Baseball is back on in Pakenham.
After a delayed start to the Summer 2021/22 season, it was great to see several teams brave the unseasonal weather and get on the park for round one on the weekend.
As luck would have it the weather was absolutely horrendous and there were many wash outs throughout the competitions.
Still, some games were played with some great results for Pakenham.
With four senior teams, two women’s teams, four junior teams and Friday night Tee-Ball…we are in for a cracker of a season.
The Pumas are also open to new players – we debuted four brand-new senior baseballers, four recruits and several new juniors – so if you are interested, please contact us on our Facebook Page. We also have a fun over 38’s competition on a Monday night. Very relaxed, no experience necessary and the social chat and dinner comes afterwards.
• Div 3 – Firsts
Pakenham vs North West Titans – Winners 10-3
• Div 3 – Seconds
Pakenham vs North West Titans – Winners 6-2
• Div 4 – South White Thirds
Pakenham v Mornington Black
The Puma thirds took on Mornington this weekend and if the warm up was anything to go by, we were going to get crunched.
Luckily that wasn’t the case!
Rohan Hector got the start on the mound combining with Matt Howden as catcher.
Our first out came via Gregg Clutterbuck’s catch in right field, with both others coming via strikeout. We looked a little shaky in defence though, with the Pirates having eight come to the plate for the inning, scoring three.
In reply the Pumas were one out, but back-to-back walks to Matt Mills and Luke Billing saw both reach scoring positions with double stolen bases.
A single to Harry Reid saw our first run scored, followed by another to Howden who got around to second on the throw. Three successive walks – to Gav Standl, Hector and Rick Newton – and we were forcing runs across the plate.
Clutterbuck was hit by an errant pitch and Dylan Eldridge also drew a walk.
Bases loaded and two out, Billing hit one to centre field only to hold up in the wind and find a fielder to end the inning – but six runs to our total. Every batter in our line-up safely reached base once in the inning.
Back into the field, the first batter hit himself on board, before Howden combined with Billing at second to catch the runner stealing.
A strike-out saw two outs immediately before a hit and two walks saw the Pirates add two runs to their tally, before a pop up to short was caught by Eldridge.
Back into bat, we also saw two straight hitters retired, before Standl was hit by a pitch, and three straight walks to Hector, Newton and Clutterbuck. A grounder through third to Eldridge brought in two runs, and further walks to Mills, Billing, Reid and Howden saw a further six runs added to our total before we were retired.
Eldridge was then given the ball for the third inning, with a grounder back to the mound.
A runner got onboard via a walk before being thrown out by Reid on a ground ball to third, the final out coming via a pop up to Billing at short.
With no time left with all this scoring in the pouring rain, the game ended at 12-5 with the Pumas victorious. This side will only get better with most players not having played together before!
• Div 4 – South Black Fourths
Pakenham vs St Kilda – Lost 2-9
• Women’s Div 3 – North East
Washout
• Women’s Div 3 – South
Pakenham v Cheltenham
It was a cracker of a game and we welcomed two new members to the team and everyone had fun. Unfortunately, the score was a 5-20 loss but there is so much improvement to come.
• Masters 38+ South
First game Monday 15 November – write up next week.
• Under 18’s
Pakenham/Berwick v Werribee
The first game for our combined Berwick/Pakenham side saw a gallant effort produced for a 0-7 loss. This team will gel and there is great improvement to come.
• Under 16’s
Washout
• Junior League
Pakenham v Mulgrave/Berwick
The junior league Pumas kicked off the season in fine form getting two runs in the first innings and holding Berwick/Mulgrave to 0. The Pumas put another two on the board in the third giving us a four-run lead.
We made a few errors in the field and allowed them to make those runs back, eventually tying in a nail biter. Collectively the team showed some great signs and the season looks positive moving forward. A 5-5 all draw in the end is a great start.
• Little League Minor
Washout
