Won by Queensland - 7 runs to 3

Playing rightfield
Batting #3

Queensland - bottom first innings
Bylett grounded out to 2b (2-2 BBKK)
Dutton singled to left field (2-1 KBB)
Roneberg walked (3-2 BKBKFFFBFB)
----------Dutton advanced to second
Utting grounded into double play p to ss to 1b (0-2 KK)
----------Roneberg out on the play
0 runs - 1 hit - 0 errors - 1 LOB

Queensland - bottom third innings
Bylett singled to left field (2-0 BB)
Dutton flied out to cf (1-2 SBF)
Roneberg flied out to rf (0-0)
Bylett advanced to second on a passed ball
Utting flied out to 2b (2-2 BKSBF)
0 runs - 1 hit - 0 errors - 1 LOB

Queensland - bottom fifth innings
Baker walked (3-0 BBBB)
Bylett grounded out to 3b, SAC (1-1 FB)
----------Baker advanced to second
Dutton walked (3-1 BBBKB)
Roneberg doubled to left field, RBI (2-2 BBFFF)..........
----------Dutton advanced to third
----------Baker scored
Utting intentionally walked (3-0 BBBB)
Griffin to p for Brassington
Sutherland reached on a fielding error by 2b, RBI (0-2 KF)
----------Utting advanced to second
----------Roneberg advanced to third
----------Dutton scored
Studeman reached on a fielder's choice, RBI (1-1 KB)
----------Sutherland advanced to second
----------Utting out at third 3b unassisted
----------Roneberg scored, unearned
Naughton singled to right field, RBI (1-1 BF)
----------Studeman advanced to second
----------Sutherland scored, unearned
----------Naughton advanced to second on a throwing error by rf
----------Studeman advanced to third on an error by rf
Nilsson flied out to cf (2-2 BBFFF)
4 runs - 2 hits - 2 errors - 2 LOB

Queensland - bottom sixth innings
Crawford to p for Griffin
Baker grounded out to ss (0-0)
Bylett walked (3-1 BBKBB)
Dutton reached on a fielding error by 3b (2-1 BBK)
----------Bylett advanced to second
Roneberg doubled to right field, RBI (0-1 K)..........
----------Dutton advanced to third
----------Bylett scored
Utting singled to center field, 2 RBI (2-1 BBK)
----------Roneberg scored
----------Dutton scored, unearned
Sutherland walked (3-0 BBBB)
----------Utting advanced to second
Lamb-Hunt to 3b for Studeman
Lamb-Hunt struck out looking (2-2 KBBFK)
Sutherland advanced to second on a wild pitch
Utting advanced to third on a wild pitch
Naughton struck out swinging (3-2 BBKFFBFK)
3 runs - 2 hits - 1 error - 2 LOB

Plate appearances - 4
At bats - 3
Hits - 2
----------2 x doubles
Runs batted in - 2
Runs scored - 2
Walk - 1
Outfield fly out - 1
Batting Average - 0.667
Slugging Percentage - 1.333
On Base Percentage - 0.750

Plate appearances - 20
At bats - 15
Hits - 7
----------2 x singles
----------3 x doubles
----------2 x home runs
Runs batted in - 6
Runs scored - 5
Walks - 5
Strike outs - 2
Infield ground outs - 2
Infield fly outs - 2
Outfield fly outs - 2
Runners left in scoring position - 3
Batting Average - 0.467
Slugging Percentage - 1.067
On Base Percentage - 0.600

This will sound like the proverbial "broken record" to Australian Provincial supporters, but there can be no avoiding the self-evident fact that the 'YAPS' (Young Aussie Professionals) led this deciding game in the series 1-0 after four innings of the shortened seven inning contest
Anyone who has experienced these seven inning (or two hour) baseball games will attest how quickly the result can be decided - and, it's a very good thing to play these games from in front!!

Yet, full credit to the pure offensive force of the Rams who didn't need to panic because they had the self-belief to pile on seven runs in the fifth and the sixth innings to put this game out of sight

Queensland starter Chris Mowday had his second straight terrific start, except that this time he collected a well deserved win with a seven inning "complete game" that yielded only two earned runs
He may well contend for the Golden Arm Award if he can continue in this vein

For the Provincials, it must be said that veteran "knuckler" Phil Brassington has done his best to emulate Boston Red Sox favourite Tim Wakefield, but his performances have not really come close to matching the effectiveness of the 'Bosox' longest serving current player
We are not going to knock 'Brasso' for this, but the undoubted killer for all knuckleballers is the ability to throw strikes in conditions that don't always suit the fluttering baseball, or impress the umpire
I haven't heard any suggestion that the "plate guys" have been harsh on Phil Brassington, but we can't help wondering how many of his type they have seen, and whether they can adjust to calling pitches that might literally "drop" into the strike zone?
Anyway, on the pure face of the statistics, Brassington has not commanded the strike zone with the knuckleball anywhere near often enough and, after walking far too many, he inevitably finds that he has no option but to spot a few strikes and these are usually "cannon fodder" for hitters at this level - Phil Brassington will not need 'Flintoff & Dunn' to explain this!

Little known Ryan Griffin did an excellent job to put the lid on a horrible fifth inning for the Provincials while dealing with two errors from his defence
Former Minnesota Twins' pitcher Nathan Crawford wasn't overly effective on this occasion against the much bigger guns from his home state of Queensland

It becomes almost redundant to mention that Brett Roneberg was at the forefront of the offence for his team
Much like SA's Ben Wigmore of more recent times, Roneberg has been dominating our headlines for so long that we might forget how relatively young he still is!
Oh well, it was just another 2-3 with two-RBI day for this near 29yo bloke

I might take this opportunity to pay a special tribute to Roneberg, who may have already reached the major leagues if not for untimely injuries, but this is not what we like most about him
What 'Flintoff & Dunn' admire so much about Brett is that, much like team mate Trent Durrington, he very rarely fails to support Australian national teams and, especially, our biggest national competition that is currently the Claxton Shield
How can you possibly quantify just how much this might mean to our young and aspiring baseballers of the future?
In any case, Brett Roneberg has been a credit to himself throughout his career!

Joel Naughton was not too far behind today with his 2-3 plus a RBI, while the very familiar names of Andrew Utting (2RBI's) and David Sutherland were the other run producers, plus effective newcomer Matt Studeman with a 'ribbie'

We will find out the Christian name of J.Yates who connected for 2-4 with a debut "steak", along with the equally little-known David Kandalis who batted 1-3 with a RBI
The no-longer unknown Victorian James Brooks also supplied a run

It all mattered little in the end as the vastly superior Queensland outfit ran away into the distance to make sure that there was no series upset
The 2-1 series victory for the Rams would not have much more consequence for them other than to ensure reasonable parity with New South Wales in the race for the Eastern Division title

The Australian Provincial team might be entitled to celebrate their first, and only, win in Claxton '08
They may have expected more, but it's not too bad!