The 2023/24 Harcher State League season kicked off with an action-packed Gala Week at Empire Ballpark. Wanneroo, Morley, Rockingham, Gosnells, and Vic Park round out the top five after two games, with many more awesome matchups to come.
Check out GameChanger recaps below and stay tuned to BWA Facebook and Instagram for updates throughout the season.
Morley Eagles 1, Carine Cats 0
Both teams were strong on the mound on Wednesday night, but Morley Eagles eventually pulled away with a 1-0 win over Carine Cats. Lachlan Waite started the game for Morley and recorded 12 outs.
The Eagles opened the scoring in the fourth after Aaron Bonomi singled, scoring one run.
Brendan Sing earned the win for Morley, giving up one hit and no runs over one inning with a strikeout.
Waite opened the game for Morley, allowing three hits across four scoreless innings with five strikeouts and zero walks. Kieran Hall tossed two innings of no-run ball in relief with six strikeouts.
Carine’s starter Jordan Power gave up one hit and zero runs over two innings, striking out two and walking zero.
Jacob Stanton took the loss for Carine. The reliever went one and two-thirds innings, giving up one run on two hits.
Jesse Williams led Morley with two hits in three at-bats. Bonomi went 1-for-3 with an RBI, too.
Morley turned two double plays and didn’t commit a single error in the field as Alex Hall had the most chances with 12.
Tarrant Reimers, Ethan Campbell, Conor Lourey, and Josh Molen each collected one hit for Carine.
UWA Magpies 7, Swan Districts 2
UWA Magpies defeated Swan Districts Swans 7-2 on Wednesday at Empire Ballpark.
Swans were first to get on the board, scoring two runs on a Matt Ward single in the second.
UWA Magpies flipped the game on its head in the bottom of the third, scoring six runs on four hits to take a 6-2 lead. The biggest blow in the inning was a single by Jacob Davila that drove in two.
Kodai Hamaya led things off on the bump for UWA Magpies. The southpaw gave up two hits and two runs (zero earned) over three innings, striking out five and walking three.
Dillian Clarkson started on the hill for Swan Districts. The lefty allowed five hits and six runs (two earned) over two and two-thirds innings, striking out four and walking four.
Nick Alexiou pitched three scoreless innings for UWA Magpies in relief. The righty gave up one hit, striking out three and walking one.
UWA Magpies accumulated nine hits in the game. Matthew Reyes, Bradley Tate, and Davila each collected two hits. Tate, Davila, and Adam England had two RBIs apiece while the strong defense turned one double play.
Ward seized scoring opportunities from the number nine spot, collecting two RBIs along with hits from Conor Parry and Dan Carter.
Braves 4, Vic Park Reds 3
Braves built a four-run lead in the sixth inning and then held off Vic Park’s charge for a 4-3 victory on Thursday. The Reds closed the gap by scoring on a walk and an error.
Braves hopped on the board in the first after Sam Kennelly hit a sacrifice fly, scoring one run.
A single by Joel Beches extended the Braves’ lead to 2-0 in the bottom of the second inning.
Matt Kennelly led things off on the hill for Braves. The right-handed pitcher gave up four hits and two runs (zero earned) over six and one-third innings, striking out six and walking none. Kennelly appeared in relief.
Mathew Martin opened the game for Vic Park Belmont, giving up three hits and two runs over four innings with two strikeouts and one walk.
Kennelly, Beches, and Liam Collins had RBIs while Kevin Clark and Jack Rigden also recorded hits. Braves’ defense was solid, turning one double play in the game.
Ryan Boyer was key for the Reds, going 2-for-3 while Curtis Bacon picked up an RBI.
Perth 1, South Perth 0
It came down to the wire on Thursday at Empire Ballpark as Perth walked it off for a 1-0 victory over South Perth Souths. The game was tied at zero in the bottom of the seventh when Nathan Driessen singled, scoring one run.
Both teams were strong on the hill. Perth pitchers struck out 11 while South Perth sat down 12.
Jake White earned the win for Perth. The starting pitcher gave up four hits and zero runs over seven innings, striking out 11 and walking six.
Jake Bowey took the loss for South Perth, as they went six and two-thirds innings with one run (zero earned) on two hits, striking out 12 and walking none.
Driessen and Brady Oliphant each collected one hit for Perth. Driessen led Perth with one run batted in. The first basemen went 1-for-3 on the day.
Perth was sure-handed in the field and didn’t commit a single error. Oliphant had the most chances with 13.
Jaxon Limpus led South Perth with two hits in three at-bats from the leadoff position. Cameron Landy had two of the team’s six walks.
Wanneroo Giants 9, Perth 1
Courtney Jones drove in five runs on two hits to lead Wanneroo Giants past Perth 9-1 on Friday at Empire Ballpark. Jones doubled in the fifth to score three runs and singled in the sixth for another two.
Wanneroo won thanks in part to five runs in the sixth inning. Ben King and Owen Pilcher walked to score a run while Jones hit a 2-RBI single and Jacob Santich picked up an RBI base hit.
A single by Ronnie Sweeny put Perth on the board in the top of the fourth.
Wanneroo captured a 4-1 lead in the bottom of the fifth when Jones cleared the bases with a big double. An error scored another run for the Giants.
Tom Bailey earned the win for Wanneroo. The right-handed pitcher allowed three hits and one run over five innings, striking out four and walking one.
Kaine Newham started on the mound for Perth. The right-handed pitcher surrendered two hits and zero runs over two innings, striking out two and walking three.
Frazer Brice tossed one inning of no-run ball for Wanneroo in relief. He didn’t give up any hits or walks either.
Santich made the most of his chances at the plate. Wanneroo’s number eight hitter led the side with three hits in four at-bats. Byron Armstrong collected two hits in three at-bats while Cooper paced Wanneroo with three walks.
Overall, the Giants had patience at the plate, tallying 11 walks for the game as the team turned two double plays and didn’t make a single error in the field. Santich had the most chances with eight.
Brady Oliphant, Jordano Vivona, and Sweeny had one hit each. Sweeny went 1-for-2 as the 3-hole hitter led the team with one run batted in.
Perth turned one double play in the game.
Next up for Perth is a game at Vic Park on Sunday.
Gosnells Hawks 3, Rockingham Rams 3
Gosnells Hawks and Rockingham Rams tied 3-3 on Friday at Empire Ballpark.
A groundout by Mike Blanke put Rockingham on the board in the top of the third. Gosnells tied it up at the bottom of the sixth with a single by Louis Scaramella and doubles by Robin Adamson and Tim Leitch.
Jack Burt started on the mound for Gosnells. The right-handed pitcher gave up five hits and three runs (two earned) over five innings, striking out seven and walking one.
Rockingham starter Josh Eddy gave up four hits and three runs over five and one-third innings, striking out five and walking none.
Leadoff hitter Maclin Berry led Gosnells with two hits in three at-bats. Adamson and Leitch were a one-two punch in the lineup as each drove in a run for Gosnells.
Joshua Diggins set the tone at the top of the lineup, leading Rockingham with two hits in three at-bats. Vinnie Tarantola and Blanke drove in one run each.
Gosnells plays Swan Districts on Saturday and then Rockingham visits Swan Districts this coming Sunday.
Vic Park Reds 5, Carine Cats 4
Victoria Park Belmont generated a four-run lead in the sixth inning and then held off a late charge by Carine Cats to earn a 5-4 win on Saturday. Carine closed the gap by scoring on an error, a groundout, and a single.
The Cats scored first in the fourth with a Josh Molen RBI single. The Reds responded by tying the game at one in the bottom of the fourth thanks to a double by Jayden Mitchell.
Vic Park Belmont captured a 5-1 lead in the bottom of the sixth after Sean Garratt singled, Jack Smalpage hit into a fielder’s choice, and Joshua Cosgrove hit a sacrifice fly. They also capitalised on an error by Carine.
Josh Paull earned the win for Vic Park Belmont, allowing seven hits and four runs (one earned) over six and two-thirds innings with three strikeouts and one walk. Mathew Martin pitched in relief.
Conor Lourey took the loss for Carine after throwing five and one-third innings with four hits, four runs, two walks, and five strikeouts.
Mitchell went 2-for-3 at the plate to lead the Reds in hits. Cosgrove, Smalpage, Garratt, Ryan Boyer, and Mitchell had one RBI apiece as the team turned two double plays.
Cooper McDonnell, Ethan Campbell, and Molen each collected two hits for Carine. Jose Fuentes, Molen, and Aden Browne each drove in one run for Carine as the cats turned one double play.
Vic Park visits Morley on Friday while Carine heads to South Perth this Sunday.
Gosnells Hawks 3, Swan Districts 2
Both teams were strong on the hill during Sunday’s matchup, but Gosnells Hawks held on for a 3-2 victory over Swan Districts Swans. Mitch Forrest started the game for Gosnells and recorded eight outs.
Swan Districts were first on the board when Andrew Cromwell singled in the opening inning to score a run. They added one in the third after Michael De Gasperis doubled on the seventh pitch of the at-bat.
The Hawks didn’t take the lead until later in the game, as it was tied at two in the top of the fifth when Jarrod McKay singled, scoring one run. Maclin Berry and Jamie White also singled and scored a run.
Forrest was Gosnells starting pitcher. He gave up two hits and two runs over two and two-thirds innings, striking out one and walking three.
Matt Ward started for Swan Districts, allowing five hits and no runs in four innings with a pair of strikeouts and a lone walk.
Berry, Sam Forrest, and Ryan Smith all threw scoreless innings in relief for Gosnells.
The Hawks tallied 10 hits in the game. Number nine hitter McKay showed the depth of Gosnells’ lineup by leading them with three hits in three at-bats.
Berry, White, and McKay each drove in one run for Gosnells. Robin Adamson collected two hits in four at-bats.
Gosnells turned one double play in the game and didn’t make a single fielding error as Riley Hall had the most chances with three.
De Gasperis and Cromwell were a one-two punch in the lineup, as each drove in a run for Swan Districts while Dan Carter also had a hit. The Swans didn’t make any fielding errors while Brody Clarkson led the side in chances with four.
Next up for Gosnells is another game against Swan Districts on Saturday.
Rockingham Rams 10, UWA Magpies 2
UWA Magpies couldn’t keep up with Rockingham Rams, falling 10-2 on Sunday at Empire Ballpark.
Rockingham got on the board in the first with a sacrifice fly by David Nichols. UWA Magpies tied it at one with a Jake Wilson single in the top of the second.
Mitchell Field responded with a sacrifice fly to give Rockingham a 2-1 lead in the bottom of the second.
The back-and-forth battle continued as UWA Magpies’ Joshua Houston singled to tie it at two in the top of the third.
An error gave Rockingham a 4-2 lead in the bottom frame, and they kept up the pressure moving forward.
Jacob Davila led things off on the mound for UWA Magpies. The starting pitcher surrendered four hits, one walk, and two runs over two innings.
Brock Molloy started for Rockingham, allowing four hits and two runs (one earned) over five innings, striking out five and walking one.
Wilson, Houston, Bass Cooper, Nick Alexiou, and Riley Spring each collected one hit for UWA Magpies. Wilson and Houston had the team’s two RBIs while Spring stole two bases.
Rockingham collected 13 hits in the game, including three apiece for Vinnie Tarantola and Jesse Sequeira. The latter drove the middle of the lineup, leading the team with two runs batted in on a 3-for-4 day.
Mike Blanke collected two hits for Rockingham in three at-bats.
Rockingham faces off against Swan Districts while UWA Magpies heads to Gosnells on Sunday.
Wanneroo Giants 8, South Perth 0
Wanneroo Giants scored seven runs in the second inning on their way to an 8-0 victory over South Perth Souths on Sunday at Empire Ballpark.
Jacob Santich, Ethan Cooper, and Drake Angeron singled, while Byron Armstrong doubled and an error scored three more runs to round out Wanneroo’s huge second inning.
Rob Sorensen pitched first for Wanneroo as the right-handed pitcher gave up no hits or runs in three innings with three strikeouts and four walks.
Caleb Goodwin started for South Perth, giving up five hits and seven runs (five earned) over one and two-thirds innings, striking out two and walking three.
Frazer Brice threw one and one-third innings of scoreless relief for Wanneroo as the righty struck out one with no hits or walks.
Cooper and Santich each collected two hits for Wanneroo, with one RBI apiece for Cooper, Courtney Jones, Santich, and Angeron. Wanneroo had patience at the plate, accumulating six walks in the game.
Cameron Ballantine paced South Perth with two of the team’s six walks.
Wanneroo Giants will hope to keep up the momentum as they head to Morley on Sunday. South Perth plays at Carine next.
Morley Eagles 6, Braves 2
Alex Hall collected three hits in four at-bats as Morley Eagles defeated Braves 6-2 on Sunday at Empire Ballpark. Hall singled in the first and second and tripled in the sixth.
Matt Dixon singled to score Morley’s first run of the game, while Hall went on to extend the lead to 4-0 in the bottom of the second.
Joel Beches hit a solo homer to left field in the top of the sixth for the Braves.
Adam Milson stepped on the hill first for Morley, giving up two hits and one run in three innings with five strikeouts. Brendan Sing and Kieren Hall each threw scoreless innings in relief.
Campbell Froude started the game for Braves, allowing four hits and four runs over three innings, striking out two and walking two.
Morley tallied 10 hits in the game with multiple for Adrian Blount and Dixon. The team turned one double play and didn’t make any errors, with Hall taking eight chances, the most on the team.
As Braves’ number nine hitter, Beches led the team with three hits in three at-bats. He joined Kevin Clark with an RBI while Tim Kennelly collected two hits in three at-bats.
Morley plays Vic Park Belmont on Friday, looking to go 3-0 while Braves have the week off before a matchup vs. Perth on Sunday 15 Oct.
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