Round 5 Wrap

A grade Wangaratta Rangers 21 Porepunkah 2.
Parker and Johnson shine as Rangers record solid win against Porepunkah Panthers

Rangers took to the road and beautiful conditions greeted them for this week’s encounter as the Rangers were welcomed to a very picturesque Porepunkah. Rangers opened the scoring in the first inning with Johnson collecting his first hit for the day. Porepunkah managed to limit the damage and then it was their tun to bat. Aaron Parker took the start for Wangaratta and began the opening inning in dominant fashion. Soon it was Rangers turn to bat once again. The Rangers hitters found their groove and put on 13 runs over the next two innings with Parker and Johnson adding to their hit tallies for the day. A change in pitching could not stem the run flow and after five completed innings Rangers held a comfortable lead. Parker continued on the mound and was the most dominant player on the ground having 18 first pitch strikes for the afternoon and 6 strikeouts. Panthers added a couple of runs in the 6th but the Rangers were the winners on the day with a scoreline of 21 to 2. Ross Johnson collected 5 hits for the day, with Parker and catcher Damien French each having 3 hits each. A big thank you to the supporters of Wangaratta who came and enjoyed the afternoon with us and to the scorers, umpires and volunteers of Porepunkah Panthers who without would not have a game of baseball each week.

B grade Wangaratta Rangers Grey 14 Porepunkah Panthers 11

Grey overcome a determined Panthers
Wonderful conditions greeted the two teams at Porepunkah on Sunday for the the matinee match. Coach Sean Warfe was missing this week but left the team in the trusted hands of Tony Smith and Brendon French to oversee a see-sawing affair with Rangers Grey ultimately coming out on top with a 14-11 victory over a tenacious Porepunkah side. Wangaratta took the lead early with Ian Dinsdale delivering his trademark slap strike to drive home the opening run of the game. Porepunkah responded with 2 runs of their own in the first two innings of Rangers starter Enrique Espinel to take a 4-2 lead into the third. Rangers upped the intensity in the 3rd by plating six runs to take the lead, but the Panthers responded with six runs of their own to snatch back the lead 10-8. The offense lead by Brendan Cameron and Chattz added another six runs in the 4th to wrestle back the lead 14-10. Panthers scored another run in their turn in the 4th, but some excellent reflexes from Chatzz on the mound to close the game out. Another win for the Grey who have started the 2021 season in very fine style.