Hear from the coaches on how our teams performed in week 3 of the 2020/2021 season.

MEN’S ONES written by Jared Berman

MIDWEEK: Rams 6 defeat Doncaster 1

Rams defeated unbeaten Doncaster 6-1 on Thursday. The top of the rams order got things going right away in the First with the first 4 batters reaching safely giving the Rams the early 4-0 lead at the end of the first. Aaron Robson, Tyler Comben, and Nathan Smith combined to only give up 1 run on 4 hits, with Comben earning the win. The bats were led with multi-hit games by Scot Malthouse (2) and Browyn Gell (2), and RBI’S by Berman (3), Malthouse (2), Keenan Spence (1). This was a solid win for the Rams to right the ship headed into the final game of 2020.

SUNDAY: Rams 10 defeat Moorabbin 5

Newport nabbed the lead late in the game in a 10-5 victory over Moorabbin on Sunday in what could be a season defining win for the Rams. The game was tied at four with Newport batting in the bottom of the sixth when Matt Lawman singled on the first pitch of the at bat, scoring one run. Moorabbin scored four runs in the first inning, but Newport still managed to pull out the victory. The big inning for Moorabbin came in the opening inning thanks to a single by Nick Bertucci and a double by Mitch Barr scoring two runs. Newport knotted the game up at four in the bottom of the fourth inning with a Mason Wray single to score the tying run. Newport then pulled away for good with five runs in the sixth inning. The sixth inning run parade was started by back to back doubles by Wray and Smith with Matt lawman singling for the first RBI of the inning followed up by a two RBI single by Jared Berman, with Ryan Morrison joining in with a sac fly and a Tyler Comben single tacking on another run for the Rams in the inning. David Asp took the win for Newport. The pitcher lasted six innings, allowing nine hits and four runs while striking out four and walking zero. Comben and Nathan Smith entered the game with a solid performance out of bullpen and helped to close out the game in relief. Stewart Mathieson started the game for Moorabbin. The pitcher went five innings, allowing four runs on seven hits and striking out two. Marr Hardie took the loss for Moorabbin. Newport totalled15 hits in the game. Smith, Connor Schibeci, Berman, Scot Malthouse, Morrison, and Comben each managed multiple hits for Newport. Smith went 3-for-5 at the plate to lead Newport in hits. This was a determined come from behind win for the Rams leaving plenty of confidence to carry through the Christmas break.

WOMEN’S ONES written by Dean Anglin

Rams 2 lost to Doncaster 6

The Rams first Division One Home Game was an enormous success despite the result. The hill was buzzing, the bar and canteen were open and the girls jumped out of the blocks after Melissa Horne MP threw out the first pitch.

Morgan Doty started on the hill for the third straight week. A clean first inning gave the Rams a chance to start the scoring. Plating 2 runs in the first the Rams headed into the second with the lead. A tough second swung the game in the favour of the Dragons as they scored 4 with some patient at bats and timely hitting. Doty steadied and threw the 3rd and 4th before handing over to Bronwyn Gell who completed the game.

MEN’S TWOS written by David Land

Rams 0 lost to Moorabbin 15

The 2s got a wake up call? Not so much.

Despite a 2-0 start to the season, the aim of the season is development and with such a young side, the odd lopsided score line is bound to occur.

With Moorabbin's pitcher in complete control it was good to see a few of our guys adopt a deliberate approach for their next at bats. The result was consecutive ropes from Aaron Robson and Troy Malthouse. The guys can all learn from this.

On the hill, Harun took a step forward completing 3 innings and gaining some confidence. He will continue to build. Mason Condie followed and displayed the value of hitting your spots and working ahead in the count. Multiple fielding errors made his outing longer than it should've been. He continues to be reliable and competitive.

In the field Bronwyn Gel impressed. Making a great back handed play up the middle off a sharp shot. Our players now know how a top team looks. The fundamentals don't change, but our execution will need to be worked on.

Go Rams.

WOMEN’S TWOS written by Dean Anglin

Rams 2 lost to Doncaster 16

Our Women’s Division 3 team continue to improve. With Claire Costa on the hill to start the game the team were given plenty of opportunities to make outs as the ball was in play more than not. The experienced Doncaster team continued to pressure the Rams who eventually let in a few too many runs to be in the contest.

Costa handed over to Prentice-Evans, before Caroline Moustos took to the mound for the first time. The Williamstown junior who joined the Rams women’s program this year looks a natural on the hill, throwing hard and hitting the zone.

The Dragons defence was the difference, with Brooklyn Hutton controlling the ball at 1B and making outs where others may have struggled.

All in all though, our newest team, made up of many of our newest members continues to develop the basics and will no doubt build on their Round 1 win after Christmas.

MEN’S THREES written by Ayden Ham

Rams 8 defeat Moorabbin 7

Newport Rams Thirds took on undefeated and reigning champions Moorabbin in a great game of thirds baseball! Breaking a 3 all draw in the top of the 4th with a 2 out double Moorabbin took the late lead, then put on another 2 in the top of the 5th with the Rams now down 7-3. The bottom of the 5th inning was all over the place being scored as MF8, K2, WT6, HBP and a Walk and the Rams still being hitless for the day, an injured Joel Bernoth comes up with a base hit to right field putting the game now at 7-5! A walk and another K2 saw the rams down to there last out, With bases loaded and Sean Pengelly steps up to the plate and feasts his eyes on a high outside pitch and drills it through the right centre gap, to bring pinch runner Chris Armitt across the plate for the winning run! Santa brought us an early present boys, what a way to start the season going 3-0 heading into the new year! Bring on 2021

MEN’S FOURS written by Sam Aldenhoven

Rams 7 lost to Moorabbin 18

MEN’S FIFTHS written by Roland Stott

Rams 6 lost to Moorabbin 8

The 5s had to kick the dew of the grass for their home match against Footscray at Footscray, with a 10:30am start. The 5s started well with the bat, with 4 hits in the 1st but scored only 1 run and left 3 runners stranded. In the 2nd there were 6 hits in row with 2 outs to score 3 runs, but another 3 runners were stranded. Brian Anderson our faithful starter was in control of the game only allowing 1 run in the first 3 innings and had 2 out with a runner on 2nd, when he felt a twinge in the knee and requested a change, with a 1-1 count on the batter. Dean Anglin was called into relief, with his splitter ready for action. Footcray hitters found a few gaps and scored 4 runs to go up 5-4. We had a chance to tie the game in the 4th on a sac fly when the centrefielder had to dive for the ball to make the catch. But he bounced up and threw the ball on the full to the catcher in plenty time to get our runner, which is not meant to happen in the 5s. Dean Aglin found his groove on the mound allowing 0 runs in the 5th and 1 run in the 6th on an error. The 5s tied it up the 6th, with the 5th run scoring on a 2 out error and tying run knocked in by a Chris Armitt infield single. Though once again 3 runners were left stranded on base. In the top of the last (7th) an error and a walk put some pressure on Dean, but he came through with 2 strikeouts. Dean had 2 strikes on the next hitter, who then fouled off 3 pitches before middling one to rightfield scoring the 2 runs, giving Footscray an 8-6 lead. Veegan McMasters lead off the bottom 7th with a single to give a glimmer of hope. But the next 3 hitters could not find the gaps and the final out was made with a diving catch in Leftfield. The 5s had 15 hits 3 BB and 1 HPB, but could only manage 6 runs, leaving 13 runners on base. The best of the hitters were Bruce Boucher and Sam Fraser with 3 hits each. Dean Anglin ended up with 5 Ks in his 3 1/3 innings on the mound.