Australian Schoolboys’ 2011

The 2011 Australian Schoolboys’ Baseball Championship commenced in Cairns on Monday 23 May and ran through until Saturday 28 May. This is a National Championship Carnival where each state and Territory play one another for the ultimate right to participate in the Gold medal game. WBC is thrilled to advise members and supporters that in 2011 we gain had several representatives in this important National School Boys Championship. Prior Championships have been held around the country and other recent WBC reps from the current playing group have included; Brock Pawley, Luke Brownley & Errol Whinnen.

Our 2011 Victorian Reps in the ASBC are :

Brandon Bird Wearing jersey # 11IF H 179 cm W 79 Kgs Bats R Thows R

Andrew Reeves Wearing jersey # 36

P / 1B H 188 cm W 84 Kgs Bats R Throws R

Baden Smith Wearing jersey # 37

OF H 184 cm W 74 Kgs Bats R Throws R

John Peterson Head Coach

Mitch Ley a former WBC Premiership winning junior also made the Journey. Listed below are a couple of selected game reports where the lads are mentioned.

Congratulations to the entire squad for representing Victorian baseball with distinction and special accolades to our very own Baden, Brandon and JP !

DAY TWO: Tuesday 24 May
VICTORIA 5 lost to WESTERN AUSTRALIA 9In a high-standard defensive game, Western Australia powered away from Victoria with a big fifth inning after both sides scored a flurry of early runs. The Victorian pitchers found it tough going in the first two, with Western Australia eventually collecting fifteen hits to eight for the game. Ben Leslie and Matt Chilcott did a great job in the later innings, although the Vics were unable to peg back the lead. Playing first base, Daniel McGrath posted two hits and an RBI, while Ben Kernick, Leslie, Brett Curnow and Baden Smith each drove in a run for Victoria. A win and two losses after Day Two, the Victorians face ACT and Queensland in an all-important double-header on Wednesday.
DAY FIVE: Friday 27 May
After splitting its Friday double-header, Victoria will meet Queensland on Saturday to decide third and fourth placings of the Australian Schoolboys’ Championship.VICTORIA 3 lost to AUSTRALIAN CAPITAL TERRITORY 6 Deadlocked at 3-3 after four innings, this was a hotly-contested game that was decided when the Territory plated one in the sixth and then another two unanswered in the seventh.. ACT outhit Victoria ten to seven, with the Victorian knocks coming from seven different players. Both sides made defensive errors, with Victoria being made to pay more dearly. Starter Daniel Page did a super job over 4.1 innings (for one earned run), while Daniel Beattie and Mitchell Ley finished out the game strongly. PLAY BY PLAY VICTORIA 5 defeated SOUTH AUSTRALIA 3 Hard-throwing southpaw Daniel McGrath fanned seven in a dominant outing that yielded just one hit over 4.1 innings, followed up by a solid closing stint by Daniel Beattie. South Australian tried four on the hill as Victoria took full advantage of its scoring opportunities in a game where neither side could exert offensive superiority. With two hits and an RBI apiece, Mitchell Ley and Andrew Reeves were best with the bat for Victoria, who will be aiming to finish on a strong note against Queensland tomorrow.
DAY SIX: Saturday 28 May
Victoria has finished a creditable fifth after downing South Australia on the last day of competition at the Australian Schoolboys’ Championship in Cairns. New South Wales won the tournament after overpowering Western Australia 11-0 in the Gold Medal Final. VICTORIA 7 defeated SOUTH AUSTRALIA 1 The Victorian offence started the game in belligerent mood, blasting three in the first and another three in the second to have the game well in hand. In a dominant ten hits to four performance, the Vics had terrific contributors in Daniel McGrath (two hits and two RBIs), Brett Curnow (one and two) and second sacker Brandon Bird (two hits). Victorian starter Luke Papanicolaou did a grand job over five (for two hits and no runs) and Jesse Gavin closed out the last two innings in efficient fashion.	Image: Russ Edwards