PREMIER FIRSTS
There was no shortage of excitement at Pakenham Baseball Club on Saturday as the Pakenham Pumas Premier 2 Firsts went down swinging in a heart-stopping 12–10 clash against the Berwick City Cougars. What looked like a runaway game turned into a nail-biter that had the home crowd on their feet until the final out. The Pumas came out firing early, with Jesse Hunter cracking a double down the left-field line and Rhys McKenzie following up with a laser single to plate a pair of early runs. A sharp base hit from Daniel Harris in the second made it 4–1, and spirits were high across Pumaland. But baseball can turn in a heartbeat. In the third and fourth innings, the Cougars clawed their way back, stringing together a flurry of hits and capitalizing on a few tough breaks to surge ahead 9–4. The Pumas refused to fold, with Jesse Hunter taking over on the mound and delivered five steady innings of relief, keeping Berwick within reach while his teammates chipped away at the deficit. McKenzie – who was simply unstoppable – collected three singles on the day and set the tone for the Pumas’ late-game surge. Then came the ninth inning; and the roar from the home dugout could be heard across Toomuc Valley. Down by seven, the Pumas launched an electrifying comeback. Hits from Hiroke Goke and McKenzie, a clutch walk, and a couple of nervy Cougars errors saw five runs cross the plate in a blink. With every crack of the bat and cheer from the stands, the belief was building: could the miracle finish be on? Though the Cougars just managed to hang on, the Pumas’ spirit was undeniable. Thirteen total hits, four stolen bases, a double play, and an unforgettable late-inning rally left fans breathless and proud of their home side; the Pumas are a team that never quits. If this game was any sign of what’s to come this season, fans are in for one thrilling ride.
PREMIER RESERVES
The Pumas may not have come away with the win but they showed plenty of fight in a spirited contest against the Berwick City Cougars, going down 17–6 at home. The game started with fireworks, as the Pumas roared to life in the bottom of the first. Kaden and Michael each delivered clutch base hits that saw the home side jump out to a 5–2 lead. Berwick fought back, stringing together hits to reclaim the lead, but the Pumas never stopped competing. Lance worked hard on the mound, battling through Berwick’s aggressive offense, while Cooper and Ollie kept the scoreboard ticking with two solid hits apiece. Despite the scoreboard, the Pumas showed flashes of brilliance and teamwork that promise exciting things ahead. With Kaden and Michael combining for six RBIs, and a young lineup continuing to gain confidence, the signs are bright for this determined group.
STATE 3
There was no shortage of heart at Pakenham on Sunday as the Pumas battled it out against a powerful Melbourne lineup. The final scoreline of 17–2 didn’t tell the full story of a game filled with energy, determination, and flashes of brilliance from the home side. The Pumas came out swinging in the first inning, capitalizing on early pressure to bring home two runs after a dropped third strike and some heads-up base running. The crowd erupted as Pakenham took the early lead — momentum swinging their way and belief running high. But baseball is a game of moments, and Melbourne made theirs count. A hot streak in the second and third innings turned the scoreboard, yet the Pumas refused to back down. Mathew Howden took the ball to start and gave everything on the mound, striking out one and battling through a flurry of hits before handing it over to his teammates to carry the fight. Offensively, Matthew Mills, Daniel Wells, and Mathew Howden each delivered key hits to keep the pressure on, while Deklan White was a menace on the base paths, swiping two bags and setting the tone for a Pumas side that racked up five stolen bases on the day. The Pumas fought for every out, chased down every ball, and played with the kind of pride that defines the black-and-white jersey. The Pakenham Pumas State 3 proved once again that they’re not just playing the game – they’re building something special. What they showed on Sunday was already a victory in itself.
STATE 4
The scoreboard didn’t tell the whole story on Sunday as Pumas State 4 showed plenty of heart and hustle in their 11–1 contest against Melbourne at Pakenham. The Pumas came out swinging, taking an early lead in the first inning when Travis Hough ripped a single to drive in the game’s opening run.
Hough was a force on both sides of the ball, throwing five strong innings on the mound and keeping the Melbourne bats quiet early; striking out two and allowing just a pair of earned runs. The visitors eventually broke through in the middle innings, stringing together some timely hits and capitalizing on walks to edge ahead. But Pakenham kept fighting. Gregg McCormick, Matt Mills, and Hough each notched hits, while McCormick and Mills kept the pressure on with some daring base running. The Pumas turned a slick double play and swiped five stolen bases, showing their trademark speed and tenacity right to the final out. While Melbourne took the win, there was no mistaking the fight in this Pumas side. Pakenham State 4 is a team building momentum – and their next opponent should be on notice.
MASTERS
The Pakenham Pumas Masters swung into their first game of the season on Monday night, taking on Mornington Gold in what turned out to be a cracking contest that ended in a 5–5 draw. It was a strong all-round performance from the Pumas. Andrew Mayberry, Tristan Hill, and Jay Mazurek each picked up two hits for the night, showing there’s still plenty of life (and power) in the Masters bats. Jay and Andrew also shared pitching duties, with Andrew pulling double duty behind the plate as catcher as well. The Pumas showed patience at the plate, tallying five walks across the game, while both Andrew Mayberry and Kyle Curran smashed doubles to add some spark to the scoreboard.
But as any seasoned Masters player will tell you — the real competition starts after the final out. With dinner served up post-game, the Pumas once again proved that win, lose, or draw, they’ll always bring home the gold when it comes to the feed!
WOMENS PINK
It was all smiles and strong team spirit on Saturday as Pakenham Pink faced off against Waverley Red in a game full of energy, effort, and good vibes. Waverley took the win 24–7, but the Pumas left the diamond proud and united after one of their most entertaining outings yet. The early innings saw Waverley jump out to a lead, stringing together a few timely hits and walks. But the Pumas stayed upbeat, encouraging each other at every play and showing great composure under pressure. The dugout was full of laughter and support, proving once again what makes this group so special. The highlight came in the fourth inning when Pakenham mounted a seven-run rally. Julia worked a walk to kick things off, an error brought in two runs, and Karlee Brady smashed a double to the outfield to keep the momentum rolling. Kirby Cannizzaro, Joanna Blackler, and Codie Alice Sell all added patient at-bats, drawing walks and turning them into runs as the Pumas fought back with determination. Jessica Moulding took the ball to start the game, battling through the innings with her trademark composure. Danni Wilson led the way with two RBIs, while Brady continued her strong form at the plate with a key hit. The team also showed great discipline, earning eight walks across the game — a sign of growing confidence and control. It was the kind of game that reminded everyone why they love playing; great company, a few memorable moments, and plenty of smiles all round.
WOMENS DERBY WHITE V BLACK
There was nothing but smiles, cheers, and Pumas pride at Pakenham on Saturday as two Pakenham teams went head-to-head in a friendly but fiercely competitive club clash. It was an afternoon filled with laughter, sportsmanship, and plenty of action, with Women’s Black taking the win 24–0 — but both sides walking away with a whole lot of fun and team spirit. From the very first pitch, the Pumas dugouts were buzzing. Women’s Black came out swinging, racking up early runs with Carni Dowsett and Jade Taylor leading the charge at the top of the lineup. Taylor’s booming double down the line brought the crowd to life, while Sofia, Emily Williams, and Olivia Garcia kept the rally rolling with disciplined at-bats and clutch contact. Holly Lunn delivered a powerhouse performance, driving in six runs on four hits, including a pair of doubles that cleared the bases and earned plenty of cheers from both dugouts. Lunn’s bat was on fire all game, setting the tone for a confident and composed Pumas Black lineup. Pitching was just as impressive. Emily Williams was dominant on the mound, striking out six in two no-hit innings before handing over to Olivia Garcia, who continued the shutout effort with two more scoreless frames and five strikeouts of her own. Across the field, Women’s White showed grit and great spirit, with players like Emma Barker hustling hard and stealing bases. The energy in the dugout never wavered, and the support from teammates on both sides made it a game to remember. At the plate, Pumas Black piled up 15 hits — with Taylor, Dowsett, Lunn, and Sofia all collecting multiple knocks — while showing patience with an impressive 11 team walks. Beatrice Carreras-i and Emily Williams led the way with three walks each, showing sharp eyes and team discipline. When the final out was called, there were hugs, laughter, and plenty of talk about how great it was to see so much talent and teamwork across both women’s sides. It might have been a one-sided score on paper, but the real win was for club culture — a day celebrating friendship, development, and the growing strength of women’s baseball at Pakenham.
SL70-U14
PUMAS DEFEAT UPWEY FTG 18-15 IN HIGH-SCORING AFFAIR
The first game of the season took us up into the hills to face Upwey Ferntree Gully. The Pumas collected five hits for the game. Pakenham jumped out to the lead in the top of the first inning after Cooper drew a walk, scoring one run, Ethan was struck by a pitch, driving in a run, Morgan drew a walk, scoring one run, and a wild pitch scored one run for Amelia. The innings finished with a huge hit in his second plate appearance from Noah, getting Ethan, Morgan and himself around the diamond with Ethan scoring the final fifth run for the innings. Upwey scored five runs on two hits in the bottom of the first inning. Pakenham jumped back into the lead in the top of the second inning after Cooper, Max and Liam all scored on wild pitches. Upwey scored five runs on three hits to take the lead, 10-8 in the bottom of the second. Pakenham flipped the game on its head in the top of the third, scoring five runs take the lead, 13-10. The biggest blow to Upwey in the inning was a wild pitch and an error that drove both Morgan and Noah home. Pumas again scored five runs in the top of the fourth innings. Liam collected three hits with a double in the fourth, single in the second and a single in the third. Noah collected two hits with an infield HR as the last hit of the first innings and a single in the second. Noah led things off on the hill for Pakenham with Liam appeared in relief for Pumas. Morgan and Cooper led the team with five free passes each and Liam stole five bases. Great first game of the season with lots of potential on show and everyone got across the plate to score at least 2 runs! The team rallied around and welcomed their new team mate Max to the Pumas! Many thanks to Ollie for coaching and to Liam (and his family) for filling in at the last moment.
LL MAJOR-U12
Pumas Little League Majors gave it their all in a fun, high-energy game against Springvale. While the final score went Springvale’s way (19–9), our players showed awesome teamwork, determination, and plenty of smiles out on the diamond. Marshall and Connor led the charge with strong hitting, while Emily, Bailey, and Erin kept the pressure on with smart base running and great plate appearances. Pitchers Bryce, Erin, and Phoenix shared duties beautifully, showing real improvement and confidence on the mound. The team really dug deep in the final innings, finishing strong with great communication, hustle, and never-give-up energy. Each week they’re building confidence and it’s amazing to watch them grow!
-Jessica Moulding-
