BASEBALL

LVBA

By RENAE GILLETT

 

LATROBE Valley Baseball Association semi-finals produced a mix of dominant pitching, clutch hitting, and late game momentum swings on Sunday.

Moe/Newborough Dodgers and Churchill Braves each claimed key victories across senior grades.

From a complete game shutout in A Grade to a gritty comeback in B Grade and a homerun heavy contest in C Grade, the junior and senior talent on display set the stage for an exciting grand final weekend.

In A Grade, Moe/Newborough Dodgers booked a grand final berth in emphatic fashion, powering past Churchill Braves 10–0.

This was due in no small part to a masterclass from Nathan Simpson.

The Dodgers’ ace was untouchable, throwing a complete game shutout while scattering just two hits and allowing no runs.Moe/Newborough struck early in the first, capitalising on a fielder’s choice and a defensive miscue that brought home three runs. They extended the lead in the third with RBI knocks from Nathan Robinson, Tim Wilson, and Anu Anubhav.

Churchill starter Jarrod Thomas battled through six innings, allowing 10 hits and seven runs – only three earned – while keeping his side in the contest defensively with two double plays.

The Dodgers’ offence was relentless, piling up 14 hits.

Benn Zomer and Jason Smith led the charge with three hits each, while Simpson and Robinson drove in two runs apiece.

Dale Simpson added two hits as Moe/Newborough turned two double plays to back their pitcher’s dominant outing.

Churchill’s Tim Bellerby and Thomas recorded the only hits for the Braves, who also turned two double plays but couldn’t slow the Dodgers’ momentum.

THE Braves had a better time of it in B Grade, clawing into the grand final with a composed 5-3 victory over Traralgon Redsox.

Churchill used a pair of fifth inning RBI groundouts to break a 3–3 deadlock.

Traralgon opened the scoring in the first through John Kus, but Churchill responded immediately.

Jack Thomas delivered a two RBI single, and a fielder’s choice added another to give the Braves a 3-1 lead.

The Redsox tied the game in the fifth when Theo Rutgers singled to left, but Churchill answered in the bottom half.

Dylan Eldridge grounded into a fielder’s choice to plate the go-ahead run, and Luis Mayo followed with a run scoring groundout to make it 5-3.

Thomas was strong on the mound for Churchill, tossing six innings with five strikeouts. Kus went the distance for Traralgon, allowing 11 hits and five runs while keeping his team in the fight.

Mat Prior closed the door for the Braves with a clean seventh inning. Prior also starred at the plate, going three-for-four to lead Churchill’s 11-hit performance.

Thomas added two RBIs from the cleanup spot. Traralgon spread its offence evenly, with seven different players recording hits and three driving in runs.

 

A POWER HITTING showcase from Nick Luke propelled Moe/Newborough Dodgers to a 10-5 semi-final win over Churchill Braves Gold in C Grade.

Luke was unstoppable, blasting two home runs – including a sixth inning grand slam – and driving in nine of his team’s 10 runs.

Churchill struck first through a solo home run from Hunter Duncan after a gritty seven pitch at bat. But Luke answered immediately with a two run shot to centre in the bottom of the inning.

The Dodgers added another run in the third via a Reid Barnes groundout, before Luke delivered the knockout blow in the sixth, launching a grand slam to left after a six pitch battle.

Connor McKenzie added a solo homer for Churchill in the eighth, but the deficit was too large to overcome.

Matt Luke was excellent on the mound for Moe/Newborough, throwing eight innings with eight strikeouts and no walks.

McKenzie pitched four innings for Churchill, striking out seven. Both sides tallied 10 hits.

For Moe/Newborough, Allan Beames and Paul Luke collected multiple hits, while Beames, Ryan Glass and Eliza Romano each drew two walks as part of the Dodgers’ seven walk performance.

The team also stole six bases.

Churchill’s Duncan, Alan Butcher and McKenzie each recorded two hits, with Duncan driving in two runs from the leadoff spot.

Moe/Newborough Dodgers Baseball Club will host the 2026 senior baseball finals.

A Grade: Sale vs Moe/Newborough (2pm)

B Grade: Sale vs Churchill (11.15am)

C Grade: Moe/Newborough vs Churchill Green (8.30am)