2019/20 State League: Week 18 Wrap

Photo Credit: Little Milly Photography

Gosnells Hawks 7-2 Braves
W: Adam Millson (4-5), L: Cameron Lamb (1-4)
 
The Gosnells Hawks used a six-run second inning to take care of Braves 7-2 to open the Week 18 fixtures.
 
On the diamond, the Hawks came to play as Michael Robideau ripped a bases-loaded double to break the game out in the second inning, while Adam Courcha, Jamie White and Robin Adamson also drove in runs. 
 
Adam Millson claimed the win on the mound after tossing seven strong innings as Cameron Lamb took the loss.

Wembley Magpies 1-16 Morley Eagles
W: Riley Franklin (1-0), L: Brett Wishart (1-3)
 
In what kick-started an emphatic week of wins for Morley, the Eagles downed the Wembley Magpies 16-1 on Friday night.
 
A six-run second inning and seven-run fourth inning put the game beyond reach early on as Morley piled on 15 team hits in the win. 
 
Riley Franklin earned his first win of the season after tossing two innings in relief of Chris House.
 
Game 1: Morley Eagles 12-1 Rockingham Rams
W: Caiden Deal (4-1), L: Sam Murphy (4-5)
 
Game 2: Morley Eagles 15-8 Rockingham Rams
W: Brendan Sing (2-0), L: Benn Grice (3-2)
 
Morley then carried their perfect week into Sunday as they took both ends of their double header with the Rockingham Rams 12-1 and 15-8.
 
After cruising through game one behind Alex Hall’s home run and Troy Cruz and Caiden Deal’s strong pitching, the Eagles were made to work for it in game two as they scored seven runs in the top of the 11th inning to claim victory.
 
Tied at 5-5 after nine frames, both teams scored three runs in the tenth inning before Morley blew the game out with an impressive 11th inning effort.
 
Zach McMillan cleared the fence for the Eagles in game two, while Brendan Sing claimed the win. 
 
Gosnells Hawks 0-6 Braves
 
In a game which was about more than baseball, Gosnells and Braves celebrated the life of Ben Shorto as they battled it out for the Ben Shorto Memorial Day Trophy.
 
Sam Kennelly was the star of the show, collecting MVP honours after launching two home runs as the Braves shutout the Hawks.
 
Baseball WA would like to thank everyone who attended the fixture and showed their support for Lymphoma Australia.
 
Perth 1-5 South Perth Cubs
W: Luke Mann (6-1), L: Darcy Heppleston (1-3)
 
The South Perth Cubs scored two runs in each of the first two innings to set up a strong 5-1 win over Perth on Sunday.
 
Max Wheeler got the scoring started for the Cubs with a first-inning RBI double before Jake Bowey joined the party with an RBI of his own.
 
Wheeler finished the day with two RBIs to lead South Perth as Josh Hendrickson made his final start on the mound before joining the Philadelphia Phillies for Spring Training.
 
Luke Mann claimed the win after tossing seven strong frames.
 
Brendan Dadson homered for Perth’s sole run in the fourth inning, while Darcy Heppleston worked eight frames in the loss. 
 
Wembley Magpies 3-6 Swan Districts Swans
W: Adam Ciabella (1-0), L: Curtis Bacon (1-3)
 
The Swan Districts Swans held off a fast-finishing Wembley Magpies to escape from their Sunday fixture with a tight 6-3 win.
 
Leading 6-1 heading into the top of the ninth frame, the Magpies tagged on a pair of runs to make it a nervy finish for Swans.
 
Maddux Stivey led from the front for Swans with a two-run double in the first inning, while Ciallella earned the win from the pitcher’s mound.
 
Carine Cats 6-7 Victoria Park/Belmont Reds
W: Corey Brown (1-4), L: Devon Ramirez (2-4)
 
Jack Smalpage drove in the winning run as the Victoria Park/Belmont Reds topped the Carine Cats 7-6 in extra innings to round out the Week 18 fixtures.
 
Tied at 5-5 after the full nine innings, Smalpage was the hero in extras to lift the Reds to a dramatic win.
 
Playing under International Tie Breaker rules, each team started with runners on first and second base to start the tenth inning, with Smalpage’s knock proving to be the difference between the teams.
 
Corey Brown claimed the win out of the bullpen for Victoria Park, while Devon Ramirez was tagged with the loss for Carine. 
 
Ramirez earlier homered in the batter’s box before giving up the decisive run.