BASEBALL
The Churchill Braves travelled to Newborough in search of a first win over the reigning premier this season in round 13 of the GDF SUEZ Loy Yang B Latrobe Valley Baseball A Grade competition.
The Braves jumped out of the box with a run in the first from a single off Jack Wills, scoring Mat Prior, then added four in the second to throw down a challenge to the Dodgers.
Braves pitcher Matt Hardie held the Dodgers batters scoreless for five innings, aided by great defence from his field with three double plays to finish innings. Hardie worked tirelessly for the entire nine innings and faced his biggest threat in the sixth when the Dodgers scored three runs and had bases loaded when the third out was completed.
The Braves held on to take the win 6-3 with Hardie, Grant Irving and Wills all sublime.
In the other A grade fixture the Sale Rangers faced a rampaging Traralgon Redsox, who went on a hitting spree with Brett Sharp going four from four at the plate.
The Redsox scored four in the fourth and a whopping 10 in the fifth to stamp their authority on the game.
Traralgon pitcher Brad Adams baffled the Ranger batters with six strike outs and was relieved well to allow the Rangers just one run for the game.
Best for the Redsox in their resounding 20-1 victory were Adams, Sharp and Brad Pratt.
A Grade Churchill Braves d Moe Newborough Dodgers 6-3, Traralgon Redsox d Sale Rangers 20-1
B Grade Traralgon Redsox d Sale Rangers 21-5, Morwell Cougars d Moe Newborough Dodgers 6-2.
C Grade Morwell Cougars d Moe Newborough Dodgers 9-0, Traralgon Redsox def Sale Rangers 19 -5.
_____________________________________________________________________________
THE Latrobe Valley under 16 representative side travelled to Mildura on 5 July for the Winter State Championships, bolstered by four players from other associations.
A close win over the Diamond Valley qualified the Latrobe Valley for a spot in the third place playoff.
After four thrilling games over two days, the side went down in another nail-biter to come away in fourth place.
