PREMIER FIRSTS
Pakenham Pumas Premier 2 Firsts produced a commanding all-round performance on Thursday night, pulling away from Preston Pirates to secure an impressive 12–6 victory built on power hitting, aggressive base running and clean defence.
Preston struck first in the opening inning, crossing two runs with a timely single, but the Pumas responded immediately.
John Bicos brought the home crowd to life in the bottom of the first, launching a solo home run to left field to put Pakenham on the board and swing momentum back their way.
After Preston added another run in the second, the Pumas flipped the contest in emphatic fashion. Rhys McKenzie delivered the big moment, crushing a three-run home run to centre field to hand Pakenham a 4–3 lead and ignite the lineup.
From there, the Pumas took control.
In the third inning, Cooper Porter drove in a run with a single before relentless pressure on the basepaths and a costly error allowed Pakenham to pile on three more, including a daring steal of home.
The following inning saw the lead blow out further as Kyler Rinehart added his own solo home run, Matthew Mills knocked in two with a clutch single, and another run crossed on a dropped third strike.
Kyler Rinehart was also strong on the mound, earning the win after four innings of work, striking out four while keeping Preston in check.
He was well supported in relief by Will, who helped close out the game.
At the plate, the Pumas showed both patience and speed, drawing seven walks and wreaking havoc on the bases with eight stolen bags.
Cooper Porter led the way with two hits, while McKenzie finished with three RBIs.
Mitchell Porter and Matthew Mills were particularly aggressive on the basepaths, each stealing multiple bases.
The performance was rounded out by sharp defence, with the Pumas committing no errors for the night.
Deklan White was busy in the field, handling five chances cleanly as Pakenham completed a polished team effort.
It was a statement win for the Pumas Premier 2 Firsts, showcasing their depth, discipline and ability to put the foot down when the game was on the line.
PREMIER RESERVES
Pakenham Pumas Premier 2 Reserves came within a whisker of a stirring comeback on Saturday, eventually going down 7-6 to Bonbeach Reserves in a hard-fought contest that kept supporters on edge until the final out.
After a difficult opening inning that saw Bonbeach jump out to a four-run lead, the Pumas showed their trademark resilience.
Refusing to let the game slip away early, Pakenham chipped away at the deficit through a combination of pressure hitting and capitalising on Bonbeach errors, clawing their way right back into the contest.
The turnaround was sparked in the bottom of the second inning when singles from Shaun Fahy and Jesus Camacmo-Morles helped swing the momentum.
Camacmo-Morles was the standout at the plate, driving in four runs on two timely hits and leading the charge as the Pumas briefly took a 5–4 lead.
Bonbeach responded to level the scores in the third inning before reclaiming the advantage in the fourth with a two-run single, edging ahead 7–5.
Despite another late push from the Pumas, the visitors managed to hold on in a tense finish.
On the mound, Shaun Fahy provided solid relief, pitching three and a third innings and keeping Pakenham within striking distance, while the Pumas’ discipline at the plate was evident with eight walks drawn across the game.
Wayne Porter added to the pressure on the basepaths, stealing three bases as Pakenham ran aggressively throughout the afternoon.
Although the result went against them, the Pumas Premier 2 Reserves showed plenty of fight and character, turning an early setback into a thrilling contest and proving they are never out of the game until the final pitch.
STATE 3
Pakenham Pumas State 3 endured a challenging afternoon on Sunday, going down 16–5 to Melbourne State 3 East at Surrey Park Arthur Field; but the scoreline did little to reflect the effort shown by the visiting side.
The opening stages were tightly contested, with the Pumas holding firm early before Melbourne managed to break through in the second inning, capitalising on a pair of defensive lapses to edge ahead.
From there, the home side found their rhythm, stringing together a series of well-placed hits in the third inning to stretch the lead.
Melbourne State 3 East produced their biggest inning in the fourth, piling on seven runs as they continued to apply pressure, but the Pumas refused to drop their heads.
Despite being under the pump, Pakenham continued to compete at the plate and found success against quality pitching.
Mathew Howden led the way offensively for the Pumas, driving in two runs from the middle of the order, while a number of players contributed hits to keep the scoreboard ticking over.
Howden, Jacob Gruis, Nate Giles, Harvey, Jason Rossit, Duncan and Blake Hughes all recorded hits as Pakenham worked hard to manufacture runs.
Jason Rossit took the ball to start the game and battled through tough conditions on the mound, striking out four while shouldering a heavy workload early.
While the result didn’t fall Pakenham’s way, the Pumas State 3 side showed determination and depth, with plenty of positives to take forward as they continue their season.
STATE 4
Pakenham Pumas State 4 were left with heartbreak on Sunday after a dramatic, see-saw battle against Melbourne State 4 East ended in a narrow 9-8 defeat, with the deciding run coming in the bottom of the final inning.
The Pumas struck first in the opening frame, with Travis Hough lining a single down the left-field line before pressure on the defence forced an error, allowing Pakenham to jump out to an early 2–0 lead. Melbourne responded immediately, turning the game on its head in the bottom of the first with a seven-run inning.
Despite only managing one hit, a dropped third strike proved costly, driving in three runs and giving the home side a 7-2 advantage.
Rather than fade, the Pumas showed tremendous resilience.
They clawed their way back into the contest and levelled the scores in the fourth inning, again capitalising on defensive mistakes and relentless pressure on the basepaths.
Melbourne briefly regained the lead at 8-7 in the bottom of the fourth, but the Pumas refused to be denied.
In the fifth inning, another Melbourne error brought the scores level at eight, setting the stage for a tense finish.
That equaliser came in unforgettable fashion, with Scott Dale turning an attempted pick-off at first base into a full lap of the diamond.
Taking off as the throw went astray, Dale somehow motored all the way home from first, much to the delight of the Pumas dugout, tying the game at 8–all in scenes that will be talked about for weeks. Unfortunately for Pakenham, Melbourne State 4 East found the decisive moment in the bottom of the fifth, doubling to bring home the winning run and snatch the game in the dying moments.
Liam Hough led the way on the mound for the Pumas, striking out five across three and two-thirds innings, while the Pumas were sharp in the field, turning a double play and not committing a single error all afternoon.
Scott Dale was everywhere defensively, finishing with five plays.
At the plate, Travis Hough and Andrew Hemmes were a constant threat, driving in two runs apiece, while Travis Hough and Scott Dale each collected two hits.
The Pumas also showed great discipline, drawing eight walks and swiping four bases to keep Melbourne under pressure throughout the game.
Despite the cruel ending, Pakenham Pumas State 4 showcased grit, humour and heart, pushing the contest right to the final play and proving once again that they are a side that never stops fighting.
WOMENS WHITE
Pakenham Pumas Women’s White faced a tough challenge on Saturday, going down 18–5 to a strong Waverley Women’s Regional Red side, but the final score did little to dampen the effort and fight shown throughout the contest.
Waverley jumped out early, taking advantage of timely hits and a defensive error to build a lead in the opening innings.
The visitors continued to add pressure in the second, before opening the game up with a big third inning that stretched the margin despite Pakenham working hard to limit the damage and record key outs in the field.
The Pumas never stopped competing and continued to find ways to get on base and create scoring opportunities.
They showed great patience at the plate, drawing six walks, and were relentless on the basepaths, stealing an impressive 11 bases to keep Waverley under constant pressure.
Jess Moulding took the ball to start the game and battled through challenging conditions, recording two strikeouts while working her way through a heavy workload early.
Defensively, the Pumas also produced some highlights, turning a sharp double play to halt one of Waverley’s rallies.
At the plate, several Pumas contributed as the innings rolled on.
Morgan, Kaylee Wirski, Malissa Wirski and Moulding each collected a hit, while Morgan, Christine Sculley, Sarah McCabe and Olivia Field all drove in runs.
Amelia, Christine Sculley, Julia and Moulding were aggressive on the bases, each swiping multiple bags and showcasing the team’s speed.
While the result didn’t go their way, Pakenham Pumas Women’s White displayed resilience, energy and determination, continuing to fight and apply pressure right to the final out.
WOMENS BLACK
Pakenham Pumas Women’s Black produced a polished and powerful performance on Saturday, claiming a convincing 9–2 victory over Cheltenham White, highlighted by a decisive five-run burst in the third inning.
The Pumas set the tone early, opening the scoring in the first inning by applying immediate pressure and capitalising on defensive errors.
They added another run in the second when Holly Lunn was hit by a pitch, continuing to force Cheltenham into tough situations.
The game broke wide open in the third inning as Pakenham’s bats came alive.
Emily Williams led the charge with a clutch single that brought home two runs, before Renae Gillett, Amelia and Olivia Garcia each followed up with run-scoring singles of their own.
The sustained rally showcased the depth of the Pumas lineup and their ability to string quality at-bats together.
Williams also starred in the circle, earning the win after a dominant three-inning outing in which she allowed just two hits and no earned runs, striking out seven batters.
Olivia Garcia then closed the door in relief, tossing a scoreless inning to keep Cheltenham at bay.
At the plate, Williams was again outstanding, driving in three runs from the seven spot and finishing a perfect 2-for-2.
Katherine Walton also impressed with two hits, while Holly Lunn’s patience helped set the table, drawing two walks.
In total, the Pumas showed great discipline, collecting eight walks across the game.
The pressure didn’t stop there, with Pakenham running aggressively on the basepaths.
Walton and Williams both stole multiple bases as the Pumas swiped an eye-catching 10 bases for the afternoon.
It was a complete team performance from Pakenham Pumas Women’s Black, blending sharp pitching, smart hitting and relentless pressure to secure a well-earned win.
MASTERS
Monday night baseball at Toomuc Reserve delivered plenty of drama, with Pakenham Pumas Masters and Mornington Black locked in an entertaining 7–7 draw that kept players and spectators engaged right through to the final innings.
The Pumas burst out of the blocks in the opening frame, putting immediate pressure on the visitors. Tristan Hill drew a bases-loaded walk to open the scoring before Christine Sculley brought another run home with a productive ground out.
Brad Bugeja then capped off the inning in style, lacing a single that drove in two more as Pakenham jumped out to an early advantage.
The momentum continued in the second inning when Travis Hough singled to centre field, extending the Pumas’ lead and giving the home side early control of the contest.
Mornington, however, refused to go away and steadily worked their way back into the game.
The visitors eventually drew level in the top of the sixth inning, tying the score at seven apiece and setting up a tense finish.
On the mound, Justin Mazurek delivered a solid start for the Pumas, working four strong innings while allowing just five hits and two earned runs, keeping Mornington in check and giving his side every chance to take the win.
Offensively, the Pumas were productive throughout the night, collecting nine hits.
Travis Hough and Andrew Mayberry formed a dangerous combination in the middle of the order, each picking up two hits in back-to-back spots, while Christine Sculley and Brad Bugeja also proved difficult to contain, driving in two runs apiece.
In the end, neither side could land the decisive blow, with the evenly matched contest finishing in a well-earned draw; a fitting result after a night of competitive, high-quality Masters baseball at Toomuc Reserve.
JUNIORS
LL MAJORS
Pakenham Pumas Little League Majors took on Blackburn away from home in another great learning game for our junior side. The team showed fantastic effort across the diamond, with plenty of hustle, positive attitudes, and encouragement for each other all game long.
At the plate, Pakenham worked hard through their at-bats, showing patience and determination against some consistent pitching. There were some great hits and smart moments on the bases as the kids continued to grow in confidence.
In the field, Pakenham showed improvement with strong pickups, good throws, and better communication as the game went on. Most importantly, the team never gave up and kept the energy high right through to the final out.
Another valuable game full of learning, teamwork, and smiles — well done Pakenham!
SL80
Pakenham Pumas SL80 put on a dominant all-round performance on Sunday, rolling past the Cheltenham Rustlers 20-6 in front of the home crowd.
Julia led the way with incredible patience at the plate, drawing four walks and setting the tone all day.
The Pumas showed great discipline overall, piling up a massive 17 walks as a team and constantly pressuring the defence.
After Cheltenham scored early, the Pumas responded strongly in the second inning, taking a 5-2 lead thanks to walks to Morgan, Hunter and Amelia, a hit-by-pitch to Timmy, and a run on a wild pitch.
Cheltenham briefly tied the game in the third, but the Pumas answered immediately with a five-run bottom of the third to regain control.
The key moment came when Ollie drove in two runs with a clutch groundout, sparking the momentum shift.
The Pumas then poured it on with five runs, highlighted by Ollie’s 2-RBI single, in the fourth inning, and another five-run inning in the fifth, with RBIs coming from Noah, Julia, Aiden, Morgan, and Hunter.
On the mound, Timmy started and struck out 10 batters over four innings and Ollie was lights-out in relief with one inning, zero runs and three strikeouts.
Offensive highlights included Timmy and Ollie getting two hits each, hitting back-to-back, with Ollie leading the team with three RBIs.
Hunter and Julia were also impressive with four walks each.
The Pumas stole 18 bases, with Timmy, Hunter, Julia, Morgan and Noah all swiping multiple bags and keeping the pressure on all game long.
A complete team effort; patience, power, pitching and pace; the kids are playing with confidence and it shows every week.
Next up the Pumas welcome Sandringham/Moorabbin this Sunday.
Let’s keep it rolling!
-Jess Moulding-
