BASEBALL
LVBA
By RENAE GILLET
IN a dramatic conclusion to the senior Latrobe Valley Baseball Association season, the Traralgon Redsox emerged victorious to take the premierships in all three senior grades.
The Redsox A Grade won a nail-biting showdown against Sale Rangers 8 to 7.
All games were played under perfect skies at Sale’s Stephenson Park on Sunday.
The Redsox jumped out early, with Jordan Gilmore driving in the game’s first run in the opening frame. By the fourth, Traralgon had built a commanding five-run lead, but Sale wasn’t going quietly.
The Rangers mounted a fierce comeback, capitalising on a walk, a double, a single, and a fielder’s choice to close the gap.
Sale surged ahead in the bottom of the fifth, with Sammy Garcia’s grounder leading to two runs scoring on a fielder’s choice, giving the Rangers a 7–6 edge. But the Redsox responded swiftly in the sixth. Luke Hornstra doubled to centre, and a costly error by Sale allowed two runs to cross the plate, flipping the scoreboard in Traralgon’s favour.
Hornstra was a force on both sides of the ball. On the mound, he went the distance, scattering 11 hits and allowing seven runs (five earned) over nine innings, while striking out two. At the plate, he was unstoppable – going 4-for-5 with three RBIs.
Traralgon’s offence was relentless, racking up 12 hits. Gilmore and Andrew Matthews each notched multiple hits, while Jarvis Johansen and Gilmore wreaked havoc on the basepaths with multiple steals. The Redsox swiped six bags in total and turned three double plays to stifle Sale’s momentum.
Sale’s lineup produced 11 hits, with Tim Hector leading the charge from the nine spot, driving in two runs and going 1-for-2. Brad Taylor and Shotaro Morimoto each added two hits, and the Rangers turned two double plays of their own.
The win marks a gritty performance from Traralgon, who showed resilience and poise under pressure. With contributions across the line-up and a standout day from Hornstra, the Redsox proved they can win the close ones when it counts.
THE B Grade Grand Final delivered edge-of-your-seat action, culminating in a walk-off single by John Kus in the bottom of the seventh to seal a 7–6 win for Traralgon against Churchill.
Despite being out-hit 12 to 7, the Redsox capitalised on key moments and Churchill errors to snatch victory.
Churchill Braves opened the scoring with a solo shot to left field by Danny Cannizzaro, who led the offense with three hits. Brad Jones added two RBIs and went 2-for-3, including a clutch single in the seventh to tie the game at six.
Jack Thomas took the mound for Churchill, allowing four hits and four runs (three earned) over five innings. On the other side, Kus pitched a complete game for Traralgon, giving up 12 hits and six runs while striking out three.
Alex McCormick was instrumental for the Redsox, driving in three runs and going 2-for-4. Alongside Brian Spiteri and Matt Robertson, Traralgon ran rampant on the base paths, swiping six bases and turning a key double play to keep Churchill at bay.
IN the C Grade decider, Traralgon Redsox unleashed a relentless offensive barrage to overpower Churchill Braves Green 15–4.
The Redsox scored in every inning from the third onward, capitalising on errors and timely hitting.
Churchill Braves Green briefly held the lead in the second after a Liam Duncan RBI single and a Redsox error. But Traralgon responded with five-run innings in both the fourth and fifth, highlighted by a two-run double from Michael Bentley and a triple from Brett Sharp.
Daniel McKinnon started for Churchill, allowing 15 runs (seven earned) over five innings. Lee Donoghue was steady for Traralgon, giving up just four runs (two earned) and striking out two.
Bentley and Andrew McConville each drove in three runs, while Patrick Brooks added two hits and two stolen bases. Churchill’s Liam Duncan and Jake Bone fought hard, each collecting two hits and multiple stolen bases, but the Redsox’s 12-hit performance proved too much.
With all three Redsox squads lifting silverware, Traralgon Baseball Club capped off a stellar season with a triple Grand Final triumph.
