Premier Firsts
The Pakenham Pumas Premier 2 Firsts showed plenty of fight at home on Saturday, collecting 10 solid hits against a strong Preston lineup, but ultimately fell 20–4 in a high-scoring contest at the Pakenham Baseball Club. The Pumas started the day swinging freely, with consistent contact up and down the lineup. Kyler Rinehart and Wayne Porter both led the charge with two hits apiece, each driving in a run to keep the offense moving. Despite matching Preston in hitting power, a few costly errors and well-timed hits from the visitors allowed Preston to steadily build their lead throughout the game. Yun Sinkeun took the mound to open for Pakenham, striking out four over three innings of work. He was backed up by a strong defensive effort that included two crisp double plays, a highlight for the home side’s fielding unit. Cooper Porter and Daniel Harris also made their mark from the mound, helping contain Preston’s aggressive middle innings. While the scoreline didn’t reflect the Pumas’ effort, the team continues to show growth and promise. With their bats warming up and chemistry building across the diamond, the Premier 2 Firsts will be eager to regroup and come out swinging in next week’s matchup.
Premier Reserves
The Pakenham Pumas Premier 2 Reserves put on a strong performance at home on Saturday, combining patience at the plate with outstanding pitching to secure a solid win. After a few quiet innings, the Pumas broke through in the bottom of the fourth, stringing together smart base running and clutch hitting to pile on the runs. Wayne Porter set the tone, tagging up to score the first run before a pair of fielding errors from the opposition helped open the door for more. Ethan Hamilton drove in another with a sharp single, and further pressure on the defense allowed two more runs to cross the plate, capping off a productive inning. On the mound, Lance Llandado was dominant from the first pitch. The starter threw five scoreless innings, giving up just three hits while striking out seven and walking three. His control and composure kept the visitors off balance all game. Porter came in for relief duty to close things out and maintain the Pumas’ momentum. Offensively, the Pumas were well-rounded, with hits spread across the lineup. Cooper Porter, Hamilton, Declan White, Connor Mills-Emmerson, and Andrew Mayberry each notched a base hit. Cooper Porter, Hamilton, and White all collected RBIs, showcasing the team’s ability to capitalise when it mattered. It was a complete performance from the Pumas Premier 2 Reserves—strong pitching, disciplined hitting, and sharp teamwork—a promising sign for the season ahead.
State 3
The Pakenham Pumas State 3 side suffered a heartbreaking 8-6 loss to Monash University on Sunday, falling on the final play of the game after holding a strong early lead. The Pumas came out firing, jumping to a 3-0 advantage in the opening inning. Daniel Wells’ ground ball forced a fielder’s choice that still brought two runners across the plate, before Liam added another RBI on a groundout to cap the inning. By the third, Pakenham had stretched the margin to 6-2 after capitalising on a walk and a wild pitch to score two more runs. But Monash refused to go quietly. A pair of timely hits and a costly Pumas error in the bottom of the fourth saw the home side claw their way back, plating four runs to steal an 8-6 victory on the final play. James took the ball for Pakenham, striking out six over three innings while conceding just one hit. He was well supported at the plate by Jesus Camacho, Brad Bugeja and Nate Giles, who each notched a hit, while Wells and Liam drove in runs. The team showed impressive patience in the box, drawing nine walks — with James and Felicity Clissold leading the charge with two apiece — and turned a tidy double play on defence. Despite the narrow loss, it was a strong showing from a Pumas side that continues to grow in confidence and cohesion early in the season.
Women’s Black
Pakenham Pumas Women’s Black came out strong from the get go against Springvale Lions, with an impressive 23-6 win. Eager to see their strong team connections in action, the Pumas opened up their batting with a comfortable seven run inning causing a side of way which got the Pumas out in the field. Olivia Garcia and Carni Dowsett showcased their compatibility and skill set with each other with Garcia throwing an impressive three innings. Emily Williams came in to close off the game, pitching a two-inning game. Pakenham Blacks were equally strong on their at bats as they were out in the field, with impressive outs made by Emily Devine, Katherine Walton, Sofia and Beatrice Carreras-I. Smash hits from Devine, with an in the park home run, Dowsett’s triple, and every one of the Pumas getting on base showed the effort the team constantly puts in to improve on their game and overall performance. Consistency on the field further assisted the Pumas to play a smashing game, welcoming and appreciating the addition of juniors Julia and Morgan. Both juniors added their own skills and that helped the Pumas snag their 5th win of the season.
Women’s Pink
It was a tough outing for the Pakenham Pumas Women’s Pink on Saturday as they faced a strong Upwey FTG Black side at Kings Park, eventually going down 22–1. Despite the scoreline, the Pumas continued to show effort and determination throughout the match. Upwey FTG Black jumped out to an early lead in the first inning, stringing together a series of sharp base hits and capitalising on a couple of fielding errors to post a quick run total. They continued to apply pressure in the following innings, keeping the scoreboard ticking with disciplined hitting and aggressive base running. For Pakenham, Jessica Moulding took the mound to start the game, battling through tough conditions against a hard-hitting Upwey lineup. She struck out one and worked to keep her team in the contest while also leading by example with the bat, going 2-for-2 at the plate. Danni Wilson added to the effort with a solid hit that drove in the team’s lone run. The Pumas showed their trademark hustle on the bases, stealing four bags for the game and refusing to give up until the final out. While the result didn’t go their way, the squad continues to gain valuable experience and build chemistry early in the season. The team will look to bounce back next week with renewed confidence and that ever-present Pakenham fighting spirit.
-Jessica Moulding
