Rob Laidlaw
FOR the third consecutive week Gawler Rangers lost a division two baseball game by a single run, going down 3-4 to Kensington at Karbeethan Reserve on Saturday.
The stretch follows a four-game winning streak by a single run, meaning the Rangers have been involved in seven consecutive one-run games.
Gawler looked good early with three runs in the opening inning after Rhys Argent walked, Josh Lands was hit by a pitch, Wyatt Ryan had a RBI single, and Nathan Schreier batted another in with his groundout, setting up Jake Rodda to knock in the a third run with his single.
The wheels unfortunately came off in the third frame as Kensington scored four times – three after the Rangers’ only error in the game – to gift the Cardinals three runs.
A tense final few digs saw no addition to the score, although twice the Rangers had a runner at third base, but could not get them home.
Lands went the distance on the mound, pitching five innings for eight hits and five strikeouts.
In an amazing turnaround, the Rangers’ division three side had a miraculous victory – their first of the season – coming from 0-9 down to score 10 runs in the final frame and steal it 10-9.
Helped by three errors, four walks, a hit batsman, Leighton Mells’ two-run double, and later coming up again with a RBI single, as well as Wyatt Ryan’s RBI hit – the winning run scored on a
wild pitch, capping off a spectacular game.
Gawler’s under-19s got away to a great start last Wednesday, with a 10-3 victory over East Torrens.
A five-run second frame set up the win as Daniel O’Handley, Tyler Strong, Morris O’Handley and Link Ryan collected hits.
Ryan also pitched three scoreless innings, conceding one hit for four strikeouts.
Even the Rangers women had plenty of reasons to smile, breaking a long drought in downing Northern Districts 20-7 in a dominant performance, scoring the maximum five runs each inning.
Natalie Wik led the batting with three hits, while Imogen Krollig, Brooke Clark and Laura Helbig had two each.
In good news for the club, Deakin Filko has made the Adelaide Marlins squad.
A two-times medallist, Filko has been on the cusp of making this prestigious side over the past few seasons and has finally cracked the team.