The boys did really well for their first game for the season. I want to say hearty congratulations to all the first year u12s that had their first taste of pitch ball. They performed really well and were able to get multiple hits in the game. Samuel, Joel, Noah Rathner(u10) Troy and Jaiden Johnson all getting hits in their first game. Battery mates JJ and Kolbe linking up well to stop any base runners from reaching first base in the few innings that they were together. Zeake finished off the game beautifully for the u12s. Thank you to all that helped clear up and support your team. We appreciate it. Mention must go to JJ for his huge home run in his second at bat.
In a shortened game the kids managed to squeeze in 9 runs even though we could have amassed so much more. But due to the amount of inexperienced players we had to stop the running game which we are very good at. And play it base by base on our hits.
The Kids pull off another last inning win this Saturday against Maitland Giants 11 – 10. Again we hit our way to victory, with the team getting 12 hits and 4 walks combined. This is a good indication of where we want to be with this team by teaching them to hit ahead of teaching them to take walks because sometimes the pitching is not good and they struggle to throw strikes. But our kids are not allowed to let a strike go past them. if it is hittable they will be swinging at it.
Even though the score says it was a hitting game it was not. giants only accumulated 3 hits in total they had amassed 11 walks in the game. Their coach had them bunting runs home and letting their kids steal home as well . Not the right way to be coaching 10 and 11 year olds at all. But none the less The Kids did themselves proud by pulling off a hard-fought win. Bottom of the 4th inning we had Tristan Jeftha drawing a walk and getting the winning run on base. Then up steps Dale Lewis with none down , he perfectly hits the ball to right field getting tristan to thirdbase and himself to second on the over throw. Storm doyle who is 2 for 2 at this stage drives the ball between 1st and 2nd for his 3rd hit and the Game winning RBI .
Another mention must go to Caleb Bell for making a play down the middle with runners on 2nd and 3rd and 2 down in the 4th inning to end a threat of giants taking the lead, as well as Jaedon Jonathan coming in to relieve Talun on the hill when giants had their big inning. And the plays of the day for me was a diving stop by dante on first base and Nur’s drive to right centre in the second inning. Well done boys!!! things are looking bright.
Leading off the third inning down 1 nil, MO drills the first pitch dead center way over the center fielders head that to me would have been an automatic home run and he legged out a triple. This action caused a raucous moment which “the kids” capitilised on and rode the wave with two more doubles( Talun and Jaedon) and a triple by catcher Nur Scello. All three of these hits were drives to right center. This had the supporters on the grandstand going crazy.
This week the u12s got to play yet another game in the blistering heat. This time though we were much better prepared and it showed from the start of the game.
innings , 4 K’s 2 BB’s No hits and 1 run scored ) Storm Doyle came on and shut them down for 2 innings ( 28 pitches , 2 Ks 1 BB) Caleb Bell came on in the last and closed it down for the home team by striking out 3 of the batters he faced ( 14 pitches , 3 K’s).
Special thanks must go to Thomas ( Father of Nicolas) who helped me as our first base coach while our assistant Coach Jean was on Concert Duty this weekend. More special thanks to all the parents that donated for our team braai that happened after the game , hopefully we can have another one next home game and have more kids down as they had a great time. Thank you to Stanton ( Jaedon’s dad ) and Brandon (Dales dad) for braaing and feeding the kids.