Game played on

Monday 16th February 2009

Plate Appearance Number Two
AUSTRALIA 4th - Roneberg, B singled to right field Risinger, B singled to center field; Roneberg, B advanced to second Welch, S singled to right field; Risinger, B advanced to second; Roneberg, B advanced to third Welch, S advanced to second on a wild pitch; Risinger, B advanced to third; Roneberg, B scored Beresford, J struck out. Karlsen, G struck out. Dening, M struck out. 1 run, 3 hits, 0 errors, 2 LOB

Once again there were problems with the radio connection - but Brett's hit to rightfield is there - you will also hear him reach second base on Risinger's hit - the broadcast link then dropped out and Welch's hit is not covered - when the audio starts again, Brett is at third base with Beresford batting - then you hear Brett scoring on the wild pitch - now, click on the 'play' button ......

Plate Appearance Number Three
AUSTRALIA 5th - Cheng, K-W to p for Lee, C-C. Chiang, C-H to lf. Lin, H to 2b. Berg, D struck out looking. Snelling, C singled to left field. Huber, J singled to left field; Snelling, C advanced to second. Roneberg, B homered to left field, 3 RBI; Huber, J scored; Snelling, C scored Risinger, B reached on an error by ss. Welch, S struck out swinging. Beresford, J singled to right field; Risinger, B advanced to second. Wearne, S to c for Karlsen, G. Wearne, S struck out swinging. 3 runs, 4 hits, 1 error, 2 LOB

The pitcher Brett was facing

Chinese Taipei fireballer Cheng-Chang Lee

Brett's home run, and it's there from start to finish !!
Plus you will hear the commentators "having-a-go" at Brett, then "having-to-eat-their-words" and "having-a-go" at each other!! - it is also interesting to hear one commentator say the hit was not wind assisted and then the other saying it was!! - now, click on the 'play' button ......

Aussie offence not so 'friendly' in Game One
The four game Australia v Chinese Taipei Series began with a hitting extravaganza in perfect conditions
at Geelong Baseball Centre this evening

A carnival-type atmosphere developed as supporters of both nations became engaged in a quality exhibition of world class baseball

While the Australians may be hurting after losing another two pitchers from their World Classic roster, they certainly didn’t show it as the hitters went on a rampage to blast nearly twenty hits to a handful by Chinese Taipei

While the Taiwanese had moments of their own - including a two-run bomb in the bottom of three - the Australian offence was irrepressible
Brett Roneberg cleared the yard for a three run homer in the fifth, Daniel Berg hit a round-tripper to left-centre to score two in the fifth while Justin Huber launched a solo shot last seen coming down near Werribee

The games are friendlies, sure, and the final scorelines are not really important
Australia has a number of its guns missing from the line-up that will contest the World Baseball Classic, but both nations have a serious interest in preparing themselves for the Classic and a number of players are still vying for selection

The series continues at Altona on Tuesday evening, starting at 7.00pm
With gate proceeds to be directed to the Victorian Bushfire Appeal, supporters are urged to make the trip to Melbourne Ball Park and watch quality international players on display while supporting this most worthy of causes

Games Three and Four will be played at Napier Park (Waverley Baseball Club) on Wednesday 18 February and Thursday 19 February, with both starting at 5.00pm

Aussie baseballers under pressure to miss Classic

Australia's final preparations for next month's World Baseball Classic has been disrupted with American Major League clubs forcing key players to withdraw

After watching Australia dominate last night's match against Chinese Taipei at the Waurn Ponds Baseball Centre, Aussie Manager Jon Deeble said the timing of the Classic coincided with the start of the American season, meaning players have to choose between a career or representing their country
"The unfortunate thing is we've got guys that are in Triple A and/or Major Leagues whereas other teams have guys that have been in the Major Leagues for nine, ten years and they tell their clubs that they're going to play for their country" Deeble said after Australia's 9-3 win
"Our kids are trying to get there ... they've spent eight years in the minor leagues and they finally get up there
Whether they're going to make the team or not could depend if they're hanging around at that time"

A three run home run by Queensland's Brett Roneberg at the top of the fifth innings saw Australia reclaim the lead and they stretched that further with another three runs in the sixth

Deeble was pleased that they recorded nineteen hits for the night and kept their opponents to just three

Geelong pitchers Elliot Biddle and Dean Barker were given an opportunity to play late in the match and impressed the Manager
"I thought they both threw the ball fantastic, especially Elliot Biddle" he said

"We're getting better in this country at this game
That was a pretty good team Chinese Taipei had out there and we really wiped the floor with them"

Reports from Taiwanese Newspapers / Web Sites

The following links will take you to game reports in Taiwanese papers ...... and naturally, they are in Taiwanese
Brett's name is there ...... but that is all I can understand !!!

CLICK HERE ................ CLICK HERE ................ CLICK HERE

NOTE - these links were active as at Tuesday 17th February 2009