We did suggest before this
tournament that we expected the Queensland Rams to hit back hard
and swiftly after being consigned to the basement at Claxton 2005,
but we could not have envisaged how emphatic their return to power
would be in 2006
After three games at Claxton Shield 2006 the Rams sit perched
alone atop the table as the only undefeated team in the competition
having already accounted for our predicted "heavyweights"
Victoria and New South Wales
However, we will take credit for identifying that the Queensland
team had been given a significant upgrade, especially offensively
and defensively, from last year's campaign
It is very noticeable that the offensive players you would expect
to see to the fore for the Rams are all contributing here and
there and they certainly ALL produced a worthy contribution in
the big contest against the Patriots
Brad Dutton continues his fine "career best" form while
Brett Roneberg has been
doing his bit and his two hits in this game are a warning sign
for future opponents that he could be ready to crank into top
gear
A star of recent tournaments David Sutherland had an important
hit in this game and the young fellow with the "Nilsson name"
seems capable of living up to some lofty expectations - in all,
things are looking good for the Rams right now
I know it sounds gratuitous, but how delighted we were to see
Australia's major league star TRENT DURRINGTON show us a few glimpses
of his undoubted talents at Blacktown
We were happy to sing our praises of 'Durro' before the tournament
regardless of his statistics out here in his off-season, but we
are even happier to say that he is also enjoying considerable
success at Claxton 2006
Just to repeat our sentiments about Trent, and not to denigrate
other major league/pros who rarely choose to play these tournaments
- it is a HUGE ASK to expect these guys, who play baseball almost
every day and almost all-year round to give up what amounts to
their "holiday break" to play more baseball for little
or no financial reward
The fact that Trent Durrington does so EVERY year makes him a
pretty special person in Australian baseball
You have our gratitude and respect - and now you can add to that
our congratulations on a BIG 4-4 night at the plate!!
The Queensland hitters feasted on Patriots starter Ben Williams
who had owned a pretty decent AMLB record until now, but he would
be first to agree that eleven hits from his 6.1 innings is a good
few too many, especially when it is mixed with three free-passes
to first base, a hit batter and a wild pitch
Young Tim Cox did his short relief job without too much drama
and Vaughan Harris had a much better time in this game than on
opening night against Victoria - nice comeback!
Cleveland Indians professional pitcher Matt Haynes had his "breakout
game" in Australia's big league with a very solid game against
the very experienced and dangerous NSW offence, allowing them
only four hits from his 5.0 innings quality start
He pitched with a poise and confidence that we had not seen from
him previously on Australian soil
However, Haynes may have even been slightly upstaged by AMLB rookie
Mark Kearney who faced only two hitters above the minimum with
three terrific innings of middle-relief
It was a "doddle" for the talented Phil Stockman to
put a lid on the deal for the Rams and I'm not sure why he wasn't
credited with a save after preserving the three-run lead?
Similar to rivals Victoria, the NSW Patriots suddenly find themselves
in a rather delicate position and they too cannot afford any further
slip-ups or their tournament might finish for them much earlier
than expected
However, they would not be complaining about losing this game
after being out-hit 13-5 and comprehensively outplayed
For the Rams it is "all systems GO" and the finals can't
come quickly enough for them!
In what could be compared to
the NRL state-of-origin, the New South Wales Patriots and Queensland
Rams went head-to-head in a rampaging match for game nine of the
2006 Financial Wealth Claxton Shield Baseball Championships at
Blacktown Olympic Park that saw the Rams trample the Patriots
5-2
Queensland took the lead early in the piece, scoring two runs
in the first inning after a single from Trent Durrington was batted
in by power hitter Brad Dutton
Olympian Brett Roneberg
scored the second run of the inning with an RBI that saw Dutton
cross the plate
New South Wales struggled offensively, unable to place their first
run on the board until the top of the third when Trent D’Antonio
hit a double to right field which was followed by another double
from Trent Oeltjen for the RBI
Queensland responded
with another run in the bottom of the third inning after David
Sutherland brought home a double hit by Brett Roneberg advancing
Queensland’s lead to 3-1
The next three innings remained scoreless for the Rams, whilst
New South Wales pulled in another run in the top of the fifth
after Trent D’Antonio crossed the plate in conjunction with
a double play
The Rams continued to stampede the Patriots scoring their final
two runs in the bottom of the seventh inning after another series
of singles and stolen bases from both Trent Durrington and Brad
Dutton was backed up by David Sutherland with his second RBI of
the game bringing Durrington home
New South Wales were unable to score any runs in the seventh,
eighth and ninth innings, securing the win for Queensland 5-2
Queensland Head Coach Peter Gahan thought the game was a "very,
very, exciting game"
"We are very excited about the win
It was an extremely exciting game and everything went our way"
When asked if he would have done anything differently in tonight’s
game, Gahan said there was "no way"
“Our boys played real well
I was especially impressed with Claxton Shield rookie Mark Kearney
on the mound - he did a great job"
Tonight’s win for Queensland places them on the top of the
ladder for the 2006 Financial Wealth Claxton Shield, with a 3-0
record
Whilst New South Wales Head Coach Shane Barclay was disappointed
with the loss, there was nothing he would have changed about tonight’s
game
“The guys did well, but sometimes there was simply a case
of bad luck and other times we just didn’t get the job done”
When asked about his key players for the night, Barclay said “Williams
threw a hell of a game. Defensively, Trent Oeltjen and Rod Van
Buizen did well”
The loss for New South Wales tonight takes their win-loss ratio
to 1-2
They are set to play Australian Provincial tomorrow night at 7.30pm
at Blacktown Olympic Park
With National team selection on the line, the Patriots are sure
to but on an explosive display of baseball that is sure to please
the crowds
The NSW Patriots and Queensland
Rams have gone head-to-head in a rampaging match for game nine
of the Claxton Shield at Blacktown Olympic Park
Queensland took the lead early, scoring two runs in the first
inning after a single from Trent Durrington was batted in by power
hitter Brad Dutton
Olympian Brett Roneberg
scored the second run of the inning with an RBI that saw Dutton
cross the plate
NSW struggled offensively, unable to place their first run on
the board until the top of the third when Trent D'Antonio hit
a double to right field which was followed by another double from
Trent Oeltjen for the RBI
Queensland responded
with another run in the bottom of the third inning thanks to the
after David Sutherland brought home a double hit by Brett Roneberg
advancing Queensland's lead to 3-1
The next three innings remained scoreless for the Rams, whilst
New South Wales pulled in another run in the top of the fifth
after Trent D'Antonio crossed the plate in conjunction with a
double play
The Rams continued to stampede the Patriots scoring their final
two runs in the bottom of the seventh inning after another series
of singles and stolen bases from both Trent Durrington and Brad
Dutton was backed up by David Sutherland with his second RBI of
the game bringing Durrington home
NSW was unable to score any runs in the seventh, eighth and ninth
innings, securing the win for Queensland 5-2
Queensland Head Coach Peter Gahan said - "It was an extremely
exciting game and everything went our way
"Our boys played real well
I was especially impressed with Claxton Shield rookie Mark Kearney
on the mound, he did a great job" he added
The win puts Queensland on the top of the ladder with a 3-0 record
NSW Head Coach Shane Barclay, with his team suffering its second
loss in three matches, said - "The guys did well, but sometimes
there was simply a case of bad luck and other times we just didn't
get the job done"