THE North East Baseball Association held their semi-finals in the A grade, B grade and C grade competitions, with the under 15s and under 12s playing their Grand Finals, all at Targoora Park in Wangaratta on Sunday.
The under 15s decider saw Wangaratta Rangers play Wodonga Warriors in the first game of the day.
Josh Wells was Rangers’ pitcher, and had just thrown 14 pitches when Warriors lost their third out.
Rangers first batter got on base from a walk but was left there when their next three batters were struck-out.
Wells continued his good pitching in the second dig, striking out the next three batters that faced him and Rangers back in to bat.
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Their first batter got on first then a safe hit by Darby Sanders to centre field saw them with two on base when they lost their next batter.
Next batter, Lucas Hoare hit to centre field to bring in the two runners but was left out there when they lost their next batter.
Rangers held a two-run lead at the top of the third - Josh Wells continued his very good pitching, well backed up by his catcher, Makayla Pool who let nothing past.
It became a pitcher/catcher game with Warriors not getting a safe hit all game and although Rangers had two safe hits in the second innings, they were the only safe hits for the game.
Rangers won 2-0 in what was a very tight game.
Wangaratta Rangers played Wodonga Warriors in the C grade final.
Rangers were first to bat and after their first batter was put out at first base, their next two batters both hit fly ball catches back to the Warriors pitcher.
Warriors lost their first batter and had one on base when they lost their second.
With some good safe hits and with the help of a couple of fielding errors by Rangers, Warriors brought in two runs, but left bases loaded when they lost their third out.
In the second innings Rangers scored two runs from their turn at bat, then three of the four runs Warriors got in their second turn at bat were from fielding errors by Rangers.
Warriors held six runs to two lead at the top of the third inning.
Rangers got their first three batters on base in their third turn at bat and had scored them before they lost their third out.
In a game full of errors, Warriors had nine safe hits, scored seven earned runs and five unearned to Rangers three safe hits, scored two earned runs and three unearned to win 14-5.
Warriors play Porepunkah Panthers in the grand final on Sunday.
Rangers Orange played Warriors in the B grade final.
Steve Peruzzo was stuck on third base with two out and scores level - Peruzzo, not known for his running speed, stole home on a wild pitch to put them one run up before the third batter was out.
With Warriors yet to bat, Warriors had runners on second and third bases and had lost two batters when their fifth batter hit a big high ball in the air just behind first base.
Mick Wyatt was Rangers first base player and had to wait a long time for it to come down.
Both Warriors runners had crossed the home plate before the ball landed in Wyatt’s glove for the third out.
Wangaratta Rangers Orange had won the game by one run, 5-4, and booked a place in the grand final against Porepunkah Panthers.
In the A grade game, Rangers Black played Albury Gold.
The last three times these two sides met, the Bears got the jump on Rangers when Rangers players made fundamental errors in their fielding.
Batting first this time, they got one runner on base out of the four that faced the Bears pitcher.
Bears went one better in their turn at bat but still no runs, in fact it was not until the top of the fourth innings that Rangers Black got their first two batters on and, with the help of a couple of fielding errors from Bears, were able to bring them home but left bases loaded when they lost their third out.
Ben Campbell was pitching well for Rangers, the first and the third batter to face him in this innings were both struck out and their next runner was put out on a fielder’s choice.
Rangers held a 5-0 lead going into the fifth innings, and got their first two batters on base then errors came back into Bears fielding, giving Rangers three unearned runs for the dig before they lost their third out.
Bears’ never-say-die attitude saw them get their first two batters on base, they lost their next two, caught out on fly ball catchers but their fifth batter and the two on base were left out there when they lost their third out.
Wangaratta Rangers Black scored another three runs (all earnt from outfield hits) then finished the game getting Bears out without adding to their score.
Rangers Black defeated Albury Bears Gold 8-2 and will play the other Albury Bears team in this Sunday’s grand final at Gayview Park, Wodonga.
C grade - Wodonga Warriors vs Porepunkah Panthers, 10am.
B grade - Porepunkah Panthers vs Wangaratta Rangers Orange, 12pm.
A grade - Albury Bears Green vs Wangaratta Rangers Black, 2.30pm.
