Welcome to this weeks edition of Rounding Third. The winter championships have been run and won down in Geelong. From all accounts it was a very successful weekend with the North Eastern Baseball Association taking out the Division 2 title for the first time since 2006. Congratulations goes out to the twelve men who put their hand up to play over the three day event. A big mention also to all the supporters of the team who made it down to watch, help out and keep me, Line Drive, informed of what was happening on and off the diamond. He was very impressed with what he saw and made sure that it was shared as much as possible.

  This week, a sunny Sunday welcomed all players at Benalla. Rangers Black were too good for Benalla, while Rangers Orange put up a good fight against Porepunkah. However were not quite good enough to get the chocolates, going down 11-6. Both games were played hard and fair by all. Some rather amusing moments were witnessed by the traveling Rangers faithful and plenty were happy to have their say about it all too. What else is news?

     Bryan Wilson is certainly having a season out. After taking on many of the pitchers of the North East and dispatching them to all parts of the outfield, he took his hot form down to Geelong and continued on his smashing way. Scribe at the ground Jamie “The Guvnnor” Samuels let Line Drive know that nearly everything Moose hit was hit hard. In the first game versus City, Moose hit a shot over left field to get North East to all square at 4 all. However he left his best for the last game in division 2 final vs Latrobe Valley. Moose’s second long ball of the tournament carried North East to their first title in 11 years. For his heroics he was awarded the final Most Valuable Player award. Congrats to Moose and to all who played over the Queens Birthday long weekend in Geelong.

     One thing those who play for Rangers have struggled with from time to time is how to run bases. You would think many who have played plenty of baseball would have this part of the game down pat. Let’s just say no. In the Benalla vs Rangers Black game meandering along quite nicely for the Rangers Black, Sean “Flashback” O’Neil, thought he would change all that. O’Neil had reached base  where Nathan “FOMO” Pool hit a routine fly ball to the outfield which was caught. For some reason O’Neil decided not to head back to first but took off for second. Ball was thrown to first and the innings was ended. Pool was not impressed as it cost him gold coins for the fines tin. He made sure he told O’Neil all about it as they walked out on the diamond. But then it just got stranger.

     As the next inning began Pool was still roasting O’Neil about the previous play. Even centre fielder Scott “highsocksunday” Jenkins gave his two cents worth about flashbacks problems. Pool throws the ball and O’Neil makes his second error of the day. The boys continued to laugh at his misfortune. A hit or two and another error at second by O’neil had put Bandit runners on. How wold you get out of a jam like this? Maybe a couple of catches and a strike out? A double play and another out. First baseman Cam “The Soak” Scott had called to O’Neil that the ball was coming his way. He was hoping it wouldn’t. Pool was ready to have another crack at him but went back on the mound and threw one of hid wobblers. The Benalla hitter looked with glee at a ball he though he could handle. He swung hard and hit it straight to Scott at first base, who duly took the catch, turned stepped on first for the second out and threw the ball to second, where Tetsu “Ironchef” Kamiyama took it with glee for the very rare TRIPLE PLAY!. All walked off having a laugh with O’Neil looking very relieved, noting “If I hadn’t made those errors we could not have done that!” Nice to see the glass is half full Shaun.

     After the early game on the weekend a few of the boys lost a two dollar coin. Rob “Butts” Seymour remarked to another if you throw a two dollar coin down watch them clamber for it. Cam Scott liked this idea and found a two dollar coin in his bag and threw it into the grass. On cue fines master Dan “Griff” Griffin scratched away with others to look for the coin. Now who can name the rest in the image below?

     In the last innings of the early game versus Benalla Bandits, the coach sent the firepower to the mound. Tetsu “Ironchef” Kamiyama was summoned and as usual threw his variety of pitches. many of the balls were hit to the left side of the diamond  so the infield decided to put the shift on. Alex “Gus” Gouveia at third on the line, Nathan Pool filling the hole while Kyle Gilmore across over the other side of second. Now for this to work Tetsu needs to throw an inside pitch. Tetsu looks around knows where his field is. He throws his pitch outside so the Benalla Batter hits it with glee through the hole left at second base due to the shift. Benalla 1 Shift 0.

     The peanut gallery was also discussing while watching Orange batting practice before their game, how they reckon Andrew “Robbo” Robinson is ready to go large. His cuts in practice were hit hard and far. Kyle “Thrillmore” Gilmore definitely thinks he ready to explode! This scribe is in agreeance with him as his swing is fluent and with more games he plays, the better he will get. Keep working hard on Thursday nights Robbo

     Robyn “RPG” Goulding was most unlucky in swinging the bat. In the third innings RPG had smacked a nice hit over shortstop but was robbed when the Poerpunkah outfield had sneakily come in. This lead to the peanut section of the Rangers crowd letting him know all about it. He did then move right over to the line for the next hitter. Ian “Dino” Dinsdale hit the ball almost exactly to the same spot and it was a base hit. Unlucky RPG.

     It was great to see a middle infield in the Rangers Orange lineup made up of the aforementioned RPG and “The Gaffer” Jamie Samuels. In the years of watching baseball in the North East this scribe cannot think of the last time this has occurred for the Wangaratta Rangers. Happy to be proved wrong on this one.

     Early on in the match against Porepunkah it was like Jonker vs Porepunkah. Now as you all well know he is one competitive beast. However over the first three innings Jonker had seven of nine plays off his own pitching. The booked read 1-3,1-3,1-3. Even at one point he thought of running over there himself and taking the play. Way to take the game on your Double J!

     A big congratulations from all at Wangaratta Rangers to Sheridan and Jackson on the safe arrival of Oliver Coddey Wright. Hope all is going well and see you soon at the Ranch.

     The welcome backs just keep coming down at the Ranch. this week saw the return of Daniel Sacco to the colours of the Wangaratta Rangers. He looked eager to impress and threw a runner out at third and took a blinder of a catch late in the game against Porepunkah. He did three innings of work on the mound too. Nice to have you back and firing Sacco!

     The tip and fill has returned after a long hiatus. Thanks to the good folk at Londrigan meats for the glasses for the best players of the week. So if you win it tap a fellow team mate on the shoulder and they are to fill it for you. Maybe not ask Shaun O’Neil this week after his wallet is empty after paying all his fines from Sunday’s game!

     Yes it’s back. Over the weekend the statistician mole Line Drive has been hard at work catching up on all the hits and misses of the North Eastern baseball Association season so far. The Orange batting stats are all almost done. It was some interesting reading for Orange men and women. Now if you are a player, head over the teamapp and check out the documents tab and have a look. For those of you who play in Rangers Black, this is still a work in progress. Line Drive will get to when he has a look at the score books again. It is a game changer!

     This coming week. DJ Sarah Iwanuch is in the kitchen and look for it to be awesome as usual. Not completely sure what DJ Sarah is going to cook, but be prepared for lots of flavour. If you are keen for a meal bring $10 down and leave a comment online when the link become available. The last few weeks numbers have been impressive and everyone is loving getting down to the Ranch on a Thursday night. 6pm Thursday night. All are welcomed.

     Yes it is on again. On Saturday July 22, the Wangaratta Rangers Lucky Ticket Draw is on again. Tickets are $25 and available from club members. Tickets are limited so if you want one get in contact with one of the many friendly rangers players and officials.

Now for the club stuff

Thanks to all for the feedback. Hope you have a great week and till next time

Go Rangers