Won by New South Wales - 5 runs to 3

Playing designated hitter
Batting #3

------------------------------Replaced by a pinch runner after a single during the top of the sixth innings
------------------------------(due to ankle injury)

Queensland - top first innings
Linger tripled to center field (0-0)
Dutton grounded out to 3b, RBI (1-2)
----------Linger scored
Roneberg singled to left field (0-2)..........
Utting grounded into double play ss to 2b to 1b (0-1)
----------Roneberg out on the play
1 run - 2 hits - 0 errors - 0 LOB

Queensland - top third innings
Baker flied out to rf (0-0)
Linger grounded out to 3b (1-0)
Dutton walked (3-1)
Roneberg grounded out to 2b (0-1)
0 runs - 0 hits - 0 errors - 1 LOB

Queensland - top sixth innings
Williams to p for Cox
Linger struck out swinging (1-2)
Dutton doubled to left field (1-1)
Roneberg singled to right field, advanced to second on the throw, RBI (1-1)..........
----------Dutton scored
----------Greer pinch ran for Roneberg
Greer advanced to third on a wild pitch
Utting flied out to cf, SF, RBI (1-1)
----------Greer scored
Sutherland singled to left field (2-2)
Studeman grounded out to p (1-2)
2 runs - 3 hits - 0 errors - 1 LOB

Plate appearances - 3
At bats - 3
Hits - 2
----------2 x singles
Runs batted in - 1
Infield ground outs - 1
Batting Average - 0.667
Slugging Percentage - 0.667
On Base Percentage - 0.667

Plate appearances - 35
At bats - 29
Hits - 13
----------7 x singles
----------4 x doubles
----------2 x home runs
Runs batted in - 9
Runs scored - 6
Walks - 6
Strike outs - 3
Stolen base - 1
Infield ground outs - 6
Infield fly outs - 2
Outfield fly outs - 5
Runners left in scoring position - 6
Batting Average - 0.448
Slugging Percentage - 0.793
On Base Percentage - 0.543

Oh boy, 'Flintoff & Dunn' just love the fact that baseball, more than other games, seems to find a way to keep the nerves jangling and the outcome of series alive right down to the excruciatingly delicious outcome is resolved
And, just to make this even better along the way, it also tends to produce some of the most memorable and thrilling games

Our NSW correspondent was, once again, effusing about how exciting this game was and, while we make allowances for the fact that he usually enjoys a Patriots victory more than most, we have other reports that confirm his exhilaration

Quite clearly the New South Wales Patriots were playing for keeps as we would expect, given their non-existent margin for error, by starting with one of the genuine stars of Claxton Shield 2008 Timothy Cox
The Boston Red Sox farm hand already owns a splendid 3-0, 0.69ERA from his three relief appearances this summer and the New South Wales management obviously weren't going to tempt fate by holding him back in relief this time
Cox appeared a little more human while starting this high-pressure game with a leadoff triple and a quick run on the scoreboard threatening to sink his brilliant sailing ship!
However, young Cox confirmed his mettle once again by neutralising another Roneberg single in the first with an inning ending double-play
After that, he settled well to allow only two more hits and a couple of walks, while leaving his team in good order, 2-1 ahead after five innings and he had every right to expect his fourth straight win

His reliable reliever Matt Williams might have conspired to snatch the victory from his glove, but I doubt that he would have enjoyed coughing up the lead so quickly via another Roneberg RBI and an Andy Utting sacrifice fly in the top half of the sixth inning - QLD 2 NSW 1
Much like Cox, who settled well after a shaky start, Matthew Williams probably earned his possession of the 'W' when he rolled through the last three innings quite superbly with only a couple of walks separating his last ten outs of the game

In the end, it would be the proficiency of the New South Wales pitchers, who limited the mighty Queensland offence to only seven hits, that would give their team a vital edge with their twelve hits that ultimately secured them the huge victory

Queensland could not be faulted for entrusting the ball to starter Drew Naylor who has already been very good for the Rams, as well as for the Philadelphia Phillies as an emerging rookie league professional
Young Naylor should be commended for challenging the prodigious New South Wales batting lineup, and for living in the strike zone, but it also came at the slightly too high cost of seven hits from four innings

Drew allowed only one run before handing over to Chris Lamb who might be excused for being overawed by the importance of the situation
Lamb didn't manage to secure an out while hitting Oeltjen with a pitch, delivering a nervous wild pitch, then walking Tim Auty - they were intimidating guys to pitch to, Chris!

The solid Simon Morriss was asked to mop us the mess and he looked capable of being a hero with a pair of fly ball outs before hitting prodigy Mitch Dening lashed him for a lead-taking RBI single in the fifth inning
Morriss battled on as well as he possibly could before the Patriots flexed their considerable muscle in the seventh to turn the game permanently in their favour
A leadoff walk (don't they always hurt!) to Tim Auty, followed by a sac-bunt and a Brendan Kingman RBI double restored parity on the scoreboard, but the momentum was continued for the hosts via a Dening (yes again!) single

By the time that experienced star John Veitch took over the mound the snowball was already rolling downhill and gathering speed
A couple of hits cashed in a couple of runs that were not slated against his statistics, but they were certainly added to the home half of the scoreboard in a decisive three-run seventh inning for the home-standing light blues
John pitched a scoreless eighth, but there would be no miracle comebacks for the Rams against the tough pitching in this game

Minnesota twins 'AAA' star Trent Oeltjen demonstrated his class with 2-4 that included a double, plus a hit by pitched ball, while "grand master" Brendan Kingman also drove in two RBI's via a double and an unselfish ground ball out, plus another walk - while not quite as hyperactive, 'Slugga' Kingman has the endurance of the "energizer bunny" and he just never seems to stop hitting a baseball - we really admire our No.1 "Evergreen" and 'Flintoff & Dunn HALL-OF-FAMER'

Young tyros Trent D'Antonio and Mitch Dening each delivered two hits and a run batted in, while 'Terrible Tim' Auty was terrific again with a hit and two free passes
'Pummelling Pat' Maat knocked in the other vital run for the Patriots

We're not too sure exactly how much superstar Brett Roneberg has been affected by a "tweaked" ankle from his last series, but it didn't prevent him from topping the Queensland offence with his 2-3 plus a 'steak' before he was replaced by a pinch-runner in the sixth
One thing we noted was the obvious fact that Roneberg still turned up to play when some others might have decided otherwise
Check our previous comments about him ... we think our point has been emphasised!

David Sutherland also batted 2-4 as a consistent contributor for the Rams, while Dutton and Utting also drove in runs

We move on to the deciding game later today and, let's face it, it would have been a horrible anti-climax if the Eastern Division title had already been decided - the "baseball gods" were not about to let this happen!

We just can't wait!!