Won by New South Wales - 5 runs to 4

Playing rightfield
Batting #3

Queensland - bottom first innings
Bylett grounded out to 2b (1-1)
Dutton grounded out to 2b (1-1)
Roneberg struck out (2-2)
0 runs - 0 hits - 0 errors - 0 LOB

Queensland - bottom fourth innings
Dutton singled to left field (0-2)
Roneberg singled to left field (1-2)..........
----------Dutton advanced to second
Utting singled to right field (0-0)
----------Roneberg advanced to second
----------Dutton advanced to third
Sutherland singled to left field, RBI (1-1)
----------Utting advanced to second
----------Roneberg advanced to third
----------Dutton scored
Studeman grounded out to ss, RBI (1-0)
----------Sutherland advanced to second
----------Utting advanced to third
----------Roneberg scored
Naughton struck out swinging (2-2)
Nilsson grounded out to 3b (1-0)
2 runs - 4 hits - 0 errors - 2 LOB

Queensland - bottom fifth innings
Baker popped up to 3b (1-2)
Bylett singled to center field (0-2)
Dutton struck out swinging (3-2)
Roneberg flied out to ss (2-0)
0 runs - 1 hit - 0 errors - 1 LOB

Queensland - bottom eighth innings
Roneberg walked (3-1)
Utting reached on a fielder's choice (2-2)
----------Roneberg out at second 2b to ss
Sutherland struck out looking (2-2)
Studeman struck out swinging (0-2)
0 runs - 0 hits - 0 errors - 1 LOB

Plate appearances - 4
At bats - 3
Hits - 1
----------1 x single
Runs scored - 1
Walk - 1
Strike out - 1
Infield fly out - 1
Runners left on base - 1
Batting Average - 0.333
Slugging Percentage - 0.333
On Base Percentage - 0.500

Plate appearances - 8
At bats - 5
Hits - 1
----------1 x single
Runs scored - 1
Walks - 3
Strike out - 1
Infield fly out - 2
Outfield fly out - 1
Runners left on base - 5
Runners left in scoring position - 3
Batting Average - 0.200
Slugging Percentage - 0.200
On Base Percentage - 0.500

The opening game of the blockbuster clash between Queensland and the visiting New South Welshman virtually lived up to its billing as a tough, counter-punching contest full of tension and fluctuating fortunes

Both starting pitchers, Matt Bennett for New South Wales, and Chris Mowday for the hosts, were terrific apart from one inning where they both did well to limit the damage to two runs

The final twist in the game was when Patriots' designated hitter Trent D'Antonio capitalised on a pair of leadoff walks in the eighth by silencing the home fans with a three run "bomb" to right field - say AMEN!

To start with the ultimate winners, Matthew Bennett was very good for New South Wales, apart from the fourth inning when he was somehow able to contain the Rams to just two runs after four successive singles found him with one run scored and none out in what might have been a much worse situation for his team

Boston Red Sox professional Tim Cox has been as close to "lights out" as anyone in Claxton 2008 so far, but he was a little closer to human in this game
Tim did strike out another four from the same number of innings, but he also allowed a run on a wild pitch in the seventh for his team to trail in the game 4-2
D'Antonio's three-run homer wrested the win for Cox and for his New South Wales team

For Queensland former Toronto, Oakland and Chicago Cubs 'A' league pitcher Chris Mowday was quite brilliant
Only an error in the second, a single in the fourth and a walk in the fifth separated his last eighteen outs from the end of the second to the conclusion of his seven inning start!!
Unfortunately, two errors in the second conspired with three singles for two runs in the second, only one of which was slated against him
Mowday would have been a worthy winner!

Future Atlanta Brave Matt Timms would not like us to dwell too long on the dual walks he issued to lead off the eighth in relief of Chris Mowday
Timms was understandably lifted for Mark Holland who was on the verge of becoming a hero after securing the next two outs, but disaster was only a blink away when Trent D'Antonio blasted his game-winning homer

Experienced John Veitch nailed down the ninth with a double-play, but the Patriots' horse had well and truly bolted!

Don't look past the big game-winning three-RBI homer by Trent D'Antonio as the huge hero for New South Wales in this game, while the Queensland faithful will probably see him as a "pirate"!
Young tyro Pat Maat scored the other RBI for New South Wales in this game to punctuate his 1-3 that included a walk
The greenest of evergreens Brendan Kingman walked twice!

Two of the future (and present) stars of Queensland baseball David Sutherland and Jay Nilsson were the only two-hitters for the 'Banana Benders' in this game
Previously unknown Matt Studeman was the leading run producer for the Rams with two RBI's, one from a solo home run over left field in the second and another from an unselfish ground out RBI
One of our newest Hall-Of-Famers, Brett Roneberg, just cleared his pipes with 1-3 and a walk

Our correspondent, who is an unashamed New South Welshman, was bubbling about D'Antonio's dramatic homer that snatched this game - and we can't blame him!

What was more evident to us as an overview of this game was that it must have been an enthralling game in the best traditions of these great rivals

Chris Mowday can consider himself pretty unfortunate that his bullpen could not nail down a meritorious victory for him on this occasion