Eastern Phantoms Dominate with Big Bat from Romeo
The Eastern Phantoms were simply too good for the Swan Hills Aces on Sunday, cruising to a 22-3 win at Empire Ballpark thanks to an offensive explosion led by Isaac Romeo.
Romeo was on fire, collecting three hits — a double, a triple and a single — while driving in two runs. His efforts kicked off a huge first inning that saw the Phantoms pile on the runs with help from Thomas Allpike, Cody Joss, Callan Symonds, and Kayden Prosper.
The second inning was more of the same, with the Phantoms capitalising on errors and adding three more runs to their tally. Then came a six-run third, sparked by Ethan Sneddon and Allpike, who both delivered big hits to blow the game wide open.
The fifth inning sealed the deal with another six-run outburst. Xavier Loosmore added a two-RBI single, and Samukawa and Prosper kept the scoreboard ticking with well-placed contact and patience at the plate.
Pitching duties were shared among the Phantoms crew, with Leeuwin Renwick starting and Prosper finishing the job without giving up a hit. The Phantoms finished with 16 hits and 11 walks, showing great discipline.
Romeo, Prosper, and Symonds all had three hits, while Sneddon and Samukawa drove in three runs each. The team also wreaked havoc on the bases, racking up seven stolen bags.
For the Aces, it was a tough day out. Tom Oliver picked up two hits and drove in their only run, but the early damage was too much to recover from.
A strong all-around performance by the Phantoms saw them run away with it early and never look back.
Firebirds Fly Past Titans with Massive Second Inning
The Central Firebirds took flight on Sunday at Empire Ballpark, smashing the Southern Titans 15-1 off the back of a monster nine-run second inning.
The Firebirds opened the scoring in the first after an error let a runner cross. But it was the second where they did the real damage — piling on nine runs thanks to clutch hitting from Albion Woods, Jett Marchesano, Ryan Arnold, Archie Moffat and Kaylen Puna.
Arnold was the standout, smashing a bases-clearing double to bring in three runs. By the time the dust settled, the Titans were staring down the barrel of a 10-0 deficit.
The Firebirds didn’t stop there, tacking on another five runs in the fifth. Oliver Humphreys, Chayce Humble, and Joel Vlasic all joined in on the hitting parade. Woods also picked up two RBIs despite only recording one hit for the day.
Vlasic also got the start on the mound and delivered four innings of no-hit baseball, striking out four and walking just one. It was a commanding performance from the leadoff man, who also went 4-for-5 at the plate.
The Firebirds tallied 12 hits and nine walks for the game. Arnold led with three RBIs, while Humble and Vlasic were also strong with the bat.
For the Titans, Connor Kitchen managed one of the few highlights with a base hit. The team turned a tidy double play on defence but couldn’t string enough together to challenge the Firebirds.
The Firebirds will look to keep the momentum rolling as they head into their next clash against Wanneroo.
Wanneroo Giants Overpower Titans in High-Scoring Battle
The Wanneroo Giants put on a clinic with the bat, taking down the Southern Titans 24-9 in a wild, run-filled game at Empire Ballpark on Sunday.
The Giants set the tone straight away with a five-run first inning, thanks to a bases-clearing double from Blake Sexton and a few patient at-bats. But it was the second inning that truly blew the game open, with Wanneroo putting up 12 runs on just four hits.
Mitchell Elliott had a monster day, driving in multiple runs with clutch singles. Blake Thompson and Harry Wooden also did damage, as the Titans’ pitching struggled to find any rhythm. By the end of the second, the Giants had raced to a 17-0 lead.
The Titans did show some fight in the fourth, plating seven runs behind solid at-bats from Jordan Mahauariki, Alex Cooper, and Eli Plummer. But it wasn’t enough to claw back from the early damage.
On the mound, Quinn Fatai was sharp for the Giants, striking out four in just over an inning. Kobi Scaife also delivered a clean frame out of the bullpen. Titans starter Xavier Olsen had a rough outing, issuing four walks and giving up four early runs.
Sexton led the way at the plate with three RBIs from the eight spot. Elliott, Sexton, and Chayce Benseman all collected multiple hits, while the team as a whole drew 16 walks and stole seven bases.
For the Titans, Mahauariki, Cooper, and Plummer all finished with two hits, and seven different players drove in runs — a bright spot on a tough day.
Wanneroo now turn their focus to the Firebirds as they hit the road for their next match.