Weekly Wrap Up – 25 November 2023

Under 13s

Week 8 - 25th November

Syndal (22) VS Ejays (9)

Two weeks off and our U13 team came back as they had finished before their mini break with a large win.

We started batting with Thomas leading off again. On the second pitch he hit to second base scoring Christopher. Eve hit her third coach’s pitch straight to the pitcher who tried to get Chloe out running home, but missed. Emily then came up and hit her second pitch out to left field and made two bases scoring Jason and Thomas. Leon, Echo and Iyla all hit off coach’s pitches scoring runners. Then Sofia hit to centre and scored two runners. Howard also hit to centre off a coach’s pitch scoring Sofia who had worked her way to third base on some wild pitches. Elin was our ninth batter and unfortunately was retired after 3 strikes from coach’s pitches but we scored 11 runs before EJays came up to bat.

Ejays started well with a double to left field from a coach’s pitch, but their second batter hit her coach’s pitch back at Sofia who threw to first base for the first out. Another two hits from coach’s pitches saw batter numbers 3 and 4 reach base safely. Sofia then threw 3 strikes and the batter was out before Chris and Sofia took another out with a runner trying to steal home, so EJays were all out with 5 runs on the board.

Christopher started the second inning with a hit to right field from the pitcher’s throw. Then Jason, Thomas and Eve all came up and hit singles from the pitcher too. Emily and Leon also hit but from coach’s pitches, with Leon hitting two bases. Echo came up and hit for the second time, this time from the pitcher’s throw, then Iyla came up as ninth batter and also hit from a coach’s pitch. Syndal scored another 11 runs in the second inning and they were ahead 22-5 with EJays starting their second at bat.

Similar to their first inning, Ejays managed a couple of hits from coach’s pitches, but they also had two batters strike out and a third had to retire. The last out came from EJays trying to steal home again. They scored 4 runs making the final score 22-9 in Syndal’s favour.

Syndal had another opportunity to bat knowing that the runs wouldn’t score as it was uneven innings and in this game we were ahead. Sofia hit off the pitcher and then Christopher and Chloe both hit off a coach’s pitch.

Well done team, your practice is coming together. Now we just need your parents to give scoring a try like you are with your batting and fielding!

Open 1

Week 7 - 25th November

Game 1

Syndal (7) VS Falcons (0)

Unlike our first game against Falcons, Sarah struck out their 3 base hitter on her first at bat. A second strike out followed before a single to left and then a fielder’s choice force out at second.

Syndal started the first inning with Bree joining us again. She had a walk but was soon running home after Kate hit a triple to right field on the seventh pitch. Kate also made it home after Sarah B hit a single to left. Sarah scored on a ground out from Steph after two singles from Courtney and Sarah W had moved her to third. Syndal finished the inning 3 up.

Another 3 strike out inning to Falcons and Syndal were up for their second innings. That didn’t go as well and after three at bats we were fielding again.

Falcons again had three up, three down with a fly out to Miki and two further strike outs. Syndal started the third inning with a hit on the first pitch from Sarah B. This I heard was her first ever over the fence home run to right field. It was so big it ended up in the left field of Diamond 1. Courtney also hit another single, this time to centre and earned herself another DR (this week Sophie had replaced Miki who was in the batting line up). Sophie reached third when the catch threw wild trying to stop Sophie stealing second, so she was ready to run home when Steph hit safely to shortstop. And we were up 5-0 heading into the fourth inning.

Falcons again didn’t score, but had four at bats as there was another single to left. The outs were a little different this time with a great pick up bunt out from Courtney to Miki and a ground out Sarah W to Kate, plus another strike out saw the inning over again.
Not to be out done, Falcons then had three duplicate 6-3 outs - could we not hit to a different fielder!

Heading into the fifth and we had an unusual inning with no strikeouts, but a ground out Miki to Kate, then a fly ball caught by Sal and another ground out Sarah W to Kate. Two runs were required for Syndal to have an early finish. Sarah B came up and hit her third hit of the afternoon, another single to left. Courtney also had her third hit with a triple to right field, scoring Sarah. We then had two outs and it looked like we may have to field again, but then Steph had seven pitches before she hit the 8th to left field and scored Courtney to end the game in on a run-ahead 7-0 win.

15 batters and Sarah struck out 8 of them and then was involved in two more outs. She only gave away two hits (to the same batter). In comparison, the Falcons pitcher took 5 strikeouts and gave 10 hits away.

Game 2

Pandas (8) VS Syndal (5)

A rearranged game gave Syndal a double header. Unfortunately, the game had been rearranged before the Casey All-stars game against the Vic State teams, so we were without Sarah B.

Disappointingly, a change in plate umpire for this game meant that the more interesting strikes created by Sarah were not called, so we had a frustrated battery and were at a disadvantage from the start!

We didn’t start our hitting well with no runs being scored in our first inning. Bree did reach first on another walk, but was forced out at second on a fielder’s choice. Audrey took a great catch at right field to stop their lead off batter reaching first, but unfortunately Alannah P (last seen playing for Syndal) came up and hit a triple to left field. A single to centre scored her. Three strike outs and the inning was over (puzzled?! For the scorers out there, I had a K2, a KWP and a FCK2). Despite 7 at bats, only one run was scored.

Syndal’s second inning wasn’t too successful either with a single for Steph but nothing to get her home. Pandas scored two runs, an unusual walk and another triple scored one run and then a second single scored the second.

Syndal’s third inning was more colourful, starting with a single for Sophie who had stayed for both Open 1 games today. Further singles were made by Bree, Sarah W, Steph and Miki to give us four runs at the end top 3. Pandas struggled in their 3rd inning and could not score.

A walk, two singles (Kate and Sarah W) and a fielder’s choice gave Syndal a 5-3 lead heading into Bottom 4. Pandas had another two hits, with a double coming from Alannah and then she showed off her speed and stole third before running home on the second hit.

Top 5 and Pandas changed their pitcher and Syndal had three strikeouts. Bottom 5 and Pandas again had their lead-off on base before a strike out and then a potential batting out of order. NOTE for self and coach, need a signal for the battery to let them know that we needed to get batter on to base so that we could call the BOO before Pandas saw! Unfortunately, they did spot their mistake and changed their batter who then grounded out and side away heading into Top 6, with Syndal leading 5-4.

Syndal coudn’t find safe spots again and were back fielding very quickly. Bottom 6 and Pandas started with a single to a runner faster than anyone else on the diamond. She ran two bases on a single to shortstop. A couple more hits a dropped third strike and some very aggressive base running saw four runs come home and Syndal requiring 3 runs to stay in the game as we headed into the seventh inning.

It wasn’t to be, despite Sarah W hitting her third single to centre. A strike out and we were one down and then Steph hit a hard line drive to the pitcher who took a double play throwing to first before Sarah could get back to tag up.

Sarah took 10 strike outs compared to a combined 8 for the two Pandas’ pitchers. We just didn’t hit as big or run as well as Pandas. They had 12 hits and we had 9.

Open 2

Week 7 - 25th November

Syndal (6)) VS Ejays (4)

We started off slowly with the bat, and reasonably well in the field. We allowed the Ejays to score 1 run in the first innings, while we went 2 innings until we scored.

Our first runs came from a great hit by Audrey down the right field line.scoring 2 runs.We also scored another 2 runs in the 3rd innings.

We persisted in the field, and held Ejays to only another 3 runs during the game. We scored 2 more runs in the later innings, which led us to a 6-4 win.

Overall, it was a solid game, with everyone contributing.
Great work from our battery, Kate and Mel. And good batting and baserunning finished off a good game. 

Matt

Open 3

Week 7 - 25th November

Game 1

Syndal (0) VS Faclolns (6)

A double to Paris and a single to Molly were our only hits for the game.

Better fielding today with only 2 errors. At 1st base Jamie had a blinder! 6 assisted and 3 solo outs with a total of 9 for the game. Outstanding performance.

Game 2

Syndal (7) VS Northvale (6)

2 singles each to Paris and Megan, 1 to Ashlee. A double and a single to Claire along with 4 ground outs 6-3. Jamie had a further 8 outs in Game 2, 17 Outs for the day! As a team, only 2 errors again.

Thanks to Matt for coming to Coach us with Andy today in G1 and Solo in G2 as Andy fulfilled an Umpiring Commitment.

A really good day today with many positive actions by everyone.

Tracey Statistician

Ladder Positions (as at 25th November 2023)

Open 1 - 1st 

Open 2 - 3rd

Open 3 - 9th

Under 13s - 4th

Games 02/12/23

Open 1- Monash (H) vs Syndal (A)
                Syndal (H) vs Brandon Heights (A)

Open 2 - BYE

Open 3 - Syndal (H) vs Northvale (A)

Under 13s- Gemsa (H) vs Syndal A)

If you're not available, please let us know by Thursday 19th October at the latest- by emailing Matt @ syndalteams@gmail.com

Upcoming Night Games

06/11/23 - Open 2 at 8:30pm 

30/01/23 - Open 1at 7:30pm

Calendar:

Saturday 9th December - Club Duty Day

Sunday 17th December - Working Bee at Jells to get ready for U16 Nationals

Training:

Juniors - Every Thursday night - 5pm to 6pm - Diamond 9
Seniors - Every Thursday night - 6pm - Diamond 9.

Fundraising

We are again participating in the Pancake Parlour Club Rewards Program. Every dollar earns our club 1 point.

If we top our league ladder, we will win $1,000- for our club.

Please ask your friends and family that if they eat at the Pancake Parlour, remember to mention our club when paying and we’ll increase our points.

Unavailability

Just a reminder, that if you’re not available to play any weeks, please let your coach know or contact Matt at syndalteams@gmail.com

Uniforms

We’ll be looking at doing an order for hoodies (both pull on and zip-up) in the next few weeks. We’ll be sending out the information when to hand.

If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to email me or catch up with Jodi or I at the games on Saturday.

WSA NEWS

Wth Under 16 National Championships starting on 2nd January, WSA will be holding 2 working bees to prepare the grounds. The dates are:

Sunday 17th December Thursday 28th December

We have been allocated jobs which need to be completed by 28th December but there are many jobs that need to be completed and the more people we have to help, the quicker they’ll get done.

We’ll keep everyone updated on working bee times.

WSA will also be asking for volunteers during the tournaments - to help with jobs such as:

. Scoreboard duty
. Lining diamonds
. Canteen duties
. Water container duties

There are many tasks that need to be done during the tournament and we’ll be sending out the link. It would be great to see lots of Syndal members helping out during the tournament