Welcome to this weeks edition of Rounding Third, your little insight into the happenings of the people who play baseball for Wangaratta Rangers Baseball Club. The boys and girls in Ranger land have had a great weekend. With a few people away this week the club called on some past players to help out.

Up the Hume Highway in Albury, the Rangers Orange boys and girls got the job done over Bears Gold, 14 to 6. Down at Benalla, the Rangers Black “replacements” squad defeated Benalla Bandits, 13 to 1. Some great pitching and defensive plays by Wangaratta kept the score from being closer. More about that later. Let’s get in to it.

    With almost half the playing list not available for the weekend, the brains trust of the club had to come up with a plan to keep two teams out on the park playing baseball. Cam “The Soak” Scott hatched a plan a month ago to get Mick, “Big Cod” Brownlie and Ross, “Strawberry” Wilson to play. Another to put the uniform back on was Matty, “Colonel” Sanders. Colonel looked the part with his nice bright white boots. Colonel’s play lit up the field with great defensive plays at short stop. His best, a diving catch which he did not need to dive for. Nathan, “Rubberarm” Pool was impressed. Strawberry looked cool and calm in the field and it had been a few years since he played third base. His first throw went straight into the ground just in front of him. He did not need to throw after that anyway. Big Cod Brownlie and his laconic lefty swing hit the ball hard with little luck. Big thanks to Ross, Mick and Matty for helping the club out today. Hope to see you guys for another game during the year.

    With Aaron “Azza” Parker and Tetsu “Ramsay” Kamiyama playing in the Rangers Orange squad for the day, Manager Nathan, “Rubberarm” Pool had to get inventive. After throwing six innings last week, Pool was still a bit ginger. He managed to throw the first two innings and then went to Travis,”Iceman” Frost, who locked down the Benalla bats with his array on fastballs and loopy stuff. Frost did Pool sterling service, and backed up by some great defensive plays stretched out over three innings of work. A change was made behind the plate with Sean, “Doc” Warfe putting on the gear for the first time in a long time. Who was to throw? Pool went to resident first baseman Cam, “The Soak” Scott. Scott had not been on the hill since University Games days. He managed to get hit hard by the Benalla bats but gave up zero runs in two innings of throwing hard tailing fastballs. He even manged to throw a ball where Warfe wanted it! Scott will be glad when the others are back in the lineup as he thinks his pitching days are done. Watch this space. (For those who don’t know how Cam Scott throws. He does not throw hard. He throws batting practice beach ball sized pitches that EVERYONE can hit)

    Mick, “The Skipper” Wyatt has been away the past few weeks, but he has been keeping a keen eye on what has been going on down at the Ranch. Last Wednesday evening Wyatt was running around at training like the spring chicken he is. While the rest of the boys were still nursing soreness from a tough game on the previous Sunday. The skipper got his chance to play on Sunday in Albury, where he led the Orange boys to a resounding 14-6 victory over the Bears Gold team. Where will his allegiance lie next week when Rangers vs Rangers comes around once again? One thing this scribe knows is that he will love playing regardless of which team he is in.

    As the heading suggests, this is how well the boys are going on the punt at this current moment. Over the weekend once again the boys were close with little return. Let’s hope someone can jag a winner for the collective ‘mug.’

    This week at training, “The Pres” Tony Smith will be dishing up his delicious and delectable spag bol. The Rangers faithful need to vote with their feet and get down to the Ranch on Wednesday night for a hit a throw and a great feed for $10. If not just come down for the feed. Let Spin know on the Rangers Facebook page if you can make it down. Word is lefty Jack Bradburn is making a return this week!

    A large day of baseball coming up on Sunday 29th of May. In the early game, Rangers Orange play host to Rangers Black. In the late game the Rangers back up and play against Bears Gold. Remember to make sure you put your unavailability online at team app and let our wonderful managers know if you are available. The more the merrier, let’s make it a big and successful day down at Targoora Park.

    The misdemeanors are racking up and the tin is no where to be seen. Remember to pay your dues to “Griff and the tin where you put your hard earned dollars in!”

That’s about it for this week. Keep spreading the good word about baseball and Wangaratta!

Till next time

Go Rangers!!!