Round 14 - ETPBC Div 5

Spent alot of the long weekend thinking about how the title for this article should read, many ideas came to mind but in the end thought - keep it as usual and let the article describe the game...

So Divvy 5 took the long road north out to Gawler, which I earlier learned is more so Evanston Park now as the club has moved from its previous site to a new oval about 10-15 minutes down the road. Great for us as the usual 40-45 minute drive is now only 25-30 minutes... I went my usual way, up the new Northern Expressway, should be put as one of the best things this state has accomplished, a dual freeway which connects Port Wakefield Road and Main North Road... Simply a delight to drive on, so smooth, it makes driving it pleasurable and you hardly notice the length of the drive.

Previously we used to go up Main North Road through Elizabeth, Munno Para etc... don't really need to describe why I prefer the other way...

So, mix tape was in featuring great's such as Blink 182, Good Charlotte, Linkin Park and System of a Down (also a hint of Nirvana and Eric Clapton...), rest of the family was either already down at Lady Bay for our big family holiday or at home getting ready to head down...

Arrived at Gawler super early after allowing too much time to get there, Quickly scoped the oval and it looked to be also used as a hockey ground, very square and not very long or shaped like a diamond...

Game time finally arrived and we took first dig at putting some runs on the board, Gus managed to do some very handy base running, stealing two bases and in the end scoring our only run for the first inning.

Matt said early on our team looked flat and this was very evident in the first 3 or 4 innings of the game, the bats we know we have weren't showing early on, fielding we were going ok too but lacked the edge to keep Gawlers mind from thinking they had a chance...

After 4 innings I think we held a lead of about 5 runs, which is good but against one of the bottom teams it was far less than expected.

Cummo was in on the money for most of the game, hitting the zone and sitting them down nicely, we just weren't backing him up with the lead he deserved.

A bit of feeling started to come into the game, coincidentally the same time Robbo went deep out Left Field which for all money looked like a Home Run but was called a Double by the Gawler player. The heat came after the opposition pitcher decided to "chat" a bit more about it and even claim wind assistance in the hit.

Well, the moment all have been waiting for..

The pitcher moved to Short and his new protege stepped to the plate to salvage what was left of the sinking ship, Robbo and Ralph were sitting on 3rd and 2nd and I recall my first thoughts was I wanted to belt the living daylights out of this ball as when I got to the plate the pitcher was mouthing off to Robbo, not good first impressions haha

I left the first ball as I usually do, just to see how fast and how controlled the ball was as it hits the catchers glove. The 2nd ball was perfect for me, inside and high to the inside, this time I put everything behind it.

As I ran to first I watched it sail over the left field line and the left fielder whacked his hands up to show Home Run... The moment I've been yearning for since I last hit my first ever Home Run down at Glenelg.

Now, alot will say I was a tad excited... couldn't be further from the truth hahaha, to hit a Home Run is the best feeling, to think you've hit the ball that far, something we've done a little this year but not heaps so I've joined the group...

Funniest thing was, as I touched 2nd base on my way to 3rd the Shortstop went out to get the ball from the Left Fielder and was yelling out "Not bad for a wind assisted Home Run"....

There are some who accept things happening to them and there are some who act out when losing, he was the latter unfortunately, I laughed really hard when I heard that then made reference to his mouth being wind assisted...

I'm sorry and this might just be me, but if your languishing on the bottom of the ladder, losing too to a team who is in the Top 4 and also your using the same conditions as this Top 4 team... I don't think you have any ground to stand on to then ark up at the opposition by trying to bring their score down...

So, I hit home plate and the team was there to meet me as we celebrated my bat waking up but also the 3 runs just quickly added to the scoreboard..

Matty went down quickly with a strained calf so Jonesy who was sitting down with a strained neck came back on, Matt's was more so a light strain and more cautious than anything...

Scoop pulled up late in the last inning with a hamstring, not sure how bad at this stage but hopefully just minor...

So our ET Boys ran out winners 14-1, could have been much worse but we were certainly flat both with the bats and in the field in the first half of the game.

This week we're at home against Golden Grove which is going to be tough, but we seek revenge for the last game we played there when I think it is safe to say were nowhere near where we are now...

PS - I'm still grinning from ear to ear, here's hoping I can do it again in the not so distant future!

Round 1 - ETPBC Div 5

Round 1 came and went as quickly as the lead we worked hard to maintain late in the game.

Our Div 5 team travelled down to West Torrens last Saturday for the Round 1 "Torrens Clash", rivalry has always been strong with the two clubs and this game was one neither side wanted to drop.

East Torrens Div 5 this year is a completely new outfit, new coach at the helm Robbo and his band of merry men, brought a wealth of experience and power into our side which last year failed to win more than 3 games and struggled both on the mound and with the bats.

One of my best mates Jarrad is one of the players from last years squad, both he and I agree we both need some work and we've struggled in the past couple of seasons (where coaching individuals for improvement hasn't been the focus). But both Jarrad and I agree the new coach and squad coming down has been a breath of fresh air.

This has been noticable throughout training and before warm-up's on Saturday, Matt our new catcher (and Robbo's right hand man) is everything about winning, but, he wants the team to win, not individual glory. He speaks to us all with respect and helps every batter out as much as possible to better their game.

So, Saturdays game a number of us had pre-game nerves, myself included. I spent all morning working through my bevy of songs to help calm down and not get worked up too early, songs including Layla (Eric Clapton), Bella's Lullaby (Twilight), The Back of My Head (Short Stack), Paparazzi (Lady Gaga) etc.

Yes the list above includes a song from Twilight and Lady Gaga, I am definately not a Lady Gaga fan but just like this one song... Twilight, well, have to admit I do enjoy watching the saga but that song and its melody I really love listening too.

The above worked for a while but the nerves kept coming, normally I'm not nervous before a game, Game 1, under a new coach, new team, this was a different scenario. So a swift change to "Fire Up" music was in order, special thank you to Linkin Park, Blink 182 & Good Charlotte for helping me out there.

I have everything to prove to the new guys, I cemented my spot at 3rd base last year (but thats easy when your the coach haha..). I had a great year last year and wanted to return so I had to prove myself worthy of staying in the infield. I also won the batting trophy last year so I wanted to show why and that I wanted to be a threat with the bat again this year.

My first at bat came before the first chance at fielding, felt ok out there but my timing was out... I found I was swinging late. Finally on the fifth pitch I claimed the ball with my bat, unfortunately I deflected it straight into my left foot, just below the shin... The ball kicked out to short stop and I hobbled to 1st base..

With that painful experience came the embarrassment side, my first fielding error. With a Double Play looming the ball was hit to me at 3rd and a late unexpected bounce left the ball hitting the top of my mitt and fumbling onto the ground, once I finally retrieved the ball it was too late to get any runners out.

Now with my head down and cursing myself came the new players in our team, never have I received so much encouragement after a bad play - Wazza at first, Hung at SS, Matt at catcher, all yelling out.

This lifted me quite well, spent some of the game still a bit jumpy but gathered my nerves to start fielding well and getting the runner out at first without overthrowing or misfielding the ball.

Both teams went tit for tat over the next 5 Innings, I enjoyed two hits from my next two at bats and also helped bring some runners home (We won't talk about me getting thrown out at home whilst attempting to slide - or as my son says, fall over the plate...)

In the 5th inning we were tied at 5 all with 1 out and my nerves came back to haunt me, I gathered the ball, an easy play to attempt to throw the runner out at first, routine play... Not sure why but my throw didn't have as much in it as required and it bounced to first base only just getting the runner out. Again my head down not happy - but like an alarm went off in the other fielders heads, the encouragement began to flow like crazy.

Last batter of the inning came to the plate and after watching a few balls he hit a grounder to me at 3rd, unfortunately this was one I couldn't wait for so I plunged forward. Gathering the ball whilst on my knees I looked up, rocketed a ball to first and just claimed the runner in time. This one play renewed my huge passion for baseball as it was one of those plays you hear in the big leagues the announcer screaming out in joy as the player dives for the ball then throws to first from his knees... Something i've always wanted to do.

Fired up we went into the last inning with confidence we could win this and just like that our boys brought home two runs and we went into the bottom of the inning 7-5 up.

Sadly West Torrens had their big hitters up next and they managed to tie up the game 7-7, luckily for us their last batter skyed the ball to me at 3rd and I was able to take the final out with a routine catch.

I thoroughally enjoyed the game, Robbo pitched all the way through and really controlled the plate well - never looked like tiring either. Matt controlled the plate like a real captain of the team, Hung the new boy was kept busy at short stop (I like to yell out Hit it Well Hung when he's batting hahaha) and Left & Centre fielders Jonesy & Ralph were kept busy too.

All our players hit very well and I think majority of us were able to grab a couple of hits on the day, sadly, like Matt spoke of at the end, 7 runs is great but leaving 10 runners stranded on base is something we need to work on. Looking back at the game our team played very well considering we only trained 3 or 4 times prior to Round 1.. This is also the first time our team has played together as one.

I was sore the next few days but Saturdays Round 1 game really ignited the fire inside of me to push to be the best for this team. I want to train hard and learn from the guys like Matt and Robbo as I feel they can really teach Jarrad and myself alot about our batting and the game.

One thing was also apparent to Jarrad and I, the need to also drop some kg's, so we now have a goal - 10kg's to be dropped, hopefully before Xmas. 10kg's off will help us compete more, run harder and be fitter for the team and family life.

This week we play our first home game of the season against Woodville @ 3pm. If this Woodville team is anything like we played two years ago then we will have our work cut out for us. But this team has the confidence that we can do it so I think this will be a very good game to watch - if your past Pattersons Reserve (Payneham) on Saturday then check it out, canteen will be open with some awesome hot food and drinks available!