Cats Survive Late Scare to Edge Aces
The Carine Cats held off a fast-finishing Swan Hills Aces side, taking out a tight 6-5 win on Wednesday. After building a four-run lead in the fifth, the Cats had to dig deep to keep the Aces from completing a comeback.
The Cats got going early, plating one in the first before the Aces responded in the third with a go-ahead single from Daniel Holt. But Carine took full control in the fifth with a four-run burst, highlighted by a two-run bomb from Finley Scott and a bases-loaded walk to Lachlan Clinton.
Jake Coorey was sharp on the hill for the Cats early, giving up no hits in two scoreless innings. Scott and Darcy White helped close things out late. Scott also impressed with the bat, going 2-for-3 and driving in two.
Holt was the standout for the Aces, collecting two RBIs. Tom Oliver stole two bases, while six different players recorded hits as the Aces made it interesting late. A double play helped their cause, but it wasn’t quite enough to pull off the win.
Giants Run Riot Behind Bandy’s Brilliant Start
Dylan Bandy put on a clinic for the Wanneroo Giants, striking out 11 batters across five innings to power a dominant 15-2 win over the Western Tigers. Bandy’s strong outing was backed by an explosive offence that produced 10 hits and 10 walks.
Chayce Benseman led the way with three hits and an early RBI double, while Cooper Barber and Harry Wooden also had big moments — Barber smashed a triple, and Wooden knocked in three with a clutch single in the sixth.
The Giants took control in the second inning with a four-run surge and never looked back. They added another five in the sixth to blow the game wide open.
Tane Botting started for the Tigers but struggled with command, giving up five runs in one inning. Enzel Takuta swung well with a 2-for-3 day, and Jordan Trainer went a perfect 3-for-3, but the Tigers couldn’t match Wanneroo’s firepower.
The Giants also stole nine bases and turned a double play to complete a polished all-round performance.
Cats Stage Comeback to Beat Titans
The Carine Cats kept the momentum rolling with an 8-5 comeback win over the Southern Titans. After trailing 5-2 early, the Cats exploded for six runs in the fourth to snatch the lead and never looked back.
Shea Walsh got Carine on the board with a two-RBI groundout in the first, but the Titans answered with a three-run third featuring hits from Eli Plummer, Jordan Mahauariki, and Alex Cooper.
Carine’s game-breaking fourth inning was built on patience and power. Finley Scott delivered a two-run single, and the team strung together five hits in the frame to flip the script.
Scott also started on the mound but struggled with control. Thankfully, Archer Rolfe and Samuel Coombe steadied things in relief with scoreless outings. Coorey and Scott each drove in two, while Coombe stole three bags and the team played error-free defence, turning two double plays.
Griffin Braine had a solid day for the Titans with two RBIs and a hit, while Mahauariki impressed with a double and eight defensive plays. Despite showing good patience at the plate, the Titans couldn’t halt Carine’s momentum.
Phantoms Power Past Firebirds Despite Vlasic’s Heroics
Joel Vlasic did everything he could for the Central Firebirds — including three hits and a solid start on the mound — but it wasn’t enough to stop a surging Eastern Phantoms side, who ran away with a 9-4 win.
The Firebirds opened the scoring on a dropped third strike, but the Phantoms quickly responded with three in the first and another in the second. A five-run fifth sealed the deal, thanks to a flurry of singles and a bases-loaded walk.
Vlasic pitched four innings and struck out four, but Eastern’s patience at the plate wore him down. Arata Samukawa, Kayden Prosper, and Tex Prisov all drove in runs in the fifth, while Marcus White added a pair of RBIs earlier in the game.
Prosper, Brooks, and Prisov all collected two hits each, while the team stole six bases and didn’t commit a single error. Ethan Sneddon was rock-solid defensively, racking up nine plays.
For the Firebirds, Vlasic led the way with three hits and two stolen bases. Archie Moffat, Alexander Clark, and Jett Marchesano also chipped in with RBIs. Despite flashes of brilliance, the Phantoms’ consistency proved the difference.
