Welcome to the Ram Dome ~ Home of the Newport Rams Baseball & Cricket Club

U12 GRAND FINAL   Saturday 4 September
THE GAME WAS CALLED OFF DUE TO BAD WEATHER, IT WILL BE REPLAYED:
NEXT SATURDAY 11 September @ 9am GET DOWN AND SUPPORT THE BOYS

Round 16        Saturday 28   August       SEMI FINALS
Round 16 saw all 3 teams make the journey to Presidents Park to take on Werribee teams knowing that each team was only one win away from a Grand Final berth.

U12's defeated Werribee     8 - 5                           Report & Pics to come
With the business end of the season upon us the boys were well aware of the importance of the game. All season Gav had played every player in every position they wanted to try, but now it was time to put the best team on the field to give these young chargers the best change of booking a front row seat in the grand final a week away.

Kyle throwing heat... Nathan on 3rd Zeb hitting well Ryan swings hard

Celebrations all round after a well earned victory

Each match up between the WILD-RAMS and the Giants has been a close encounter that could have gone either way. Werribee had regularly struggled to have 9 players for much of the winter and as such needed to call on a couple of summer players to ensure they had the numbers, there was much discussion about this and Gav made a decision to lodge a protest after the 1st pitch was thrown. Once that was done it was a matter of switching onto the game and win it on the scoreboard so there could be no post match conjecture.

The top of the 1st saw the WILD-RAMS kept scoreless and the Giants went to score 5 runs on a field that the weather has not been to kind to. However after the 1st dig the WILD-RAMS switched on and knuckled down, with Kyle throwing heat on the mound to Jamie, Chris at 1st, Patrick at 2nd, Josh at 3rd, Ayden at short, Pup at left, Ryan at centre and Zeb at right. Werribee then failed to score again for the remainder of the game.

The boys raised the aggression level in the batting box and on the bases, something Gav has been working on all season. The WILD-RAMS took advantage of some wayward pitching in the 3rd to plate 6 runs, then returned to the field to shut the Giants out. Ayden itched well with some important outs with runners on. With just over 15 minutes left the final inning was started and the WILD-RAMS scored a further 2 runs. The boys took to the field knowing that their season would be determined in the next 5 minutes. To their credit they took it in their stride and kept the Giants scoreless.

The boys all celebrated such an important win where the baseball gods were shinning on them and reinforced both Gav's and NBC's attitude to baseball, play fair, do the right thing and enjoy your baseball and the game will come to you.

WELL DONE BOYS, now its off to Geelong to take the very strong Guild Lions for the Winter flag.

Round 15        Saturday 21   August
For the 15th round of the Winter season the U12's & U14's travelled to Geelong to take on the Saints for their last home and away game as the U17's started their finals campaign at the RAM-DOME taking on Werribee.

U12's defeated Saints    18 - 2                           Report by Walshy
With a finals berth already confirmed the WILD-RAMS went to freezing cold Geelong to take on the Saints. It was the coldest morning I can remember of this winter season, but that did not deter the 8 players than came to play. Gav gave the boys a rev last week after an uninspiring performance, it was clear from the very start these boys came to set the record straight and gain some confidence leading into the finals. Due to the large amount of recent rain in Geelong there were 3 games on the Saints synthetic ground, the U14 on the main diamond and an U12 game in each outfield corner. it was a tight fit so outfielders had helmets on not just to keep their ears warm.

             Ryan threw well in relief

U14's defeated by Saints 12 - 5 Report by Fishyn Lewer
The score might show that the U14's went down by 7 runs but what it doesn't show is the score was 5 - 5 before saints last dig that got them 7 runs then time was called, obviously a good close game until then.

Katie did well with the bat making contact at least twice swinging well with a lot of gained confidence over the winter. Big Nick took over pitching from James for the last dig and well. James got all of one and narrowly missed putting it out, JD did well with plenty to do in the infield.

As has been mentioned with only 4 U14 teams this winter all teams will make the first week of the finals and of course anything is possible. For those that don't know this team they may look at the results of only one win for the season as a poor season, however it can be said that more is learned from losing than winning.... This a team that is made up of varying skill levels but the enthusiasm and love for the game is constant through them all.

Round 14        Saturday 14   August

U12's defeated by Werribee 8 - 1                           Report by Walshy
The WILD-RAMS returned to the RAM-DOME to take on the Giants also knowing that with the standings as they are they are likely to meet again for the semi final with the Giants sitting 2nd and the WILD-RAMS sitting 3rd

Josh has a go on the mound Zeb lets Mum freeze as he takes her jacket, scarf & hairclip Gav gives the boys a rev after an unimpressive performance

With only 2 games left before the finals Gav called on his team to step up and be aggressive in the batting box as the business end of the season is now here. Kyle took to the mound throwing to Jamie, Zeb on 1st, Josh at 2nd, Chris at 3rd, Pup at short, Ayden, Ryan and Nathan taking care of the outfield. Tobias and Patrick to spend the 1st dig on the bench.

It was a game without many highlights for the home team, Kyle threw well with lots of strikeouts showing his couple of weeks on the disabled list took nothing away from his high strike rate. The Giants started with 1 run in the first and then scored in every inning including a nice home run to Nathan Bezzina, the Giants then scored a further 5 to seal the win.

For the WILD-RAMS there was hits to Kyle and Ayden and some aggressive base running by Jamie, but overall quite an unimpressive performance against the Giants which sets the scene for our next encounter in 2 weeks for the semi final where more aggression and determination in the batting box will be required to make it to the Grand Final.

U14's defeated by Guild Report by Fishyn Lewer
On a VERY cold & windy Saturday morning the RAM-CATS went to Lara to play their last home game for the season knowing they were playing Guild who have only lost 2 games this winter. Not a great deal to mention from this match up, it is clear that each week new things are learned by a young team, congratulations to Katie for getting a hit on the last ball of the game.

U17's defeated by Werribee 10 - 9
The RAMS took on the Giants in the last game of the season before the finals start next week for U17's. On a morning that was not the most ideal for baseball both teams went at it with Werribee sitting 4th and the RAMS sitting 3rd on the ladder with the finals a week away. A tight game and close result with a spread of hits amongst the RAMS and both teams will now slug it out next week for the semi final back at the RAM-DOME.

Jeremy Young 2h/3RBIs, Andy Radevski 2h/2RBIs, Ayden Ham 1h/1RBI, Sean Pengelly 1h/1RBI

Round 13 Saturday 7 August

U12's drew with Bellarine 2 - 2 Report by Walshy
or the 2nd time this winter we made the trek to Bellarine to take on the Bears, it might be the longest trip we make for an away game but with the sun shining it was certainly a beautiful morning with fresh air for a game of baseball, we always have a close fought game with the Bears and today was no different.

Nathan growing in confidence Pup enjoying catching Patrick loves his chewy Jamie slides in safely on a wild pitch Patrick loves to score

The WILD-RAMS were kept scoreless in the top of the 1st. Jamie took the mound throwing to Pup, Chris at 1st, Ayden at 2nd, Josh at 3rd, Ryan at short, Nathan at left, Zeb at centre and Kyle back from the disabled list with tendonitis to take his spot at right field. Patrick started on the bench but was already pacing up and down with a bat in his hands raring to go.

Jamie took a couple of hitters to get his range then threw 2 Ks to keep the Bears scoreless in the 1st. The game was close with hits hard to find and after 3 innings the game was locked at 2 all. Jamie continued to throw well with 4 more strikeouts before a full pitch count saw Zeb come in to relieve him. Zeb was all set last week to pitch when time ran out, so he has been hanging out all week to take the mound. Zeb has a very natural looking pitching move as a lefty, will certainly be one to watch as he continues to improve with every outing. Josh was at left-field with one out and a runner on third and the WILD-RAMS up 2-1. A high fly ball was hit to left and Josh ran for it never looking overly confident. He put his glove in the right spot and the ball dropped in for a great catch. The runner at 3rd tagged up and ran home, but it didn't matter Josh took a great catch and he wanted everyone to know how happy he was, and fair enough too. I am sure that will do wonders for his confidence, great effort Josh.

In the top of the 3rd Patrick lead off with a walk, he has really learned where his strike zone is and defends it well. You may remember Round 2 in May at the last outing to Bellarine when Patrick got the rush of blood and stole every base including home as Gav bit off his nails. Well it was on again, off he went to 2nd, then for some unknown reason Patrick was leading off from 2nd base towards first with a huge smile.........Gav, and everyone else was trying to tell Patrick to go the other side, so he did leading off about 6 foot from 2nd towards 3rd as everyone yelled instructions to stay on the base, finally he was back to the base, the pitcher delivered and Patrick was off to 3rd, the catcher took it cleanly and threw it to 3rd, it was a short throw so Patrick did the courteous thing, stopped a few feet before the base to allow the 3rd baseman to gather the throw.............yes Gav and everyone was yelling instructions, but Patrick did what Patrick does and he poked his foot onto the base narrowly missing the tag with a huge smile. Kyle hit the next pitch safely scoring Patrick. I know I mention the baseball adventures of Patrick regularly, it is purely out of enjoyment of watching him play, his love and passion for the game is impressive and contagious. His ability may still be developing but his enthusiasm and individuality is something I personally enjoy seeing each week and as much as Gav bites his nails and holds his breath, he loves watching it to. Gav's motto at this age group is: "to provide an opportunity for the kids to have a positive baseball experience which in turn will ensure the kids will stay with baseball, and that's a good thing for the kids and good for baseball." I have never heard it put better.

With the clock ticking down Lachlan Stott had exhausted his pitch count for the Bears and was relieved for the top of the 4th. The new pitcher struggled with accuracy and the WILD-RAMS took advantage of some walks. The score blew out to 8-2 with Patrick scoring for the last run of the game with a leap of joy over the plate. The score reverted back with uneven innings.

With the WILD-RAMS sitting 3rd on the ladder next week we return to the RAM-DOME to take on Werribee who are sitting 2nd, with only 2 games to go it is likely we will take on Werribee in the 1st final so it is an important game for a number of reasons, suffice to say if everyone turns up ready to play with Patrick's level of enthusiasm then we are in with a good shot.

U14's defeated by Werribee 15 - 8                          Report by Fishyn Lewer
As has been stated before there are only 4 teams in the U14 competition this year, so of course regardless of the win loss situation for the season, every team will play finals. The U14 RAM-CATS are a young team without a great depth of experience, but they are a team who turn up to play week after week, so with only 2 games left anything could happen from here.

                 Some pre-game bat balancing can't hurt                      Jack slides in safely for another run                           Jack on the mound

It is encouraging to see such a predominately young team continually improving every week. Jack is one who is having a great winter after just his first summer of baseball. He made the U14 GBA side and is certainly going to continue to be an asset to the RAMS organisation, he started on the hill throwing to JD who caught well considering he was suffering after a hard skating fall the evening before.

James came in to relieve and threw solidly against an always competitive Werribee Giants. Some quality pitching by Werribee pitcher who is arguably the best pitcher at this age group this winter mean't hits were not easy to come by, however when we did get runners on base we made the most of it with aggressive base running. Regardless of the score with was a close game that Werribee deserved to win.

However if you are a betting person don't be afraid to put a couple of dollars on the RAM-CATS putting a few things together to give the stronger teams a run come finals time. Although regardless of what does or doesn't happen you can be sure they will be trying hard and loving every minute of it.

U17's defeated Saints 13 - 3
It was our last trip down to sleepy hollow for the home and away season for our return match against the Saints.

Liam on 2nd after crashing a double Peter and the Saints catcher watch a plane fly over

As it has been for all our games in Geelong the early start for the Rams seemed to take a couple of innings before they came to life. So with a full squad at our disposal and a very efficient warm up over Sash suggested a few run throughs to shake off that early morning lethargy.

It worked a treat with Andy smacking a double to right centre and then scoring on a passed ball, Jezza then stepped up the plate and hammered a infield Homer over centre fields head. This set the trend for the rest of the game everybody contributed, a major Highlight was Liam Mckean who smashed the ball up the middle for his first extra base hit.

Things are on track with only 1 game left before the finals, currently sitting 2nd behind Guild the RAMS are travelling well and will need to continue to play well to achieve post season success.

Hits – Andy 2 + 2 Rbi, Sean 2 + 2 Rbi, Jezz 2 +1 Rbi (Home Run), Ayden 2, Liam 1 +3 Rbi, Harly 1 +1 Rbi, Peter 1, Darcy 1

Round 12        Saturday 31 July

U12's defeated by Guild 15 - 8                          Report by Walshy
The WILD-RAMS went to Lara for the last time this season to take on the "always strong" Guild Lions. Jamie started on the hill throwing to Pup, Zeb at 1st, Nathan at 2nd, Chris at 3rd, Ayden at short, Patrick at left, Tobias at centre and Josh at right field.

Nathan, gaining confidence Chris developing well as a pitcher Plenty of energy, even after the game

Jamie started well and worked hard for accuracy, with some help from Nathan making a good play from 2nd as well as throwing 2 strike-outs, the 2nd with bases loaded and 2 outs, the Lions were kept to 2 runs in the first. At the end of the 1st following a couple of walks and a great hit by Ayden the WILD-RAMS were in front 3-2. One thing we have all seen of Guild is if you leave the door open slightly they will make the most of it which they did on more than one occasion with some great hitting including 2 triples and a single to "Mini Beast" from Guild.

As we have come to expect from Gav's coaching numerous players were given opportunities including Chris relieving Jamie on the mound, Chris is developing well as a pitcher which is even more impressive given this is his first season of baseball. Nathan did well at 2nd base making a couple of good plays as well as putting bat to ball each time at the plate, his confidence is certainly growing. Patrick had a hard day at the office, being stuck out on a pitch he was adamant was to high for him and then being struck by a pitch in the most tender part of the elbow. Even after the game has finished and handshakes are done there is plenty of energy amongst this team.

U14's defeated by Saints 18 - 0           Report & Pics by Fishyn Lewer
The U14 RAM-CATS got set to play their last home game for the season against the hard hitting Saints who turned up with their bats ready to unleash and that is exactly what happened.

From the time the game started til the end the Saints worked hard in the batters box and their work paid off with a good hitting display, unfortunately the RAM-CATS could do little to contain Saints bats and also struggled with their own bats. There were a couple of hits scattered around but the horse had already bolted. Despite the score blowing out I am reliably told Jack threw well and it is not just an isolated opinion that sees a lot of pitching potential in Jack as he continues to develop and learn the game, it must not be forgotten he has been playing baseball for less than 1 year, so the learning curve is still going.

U17's defeated Lara   9 - 2                   Report by Jordo
With only two games before the finals we went into the game with our “A” line up. Andy on the hill, Sean behind the dish, Hammy at third, Jezza at short, Darcy at second, and Tyson at first, with Peter Harley & Liam looking after the outfield.

After a close call in our first encounter and with a new found confidence and a couple of wins under their belts we could not afford to take Lara lightly. Pleasingly the Rams with the scent of another finals campaign looming came out with bats a blazing with everyone if not hitting still doing the team things to ensure success. Lara to their credit gave it their all right to the last pitch.

Hits – Jeremy 3 Hits 1 HR(3Rbi), Sean 3 Hits (2 Rbi), Ayden 2 Hits 1 HR(2Rbi), Tyson 2 Hits, Andy 1 hit, Harley 1 Hit, Darcy 1 Hit

Round 11 Saturday 24 July
Another road trip for all three teams for round 11 and the winter season gets well and truly into the business end as finals berths start taking shape. The U12's went to Saints, The U14s were at Guild and the U17's went to President's Park top take on the Werribee Giants.

U12's defeated Saints Red 7 - 1 Report by Walshy
This was yet another game played in the true spirit of Little League Baseball, fun and learning 1st, and the score 2nd. We all know Gav's commitment and focus for this age group, to learn and have a go at everything. Saints Coach: Robert Hosking clearly thinks that having fun and learning is the priority also which made for a great game that was very entertaining for both players & spectators. Robert teaches the young Saints chargers using sayings like: "Squash the bug, shoot the sheriff" when they are going to bat. After hearing him saying this to his players I just had to ask. "Squash the bug" - plant and pivot the back foot when swinging the bat (squash the bug) "shoot the sheriff" - throw (shoot) your belly button and hips at the pitcher when swinging to hit. Its things like this that make this age group so much fun to be a part of.

Despite Kyle being unavailable for 2 weeks due to tendonitis in his right foot Gav still had a choice of 10 player on deck this morning, Jamie starting pitching duties to Pup, Zeb at first, Josh at 2nd, Chris at 3rd, Ryan at short, Nathan Ayden and Tobias taking care of the outfield. Gav decided with Patrick starting on the bench it would be a good opportunity to find out the "meaning of life - according to Patrick......." (is brave I know) I believe Patrick explained it is all about molecules and bacteria...... ask Gav for more details. Anyway on with the baseball.....

After having last weekend off due to the U12 championships in Bendigo the U12 WILD-RAMS were itching to go, none more than Christopher who couldn't wait to get into the field he went out to sub for Saints despite Pup already being out there, Gav had to explain that 4 outfielders was to many. We were on the board with 1 in the first after some good hitting by Josh, Zeb and Patrick. Jamie was dominant on the mound throwing lots of strikes against the young enthusiastic Saints, like many things Jamie does in baseball his mechanics are impressive to watch, 7 of the 8 outs for the Saints while Jamie was pitching were strikeouts. Chris relieved well after Jamie reached his pitch count in the bottom of the 3rd.

For the RAM-CATS a good game with quality at bats and some aggressive base running saw the score 7 times before game was called. It was not a game where there were a lot of stand out highlights, it was more a game where each player did what was required as an individual top support the team to win the game. As I mentioned it was a game where everyone, including a couple of brand new Saints had a great game and only found out the score after the end of the game.

Once again a credit to Gavin and Robert (Saints Coach) for emphasising the "fun factor"

U14's defeated by Guild 15 - 0 Report by Shellie Ham
The U14 RAM-CATS made the journey to Waurn Ponds to take on Guild knowing that they would be 3 players short and those players are 3 of the more experienced players, however as they have shown this season they enjoy their baseball and look forward to playing. There is a never give up attitude amongst this team which is always great to see.

With key players missing it meant that many of the kids had to play in positions they had never played in before and regardless of the score they equipped themselves well.

Quinn started off pitching and was ably relieved by Nick who did very well in the middle. Alannah made the most of the opportunity to play at shortstop and took a great catch much to her own delight.

The game was a slow one and credit of course must be given to Guild for scoring 15 runs and taking the win.

U17's V Werribee 8 - 7 Report by Jordo
With the return of Tyson after his injury the U17’s travelled to Werribee for our second round game against the Blue Jays. Winning our first encounter with a ten run mercy rule.

We were looking forward to regaining some form to take into the run to the finals. After going scoreless in the top of the first and then letting Werribee work the first run across the plate. The RAMS then rallied to score 5 runs in the top of the second innings. Then as he has done so lately Andy settled and shut out Werribee in the bottom of the second.

The RAMS scored 3 more in the top of the third, Now leading 8 runs to 1 Andy struggled to find the strike zone and Werribee on a couple of walks and a hit scored 3 runs. With the big three for Newport due up things were looking good to add some insurance to the score line, five pitches later we were back in the field trying to hold out the fast finishing Jays, with the score now 8-7 and bases loaded and two out Harley handled a shot at him at third and fired a strike to Tyson at first and we all breathed a sigh of relief.

Without looking to the scorebook it is hard to state who got hits etc, however it would certainly be fair to say all contributed and a good team effort to get out of jail

U14's defeated by Werribee 18 - 4 Report by Roland Stott
Jack Van Wyngaarden; 1hit, 1rbi, 3bb, 1 run, Caught 3 innings
Quinn O'Malley; 1hit, 1rbi, Pitched 2 innings
Josh Dunstone; 1hit, Pitched 2 innings
Tevin Ham; 2bb, 1 run, Caught 1 innings
Kaitlyn Simpson; 1bb, 1 run
Ethan Ham; 3bb, 1 run
Alannah Hardy; 1hit, 1rbi, 2bb

U17's defeated by Guild 5-1 Report by Jordan Pengelly
Once again we made the early morning trek down to sleepy hollow and the field of dreams, And so as it has been for all our games there we were greeted with a glorious Sunrise, Great for spectators and coaches not so great for catchers, umpire & the hitters. So with age comes wisdom and a pair of Raybans were lifted from the coaches car. Not the Raybans!!!!

Play ball, Jezza led off and was struck out, he was soon joined by the Andy & Jack; all struggling to pick up the ball. This week some normality was restored with the Rams. In defence Andy was back on the hill Sean behind the dish (and some cool shades) Hey they seemed to do the trick. That was the end of the good news Andy fresh from a couple of weeks break just couldn’t find the strike zone and the pesky walks bit us on our you know what, Guild went on to plate 5 runs in the first.

Ayden led off with shot off the third baseman was gifted second after Peter worked a hard earned walk, They both moved up from Harley’s walk. Ayden with home just ninty feet away got a little to aggressive with his lead and was hosed at third and so as fast as we threatened we were out still on zero.

Andy as he does righted the ship and shut down Guild for the next two innings. Jezza led off the third with a blast over centre fields head for a double. Andy then belted one to the same place and Jezz trotted home to plate our first run. With Andy now out of pitches Hammy was thrown the ball and he sat the next three down. With the clock running down the Rams went on our own run scoring spree to plate four and tie the game

But with only a few minutes left we could not get Guild out so the score reverted back to 5 – 1

Hits – Jeremy 1 (double) Andy 1 (double) Ayden 1 (single) Harley 1 (single)

Round 9 Saturday 10 July
On a day when the news is giving warnings of gale force winds and huge storms across the west of Victoria, it was going to take more than that to stop the RAMS. The U14 & U17 teams were home to Werribee and Deakin respectively while the U12 travelled to Lara for their home game against Saints.

U12's defeated Saints 9 - 8
With dark clouds that made it more like a night game without the lights Kyle took to the mound for the WILD-RAMS, Jamie catching, Zeb at 1st, Patrick at 2nd, Nathan at 3rd, Pup at short, Ayden at left field, Chris at right field and MAKING HIS BASEBALL DEBUT, RYAN WAS AT CENTERFIELD.

Kyle didnt take long to settle into his rhythm throwing 9 strike outs in the first 3 innings, Ayden then took over pitching duties throwing to Pup, Jamie went to left field which didn't stop him taking plays at 2nd and backing up catchers throw overs, that boy just loves to play. The whole team did well in the batting box with some disciplined hitting drawing some walks as everyone got on. Ryan the rookie showed he knows how to play, he tracked a high flyball at center that just failed to sit in the glove at the last minute. When he came up to bat his father Jeff, who was umpiring said: "if you don't get a hit you can wash my car" Ryan then got a flat shot so I guess Jeff is at home washing Ryan's bike now..... Ryan certainly had a day out with a couple balls hit to him, getting on base a couple times including being hit by a pitched ball and scoring a couple times, he is certainly going to be one to watch in years to come.

A good hitting rally late in the game saw Jamie, Nathan, Pup, Zeb Ryan and Kyle all get good hits. Nathan also scored his 1st run today and was quite elated. With minutes to go and any score to revert back Jamie came to the plate to switch hit and go at it left handed, as we have come to expect from Jamie he put bat to ball and got on base, so it really was a day of firsts.

Gav also had a great game with lots of laughs during a game where I must have heard him answer nearly 1000 questions from: can I pitch.....when do i bat....is it going to rain....are you cold too...., Patrick took the opportunity to have a good chat with Gav when he got to third base, he was telling Gav about his base running skills. It was a great game played in good spirits by both teams.

U14's defeated Werribee 8 - 7 CONGRATS FOR THEIR 1ST WIN
As the saying goes, if at first you don't succeed, try and try again. Without putting to fine a point on it this win for the U14 RAM-CATS has been weeks in the making, there have been some close calls and some good baseball shown by the keen bunch of players, so its great to see that everything has come together for their first win.

The win was all the more sweet as it was against League leaders; Werribee who are quite a strong outfit who were without their 2 dominant pitchers who are in the U.S. playing for the touring Kangaroos. The RAM-CATS took the game out 8 -7 (I think), I am told it was a great game where everyone just kept chipping away and putting things right and when game was called they were in front.

JD & Jack took on the pitching duties on a day that was not the best for baseball, both understandably struggled in the conditions, as did the opposition hurlers, there were more than enough walks calls which kept the scoreboard ticking over for both teams, James & Tevin took care of the catching, a few scattered hits amongst the RAM-CATS for Jack, Nick, JD & James. This is certainly a team that is capable, time will tell.

U17's V Deakin 5 - 5 DRAW
Taking all things into consideration with injuries and seniors duties Jordan mixed up the line up a bit to see how things would play out against the struggling Deakin.

Fresh from his U18 triumph Ayden Ham was thrown the ball, we know Andy can throw a mean pitch but could he handle them from behind the dish, didn't take lon g to get the answer, an emphatic - yes he could. With a very strong and freezing cold northerly blowing out Hammy found the going not to his liking. Walks hurt a team in any grade so after giving up a couple followed by some aggressive base running, the Deakin boys plated 4 runs in the first. As they have repeatedly done well this season the RAMS answered with 2 runs.

Ayden then worked out the tricky conditions sitting down the next three he faced. Harley led off with a shot to right field then stole 2^nd then to be driven home after Jezza got onto a long ball to centre field. Now trailing 4 to 3 Ayden struggled with his control again walking the first two hitters and a wild pitch and the RAMS were down 5 runs to 3. It was Deakin’s turn to lose the strike zone and those costly walks saw Jack and Ayden put aboard then escorted round the bases by wild pitching that tied up the game and game was called.

Not an inspirational performance from both sides Deakin were the better team on the day and unlucky that they didn’t steal an upset win from the RAMS.

Hits – Jezza 2 (1Rbi), Peter 1, Harley 1, Andy 1

Round 8 Saturday 26 June
After a couple of weeks without games due to the long weekend and the U16 Championships all players were itching to get back on the field. So after constant rain and a freezing morning the U12's travelled to Werribee to take on the Giants, the U14s & U17's travelled to Geelong to take on the Saints and the Lions respectively.

U12's defeated by Werribee 8 - 7
Some real arctic weather greeted us at President's Park, and with this game being held at the start of the school holidays there was always the risk of teams being short. The WILD-RAMS had 7 players and the Giants 5, so play ball was called with players ready to sub in any position.

We started off well in the 1st scoring 5 with hits to Pup, Ayden, Patrick and walks with to Jamie, Zeb and Chris. Some good base running and enthusiasm was good to see in such cold weather and the occasional shower. Ayden started pitching to Jamie, with Zeb at 1st, Patrick at 2nd, Nathan at 3rd, Pup at short and Chris in the outfield with a hand from 2 subs from thew Giants. Ayden threw well allowing only 1 run to cross and throwing 2 strike outs.

The game moved along appearing quite quickly as players were constantly on and off the field subbing in various positions as well as getting back in time to bat. All players had at least 5 at-bats as the game came to and end, remarkably without any rain interruptions. Staying with his plan of letting everyone play all positions Gav had 5 different pitchers in one inning going from Ayden, Christopher, Nathan, Patrick and Pup. Patrick was keen to show off his new pitching action after his exposure to the Major Leagues with the Seattle Mariners, now he just needs to settle on one of the 3 different actions he has :-) Patrick is a great competitor and never fails to entertain.

Ayden hit the ball hard and ran out a stand up triple, Jamie also struck a hard line drive, unfortunately the pitchers reflexes were on the ball and he took a great catch of a very hard hit ball. The Giants played well and consistently to take the game out by 1 run. Credit to all players who played an entertaining game in good spirits, there were no complaints as players were regularly asked to sub for the opposition.

U14's defeated by Saints 6 - 1
Once again the weather-man got involved, the prediction was for cold and wet but this didn't keep the RAM-CATS from making the trek to Geelong to take on Saints. Even Stotty the winter veteran, needed special support from Karen v W. to deal with the many seasons on one day as can be seen in the photos below. Fortunately the game was played on a synthetic ground, although given the amount of rain that had fallen it was still a heavy track, the sun even poked out from the clouds.

A close game between both teams leading into the last inning before Saints scored 3 more times to extend their lead and take the game 6 - 1.

James opened the pitching duties throwing to JD, he was later relieved by Jack and Quinny took over duties behind the plate. Playing in such conditions illustrates how much these young chargers love their game showing plenty of commitment in tuff conditions in a game requiring accuracy in all areas. Pitching a baseball changes to more like throwing a round ball of soap and unless the ball hits the centre of the bat it will go straight up or straight down, yet some good pitching, fielding and hitting was on display.

in conditions where getting hit by a slow pitch stings twice as much because of the cold, some great fortitude was shown by Quinny and Alana who were both struck firmly by pitched balls, they took their place at 1st base and showed no fear next time up to bat. Clearly the RAMS influence on them..........

U17's defeated Guild 13 - 5
On a cold and greasy morning the RAMS travelled to the "field of dreams" to take on The Guild Cubs. Even after a 2 week break the RAMS showed they are certainly a hard charging team who know how to hit the ball no matter what the conditions.

The older stronger Rams unit where never really pushed after surviving the bottom of the first. Andy was thrown the ball and Sean was behind the dish. It was a real struggle for Andy to control the greasy ball then to make matters worse the sun (ahh lovely) came out blinding all behind the plate. It soon clouded over (dam freezing again) and the RAMS got out of jail but were now down 5 runs to 1.

The bats now warmed up for the Rams and they plated the maximum 7 runs. Andy and Sean then settled into the business of controlling the Guild bats with 3 up & 3 down in the next two innings and the Rams scoring 5 more runs, This was a great job done by both teams as the early morning conditions were extremely difficult for playing baseball.

Round 7 Saturday 5 June
If anyone was unsure if we were playing summer or winter baseball Round 7 certainly left us in no doubt with some serious arctic blasts and rain interruptions. The U12s were at Lara for their home game against Bellarine, the U14s & U17s were at the RAM-DOME against Guild.

U12's defeated by Bellarine 10-6
A heavy dew, threatening rain and an arctic wind greeted us at Lara to take on the Bears. Pitching was always going to be difficult in such conditions, having said that pitchers must learn to adapt to the conditions and soldier on. Kyle and Jamie threw the bulk of the game for the WILD-RAMS finding how difficult it can be with both struggling for accuracy.

Nathan has been waiting and hoping since the start of the season to have a crack on the mound and today Gav gave him the green light. Whenever I watch Nathan I could be forgiven thinking he always needs to nick off to the toilet, but his active feet never standing still is just a sign of how excited he gets & how much he loves his baseball. So when Gav made the change to bring Nathan in he was almost beside himself. He took his warm ups with Gav & Umpire Hicksy helping him with an action, but every pitch was thrown a different way. Play ball was called with 2 already out, Nathan threw one down the tube to Pup the hitter got a piece of it hitting it straight back to Nathan, who fielded it and threw him out at first like a veteran. 1 pitch, 1 out and as the clock ticked down the WILD-RAMS didn't field again, so an impressive statistic for Nathan's first outing.

The rest of the game was a lot of fun for the kids, very few earned runs with all players battling under the conditions. The bears took advantage of some wayward pitching & to many free passes. Zeb got a nice hit late in the game scoring 2, but by now we were to far behind. The Bears coach gave some younger boys an opportunity to pitch & from a parents point of view it was U12 baseball being played in all the right spirit. Jamie nearly swung himself inside out trying to drive a slow lobed pitch & Pup hit a half volley foul. Kyle, Ayden and Tobias also got bat to ball.

A couple of ice cold showers sent everyone for cover for the 1st time this winter resuming with about 5 mins to go. When Hicksy called game and the boys came off someone asked Gav the score, he replied he didn't know but asked who has fun, a chorus of YEEEESS by all reminded everyone that winning is nice, but fun is the name of the game.

U14's defeated by Guild 11-6
Once again a good game in good spirits . The Lions took the game 11 - 6 after 4 notwithstanding the RAM-CATS leading 6 - 5 after 3and a good game was had by all and new things were tried and experienced by a young side. James started on the hill before giving way to Quinn. Jack started behind the dish & in an effort to identify any other potential catchers Stotty gave Tevin the opportunity to catch much to Shelly's (Tevin's mum) horror. Shelly though Stotty was just winding her up but he was serious & Tevin showed he could handle it doing a good job in such a difficult position.

Some good hitting by JD, Nick & James kept the score board ticking over with the RAM-CATS scoring 5 in the 5th. Some walks and aggressive base running also helped. I am told Caitlyn played well at 2nd base including taking a nice throw in from centre field, nothing phases this keen baseballer.

Nick is one who is always keen when it comes to baseball, he got all of one at the plate and thumped it toward the outfield fence, he was so excited by the hit he rounded 1st heading to 2nd totally unaware he had missed 1st base by almost a metre. With Rick, Stotty, John and everyone else telling Nick to go back he was lucky it went through the fence for a stand up double. Why let winning get in the way of good fun.... :-) Soon after Nick was to advance from 2nd to 3rd on a walk & a momentary lapse had him thinking he was stealing, his enthusiasm had his body moving faster than his feet and over he went, when he got to 3rd he was ecstatic at getting safe, only to find out it was a walk. Keep up the good work Nick.

With only 4 teams in the U14 comp it can be said that regardless of the home and way performance of a team, all 4 will make the finals. Stotty being the crafty veteran coach continues to give all players opportunities to try things as well as identifying everyone's strengths. Keep and eye on this team as I am reliably told there is something new happening every week

U17's defeated by Guild 10-4
Round 7 saw the U17 RAMS experience their first loss of the season against the always strong Guild Lions. Newport worked hard but Jordan says they were never really in the game today as the Lions played a very tight game of baseball. Jordan is one who always looks to the positive and made it clear to his chargers after the game; 'there is always tomorrow". With this team I am sure they will bounce back from this loss and now have a 2 week break to come back fighting.

Round 6 Saturday 29 May
Round 6 had the U14s with a game off for the U14 carnival being held in 'sunny' Ballarat in which James, Jack & Josh were representing the RAMS. So with light rain falling the U12s travelled to Geelong to take on top side Guild and the U17s travelling to Werribee to take on the Giants.

U12's defeated by Guild 12-6
With the rain falling slowly the WILD-RAMS turned up ready and motivated to play knowing they were taking on Guild who are the top side and always tuff to get on top of. Once again Patrick came running toward his father pre-game asking if he had a hanky, instantly all other parents and Gav all ran for cover after Patrick showed what he can to with a hanky last week.....

From the top of the 1st the boys were focussed for a good game, the first pitch of the game saw Kyle bravely take one for the team in the helmet, Ayden got on with a ground ball, Pup put the ball on the ground and with a couple of walks we finished out the top of the 1st with 2 on the board. Kyle started on the mound and Ayden took duties behind the plate, the rest of the field took up the usual positions with Patrick at 2nd and Jamie at centre field. The Lions are a good hitting side and keeping them to a low score is a must. In the bottom of the 2nd with 2nd & 3rd occupied and 1 out, there was a high fly ball heading out to Jamie at centre field with the runner at 3rd tagging up, the parents all took a gasp in anticipation of the major league play Jamie was about to unroll. Unfortunately I think the CNN Major League Baseball highlights tape was already playing in Jamie's mind before the ball even got to him. A slight misjudgement and the ball hit the deck, no need to detail what did or didn't happen next, suffice to say it won't make the highlights reel. Jamie is a trooper and a player I truly enjoy watching, he is a hard charger with great intensity and his absolute love for the game is infectious, there are no limits to where in the world Jamie's baseball will take him, perhaps I should sign up as his manager now...no sweat Jamie you will get the next one.

One thing Guild's home ground is known for at junior level is the distance from the catcher to the back net, this is difficult with young catchers still learning the trade as anything that gets away with a runner on 3rd is a sure run. Ayden did a great job behind the plate in trying conditions, Ayden along with a number of other players are really developing as great utility players with great flexibility to play a number of positions including pitching, catching and infield, this works well with some of the younger players who are also developing well.

For the WILD-RAMS there was a number of quality at bats loading the bases a couple of times, hits to Jamie, including a thumping double to centre field, Zeb ran one out to first to put pressure on and cause a fumble, Pup & Ayden got 2 hits as did Kyle. Patrick, Tobias, Christopher and Nathan all batted well and drew multiple walks on a day that pitching control was not easy with wet balls. It was a game where things had to be put together and in the end the Lions did that more consistently. Once again a lot to take away from the game, Nathan got bat on ball and was narrowly put out, some good base running experience and some good work with the glove. Kyle pitched well and once again had a good number of strike-outs, Zeb came in to relieve followed by Christopher with both showing great potential. The Lions had one big inning scoring 7 as the clock ticked down, so with a boost in confidence and knowing we will meet them again a great game was had by all.

With the game over Zeb and Patrick decided their uniforms were not dirty enough given the wet conditions, so both practiced some sliding much to their parents delight.

U14 - NO GAME due to U14 State Carnival in Ballarat
RAMS REPRESENTATIVES: James Lewer, Josh Dunstone & Jack Van Wyngaarden CLICK FOR DETAILS

U17's defeated Werribee 4 - 0
It was a very tough day at the office for the RAMS and the Giants. The Giants ground received its share of the rain that has been falling over the past week. Unfortunately with such a deluge on the main ground it was so water logged the game had to be moved to the outer ground which was the best of the worst, so play ball was called half an hour late.

With such trying conditions no one is ever keen to take the mound and pitch with balls that feel more like bars of soap, however Andy is never one to shy away from a challenge. So he took the bar of soap for the RAMS with Cameron McNish taking the honors for the Giants.

Jordan described the conditions as terrible and both team did well all things considered. These sorts of games really test the commitment and depth of a team and for that both the Giants & RAMS dug deep. In a game that required so much, as expected there were minimal highlights, certainly not through lack of effort, all players do however learn from these games and taking into account that all 4 runs were scored off one hit is a clear indication of how tuff things were.

At risk of sounding like I repeat myself week after week, Andy Radevski is certainly having a winter to remember. Andy started the game on the mound for the RAMS and in circumstances that would make water polo difficult he managed to pitch a shut out. It is tuff to work out which he likes more, hitting or pitching. Andy came to the plate with bases loaded and the scores locked at nil all, once again he must have been seeing the ball as big as a water melon as he got all of one and dispatched it over the right-centre field fence for a grand slam. No doubt he must have used flippers to get around the bases by the sound of how much water was on the ground. Andy is certainly reaping the benefits of getting to training 45 minutes early every week and taking batting practice until Sash's arm (Andy's dad) is sore.

Any sort of defensive play is always hard when playing on a 'field of puddles' however Jack almost took a classic catch covering heaps of ground to narrowly miss a fly in centre field by the length of his glove.

The RAMS managed to mount a charge again scoring 5 more runs as the clock ticked down, however time prevented the inning to be completed so the score reverted back to 4-0.

Round 5 Saturday 22 May
Round 5 kicked off at the RAM-DOME with a cold dew on the grass and perfect white lines courtesy of the new line marker acquired with the help of Club Sponsor Bill Minett from TWM Imports. So with the RAMS fighting flag flying it was play ball with all teams taking on the Saints with the U17's & U12's at home with the U14's playing there home game at Lara.

U12's defeated Saints (Red) 9 - 7
A cold morning reminded us it was winter baseball, Patrick arrived with the sniffles so asked Gav if he could borrow his hanky, Gav obliged and Patrick commenced to blow the stitches out of the hanky like a sumo wrestler, trying to hold back the laughter Gav politely told Patrick he could keep the hanky so Patrick had another blow after which I am quite sure he will not need to blow his nose till next Winter.....

Kyle started on the hill for the WILD-RAMS to Jamie, Zeb at 1st, Chris at 2nd, Ayden on 3rd, Pup at short and Tobias, Nathan and Patrick taking care of the outfield. Kyle took a couple of hitters to find his spot and a couple of infield ground balls got the first 2 outs followed by a strike out to retire the Saints in the 1st. The boys went straight to business with the bats and some god disciplined hitting saw the WILD-RAMS score 4 in the first with RBIs to Pup and 3 to Zeb after a thumping triple to left field that pulled up just before the line allowing him to run to 3rd. Kyle got straight into his rhythm and with Jamie calling him in like an auctioneer, is was 3 straight strike outs to finish the top of the 2nd.

The game locked down as both sides kept things tight, Kyle went to his full pitch count and was relived by Ayden, Zeb showed the first hit was no fluke and hit another one hard unfortunately straight to short who made the out at 1st, keep and eye on Zeb as he continues to gain confidence in the batting box. Some wayward pitching and a couple of hits to the Saints got them on the board scoring 7 in 1 dig.

The boys stayed tight and the clock ran down seeing the score reverting back due to un-even innings to give the WILD-RAMS the win with perhaps some work to do in the bull-pen this week. Patrick showed he is skilful in more than just baseball, the Saints made a pitching change as he came up to bat, Gav explained to him that he had to step back to allow the new pitcher to warm up, as expected Patrick asked why, with a big smile Gav explained the opposition was scared of Patrick's hitting ability so they were bringing in a new pitcher, Patrick broke into a rap-dance that had all the supporters laughing, Patrick is certainly destined for the entertainment industry as each week he finds a new way to get us all smiling.

U14's defeated by Saints 9 - 3
As the WILD-RAMS is a combined side between Newport & Lara their Round 5 home game against Saints was played at Lara. This game was played in the true spirit of Junior Sport by both teams on a beautiful Saturday morning and I am told the final score was not necessarily a good representation of the competitiveness of this game, although congrats go to Saints for taking the win.

On more than one occasion opportunity was calling as the RAM-CATS had runners on but unfortunately were unable to convert during a game where runs were at a premium. However such opportunities should be looked upon as a positive sign for a team that is showing continuing signs of improvement with each outing, not forgetting of course that this is a combined team of Lara & Newport which makes training together difficult leaving only game time to get to know and gain confidence as a team, I am reliably told this is getting closer each week.

U17's defeated Saints 23 - 2
It is hard to write a match report that does not sound biased when the winning margin is 19 runs with only 8 players. For the RAMS is was a day out with Andy dominant on the mound throwing a shut out before being relieved by Aydin who I am reliably told then blew the shut out allowing 2 runs scored :-) Andy also did well with the bat hitting two triples and 5 RBIs. The whole team hit well, other than Sean which Aydin kept reminding him after the game, however Sean was quick to inform Aydin that as he caught the whole game he steered the team defensively which was pivotal in the teams win today, will let them sort that one out.

Aydin hit well despite being called out when he hit a foul ball that bounced of as tree and was taken by the 3rd baseman who appealed to Stevie P who was umpiring, Stevie called it out with a big smile on his face and Aydin's head nearly snapped off it spun around that quick to see Stevie smile, Aydin then cracked a double to left to get the 1st run on the board. Tyson continued to hit well with 3 as everyone is this team continues to work well as a team offensively and defensively as well as being a tight unit of the field.

Liam is becoming known as the ball magnet as he was hit by pitched ball 3 times today which takes his tally to 10 I am told, maybe he should wear Tysons catching gear up to bat, taking one for the team is no longer funny to Liam.

Next week the RAMS travel to Presidents Park to take on the Werribee White Socks.

U12's defeated Saints (Black) 22 - 2
With Gav away Jeff Morrison (Kyle's dad) stepped in to take care of coaching duties, and the WILD-RAMS didn't let him down, putting in a solid team performance against Saints (Black) to notch up their 2nd win of the season. It was a game where every opportunity to advance was taken whether in the batting box, on base or in the field.

A proven team formula got the game started with Kyle pitching to Jamie, Zeb at 1st, Pup on 2nd, Ayden at short and Josh at 3rd. Patrick, Chris and Nathan made up the backbone in the outfield. Kyle threw well before being relieved by Ayden with Pup taking over catching duties from Jamie and a couple other moves.

Things are clearly starting to consolidate for this team as they continue to improve, this can also be attributed to some training sessions together. Zeb has established himself at 1st doing very well making some good plays. Pup and Ayden work well in the middle infield as does Josh taking car of the corner at 3rd. Patrick, Chris and Nathan are proving to be quite versatile starting in the outfield today but also having played most positions even at this early stage of the season.

Good hitting across the board by the WILD-RAMS with most getting at least 1 hit a piece. Chris hit one deep to the outfield for a stand up double as well as another hard hit single. Jamie was making good contact but on occasion found a Saints fielder. As can often be the case in this age group Saints struggled in the pitching department giving up a number of free passes, however they should not be underestimated in future encounters.

As I said opportunities were seized by the WILD-RAMS with good solid disciplined hitting, as well as base running, the boys certainly deserved the win and are already looking forward to the next game.

U14's defeated by Guild 10 - 3
A solid team performance was put in by the U14 RAM-CATS to see them scoring 7 runs in the last inning to level the game, however when time and game was called the innings were incomplete so the score reverted back to give the win to the deserving Lions. There was certainly a lot for the young chargers to take away from the game.

Once again both both girls held up their end showing they deserve their spot in the team as much as anyone. Kaitlin got hit twice before "play ball" was even called, however she was not letting this bother her putting in a sold performance starting at right field, I believe Roland was lost for words not quite sure what to say when she was hit with the ball, He was heard to say: "well I cant say don't be a girl about it..." but nothing needed to be said as she went about the task at hand. Allanah also did well taking a great catch from a very high hit fly ball at left field with the ball sticking right on the end of her glove to her delighted surprise.

Some good hitting was displayed with 10 runs being scored by the RAM-CATS before it reverted back to 3 at the end of the game. After scoring his first career run last week Ethen went scoring spree today scoring 3 runs including scoring from 2nd base which his mum Shellie tells me; "saw his body going faster than his legs would allow" and just as he was running out of puff he lunged forward for what some may describe as a "graceful head first slide" to score again, it even had Shellie laughing with joy. Tevin also put in a good performance and showed that all the HAM boys are great baseballers.

Nick did well at short with JD starting on the mound before Quinn relieved and Jack took over catching duties from James.

I am told it was a good energetic and enthusiastic game that the parents enjoyed watching, everyone knows when the draw shows we are playing Guild you need to bring your "A game" so a good account of things was certainly given. Many things came together for this team today and a lot of positive things to take away, so the important thing is now consistency.

U17's defeated Lara 12 - 11
This side is going well and now undefeated after 4 showing great consistency, an important part of any team is the versatility and the depth a team has in areas such as pitching. Jordan decided to gain a better understanding of what his chargers are capable of. So with that in mind the pitching duties today were shared by Jack and Harley with both of them throwing well against the always strong Lara. Both Jack and Harley clearly illustrated to Jordan what sort of depth this team has in its defensive lineup.

The RAMS hit strongly with all players getting at least 1 hit each as this team continues to demonstrate their offensive strength. I would think as the season continues any opposition will have to defend strongly as well as post a strong score to defeat this team, who continue with consistency and good team play throughout the line up. Of course never say never, more saying that this is a strong team that will not be easily defeated.

Jordan described Lara as a good hard working young side who represent their great club well right till the end of the game on a day that saw the RAMS putting in a deisciplined team performance. Strong defence by the RAMS was evident throughout including a great double play as well as consistently making the single out plays that must be made in order to win any game.

Jordan is very happy with the way these boys go about their baseball in a focussed manner with a strong emphasis on being a strong team.

U12's defeated by Werribee 9 - 0
The U12 WILD-RAMS took on Werribee in their 2nd home game of the season and went down 9-0 in a game described as an unattractive game of baseball with some "antiquated tactics" employed by Werribee that saw many of their runs un-earned.

Regardless of what the opposition was doing, this team of keen young baseballers just get on with the game and keep fun high on the agenda. Ayden pitched will for the WILD-RAMS with scoreboard no indication of any dominance Werribee had with the bats. Ayden is a very focussed young baseballer and goes about his business well. Kyle relieved Ayden and the closer for round 3 was Christopher Hoke, true to his word Gav makes sure that if someone wants to pitch they will get a chance to do so when he is coaching. Chris is keen as mustard having just had his 1st season in Rally-Caps over summer. Gav was quite impressed with Chris who equipped himself well on the mound.

Kyle led well with the bat hitting a nice triple with Patrick recovering well after being hit by a pitch followed it up stealing 2 bases however holding up before stealing home as he did last week...

Keep an eye on this team as each week someone new steps up in a new role and they continue to get to know each other and play better as a team the possibilities are endless.

U14's defeated by Guild 5 - 4
The U14 RAM-CATS had their 1st home game at Lara taking on the always tight; Guild Lions. Sadly the boys went down 5-4 in a game that I am told was there for the taking but some costly errors and a couple of base running mistakes handed the points to Guild. So when these teams meet again next week hopefully some lesson will be learnt and a 2nd opportunity seized.

Quinn started pitching and worked hard keeping the strong hitting Lions to 5 runs, James came into relieve and it was always going to be a close one. Some good hitting with hits to James, Jack and JD. Caitlyn and Alana (first game today) proved themselves as assets to this team by following the game plan to letter and the opposition teams must not look at them as a soft touch as they will continue to improve every week.

A strong combination emerging in this team is James pitching to Jack (who is also doing well as a catcher), today they not only combined well as a pitching battery, they also combined well to have 3 Lions base runners thrown out by Jack. Keep an eye on these 2 not only as winter continues, but also into the summer season as they are likely to be in the same team again.

Another huge achievement not to be overlooked is by a hard charging and determined RAM, Ethen Ham crossed the plate to score his 1st run of his baseball career today. He got on base with a walk, stole 2nd, then 3rd and was hit in by JD, a perfectly executed slide and he was on the board with a huge smile of achievement. Ethen is someone who has overcome his own adversity and shows up to play every week with enthusiasm. I had the fortune of watching Ethen through the summer season and fed of his enthusiasm and love of the game, he is the epitome of what junior sport is all about; just let me play, he loves the game and I take my hat off to him, he plays the game on his terms, great effort mate keep up the good work, love watching you play.

Big Rick D did a good job in the blue uniform, officiating from the middle.

U17's defeated Werribee 11 - 0
Andy started on the mound for the RAMS and pitched a very dominant game allowing only 1 hit for the Giants. He didn't save all his efforts for the mound also getting 2 hits to notch up another all round performance to be remembered.

Some great hitting was a common thread for these RAMS with Peter getting 2 including a thumping triple and recording 4 RBIs. Ayden caught well throwing his first runner out, Ayden also had a day out with the bat with 2 hits and 3 RBIs. Tyson also got 2 hits and Jezza recorded 1.

I am told Jezz took a magnificent diving catch at 3rd base as he continues to make those freaky plays with consummate ease.

Once again this team makes coaching a breeze for Jordan. I know I have said it before but will continue to do so; this is a very strong team of young men who have been playing well individually and as a team for a number of seasons. If I was a betting man I would have no problems betting Dave Malt's house on this team being there when it counts come the end of this season. Beyond that it is also an encouraging thing for the Newport baseball Club with a number of these players already starting to play seniors in Summer, the depth at the RAM-DOME continues to inspire confidence in the future.

U12's defeated Bellarine 4 - 2
Round 2 saw the U12 WILD-RAMS make the trek to Bellarine to take on the Bears. Kyle started on the hill throwing heat right from the start and finished the 1st dig with 3 strike outs. He then followed it up with 2 more strikeouts in 2nd as he clearly had the Bears measure. The Bears were also defending well as a team and the game was scoreless into the third despite the WILD-RAMS looking threatening when Tobias got an infield hit moving runners around.

Pup relieved Kyle with Christopher taking over catching duties (for his 1st time) from Jamie went to centre field to take charge of a hard working outfield along with Ayden and Patrick. A couple of nice hits scored 2 for the Bears and the boys realised that with a lead of just 3 there was no time to relax.

Patrick lead off in the 4th with a walk and someone told him he should try and steal, so steal he did advancing to 2nd, next pitch he stole 3rd with Gav biting his nails, someone yelled out that he can steal home if he wants, so he did, luckily it got away from catcher slightly and with a good slide he was safe for the 4th run with a huge smile and not real sure why everyone was cheering so loudly. One of the best things about this age group is often the innocent fun that Patrick reminded us all of by stealing home not really knowing what a dicey move it can be, but the scorebook reads run scored, and Patrick's smile said it all.

The last dig saw Zeb lead off with an infield hit then Josh got a walk, however the Bears relief pitcher threw well and no further score was recorded. Some tight defence by the WILD-RAMS and the game ended with the boys taking their first victory 4-2. A good game was had by all and a good team performance for a group of boys from two clubs who are yet to train together: Gav does a great job coaching and really excels with this age group, at times I am sure he is tearing his hair out, not that he shows it through his constant supportive smile, today he was kept busy with a tight game, 3 boys swinging bats IN THE DUG-OUT AT THE SAME TIME, rotating all players in positions they have never played before, Patrick's high speed tour of the bases including stealing home and to top it off the Bears 1st baseman was at times more interest in Gav than the game including asking Gav: "Why are you wearing a red hat with a RAM on it???" Gav takes it all in his stride and enjoys the game as much as the boys do.

Stay tuned for the next instalment of the adventurers of the U12 WILD-RAMS...

U14's defeated by Werribee 10-2 NEED SOME PHOTOS FROM FUTURE GAMES PLEASE...
JD started the Round 2 game against Werribee on the hill, pitching to Mr Versatile: Daniel Baldacchino, the U14 RAM-CATS started behind the 8 ball with only 8 players. But both teams came to play so with a sub from Werribee it was game on.

Werribee is a strong side with good depth in pitching as well as a couple of handy catchers. The RAM-CATS played well getting plenty of runners on however failed to capitalise leaving at least 8 runners on base for the game, this along with giving away to many walks to the Giants, made the task all the more difficult. The Giants pitching was relentless as each pitching change failing to give an inch, this along with their solid offence saw them take a strong lead early and ultimately the game.

James relieved JD and threw to Jack who took over catching duties for his first time doing very well finishing with a sore hand, possibly from catching James... Daniel went to centre field and took a great catch worthy of note.

One of the parents commented that Kate (from Lara) is a tough competitor with plenty of courage, she was hit twice by some quick pitching, once in the head and once in the foot. The saying: "take it for the team" is something Kate hopes not to hear again...

Stotty enjoys the coaching role with his trademark motto of "Let the kids play", despite today's loss clearly this team will continue to improve every week, of course this is also a combined team who have not trained together. So again, watch this space for more.....

U17's defeated Deakin by WALK-OVER NEED SOME PHOTOS FROM FUTURE GAMES PLEASE...
Unfortunately the RAMS made the journey to Deakin only to find out the Blues did not have enough players to field a side so they were forced to give a walk-over handing the win to the RAMS.

However in the spirit of the game a scratch match was soon organised so both teams could have some fun and gain some valuable match experience.

Sean and Ayden joined the Blues as subs and it was game on for fun and giggles. So no real match report on what was a practice match for both teams, however a couple of notable mentions. Peter hit well for the RAMS getting 2 hits, Tyson hit a solid triple and Jezz also hit well with a double and a triple. However the hit that I am sure we will be hearing around the RAM-DOME for a while is a thumping triple by Ayden that he hit off team-mate Andy, sorry Andy but I am sure the boys will be giving you some grief over that one.

Jordy says all played well as this strong team continues to accrue points in what is sure to be a strong season. I am sure both teams will be looking forward to squaring off again later in the season.

Round 1 Saturday 24 April
U12's defeated by Guild 14 - 4 Once again the U12's sees a combined side joining forces with some Wildcats from Lara, last winter it proved a good combination seeing the U12s finishing runners up in the Grand Final.

Round 1 saw the WILD-RAMS take on last years Premiers: Guild Lions, with Woody coaching, the Lions always put up a strong show and are a tight unit. We started with Ayden pitching to Jamie and a few tight innings followed with scoring at a premium. The game was still locked at 1 all after 3 with the Lions threatening to cut loose. In the 4th Guild flexed some muscle with some hard hitting including a grand slam by "Mini Beast."

Ayden was relieved by Kyle (Lara) who threw well however Guild had there bats fired up and continued to hit strongly. Gav asked Pup if he wanted to catch to which Pup said "no that scares me", however Gav's theory for winter is that everyone will get to play every position so Pup pulled on the gear for his 1st go behind the dish. After the first batter Pup was doing well and turned and said its not so scary. Zeb, Patrick and Christopher were playing their first game after making the jump from Rally Caps and all 3 did well with big smiles and lots of enthusiasm. Gav called on Zeb to finish the game pitching and his reply was but I don't know how to do it, after a few wayward warm ups the batter was called and Zeb started his pitching career by striking him out.

Despite the loss the boys had a great time with lots of enthusiasm, it is quite clear that the WILD-RAMS will come together well as a team and I am sure there is a great winter of fun and achievement yet to come. Guild have certainly set themselves as the benchmark and will be a tough team in future encounters.

U14's defeated by Saints 11-8
The U14s are also a combined side with Lara and coached by Stotty as the association between the two great clubs continues.

James started on the mound and threw a solid 3 digs, Quinn (Lara) came in to relieve and threw well with Jack coming in to finish out the game. Some good hitting by both teams kept the game close and had the score close late in the game with RAM-CATS in front by 2. To Saints credit they rallied with the bats as the game was drawing to a close, Saints are a tight outfit and got a hitting rally going and took advantage of some close plays to leap-frog on the scoreboard to take the game by 3.

Some good hitting by the RAM-CATS was a positive indication of what is to come for a team that has only come together this game and will continue to get to know each other as the season continues.

U17's defeated Guild 18-1
From the outset at training it was a safe bet that the RAMS U17 team is going to be a strong unit, So many of the boys have played together for a number of years and a lot of them are just hitting their straps in the field. Any team comprising of Jezza, Tyson, Sean, Ayden, Darcy, Liam, Peter, Andy and Jack is going to be strong and with Jordy coaching them I am sure this team is in for a strong winter.

Andy started on the mound throwing well to Sean, Andy went 4 digs throwing 10 strike outs before being relieved by Ayden. You didn't have to be watching this game to know that the RAMS were having a day out with the bats, the constant ding of another hit was heard all around the RAM-DOME. Jordan described the game as a great start with plays showing good aggressive hitting, base running and defensive skills. The sort of aggression normally seen as a season gets to the business end.

Take nothing away from Guild they played well and I am told made some great defensive plays, however it is always hard when you come up against a group of players at any age that has been playing together for years. The RAMS are a tight unit on the field and good mates off the field. So watch this space as the winter season continues to see how the boys progress, as they say in Footy, just take it a week at a time.