A THIRD inning onslaught helped Churchill Braves overcome Sale Rangers on the road in round three of Latrobe Valley Baseball at the weekend.
The A grade encounter was off to a fast start as the Braves scored twice in the first from singles to Matt Hardie and Floyd Haines, before the Rangers replied with five of their own from a two-run single by Andrew Pembery and a single from Anthony Clissold.
After a scoreless second inning the Braves bats fired in the third to pile on eight runs, led by a two-run double from Brad Jones.
Churchill added four more in the fourth and two in the fifth, while pitcher Tim Bellerby recovered from the first inning to hold the Rangers scoreless until he was relieved in the sixth inning.
Sale managed one run in the sixth but could not breach the void as the Braves won out 16-6.
Best for the Braves were Bellerby, Hardie and Jones and for the Rangers, Pembery, Keiran Donohue and Nicole Garner.
In B grade the Rangers scored twice in the first and once in the second before the Braves opened their account in style, piling on eight in the second and 11 in the third.
Bryce Haley did the job on the mound for the Braves with great relief from Dave Haines to keep the Rangers scoreless for the rest of the game.
The Braves ultimately ran out 21-3 victors.
Churchill’s top performers were Haley, Cameron Cooen and Ash McKay.
A Grade
Churchill d Sale 16-6, Traralgon d Morwell 16-5, Moe d South Gippsland 23-0
B Grade
Churchill d Sale 21-3, Traralgon d Morwell 14-3
C Grade
Churchill D Sale 14-5, Traralgon d Morwell 9-0
U16
Traralgon drew Moe 8-8, Sale d Churchill 14-6
U13
Sale d Churchill 10-2, Traralgon d Moe 15-1
