As unashamed Victorians 'Flintoff
& Dunn' have to maintain our cherished reputation of getting
the "order of business" correct as we start with hearty
congratulations to the Queensland team, that we rated highly,
who grabbed their second win today on the back of a richly deserved
8-5 victory, largely based on 17 hits to 11 - does any more need
to be said?
Well, yeh, we at 'Flintoff & Dunn" abjectly refuse to
hide from the truth - and this has nothing whatsoever to do with
the merit of Queensland's victory today - the Rams were the better
team on the day - no argument!
But, this is where we might bring into focus the CONSIDERABLE
advantages that NSW have enjoyed for now THREE TOO LONG YEARS
in being quite ridiculously cast as the "home team"
EVERY NIGHT and not having to back-up EARLY after a tough game
the night before
It will not need any further explanation to anyone who knows anything
about sport, so I'll leave it there!
So, to over-use one of our favourite "Monty Python"
lines, there were yet undiscovered tribes hiding in the Amazon
rain forests who knew that it would be a very tough assignment
for the Victorian Aces to find their hard edge again just less
than 14 hours after winning their euphoric opening night game
against the - here we go again - home-standing NSW!
It was an even tougher assignment for Victoria's starting pitcher
Greg Wiltshire who was OUTSTANDING last year and for most of this
year with BV Division One "surprise packet" team Sunshine
until we heard recent news of a, pitchers nightmare, "dead
arm" - although he took a short rest, we can't help but feeling
that it was not close to the 2005 Greg Wiltshire that the Queensland
Rams faced today!
Anyway, Wiltshire was certainly outduelled by one of his fellow
stars from the 2005 tournament when Rams' starter Wayne Ough was
a little more fortunate to "tip toe" around seven hits
and three walks in his winning start
The fact that he allowed only three runs from this was, quite
simply, the "winning and losing" of this game
Nice job Wayne!
Queensland's Tristan Crawford backed up in relief for the second
day running and, like Ough, he allowed more than one hit per inning,
but it was enough to get the job done against the "battle
weary" Victorians on this day
Young right-hand utility outfielder Adam Bonaddio continues to
find it hard to match his 2005 form with a swollen finger joint
on his pitching hand, while Cameron Forbes and debutant Scott
Wearne did little wrong in the concluding innings of the game
Offensively, Queensland's Brad Dutton will have to alert the fire
brigade if his bat gets any warmer with another potent 3-5 (2RBI)
game today, while Joel Naughton and Michael Simpson both hit 2-4
against the Aces
We quite deliberately left out Australia's ONE AND ONLY MAJOR
LEAGUE PLAYER who, once again, has made himself available to promote
the sport he loves - TRENT DURRINGTON!
Even as Victorians, we were DELIGHTED to see that Trent batted
3-6 with a run batted in - and, for those who may have missed
our previews - here it is repeated - and we are are happier than
ever to do so:-
Trent has so far been unable to do justice to his undoubted
talents during the short tournaments in Australia, but he deserves
tremendous credit as one of the few big name players who consistently
makes himself available to support baseball on Australian diamonds
We dip our caps to you Trent, you are a true Aussie hero and it
is high time that you got the respect you deserve!
As Australia's No.1 baseball journalist Adrian Dunn wrote in our
latest publication - Trent Durrington is an example to all young
and aspiring baseballers in the way he prepares himself to play
every day and in the way he conducts himself on and off the field
- could anyone disagree?- not likely!
And, before we get
away from Queensland's high-profile players we must also spare
a thought for one of their genuine stars in "comeback kid"
Brett Roneberg who has two hits, two walks and a hit-by-pitch
in a quite promising return to Australia's 'big league' for 2006
- and he ain't finished yet!
Crikey, I thought we were biased - apparently not so - for our
many loyal Victorian Subscribers, we have not forgotten you
Our sincere congratulations to Victoria's "sweet swinging"
catcher Mathew Kent who bombed his second home run of the tournament
in two days, while batting a very decent 4-4 - just kidding Matt!
Veteran Vic Ben Utting also batted 2-5, while powerhouse Hayden
Dingle batted 2-4 - as we suggested that he might in last year's
wrap-up!
Take nothing away from Queensland on this day - they richly deserved
their victory!
Day two of the 2006 Financial
Wealth Claxton Shield saw the Queensland Rams defeat the Victorian
Aces 8-5 at Blacktown Olympic Park
The team from the sunshine state started off hard scoring their
first of eight runs in the first inning after Andrew Utting doubled
to left field to bring a triple hit by Brad Dutton home
Victoria failed to retaliate in the bottom of the first, leaving
the scores 1-0
Queensland further advanced their lead in the top of the second
inning when Brad Dutton worked his magic once again with a sacrifice
fly to left field bringing home Josh Roberts and advancing Trent
Durrington from second to third base
Andrew Utting secured his second RBI of the game with a single
to left field that saw Trent Durrington cross the plate for the
first time in the nine inning game
Victoria hit back in the bottom of the second inning when left
fielder Hayden Dingle hit an RBI to centre field advancing Peter
Moyland across the home plate
Scott Wearne who grounded out to second base bringing Matthew
Kent home secured the second run for Victoria
With the scores sitting at 3-2, Queensland set out to strengthen
their lead in the top of the third, scoring an additional one
run
The Rams continued with an impressive offensive display in the
fifth adding an additional three runs and another in the sixth
to advance their lead to 8-2
The Aces fought back once again in the bottom of the sixth when
a double to left field by Peter Moylan was backed up by an RBI
from Scott Wearne bringing Moylan home
Despite scoring consecutive runs in the eighth and ninth innings,
the Aces could not bring home the three runners on loaded bases
to win the game
The Victorians now have a 1-1 score record on day two of the 2006
Financial Wealth Claxton Shield, whilst the Queenslanders have
won both games they have played
Rams Assistant Coach Peter Dutton was extremely impressed with
the Queensland team's performance
“Our boys played extremely well
It was a solid offensive performance with plenty of hits
Our pitchers were also strong, they have been well rested”
Dutton further added that the Rams are extremely focused on the
tournament this year
“We have a goal we plan to stick with. Let’s hope it
is there at the end of the week”
Despite their loss Victorian Head Coach David White is still confident
in his team
“I’m happy with our performance
Our pitchers needed to through a few more strikes, but it doesn’t
matter”
He further noted the strength of the Queensland side
“I think these guys are here to win it this year
I think they are still a little sore they didn’t make the
finals last year
Wow, they have improved so much since last year
They have some strong hitters in Dutton and Utting and great pitching
on their side
They are a team to watch this year"
The Victorians take on the South Australia tomorrow afternoon
at 2.00pm at Macarthur Oval Gilchrist whereas the Queensland Rams
will take on home team New South Wales at 7.30pm tomorrow night
at Blacktown Olympic Park