Game 1 v South Australia - Saturday 8/1/11

Under warm and blue skies, the campaign began in earnest at the delightful South Perth Baseball Park. Think Corbin, but do not think any more. A 2.30pm kickoff was a strong test early after mild Sydney weather. The boys looked sharp right across the game - a three hour epic. However key errors at bad times cost us - and wayward pitching.

In the end it was a victory for NSW 17-16. A staggering scoreline really in the circumstances after an 8-1 lead after three innings. Games are of seven innings duration.

The crowd from the neighbouring game (two games played in concert back to back) gathered quietly and solidly and created a superb atmosphere which only improved across the duration of the game.

For those who are interested, the starting lineup was Barbaro (Catcher -5), Myrmell (Pitcher - 6), Simon (First Base - 4), Tomiaya (2nd - 1), Lindsay (SS - 2), Frew (3rd - 3), Bohan (LF - 8), Percival (CF - 9) and McCallum (RF - 7). (Fielding position and batting position in brackets)

However across the game we went from Myrmell pitching to Morris (Manly) to Stevenson (Manly) to Hore (Macarthur) and finished with Wooten (Greater West). Wooten threw hard and straight and aimed up after a strong start from Myrmell. More pitchers were burned than Joan of Arc's family and Marysville properties in Victoria.

In between we got snapped. Errors in the infield and the most phenomenal run of outfield gap hitting known to man from South Australia elevated the blood pressure.

At the batting box, Bohan set an early pace scything one up centre left for a scoring double. James was on base at this stage after his first but worst hit of the day - just over 2nd base's head - and the pair of Hills boys were the first runs scored. James is pictured here sliding home and getting us on the scoreboard:



James was strong running between the bases and happily started better than Cal Ripken - and finished better.

At the crease, Lindsay, Frew (who had been vomiting all night to be fair), Barbaro, Myrmell and Simon were not in glistening form early. Walks and stray hits rather than the cracking pace they had the potential to produce.

In the middle James hit four out of five (one sac fly) and Macca had two hits and two walks. The hero, as you will see below, was James Percival who like Storm Boy all those years ago produced everything you'd expect from Mr Percival. He cleared centrefield and hit thoughtfully. No pelican this boy.



Across the hot afternoon, positions 7 (McCallum), 8 (Bohan) and 9 (Percival) secured big plays for the squad when it mattered.

South Australia became lethal as the game progressed. Most of them were the Australian Little League Champions. One boy was in Cal Ripken for Australia too. As the pressure mounted they jumped to a 15-10 lead in the fifth, before securing a 16-15 scoreline with our last at bat to follow.

Bohan showed class and brains in beating our a walk under extreme pressure two down and at 0-2 still chasing a tieing and then winning run. His judgement was precise and his nerves ice-like.

And then Mr James Percival strode to the crease. His high pressure hit into centrefield left alley brought home the winning run for a tense and in the end well deserved victory. The boys erupted and the crowd of some five hundred broke into spontaneous applause. The three and a bit hour game ended in joy for us.



However, the victory came at a cost with Brad Simon clipping a pitch onto his eye whilst batting and requiring x-rays tonight. This would be a disaster for the squad, but time will tell. We'll need his pitching. His eye looked like a bad fighter on The Contender with a bee sting on top.

The boys therefore won through and did it the hard way. The calmness of the Head Coach Tim Harradine was gold, but plans have been thrown into mild chaos with the pitching rotation.

James was strong and stamped his mark on the tournament early. Hopefully it will continue.