A Grade Rangers vs Porepunkah Panthers
Sunny conditions greeted all clubs to Targoora park in Wangaratta on Sunday for round two of the North Eastern Baseball Association 2021 season. The weather was warm and the baseball was hot especially in the A grade match against Porepunkah Panthers. Ross Johnson got the start for Wangaratta and set about his work by having a quick first innings with the Panthers batters going down in order. Rian Banks started for Poerpunkah and he too made short work of the Rangers line up. This pattern continued until the bottom of the third inning when Wangaratta offense kicked into gear. Johnson collected the first of his four hits the day and Kamiyama drew a walk, Owen Godenzi with one swing of the bat gave the Rangers a three run lead with a home run over the left field fence. Cam Scott and Nathan Pool strung together back to back hits with Damien French getting on base via a walk. Kelsey Burder and Johnson were able to drive the runners in to give the Rangers a 6-0 lead after three innings. Johnson continued to keep the Panthers hitters quiet and Godenzi tacked on another run by hitting his second home run of the game with the Rangers now up 7-0. Porepunkah then worked themselves back into the game in the 5th inning. Nathan Pool came into pitch and after a rather interesting first out, Porepunkah were able to put a couple of men on base via a hit to centre field and a walk. D Boyce and Damon Barker were able to score for Porepunkah via an error to make the score line 7-2 Wangaratta. Panthers were slowly but surely clawing their way back into the game by adding another two runs in the 6th inning. However Rangers were not to be denied by adding another 4 runs in the 7th inning. Pool scored on a sacrifice fly from French while Rob Seymour was able to steal a base and score on Johnsons fourth hit for the day. Rangers added one more to win 11-4 for their first win of the season.
B Grade Rangers Orange vs Porepunkah Panthers
Rangers Orange welcomed Porepunkah in the early game on diamond one on Sunday. Both teams scored a run in the first, but it was in the second where Rangers Orange were able to score seven runs through a couple of errors and then Angus King able to drive in a run. Brad Murdoch continued to do a commendable job on the mound with the Rangers fielders doing their part too. Panthers hit back in the 4th inning, scoring five runs to find themselves one run behind at 8-7. However Rangers orange were not to be denied by adding another five runs. Panthers added one more in the last inning but it was all too late with Rangers Orange running out 13-8 victors. King and Dan wells each had two hits for the Rangers with Steve Peruzzo, Shaun Whiteman, Jason Jonker and Murdoch collecting a hit each.
B Grade Rangers Grey vs Benalla Bandits.
Rangers Grey welcomed Benalla Bandits to diamond three at Wangaratta. Brendon French started on the mound for Rangers Grey and kept Benalla to one run in the first innings. Rangers Grey were able to take back the lead in the first by adding four runs of their own. A double to Sean Warfe in the second inning helped add another three runs to the Ranger Grey total. The Bandits were able to string a few hits together to add a couple runs via an error to make the score 7-2. A double to Tony Smith and a a couple of walks to Chathura Chattz and Warfe who were then both able to score to make the end score 10-2 Rangers Grey way.
Junior Results
The opening games of the 2021 season lived up to all expectations. With all games being played at Targoora Park Wangaratta the place was a buzz on a perfect May day.
UNDER 15’s
The Wangaratta Rangers hosted Porepunkah with Tanner Godenzi and Ollie Chambers going head to head on the mound for their respective teams. Great fielding and pitching from both sides had the scores at 0-0 at the end of the first inning. The Panthers put a score on the board first when Alan Grasser, Chambers & Mason Anders scored on some great offensive hitting. The Rangers were quick to answer back as Seth Godenzi, Lucas Sexton, Campbell Hobbs, Jaxon Chilcott and Oscar Maiden all drew walks before scoring. The score was 5-3 going into the 3rd inning when Sexton took the mound for the Rangers. Lachlan Rosser drew a walk and was quick to steal second before he was doubled off by a quick thinking play my Mikayla Jonker at Short Stop. Grasser, Chambers and Skippen then drew walks and were driven in by a great hit from Ethan Edwards scoring 4 runs for the Panthers. The last roll of the dice for the Rangers saw Asha Hardman and Ryan Brockwell on base with some discipline in the batters box. Liam Quinton held his nerve on the mound for Porepunkah and they came through with a triple play to end the game and take the win 7-5. Both Chambers and Quinton picked up 2 strikeouts each.
Wangaratta Rangers Baseball Club 