The Ducks Are Premiers
Mordialloc 8
defeated
Forest Hill Gray 5
The Ducks are premiers! For the first time in this young club’s history, the shield will live in Mordialloc.
On a windy last day of Winter we knew we had to play at our best to beat the minor premiers, and after hitting two runs in the first inning off an Eddie Meadows line drive double to left-centre field, things were looking up. The Forest Hill boys weren’t ones to lay down however, and they scored two right back. Thankfully we had seen the last of the starting pitcher, who was replaced after the first inning.
We added a run in the second but Forest Hill tied it up again in the bottom of the third.
Cue the fourth inning, when we scored two runs to go up 5-3. It was nerve wracking stuff as Forest Hill kept the pressure up and putting balls in play. Eventually their pressure paid off with two runs in the bottom of the fifth.
Entering the sixth inning and with time running out, the pressure was on to put one on the board but we weren’t able to. Thankfully the Mordy boys were able to put their own pressure on, keeping Forest Hill off the board in both the sixth and seventh inning to force the extra inning.
The Quack Pack was in full voice on the sideline, with chants, duck calls, and jokes all adding to the fun and atmosphere, helping to support the guys as they stepped up in the eighth inning.
Somehow we scored three runs, with Eddie and JC hit-by-pitch and now on base, Luke looped one between the second baseman and the right-fielder to plate one. The other two came from a line drive to left by the one and only Aaron “Chef” Wilson.
We shut them out in the bottom of the eighth as they left a man on third and second but couldn’t move them any further, and when the third out came from a JC (short stop) to Eddie (first base) put-out, the Ducks – both players and supporters – celebrated a wonderful historic moment together.
Well done to the Forest Hill guys. They hit really well and could have easily taken the game if not for a little bit of bad luck.
Overall our guys kept up the pressure, never letting Forest Hill take the lead.
Thanks to the MWBL for the 2019 season, and to outgoing administrator David Rice for his work – it’s not an easy gig and we really appreciate all the work that you’ve done.
Some highlights:
We pulled three (!) double plays, with Shaun O’Reilly in the thick of it, and a first to third put out with MVB making the tag.
Double Dunham’s tumbling catch and throw to home was a special effort
Ash Huddo’s 2-out clutch hitting along with a great catch in right field
Brilliant pitching by both Luke and Scotty
How do you sum it all up though? What a crazy season. It’s had a bit of everything, and the guys have stuck together through thick and thin. Now we start planning for 2020 and enjoying some summer sun with our families, or for some, playing baseball elsewhere for the summer season.
Keep an eye out for announcements throughout the off-season, and thanks for sticking with us throughout the year.
Quack Quack!