FALCONS proved too good for Dodgers after a quick start in round two of the Bendigo Baseball Association, winning by one run on Sunday.
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Falcons won a tight encounter 6-5.
Dodgers sent ex-Falcon Nathan Larson to the mound and he faulted against his former team, giving up seven walks and five runs in the first innings.
A further run to Falcons in the second saw Josh Cruse replace Larson, who managed to stem the flow of runs.
After falling so far behind, Dodgers were slow to produce any significant offense as Falcons’ starter Nathan Healey kept their hitters off balance and his defence provided him with plenty of support.
With Cruse on the mound for Dodgers, the momentum of the game started to shift and Falcons were unable to pierce Dodgers’ defence and failed to score again.
In the game-winning play for Falcons in the fifth innings, Zac Cruse led off the innings for Dodgers with a hit, before Healey struck out the next batter.
Neil Shaw then hit the ball up the middle, but Falcons’ short-stop Brad Muns made enormous ground, feeding the ball to second baseman Jake Connaughton, who threw short to first baseman Jason Harriage, making a brilliant pick-up to end the innings.
In the next innings Dodgers rallied to score three and then after blanking Falcons, came to bat in the last needing two runs to tie the game.
After giving up a walk and a hit, Healey was relieved by Michael Peters.
A further two hits in the innings by Nathan Larson and Sam Longford bought Dodgers within a run with bases loaded.
With two out and the game on the line, Michael Peters proved again why he’s one of the premier players in the league by striking out the hitter in a pressure situation with an almost perfect pitch as Falcons hung on for the win.
• Scots won their first game of the season in convincing fashion.
Scots comfortably accounted for East 13-1 in a one-sided encounter.
Scots out-hit their opponents while also playing solid defence.
However, it was Aaron Petri who was outstanding on the hill pitching.
In a dominant display, Petri pitched a complete game, striking out six, while not conceding a walk.
In a great performance all-round from Scots, Berin Marchesani, Ash Wilkie, Aaron Petri and Lachlan Jack all hit doubles.
Jack also displayed some timely batting to score a number of runs, as did John Petri.
• Other round two results:
B GRADE:
Falcons 27 d Dodgers 2.
East 10 d Scots 9.
C GRADE:
Falcons 14 d Dodgers 8.
Scots 10 d East 8.
UNDER-13:
Falcons Pirates 16 d Falcons Giants 1.
T-BALL:
Dodgers 31 dr Falcons 31.