It was a mixed weekend for the Pakenham Pumas but there was plenty of strong baseball played across the weekend.
SENIORS
Premier League Firsts: Pumas 5 v Mulgrave 7
Despite a promising start, Pakenham Pumas couldn’t maintain their lead and fell to Mulgrave Rebels Firsts 7-5 on Saturday.
Pakenham initially took control in the bottom of the first inning, with Max Hunter getting hit by a pitch to drive in a run, Tim Bellerby grounding out to score two more, and Joel Stubbs singling to bring in another run.
However, Mulgrave turned the game around in the top of the fourth inning, scoring five runs on six hits, highlighted by Michael Morgan’s two-run triple, taking a 5-4 lead.
Tim Bellerby pitched three innings in relief for Pakenham Pumas, giving up seven hits and five runs, striking out three without any walks.
Joel Stubbs took the loss, pitching two innings without allowing any runs on one hit, with no strikeouts and two walks.
For the Pumas, Hiroke Goke, Max Hunter, Kyler Rinehart, and Joel Stubbs each had one hit.
Hunter, Bellerby, and Stubbs each drove in a run.
The team showed patience at the plate, drawing eight walks, with Goke and Rinehart leading with two each.
Goke also stole two bases, and the team turned one double play.
Premier League Reserves: Pumas 0 v Mulgrave 14
Mulgrave defeated Pakenham Pumas Reserves 14-0 on Saturday, thanks in part to a massive 10-run fourth inning.
Mulgrave got on the board early with an error in the top of the first inning.
They extended their lead in the third inning with a sacrifice fly and a single, each driving in a run.
The fourth inning was a game-changer, with Mulgrave scoring 10 runs on 10 hits.
Cooper Porter started on the mound for Pakenham Pumas, giving up three hits and three runs (two earned) over two and one-third innings, with one strikeout and three walks.
Daniel Hussien led Pakenham Pumas Reserves in hits, going one for two at the plate.
Regional League White: Pumas 11 v Cheltenham 7
In their season opener, Pakenham White secured an 11-7 victory over Cheltenham, giving manager Jude O’Halloran his first win.
A dominant first inning and key defensive plays helped Pakenham hold off a late surge from Cheltenham.
Pakenham wasted no time, scoring seven runs in the first inning.
Their aggressive approach at the plate overwhelmed Cheltenham’s defense, setting the tone for the game and giving them a substantial lead.
Jude O’Halloran’s tenacious 11-pitch at-bat in the third inning may have ended in an out, but it took a toll on Cheltenham’s pitcher, contributing to a crucial momentum swing in favour of Pakenham.
Wayne Porter pitched an excellent game, allowing just three runs while keeping Cheltenham’s hitters off balance.
He showed quick reflexes in the third inning, snagging a hard-hit line drive right back at him to end the innings.
Noah O’Halloran was a force at the plate, leading off the second inning with a triple and following it up with a double to start the third.
His big hits helped keep Pakenham’s offence rolling and extended their lead.
Billy Marks had a standout game at second base, making multiple key defensive plays that stifled Cheltenham’s offence early.
Out in left field, Corey Carter made a great catch that stopped a potential Cheltenham rally.
Behind the plate, Angus Peters and Archer O’Halloran worked seamlessly with Wayne Porter and Lance Hosking, guiding them through a solid pitching performance.
Duncan Hubbard made his first-ever appearance for Pakenham White and recorded his first hit, contributing to the team’s offensive success in his debut game.
Cheltenham came alive in the fourth inning, scoring five runs to cut into Pakenham’s lead.
Their bats finally found some success, but Pakenham’s defence regrouped to prevent further damage and shut down the comeback attempt.
With the win, Pakenham White begins the season on a high note, and manager Jude O’Halloran earns a debut victory with a balanced offence and strong defensive plays that sets a positive tone for the games ahead.
Regional League Black: Pumas 6 v South East Warriors 0
Pakenham Regional Black secured their first win of the season, defeating the South East Warriors 6-0 in a strong showing that followed last week’s competitive opener.
With the thirds having a bye, Mat Howden and Felicity Clissold stepped in, and the team saw three new Pumas debutants: brothers Gregg and Adam Duncan, and Adam’s son Liam.
Brad Jones delivered an effectively wild pitching performance, throwing a no-hitter over six innings while striking out five and walking six.
His efforts were supported by a solid defence, highlighted by Adam Duncan’s diving stop at 2B to preserve the no-hitter late in the game.
Liam Duncan was exceptional behind the plate as catcher, showing skill in blocking pitches, especially with runners threatening from third base.
Offensively, Regional Black capitalised on opportunities, scoring in different innings to maintain momentum.
Liam Duncan, Kevin D’Arcy, and Mat Howden each delivered crucial RBI doubles in separate innings, helping to extend the lead.
The team showcased patience at the plate, drawing eight walks, with Jake Bone leading the charge by earning two.
The Pumas remained error-free throughout the game, a testament to their strong defensive coordination.
Liam Duncan was instrumental defensively, making six key plays and providing crucial stability for the team.
The South East Warriors struggled against Jones’s pitching but showed tenacity on the base paths, tallying six walks and stealing four bases.
Despite their efforts, the Pumas’ balanced approach on both offence and defence ensured their first victory of the season, setting a positive tone for the matches to come.
WOMEN’S
White team had a win with Melbourne forfeiting.
Women’s Black: Pakenham 9 v Waverley 4
Round 2 commenced with Pakenham Black facing up against Waverley Red.
Pakenham started off with a strong hit by Jessica Moulding driving in the first two runs.
Waverley fought back to tie the game with a passed ball and a ground out.
After a committed error by Waverley, Pakenham were able to make a brief comeback in the top of the fourth with a hit from Katherine Walton.
At the bottom of the fourth inning, Waverley came back firing with seven runs scored off four hits bringing the score to 9-4 their way.
Firecracker loops from Jessica Moulding as starter pitcher for the Blacks helped cement the strong beginning of the game followed by Emily Williams and Olivia Garcia to finish the game.
Christine Sculley, Jessica Moulding, Carni Dowsett, Olivia Garcia, Kirby Cannizzaro and Katherine Walton each had one hit for the women’s side.
Strong support given by Emily, Jessica and Katherine also enabled them to drive in one run each with their RBI’s.
State League 3 and 4 – Bye
JUNIORS
Big League U19: Pumas 2 v Werribee 5
Pakenham Pumas Big League fell to Werribee 5-2 on Saturday.
A triple on the sixth pitch of the at-bat put Werribee on the board in the top of the third.
Rhys McKenzie stepped on the mound first for Pakenham Pumas.
The righty surrendered two hits and three runs (one earned) over three innings, striking out seven and walking five.
Dillan Collier and McKenzie were a one-two punch in the lineup, as each drove in one run for Pakenham Pumas.
McKenzie stole two bases.
SL70 U14: Pumas 14 v Upwey FTG 4
The 14u Pumas started off their season against the Upwey FTG Tigers at home.
It was a great pitching performance from Blake, Noah and Beau.
Logan was shining on the offense side with two doubles.
The whole team had great at bats and all of them made it on Base and together, scored 14 runs. The Pumas won 14-4 to start of the summer season.
SL90 U16
Lachlan Collier started on the mound for Pakenham Pumas U16s, striking out two batters.
Collier, Brock Edwards, and Tyler Whitelaw each collected one hit.
Whitelaw stole two bases.
The Pumas scratched across their lone run of the day from a sac fly from Harvey Peel scoring Whitelaw.
LL Minor
The team were running the bases like it was Christmas morning.
Everyone was aggressive in the box and did their part on the field.
There is still room for improvement and both teams weren’t focused on the score; we thought it should be a game for the kids to learn.
T-Ball
The Pakenham Pumas T-Ball group started off the season this weekend with the South East Warriors hosting.
Leo, Brooklyn, Bodhi and Harper all had a fantastic morning that started with a light run and stretch and finished off with some fielding practice.
Bodhi’s older sister Harper joined in midway through as she was interested in starting T-Ball and got straight into hitting off the tee and joining in on the fun with her brother and the group.
Leo and Bodhi were showing everyone how it’s done off the Tee and with the ball, both consistently hitting their targets and showing everyone how they are the power hitters of the group.
Brooklyn did a fantastic job off the tee, listening to her coaches as she’s learning to stay more balanced in the batters box in order to make better contact.
Overall all the kids had a fantastic morning and can’t wait to do it all again next week.
MASTERS: Pumas 3 v Moorabbin 13
A big first inning leads Moorabbin Panthers past Pakenham Pumas Masters South.
Moorabbin scored seven runs in the first inning, which helped them defeat the Pumas Masters South 13-3 on Monday night.
The Panthers got on the board in the bottom of the first inning after some impressive hitting across the team, scoring the maximum seven runs with seasoned ease.
They added one in the second and another in the third to collect a handy 9-0.
Grant Miller started the game pitching for the Pumas and threw well for his first mound appearance for the season.
He picked up three strike-outs, gave up only two walks, unfortunately though, some skill errors in the field, inexperience and also good batting from the opposition, made for a tough night.
But it wasn’t all bad news, Tristan Hill, Luis Mayo, Gregg Clutterbuck, Grant Miller, and Andrew Mayberry each collected one hit. Mayberry led the Pumas with two runs batted in, going one for three on the game.
We also made some good plays in the field, turning two double plays in the game.
Did we do better than last week? Yes.
Did we win? No.
Did we still have fun? Of course.
So plenty to take into next week.
