity to punt this week.
Next Week: The weather is staying good, so we’re back at Sweeney for the first half of our Dingley double header. It’s Minor League Baseball Day at Sweeney, so all players are invited to wear their hats and jerseys from the Minor Leagues. First pitch is at 2.15pm on Saturday.
Round 4.
Berwick 8 def. Cheltenham 6.
The C1s first road game of the season took the team to Farm Road for the first time since last seasons C2 Grand Final, however conditions were slightly more damper than last seasons title decider. On the positive, at least there was no danger of their being any residual chalk costing anyone a hit.
The conditions were not the best, with light drizzle combined with several puddles on the field. While the Dodgers were keen to play, the Rustlers had just seven and didn’t seem as keen, though after we did the bulk of the ground cleaning and provided an umpire (Hoges), we managed to get a game going. In fairness, there was a game of cricket being played next door and it would have been hard to justify how a game of cricket could be played while a game of baseball was cancelled.
With Benny Dykstra off hosting a cake stall or something far less important than baseball, T-Bags overseas…watching baseball and Hoges umpiring, the line-up was shaken slightly, with Duffman donning the catchers gear on a few moments notice to catch for the first time. All in all, he did a solid job behind the dish, though Wearnie did have to strike out five in the first innings to get us out of trouble early.
Throughout the game, it did seem that the seven men of Cheltenham who hadn’t been as keen to play as we were, were actually playing better than the nine men of Berwick, who trailed 2-0 going into the third innings, however a five spot game the Dodgers a momentary lead, before Cheltenham pulled three back of their own. From there, the Dodgers scraped a run in the fourth through hits to #Wearnie13, RJ and the Adzman (which nearly decapitated the pitcher) and a fielders choice to score the run, while adding another two in the fifth innings through Obi Wan and the Fysh. Despite loading the bases with none out against Hoges, who had come in to close out the game, Cheltenham could only score once as the Dodger defence finally showed some signs of life, leaving the Dodgers two runs ahead on the scoreboard come the end of the game.
While the overall performance was lacklustre, there were some positive signs. #Wearnie13 got his first two hits for the season, Jordie had three solid AB’s, Adz hit the ball hard for little reward, while Duff and RJ were solid in their turns behind the plate.
It wasn’t the teams best performance ever, but a W is a W and we move on.
Final Score: Berwick 8 defeated Cheltenham 6
Hits: 2 – Rydge Hogan, Sokhom Un, Steve Smith, Michael Wearne. 1 – Adam Black, Mark LeNepvue.
With thanks to: Hoges and #Wearnie13 for umpiring, Sharni for scoring and for our lone spectator, Angie Capel, who for some obscure reason sat through the entire game. The official attendance for the game: One.
Baking: Rachelle came up with some honeyjoys that simply didn’t last long they were that brilliant. Now, it has been mentioned by one B. Rosewall…yes, the one that was slapped in Brisbane last trip away, has said his mum could do just as well. Could there be a World Series bake-off coming up soon? I suggest a best of seven series.
Quote of the Day: “I’m protecting my average” – Benny Dykstra on why he didn’t show on the weekend.
Punters: FFS Jordie! Obi Wan is punting this week.
Next Week: It’s back to Sweeney Reserve to take on Bonbeach. It’s South East Asian day in the C1s…God only knows what beer is the drop of choice this week.
Round 3.
Berwick 14 def. Dandenong 8.
Traditionally B3 C2 or C1 match reports begin with a bit of humour to ease everyone into the theses that generally follows. #Wearnie13 tends to read the report to Sokhom over smoko and Bull used to take the iPad and sojourn to the gents and settle in for a good ten minute read. Sadly, Hilly never reads the reports because he’s too busy playing Candy Crush.
This week however, it’s a bit more serious as we were able to celebrate something most enjoyable in the C1’s, with Rob Hogan able to play for the first time with his son Rydge, who has joined the C1 boys for the year. Not normally sentimental, it was clear that the occasion meant a great deal to Hoges, and it was a pleasure for the rest of us to be able to share the moment with them both.
Not that our opponents, Dandenong, were in a mood to be sentimental and hand us an easy victory, coming out of the blocks by putting runners at first and second with no out in the first innings before #Wearnie13 settled into the game by striking out the next two hitters and then calling everyone off and holding onto a pop-up for the third out that saw him end up on his rear in a most ungraceful manner. Still, an out’s an out and we turned Dandenong away without score.
The hitting hero many moons ago in Round One, Benny Dykstra started the Berwick innings with a walk and advanced to second on a ground out, setting the table for the scribe who lined a ball that was going foul down the left field line, until a fair gust of arctic breeze caught it and pushed it fair and over the cones for a home run. A walk to Hoges, hits by Adz, making his season and T-Bags, and hits to (the bodies of) Duff and Sok pushed another two runs across the plate for an early advantage.
From there, the Dodgers were never headed, though the Dandenong boys played some solid baseball throughout, taking six catches in the outfield for the day, however Berwick did score in all but one innings.
Robbed of a home run last week, Benny Dykstra managed to get just one ball in play this week. Walking in his other three at-bats, Benny launched the bigger of the two home runs for the day, a no doubter to left centre. Sadly for Benny, he was brought back down to earth a bit later in the game, quite literally in the end, after a foul tip from a Dandenong hitter somehow found his cods instead of his catching glove.
Elsewhere, the improvement in the batters box continues. Obi Wan quietly enjoyed a three-hit game, spraying the ball to all fields. While the Adzman, in his first game for the season, showed the form that saw him score the winning run in last seasons Grand Final with a three-hit effort of his own.
T-Bags broke his duck and managed a couple of hits, and managed to do it without swearing (well done). Duff got himself a hit after his nasty blow in the first innings, while Hoges managed to scare the pants off old man Hough for his hit to go with his three walks. Sok also got a hit…and a mouthful from his catcher for being replaced at third after an innings.
We did however spare special celebrations for Jordie, who got his first hit of the season late in the game, and immediately dedicated it to his hero Phil Taylor, however all eyes were on young Rydge, who had a couple of balls to the infield early, but laced a hit to right field in his third at bat, before challenging a cut play and beating the throw home to score an important run in the latter half of the game.
The fielding still needs work, but some of that can however be forgiven for the chopping and changing going on when you try to fit twelve into nine. Dykstra was again solid behind the plate, Adzman was excellent in centre while T-Bags combined with Wearnie to throw out a runner at home for a nice outfield assist. On the hill, #Wearnie13 struck out seven, but still hasn’t recorded a hit for the season. Like Greg Chappell in the 80’s, he’s seeing it well, and hitting it well, he just keeps getting out.
Final Score” Berwick 14 defeated Dandenong 8
Hits: 3 – Steve Smith, Adam Black. 2 – Gavin Devonshire. 1 – Ben Bartlett (Home Run), Stuart Capel (Home Run), Sokhom Un (Double), Rob Hogan, Rydge Hogan, Ben Williams, Phil Taylor, Jordan Russell.
With thanks to: Pete Gelsi for umpiring…and bringing cones so that the home run theft of opening day would not be repeated. Very rare though you see an umpire picking up the cones after the game. Guess I’ll add Sharni for scoring. Muffed Fly 8 my a… though!
Baking: As a youngster I had a weakness for cornflake cookies. Rachelle found my weakness, and it seemed a few others with some outstanding choc-chip cornflake cookies on Saturday. Best cook in baseball is Rachelle. Once again, thank you.
Quote of the Day: Poor Benny Dykstra has thrown three runners out at third…or at least he would have had the balls not ended up on the ground or in left field. In lamenting the missed catches at third, Benny was heard on Saturday night to say about the catching of the ball is “Kind of a crucial play when a c*** tries to steal third.” No wonder why ESPN wants him as a colour commentator.
Punters: After #Wearnie13 fell in a heap during the bye week, the boys plonked the cash into the $1000 draw. While we didn’t win, we did last longer than Quinny, who for some reason was cheered whenever his name was pulled from the barrel. We feel your pain, Quinnster. Not sure who is punting this week. Jordie was to let me know but he has got darts.
Next Week: we hit the road to play Stenny and the Cheltenham boys at Farm Road. A Fat Bob’s after the game may also be in order.
Round 2 – BYE
Round 1
Berwick 13 def. Pakenham 4.
Robbery Under Arms.
The Great Bookie Robbery.
The 1979 VFL Grand Final.
Fable or truth, history is littered of stories of robberies, and indeed our country was first settled by a population that included many a convict that had been convicted of ‘petty theft’.
But while Rolf Bolderwood regaled stories of Captain Starlight, amazed Victorians in 1976 read of the audacity of the six armed robbers who lifted (in todays money) over $90million from the Victoria Club and Wayne Harmes knocked a ball back from the third row for Kenny Sheldon, there is another name that can be added to the lost of great robbers of this country.
Michael Wearne. But more on him later.
Now up in the lofty heights of C1, our first challenge this season was against Pakenham at Sweeney Reserve, which had been repaired by several players a week earlier, but after a weeks rain had come up well. We do however need regular checks of the ground to make sure it’s OK (thanks Jordan).
Our team did lose a number before the game, as we lost Hoges from the fives to the twos, leaving us with nine, and we’d also lost our scorer Sharni to see her beloved Blues lose the return match in the Kreuzer Cup. We’d also lost our outfield cones…well, Wearnie had left them back at the club. While we managed to prop-up a couple of foul poles, everyone would have to run it out for the next two hours.
Come the end of Pakenham’s first innings, Wearnie had registered a strike out and T-Bags had caught a couple of fly balls in right field without swearing (a personal best). Two years earlier, it took until game seven for the team to record its second outfield catch.
Newcomer Benny Dykstra led off the game for the Dodgers and proceeded to hit one straight down the centre fielders throat…and out the other end as the ball rolled away as Dykstra streaked for three bases, later scoring on a hustled out E6.
The lower-half of the order got it started in the second, with T-Bags, Duff and The Maple Leaf Muscle all reaching for the top three to knock them all in, however our one innings of forgetting what our gloves are for brought the Pumas back to within a run, and into the fifth, the Dodgers held a slender 5-4 lead.
Spurred by a Sokhom Un double and an Obi Wan single, the Dodgers scored three in the fifth, and when Dykstra strode to the plate to lead off the bottom of the sixth, Berwick held an eight to four lead.
Taking the first pitch he saw, Benny launched a ball well over the left fielders head, short-hopping the fence of the softball diamond…but because there were no cones, Ben had to stop at second base. Police were immediately called to the crime of such a good hit, considered to be far bigger than Hoges’ pop-up homer of a couple years previous, could only be worth two bases. Statements were taken and hopefully Victoria’s finest can lay charges in the near future. Fortunately another double and a hit to Sokhom and then hits for Obi Wan and Duff plated four runs for the innings, putting the games result beyond doubt.
On the hill, Wearnie kept dominating, ending up striking out thirteen (#Wearnie13), meaning the field had to do little behind him, in fact, the first play at first base that didn’t involve a strike out happened in the sixth innings…on a catcher to first pick-off. The outfielding was solid, with three fly balls caught for the day and Dykstra was a hoover behind home plate, picking-off a runner and throwing another out at second base earlier in the game.
Final Score – Berwick 13 defeated Pakenham 4
Hits: 4 – Ben Bartlett (1 x triple 1 x double) 2 – Stuart Capel (2 x double) Steve Smith, Ben Williams. 1 – Phil Taylor, Sokhom Un (double) Mark Le Nepveu.
With thanks to: Daryl Rosewall for umpiring our game, and to Angie, Jax and Rachelle for coming down to watch. We will be supplying Rachelle with a helmet next game.
Baking: Despite being away for the entire week before the game, the wonderful Rachelle still managed to look after the team with a mouthwatering cake to set the benchmark for the rest of the season. The combination of cake with Tun however…no one is really sure about, in face, no one knows exactly what Tun is supposed to go with.
Quote of the Day: Benny Dykstra on
Tun: “It’s not very good is it!”
Punters Club: While #Wearnie13 is most earnestly looking forward to his ‘Ballparks and Bars’ tour later in the year, the team is looking forward to the ‘Ballparks and Bars…and Porno and Fireworks’ tour of Canberra later in the year. The first punt of the year went to #Wearnie13 who plonked it all on Tango’s Daughter…who duly saluted by a length to get the tour fund underway.
Next Week:
Round Two bye.