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2006 Claxton Shield

GAME REPORT
Queensland v Australian Provincials

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Queensland outlasts Provincials 10-8

Seconds out, round one... let's get ready to rumble with Australian baseball's version of a heavyweight title fight... the famous Claxton Shield... it never gets old!

But, for a slightly pleasant change (although not quite pleasant enough!) the game was not to be staged at Blacktown Olympic Park, but the little known Narabundah, ACT where, we guess, the Aussie Provincials would have enjoyed the "home town" support for probably the first time in their short Claxton Shield history

If that local support was anything daunting for the visiting Queenslanders, then they certainly didn't show it early in the game when they jumped all over Provincials starter Luke Acret who produced a tremendous start against NSW last year
He endured a battering from the Rams who were determined to exorcise the demons of Claxton 2005 when they lost to 'AP' en-route to last place

AMLB Rookie Michael Williams took over on the mound and he did a fine job on debut with no damage done in 2.2 innings of work

Next in line was former professional Paul Weichard who could be excused for wondering why he was ever converted from an outfielder where he enjoyed much more fun in AMLB?
Weichard was torched for five runs while getting just one out... OUCH!!

It was left to diminutive Provincials stalwart Casey Jones to tidy up the mess, which he did very neatly, but after too much damage had already been done

Queensland's starter Matt Gahan deserved the win after five scoreless innings and allowing only one run in the sixth
By the time he was replaced at the bottom of the seventh dig, he would have felt very relaxed and satisfied with a massive 10-1 lead in the contest
Little would he have expected to be nibbling his fingernails when the Provincials, quite typically, hit back with seven runs in the next two frames!!

Youngster Luke Thwaites and veteran Tristan Loetzsch were both dealt with harshly by the underrated 'AP' batting arsenal before the more highly credentialled Phil Stockman and Tristan Crawford were used (maybe unexpectedly?) to make sure that the result would not go sour at the end for Queensland

Brad Dutton topped the "hit parade" for the Rams today with his gaudy 4-5, while Ben Foster was a one man run machine with five "ribbies" flowing from his 3-5 bat ... along with Andy Utting who also knocked out a hot 3-5 to open 2006

We don't know the diamond dimensions or the wind conditions but it is unusual these days to see three balls leave the yard in a Claxton Shield game, but this was achieved by Dutton for Queensland along with Kimpton and Saunderson for 'AP'

Nick Kimpton swung the best bat for the Provincials with his 2-5 (4RBI) game while rookie Adam Courcha announced himself to Australia's 'big league' by pinch hitting and finishing the game with a perfect 2-2 and a RBI

2005 Claxton Shield star Mark Saunderson clouted a two-run jack to make sure that he protected his massive .647 AMLB slugging percentage

Like every team who play the Australian Provincials and escape with the points, the Queensland Rams will he breathing a satisfied sigh of relief tonight

The Provincials may be disappointed to have lost after their traditionally gallant fight while also lamenting eight green shirts left on base compared with Queensland's six, but they would also realise that they were out-hit by the decisive margin of 15-8... and it's only the 'R' column that really counts in the end