PREMIER FIRSTS
It was a Thursday night thriller that had everything — big hits, momentum swings and a finish that kept supporters on the edge of their seats. Despite building a lead of as many as five runs, the Pakenham Pumas Premier 2 Firsts were edged out 8–7 by Berwick City Cougars 1sts in a high-quality contest that showcased the firepower and resilience of both sides. The Pumas came out swinging early. In the top of the first, they capitalised on a Cougars error before Jesse Hunter ripped a double down the left field line to plate another, giving Pakenham a confident start. They doubled down in the second, with RBI singles from Hiroke Goke and John Bicos stretching the lead and putting the home side on the back foot. By the time the dust settled in the early innings, Pakenham had surged ahead, looking every bit in control. But baseball has a way of turning in a heartbeat. Berwick responded in dramatic fashion in the bottom of the third, piling on eight runs from five hits in a momentum-shifting inning that flipped the contest on its head. A clutch two-run single proved the biggest blow as the Cougars stormed to an 8–5 advantage. To their credit, the Pumas refused to fold. John Bicos ignited hopes of a comeback in the sixth, launching a towering two-run home run to left field that brought the visitors within touching distance. The dugout erupted, and the contest tightened once more. At the plate, Pakenham were relentless, out-hitting Berwick 14 to seven. Jesse Hunter led the charge with a four-hit performance, while Bicos drove in three runs in a powerful display from the middle of the lineup. Danny Cannizzaro, Shaun Fahy and Goke each collected multiple hits, with Goke also swiping two bases to keep the pressure on. The Pumas even turned a slick double play in the field, underlining their sharpness. On the mound, Hunter battled through six innings, striking out five. While the scoreboard showed eight runs, none were earned — a testament to how tight the contest truly was beneath the surface.
PREMIER FIRSTS
It was a tough afternoon for the Pakenham Pumas Premier 2 Firsts on Saturday, with Mulgrave Premier 2 First Nine delivering a polished and powerful performance in a 20–0 result.
Mulgrave set the tone early, jumping out to the lead in the opening inning before breaking the game open in the third with a commanding 13-run surge. The home side made the most of their opportunities, stringing together six hits in a decisive stretch that proved difficult to rein in.
Rohan Hector took the mound and battled through two innings against a lineup that capitalised on every chance, with Mulgrave applying constant scoreboard pressure.
Despite the scoreline, there were still positives to take from the contest. John Bicos and Kyler Rinehart combined strongly in the lineup, collecting two hits apiece while batting back-to-back and showing plenty of fight at the plate.
PREMIER RESERVES
The Pakenham Pumas Premier 2 Reserves faced a strong Mulgrave outfit on Saturday, going down 17–1 at Mulgrave Baseball Club in a contest that tested the visitors’ resolve from the outset.
Mulgrave struck early, opening the scoring in the first inning before extending their advantage in the second with a ground out that pushed the margin to 4–0. From there, the home side capitalised on key moments to steadily build their lead.
Cooper Porter took the mound to start for Pakenham and worked hard across three innings. Despite facing constant pressure, he struck out one and kept battling as Mulgrave looked to string hits together.
The Pumas showed flashes of determination at the plate. Porter, Will, Deklan White, Nick Barth and Tristan each recorded a hit, ensuring the visitors continued to compete. Tristan also drove in Pakenham’s lone run, finishing 1-for-3 on the day and providing a highlight moment for the side.
STATE 3
The Pakenham Pumas State 3 side met a red-hot Springvale 3 East outfit on Sunday, with the home team delivering a sharp and clinical performance in an 18–0 result.
Springvale wasted no time getting on the scoreboard in the opening inning, capitalising on patient at-bats and timely hitting to build early momentum. A combination of walks and a well-struck double quickly put pressure on the Pumas defence.
The second inning proved decisive, with Springvale adding seven runs from four hits to extend their advantage. They continued to apply scoreboard pressure in the third, taking control of the contest against a Pumas side that never stopped competing.
James took the mound to start for Pakenham and battled through a challenging opening spell, striking out one as he worked to stem the flow.
At the plate, Felicity Clissold led the way for Pakenham, finishing 1-for-2 and providing a bright spot in a difficult afternoon.
While the result didn’t fall their way, the State 3 group will take valuable lessons from facing a strong Springvale lineup.
STATE 4
In a dazzling display of hitting — and perhaps a reminder that experience counts for plenty — the Pumas powered past Springvale State 4 East 28–1 in a game that had the scoreboard operator well and truly earning their stripes. Andrew Hemmes led the way, collecting three hits from four at-bats, with singles in the first, second and third innings. Not content with swinging the bat, Hemmes also set the tone on the mound, delivering three scoreless innings while striking out five. The Pumas came out firing in the top of the first. Travis Hough drew a walk to open the floodgates, before Brad Jones, Andrew Mayberry and Jacob Gruis all chimed in with clutch hits to quickly build a healthy buffer. By the second inning, the bats were in full voice. Scott Dale launched a double to bring home three runs, and the Pumas added another six to their tally. In the third, Hemmes and Mayberry kept the momentum rolling, while Gruis — batting at number eight — quietly went about compiling a remarkable four-hit performance from five trips to the plate. The fourth inning turned into a highlight reel. Hough and Jones continued their hitting clinic, Gruis drove in two more, and Gregg McCormick cleared the bases with a booming double that had teammates grinning from ear to ear. In total, the Pumas racked up 19 hits and seven walks. Brad Jones came on in relief to keep things steady, ensuring the contest remained firmly in Pakenham’s control.
MASTERS
The final game of the season brought more than just a Monday night fixture for the Pakenham Pumas Masters — it delivered a long-awaited breakthrough. In a fitting twist to close out the year, the Pumas claimed their first win of the season with a commanding 10–2 victory over Bonbeach White Masters 38+, sending players and supporters home with smiles as wide as the outfield. Leading the charge was Andrew Mayberry, who produced a masterclass at the plate. Mayberry collected three hits from four at-bats, singling in the first and third innings before launching a double in the fifth to cap off a standout performance. His third-inning single to centre field tied the game at two apiece and shifted the momentum firmly in Pakenham’s favour. Bonbeach had struck first in the top of the third, plating two runs through a sharp single down the right field line and a productive groundout. The turning point came in the bottom of the fifth when Pakenham exploded for five runs on four hits. The pressure told, with a costly error from Bonbeach bringing in two crucial runs as the Pumas flipped the scoreboard to a 7–2 advantage. On the mound, Gregg Duncan set the tone early, allowing just three hits and two runs across four steady innings while striking out two. Mayberry wasn’t finished with his night either, backing up his batting heroics with two innings of scoreless relief. He allowed just one hit while striking out two more to close the door. The Pumas tallied 11 hits all up in a complete team performance. James Kinsella, Brad Bugeja, Brad Jones and Mark Findlay each added multiple hits, ensuring the offence kept rolling right through the final innings.
WOMEN’S WHITE
The Pakenham Pumas Women’s White side met a strong Upwey FTG Black outfit on Saturday, with the Upwey team claiming a 22–4 victory in a game that tested the visitors’ resolve.
Upwey struck early in the opening inning, capitalising on patient at-bats and well-placed hits to build momentum. They continued to apply scoreboard pressure in the second, adding seven more runs to establish a firm advantage.
Morgan took the ball to start for the Pumas and battled through a challenging spell, striking out two as she worked to stem the flow. Despite the early pressure, Women’s White continued to compete and look for opportunities to respond.
At the plate, there were positive signs for Pakenham. Kaylee Wirski provided a spark in the middle of the order, driving in two runs and finishing 1-for-3 on the day. Morgan and Beatrice Carreras-I combined well offensively, each collecting two hits to lead the Pumas’ efforts.
WOMEN’S BLACK
The Pakenham Pumas Women’s Black side produced a commanding all-round performance on Saturday, powering past Cheltenham Blue 20–3 in a display built on sharp hitting, disciplined pitching and relentless teamwork.
Leading the charge was Emily Devine, who drove in four runs from two hits in a standout afternoon. Devine wasted no time setting the tone, launching a triple in the opening inning to score two, before doubling in the fifth to bring home another pair. It was a performance that combined power and poise — and gave the Pumas early momentum.
Pakenham struck first in the top of the opening frame, with Devine’s triple lighting the spark and Carni Dowsett adding another run via a groundout. From there, the visitors steadily built their advantage.
The second inning saw five more runs cross the plate. Olivia Garcia singled to score one, Jade Taylor added another RBI single, and the Pumas capitalised on defensive pressure to keep the scoreboard ticking. By the third, the floodgates were well and truly open, with seven runs coming from four hits. Dowsett delivered a clutch double to drive in three, while Garcia and Sofia added timely singles to keep Cheltenham on the back foot.
On the mound, Devine was equally impressive. She opened the game with two hitless innings, striking out three and allowing just one walk. Olivia Garcia and Emily Williams continued the strong work in relief, ensuring the Pumas remained in control throughout.
In total, Women’s Black amassed 15 hits in a polished team performance. Garcia and Holly Lunn were electric at the top of the order, collecting three hits apiece. Dowsett was a force in the middle of the lineup, finishing 2-for-4 with five runs batted in. Renae Gillett, Jade Taylor and Devine each contributed multiple hits as the Pumas showcased depth right through the batting order.
WOMEN’S PINK
If baseball games were judged on chaos, comedy and cardiovascular fitness, the Pakenham Pumas Women’s Pink might have claimed the trophy on Saturday. Instead, they had to settle for a nail-biting 14–12 loss to Springvale at Wearne Field — in a game that felt less like four innings of baseball and more like a full-season highlight reel crammed into one afternoon. The Pink ladies actually out-hit Springvale 10 to seven. Yes, you read that right. Ten hits. Nine stolen bases. Enough action to make the scorers consider a lie-down. But somehow, Springvale still snuck away with the win. Pakenham struck first in the opening inning when Liz Talauega laced a single to score two runs, giving the visitors an early 2–0 lead and plenty of reason to believe it was going to be their day. Springvale, however, had other ideas. In the blink of an eye — or roughly seven runs later — the home side flipped the script in the bottom of the first, taking a 7–2 lead. They backed it up with another six runs in the second, stretching the margin to what looked like a comfortable 14–6. But here’s the thing about Women’s Pink: they don’t do “comfortable.” After falling behind by 11 runs, the Pumas launched what can only be described as The Great Pink Comeback Attempt. They chipped away with singles, ground outs, doubles and anything else that moved the scoreboard. In the fourth inning alone, they piled on six runs. Felicity Clissold doubled in a run, Danni Wilson drove in two with a booming double, and even a fielder’s choice managed to bring home a pair. Clissold was in fine form all day, collecting three hits, while Johanna Blackler added two of her own. Wilson and Talauega each drove in three runs, and the Pink speedsters turned the basepaths into a racetrack — swiping nine bases in total. Jessica Moulding and Talauega both collected multiple steals, proving that if nothing else, Springvale were definitely getting their sprint training in. On the mound, Moulding battled through two and two-thirds innings, striking out three in a game that had more twists than a TV drama finale.
-Jessica Moulding
