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2006 Claxton Shield

TWO GAME REPORTS
Queensland v Western Australia

SEMI FINAL

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Rams into final 2-0 over gallant WA

With respect for our many loyal subscribers in WA who will be feeling a little deflated tonight, it must be said that a couple of really good things happened tonight for the "unattached" baseball fan

First of all, it's nice to know that, sometimes, the "baseball gods" don't find a way to disappoint the team that has deserved more than any to win
Western Australia (who we sincerely hope get rid of the already historic Perth Heat tag next time) had a good tournament at Blacktown 2006, but they did have a losing record after the preliminary rounds and it was the undefeated Queensland who had everything to lose today - we reckon it is a good thing that those "baseball gods" saw fit to make sure that this didn't happen!

Secondly, for the baseball purists, and you can count 'Flintoff & Dunn' in this, it gives our illustrious Claxton Shield even more credibility when our strongest teams produce a classic "pitcher's duel" like today, as happens in most big baseball contests when the pressure is at its most intense and when there is a lot at stake

Top billing today, very obviously, goes to the Queensland pitching duo of Matt Gahan and Tristan Crawford who will both sleep easily tonight knowing that they have both produced the performances of their AMLB lives and historic ones as far as the Claxton Shield is concerned with a complete game five-hit combined SHUTOUT!
Something that was produced alone by Victoria's Golden Arm Award winner Simon Beresford in 2005, but it has rarely been done before!

Gahan, a former New York Mets professional, has maintained a very useful record in AMLB from the IBLA era and with the Queensland Rams, but we can never remember him producing such a memorable start than he has on this occasion to stifle the dangerous WA lineup to the melodic tune of four hits, zero walks and six huge KKKKKK's!
Take a bow Matt Gahan you have done everything you can - and you've done it magnificently!

Not far behind him, and maybe even more imposing, was former Minnesota Twins pro Tristan Crawford who has been good rather than great so far in AMLB - today he was nearly great!
Like Gahan, he walked none and gave up only one hit and, for the second time in this tournament, I cannot quite understand why our information says that he was not credited with a save - someone must have changed the scoring rules without letting us know!!?
Great job Tristan!

Next on the order of merit were the gallant WA pitchers

Unfortunately the impressive Scott Mitchinson took the loss and he might feel like a loser tonight after allowing all of the offensive action for Queensland during his 3.0 innings - but this would be doing him a bit of an injustice
The impressive young 'Philly' pro made the mistake of walking three, but then the first run he allowed was unearned after a leadoff error in the second inning
The run scored by Queensland in the third was also "scrambled" on a fielder's choice - but then, that is what big game baseball is all about!
Scott Mitchinson should not feel too bad about himself - he will have much worse days when he enjoys the spoils of victory!

Much like the Rams' pitchers today, we can't remember middle-reliever Brendan Wise having a better day in AMLB than he did today under the Claxton Shield spotlight
The Detroit Tigers Rookie League player pitched with the aplomb of Detroit's World Series MVP legend Jack Morris to allow nothing more than one hit over his four fantastic innings - top job!

Brendon Thomas also did himself proud once again as one of the really consistent performers over the recent history of AMLB

On a day when offence was at a premium, WA might bemoan the fact that they actually out-hit the Rams 5-3, but then when you consider that Queensland's stingy pitching duo did not add a single walk to their efforts, it really highlights what those free-passes can do for a team in our beloved game of baseball!

It does not surprise us to see the quality players getting the job done at this stage of the carnival with Roneberg, Utting and Naughton doing the hitting for Queensland, while the well performed Sutherland and Simpson supplied the two huge RBI's that really mattered in this game

Brett Roneberg, importantly, also milked two decisive walks in a game when hits were very hard to come by and when any on-base was welcomed - what a superb, unselfish team contributor he is!

It is a well worn and perhaps overused statement at times like these, but we can't find anything more apt than to repeat that there maybe didn't deserve to be a loser in this game and that the game of baseball was the clear winner!

WA can be very proud of another terrific effort at Claxton Shield 2006 while Queensland will be hoping that their undefeated run in this tournament doesn't come unstuck at just the most vital moment

They have been great, no doubt about it!

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Vic to meet Qld in Claxton Shield final

Victoria will meet Queensland in the final of baseball's Claxton Shield on Saturday night in Sydney
Victoria trumped NSW 3-2 in their semi-final with the home side squandering too many opportunities at Blacktown Olympic Park

Queensland earlier continued its domination by beating Western Australia 2-0 in the other semi-final

The Rams remain unbeaten at the national championships after a strong seven-inning performance from starting pitcher Matthew Gahan, who picked up his second win for the week
Gahan gave up only four hits and struck out four at Blacktown Olympic Park in Sydney, while reliever Tristan Crawford conceded one hit in his two innings to complete the shutout

The Rams scored their first run in the second inning after veteran designated hitter Andrew Utting reached first base on a fielding error
Queensland then loaded the bases and a sacrifice fly from third base Michael Simpson scored Utting

The next inning, centre fielder Brett Roneberg was walked and eventually scored Queensland's second run when first base David Sutherland ground out to short stop