WOMENS PINK V WHITE DERBY
If you’re ever trying to explain why local baseball is so good, you could simply point to Saturday afternoon at Toomuc Recreation Reserve and say, “This. Exactly this.” In a game that had everything — lead changes, daring base running, dramatic swings, and more heart-stopping moments than a caffeine overdose — Pakenham White edged past Pakenham Pink 13–12 on the very final play of the game. Yes. The final play. Pink opened the scoring early, but White wasted no time answering back, piling on runs through a mix of timely singles, aggressive running, and heads-up baseball. White continued to build momentum through the second and third innings, stretching their lead with disciplined plate appearances and clever base running, and at one point looked to have the game under control. But Pink clearly didn’t read that script. In the top of the fourth, Women’s Pink flipped the entire game on its head with a six-run rally that had the dugout buzzing and the crowd scrambling to keep up. The moment that stole the show came when Amelia pulled off a daring steal of home — twice — turning disbelief into cheers and swinging the scoreboard in Pink’s favour at 12–9. Just when everyone thought the drama meter had peaked, White calmly stepped back into the box and went to work. Singles, walks, and relentless pressure saw the scores level again before the winning run crossed the plate on a fielder’s choice that ended the game in the most nail-biting way possible. Pink’s Jessica Moulding set the tone early on the mound and backed it up in the field, where Women’s Pink were flawless defensively, not committing a single error. Pink’s patience at the plate was remarkable, drawing a staggering 16 walks and swiping an eye-watering 26 stolen bases as they ran with fearless intent all game long. Johanna Blackler was everywhere for Pink, going 3-for-4 at the plate, while Amelia drove in two crucial runs and was at the centre of the game’s biggest talking points. Julia and Mars Byrne showed nerves of steel, each drawing four walks in a performance built on discipline and hustle. White was just as impressive. Renae Gillett led from the front with three hits, while Karlee Brady, Malissa Wirski, Liberty, and Christine Scully each drove in two runs. White matched Pink’s aggression on the bases, stealing 18 bags of their own and turning a slick double play to halt a late threat. Sometimes the best games are the ones where no one really wants to lose, and no one truly deserves to. This was a full-throttle, laugh-filled, edge-of-your-seat derby that reminded everyone why local baseball is pure magic.
PREMIER 2 FIRSTS
Pakenham Pumas showed resilience on Thursday night, grinding out a hard-fought 7–4 victory over Ormond GH in a game with momentum swings. Ormond GH struck first in the opening inning, pushing across an early run, but the Pumas wasted no time answering back. The home side flipped the script with a three-run response, highlighted by a clutch two-run single from Hiroke Goke and a run-scoring double off the bat of Daniel Harris. The Pumas continued in the third inning, adding two more runs to stretch the lead to 5–2. Jesse Hunter came through with a key single to centre field, but Ormond GH refused to go quietly, chipping away late in the game to keep things interesting. But the Pumas stayed composed, closing out the innings with disciplined pitching and sharp defence. Hunter threw a complete seven innings. He scattered seven hits and four runs while striking out six, battling through traffic and leaning on his experience. He also collected two hits and drove in two runs, combining beautifully with Goke, who also finished with two hits and two RBIs. The Pumas were rock-solid in the field, turning a crucial double play and completing the game without a single error. Kyler Rinehart was kept busy defensively, recording seven chances as the Pumas’ sure hands helped seal the result. It was a composed and professional performance from Pakenham, who finished strong when the game was on the line.
SATURDAY
Anyone looking for drama found it in spades as Pakenham clawed its way to a stirring 9–7 victory over Ormond GH in a pulsating, back-and-forth contest that swung on every inning. The Pumas fired the opening shot early, with Kyler Rinehart launching a solo home run to left field in the first inning to give the visitors an immediate spark. Ormond GH, however, wasted little time responding, reclaiming the lead to set the tone for a tightly fought encounter. The Pumas edged back in front in the third, drawing consecutive walks to move ahead 3–2, only for Ormond GH to again square things up moments later. With the game locked at three apiece, Jesse Hunter produced a moment of brilliance in the fifth inning, ripping a triple to push the Pumas back in front. Once again, Ormond GH answered the call, surging ahead 5–4 to crank up the pressure. But it was the sixth inning where the contest finally tipped. Tied at five, the Pumas bats came alive in emphatic fashion. John Bicos and Hiroke Goke both drove doubles into the gaps, bringing two crucial runs home. Ormond GH refused to lie down with a late solo home run trimming the margin. Kyler Rinehart was outstanding at the plate for Pumas, finishing with three hits from five at-bats, including his early home run, a double, and a timely single. Jesse Hunter had three hits, while Bicos and Daniel Harris each chipped in with multiple hits in an impressive 14 hits overall. Hiroke Goke was the backbone of the win, delivering a gutsy complete-game performance on the mound. He worked through nine demanding innings, striking out nine batters and driving in three runs offensively.
PREMIER 2 RESERVES
It was a challenging Sunday for the Pakenham Pumas Premier 2 Reserves, who were made to work hard against a polished Ormond Reserves outfit, eventually going down 11–0 in a game that tested their resolve early. Ormond set the tone from the outset, capitalising on opportunities in the bottom of the first inning to build a commanding lead. A mix of timely hitting and aggressive base running saw five runs cross the plate, putting immediate pressure on the Pumas defence. The hosts continued to press in the second inning, adding another five runs on six hits as they maintained their momentum and stretched the margin further. Despite the scoreboard, the Pumas continued to battle, sticking to their game plan and competing for every out. Ormond added their final run in the third inning, extending the lead to 11–0, before the Pumas were able to settle the game and limit further damage. Lance Llandado took on the responsibility on the mound for Pakenham, showing determination across four innings of work. He struck out four batters and walked two, persevering through a tough stretch against a relentless Ormond lineup. At the plate, Brock, Oliver, and Felicity Clissold each managed a hit, providing positive moments for the Pumas as they looked to build consistency throughout the lineup. While the result didn’t go their way, the match served as a valuable learning experience for the Pakenham Pumas Premier 2 Reserves, who will take plenty from the contest as they regroup and turn their focus to the weeks ahead.
STATE 3
Pumas were put to the test on Sunday, coming up against a well-drilled Monash University side that proved difficult to contain in a 12-1 result. Monash University set the tone early placing immediate pressure on the Pumas defence. Despite the scoreboard, the Pumas continued to compete, working hard to limit further damage. Mathew Howden took the ball for Pakenham and showed plenty of fight on the mound, striking out seven batters across his outing. Although the final result didn’t reflect the effort put in, the match provided valuable experience for Pakenham against a strong opponent.
STATE 4
If you like your baseball fast, feisty, and full of twists, Sunday’s clash between Pakenham and Berwick City Cougars had everything; and then some. In a game that swung like a pendulum from start to finish, the Pumas finally landed the decisive blow late, snatching a thrilling 7–6 victory in front of a buzzing crowd. Berwick struck first, but the Pumas wasted no time firing back. Singles from Jason Rossitt and Scott Dale flipped the score, giving Pakenham an early 2–1 edge. From there, it was chaos in the best possible way. Berwick squared things up in the second, only for the Pumas to break the deadlock when Angus drove in a run with a sharp single before Gregg McCormick followed suit, stretching the lead to 4–2. The Cougars then levelled the score at four before Pumas snuck ahead 5–4 on a fielder’s choice. But Berwick pounced again in the fourth before Pakenham had one more answer. Rossitt came up big, grounding into a fielder’s choice that tied the game at six. The finish arrived in the bottom of the fifth. With the scores locked and tension high, Angus stepped up and did exactly what was needed, grounding out to bring home the go-ahead run and spark celebrations across the Pumas dugout. Scott Dale was everywhere on the day, finishing a perfect three-for-three at the plate, while Angus and Rossitt each drove in two runs. The Pumas’ speed was the real headline, however, as they swiped an incredible 10 bases, keeping Berwick under pressure. Andrew Hemmes gutted out five innings on the mound, striking out five and doing enough to keep the Pumas within striking distance. It wasn’t always pretty, but it was exciting, energetic, and pure local baseball at its best.
MASTERS
Pumas Masters faced a tough challenge on Monday night, going down 12–4 to a well-drilled Sandringham outfit in a game that showcased resilience, camaraderie, and plenty of heart from the home side. Sandringham built early momentum, but the Pumas never dropped their heads. At the plate, the Masters spread the workload nicely. Brad Jones, Andrew Mayberry, Tristan Hill and Christine Sculley each collected a hit, while James Kinsella led the charge with a strong two-hit performance. One of the highlights of the night came off the bat of Brad Bugeja, who ripped a triple to spark the Pumas’ offence. On the mound, Andrew Mayberry and Kyle Curran shared pitching duties, working hard against a deep Sandringham lineup and combining for three strikeouts across the contest. While Sandringham walked away with the 12–4 win, the result didn’t tell the full story. For the Pumas Masters, it was another example of what makes Monday night baseball special — teamwork, determination, and a shared love of the game.
WOMEN’S BLACK
Runs flowed freely on Saturday as Pakenham Pumas Women’s Black produced an attacking masterclass, outlasting UFTG Black in an entertaining 18–12 shootout. Carni Dowsett opened the scoring with a sharp single before patience at the plate paid off, as Jade Taylor, Emily Williams and Beatrice Carreras-i each forced runs home. The highlight of the inning came off the bat of Holly Lunn, who cleared the bases with a powerful triple to cap off a dominant start. UFTG responded with a six-run bottom of the first. But Pakenham’s answer was emphatic. In the second inning, the Pumas sent seven runners home on a flurry of hits, with Kirby Cannizzaro, Sofia, Carreras-i and Lunn all delivering. The Pumas continued to add pressure in the third inning, extending their lead through a run-scoring single from Williams and another patient walk drawn by Carreras-i, as the visitors began to assert control of the game. Williams opened proceedings on the mound for Pakenham and worked through the early innings before Olivia Garcia came on in relief, helping steady the ship. At the plate, Pakenham were relentless. Lunn set the pace from the leadoff spot with three hits, while Sofia, Dowsett and Williams all contributed multiple hits. Katherine Walton’s discipline was a key factor, drawing three walks as the Pumas accumulated nine in total. Speed was also a defining feature of the performance, with the Pumas running wild on the base paths to rack up an eye-catching 22 stolen bases. Cannizzaro, Taylor, Sofia, Lunn, Walton, Dowsett and Williams all played their part in keeping constant pressure on the UFTG defence. In the field, Pakenham matched their offensive intensity with a clean defensive display, committing no errors. Dowsett was particularly busy, recording seven chances as the Pumas closed out a memorable, high-energy win. It was a game full of momentum swings, big hits and relentless hustle.
-Jessica Moulding-
