Late rally continues Brothers winning streak

The Lismore App

Your local digital newspaper

Local Jobs Be A Supporter

Games/Puzzles Become a Supporter Flood Recovery Podcasts

Late rally continues Brothers winning streak

Emily Clark

06 August 2020, 1:15 AM

Late rally continues Brothers winning streak

Jason Caught was the most productive with the bat for Workers on Saturday. Photo: Ashleigh Bromell

In a game that seemed to be wrapped up by Workers in Far North Coast’s Major League game on Saturday, Brothers’ ‘never say die’ attitude was instrumental as they rallied late in the bottom of the seventh to send the game into extra innings. Brothers then continued with confidence to take the game in the bottom of the eighth for their fourth straight win in season 2020.

Workers took a 1-0 lead early in the first inning, before adding to their tally in the fourth, fifth and seventh giving them a 4-0 lead heading into their final three defensive outs. But Brothers’ ‘refuse to lose’ attitude saw them capitalise on loaded bases at the bottom of the seventh inning. Singles to Nathan Bezrouchko, Chris Cooke, Kodey Wilford and a fielder’s choice for Matt Buckley off pitcher, Seth McClelland, left a tough task for the bullpen pitcher, Noah Worgan. A single to Jeremy Sexton and double to Jake Youngberry tied the game up and sent the game into extras innings.

With Far North Coast Baseball adopting the new International rule for extra innings, Workers began the eighth with a runner on first and second but never really looked confident with the bat. McClelland was the first in the box and after being given the sign to bunt, his three attempts were unsuccessful, before Oakley McMahon and Alex Battese were also unable to score a runner.

Jake Muscat reads the sign before pitching. Photo: Ashleigh Bromell

Brothers looked almost too comfortable with the pressure leading into the bottom of the eighth. Chris Cooke stood tall, even with a full count, to take a walk to first before Kodey Wilford hit a single to centre field for a walk off win to end the game and gift Brothers another three points on the ladder.

Brothers second-baseman, Jake Youngberry was ecstatic with the win and his sides efforts on Saturday night. ‘It was great to see the boys really dig deep and fight back against a tough Workers side in the last couple of innings. Workers took it to us for most of the game but the fire our guys showed in the closing stages of the game really showed us what we are capable of.’

Dan Clark, manager and second-base for Workers was deflated but can find some positives from his team’s loss, stating ‘we are a fairly young side that hasn’t had the opportunity to learn to deal with high pressure situations yet. We are showing some promising signs, taking a four-run lead in a game that was mostly a ‘battle of the pitchers’ for the first six innings. I’m sure we will take a lot of experience from this game, reassess for next week and hopefully come out swinging against Redbirds on Saturday’.

McClelland was brillant on the mound for Workers, striking out six, while Jason Caught was the only batter to have multiple hits in the game, with two singles.

Kodey Wilford waits for the right pitch. Photo: Ashleigh Bromell

Both Jake Muscat and Damian Santin were dominant with the ball for Brothers. Although only striking out two each, both limited the number of hits Workers were able to get on base. Sam Langley and Kodey Wilford both recorded two singles for their side with the bat, while Jake Youngberry hit the only extra base hit for either side.

In the Far North Coast Junior League competition, there were several notable performances during the Norths v Redbirds game on Saturday morning.

Riley Cooper was affective on the hill for Norths, striking out six batters, while Hamish Weekes was instrumental in his sides 15-2 win, hitting two triples and four RBIs.

Although going down, Sam Davis was handy in the field with his glove for Redbirds, taking two outstanding catches at Centerfield.