By ADEM SARICAOGLU
THE conditions may not have been all that conducive for quality baseball, but the scoreboard at Greenwich Reserve told a different story on Sunday.
It was there where the Werribee Giants faced local Division Two rival Williamstown in round five of the Summer League baseball season, and where the two produced a 25-run shootout.
The tone for the day was set in the first inning after the Giants established a 3-1 buffer.
By the end of the third Werribee led 5-1, but from there Division Two’s reigning premier took control.
Williamstown import Russell Moldenhauer stamped his considerable authority on the game and almost single-handedly turned it in the Wolves’ favour.
A Moldenhauer home run and a two-run double from David Asp snatched the lead from Werribee in the ninth, thus handing the Giants their second loss from four starts, 13-12.
Werribee coach Phil Balzer was left ruing a messy defensive effort from his side after the game.
“We hit pretty well but all in all – it was only an average game in terms of skills,” Balzer said.
“We made too many mistakes in the field, didn’t convert opportunities at the plate and we were just a little bit down on what I expect.”
However it was not only defence that cost the Giants dearly on Sunday, as they failed to convert numerous scoring opportunities throughout the day.
“We had different opportunities and didn’t convert, and half of those were with bases loaded and I think we only scored two or three runs out of them,” Balzer said.
“We didn’t take those opportunities and we made a few errors in the field, which we haven’t made in the last few weeks, so that cost us as well.”
The Giants moved to 2-2 and have started the summer in promising fashion, and despite Sunday’s setback, Balzer is firm in his belief his side is a genuine Division Two finals contender.
“We should’ve won today,” Balzer said.
“We had more run-scoring opportunities than Williamstown had, and so when you look at that, we should’ve won.
“The guys know that and we spoke about that after the game, so I think we’re looking pretty good.”
Werribee will host St Kilda this Sunday.
