To understand today is to understand this phase of the tournament.
After the first Round Robin game against each team in the first seven days, Victoria (Blue) were first, we were placed second, QLD third, South Australia fourth. In the semis, the top four teams then play each other. We of course played QLD yesterday and lost (0-2) and today we won 15-4 v South Australia. QLD were beaten soundly by Victoria Blue today - the favourites.
These results leave us with the final order after the semi final phase now pretty much decided: VIC BLUE, QLD, NSW, SA. This is despite one game remaining tomorrow against Victoria (Blue) tomorrow. Team four has to play two games in one day on Tuesday. This was to be avoided at all costs. Our win today did this.
The importance of today was - and now is - that Team One (Victoria Blue) will play Team Four (SA) for a place in the final. We will play QLD for a place in the final. We are now definites for this.
However, what happened today is that the top line pitchers all pitched yesterday - and today was a test of depth. Tomorrow will be a greater test of depth even still. The strongest squads stand tall at this end of the tournament. Upsets can occur.
The sun was burning bright today at about 25 degrees and summer returned. With it a certain familiarity at the batter's box returned too.
In today's win, Brad Simon (a younger 14 year old boy - but you'd hate to feed him at 90+ kilos and at 6 ft 2 inches) pitched fabulously getting us through five innings, but pitched nearly 65 pitches, putting him out until the final.
The more you pitch, the more arm protection is required through rest. James rested most of this game today - as he did yesterday. Being younger, they are more protective than ever.
We were a little slow to get set today, but when James Philibossian hit his third home run for the tournament, the team was ignited. The custom is for the team to line the home base area to congratulate the home run hitting player. This energy and excitement set a new standard in today's showdown, inspiring the boys. Leadership indeed.
Dyer, Frew, Myrmell, Mayo and Barbaro all troubled the scorers with good hits today. Smiles returned.
However it was the welcome return to form for Cameron Power that was most popular. His striking of the ball has only ever been crisp and powerful, but his frustration with lofted skied balls was starting to bite. He stayed strong and determined, hitting (3/4) and making his mark on the game. Ironically they were not all out of the middle (only the one caught in deep right field really), but to see him stealing bases and enjoying himself once more, brought the team to life as well. A stolen base for someone of Cameron's size is bigger than an oil spill bill.
At one point they produced the worst pitcher of the tournament who did not get an out, walked four batters, gave up seven runs...he was replaced by a far more accomplished thrower who then struck James out after he was pitchforked into the line up in the seventh innings when the game was done and dusted. They were about the only three straight pitches in half an hour of the game.
He has had this pattern throughout and has not managed to produce with the unprepared, unexpected call up. It is not a huge concern, but has taught James about the whim of coaches and the chances that must be taken to assert yourself in tournament baseball.
Tomorrow our attention turns to Victoria Blue. James is likely to pitch in a game that counts for little more than fact finding and strategy to out fox and out manouvre them before a possible final showdown.
Their bats are red hot, belting pitchers all over the place. A test for any pitcher.
(By the way, a really good looking girl keeps following me everywhere I go. I have included a picture of her with some kid).
No comments:
Post a Comment