Post by stuartcapel on Sept 1, 2011 21:49:13 GMT 10
Spring has sprung and September is now upon us. The weather is warming up, the days are getting longer, and after five months of baseball, the finals are upon us in the DBA.
In all, 28 teams begin their September campaigns on the wekeend with dreams of Premiership glory in a couple of weeks time. To all players and coaches, congratulations on making the finals in your respective grades, and all the best of luck to you all over the following three weeks.
Now, without further adieu, to the games:
A1
Second Semi Final: Cheltenham v Dingley
Dingley were all set to claim the Minor Premiership as recently as a fortnight ago, however Sam Street went back to College in the US and both Berwick and Cheltenham decided to tee-off against both Grant Irving and Matt Prior, the Dingoes two best pitchers.
On pitching alone, I can’t go past Cheltenham here. They have 3-4 arms which consistently get outs, whereas Dingley enter the finals on the back of two big losses and two poor outings from their two best starters. With Brendan Horne and several Cheltenham teammates hitting well, it’s difficult to predict anything other than a Cheltenham victory.
First Semi Final: Berwick v Frankston
Berwick holds the home advantage heading into the First Semi Final, however the Dodgers have yet to beat Frankston this season, and the Tomatoes haven’t overly been headed in any game thus far against Brendan Robinson’s chargers, winning their three meetings 14-6 6-1 and 12-6.
While Saturday’s meeting is a whole new ball game, it was interesting to note that John Hussey, who relieved Ben Pittaway last weekend at ‘The Patch’, had the wood over the Berwick hitters, and if he starts, I think the Berwick boys may be in for a long day.
Much will depend on the Berwick pitching. If Glenn Richards and Scott Wearne can keep Frankston to 2-3 runs, then they will be right in the game, but I predict a low scoring game as Hussey will be extremely tough to score off. For mine, Frankston is a real wildcard with Hussey on the hill and their sweeping the finals over the next three weeks isn’t out of the question. They do have a hurdle in the Dodgers to overcome first, but I think they’ll just get over the line.
A2
Second Semi Final: Dandenong v Dingley
If offense is what you want, offense ain’t what you’re going to get when the two best A2 teams collide on Sunday at Couch Burner Stadium, as both teams have been all about pitching and defence in season 2011.
Both teams concede on average less than 2.5 runs per game and in reality, an error here or a walk there has a high chance of being the determining factor result wise here.
The two teams are evenly matched; however the Angels will be able to have all available hands on deck, while Dingley will have their A1 team in action at the same time. That and the home field advantage gives the Angels the edge for mine.
First Semi Final: Frankston v Berwick
I watched a good pitching duel between Matt O’Brien and Alex Da Silva last week and expect the same again on Saturday.
While I’m confident ‘Humphrey’ can do the job again for the Tomatoes, Da Silva did walk eight in his previous appearance, and if he does that again on Saturday, then Berwick’s finals campaign may be very short lived.
For mine, the wildcard is clearly Berwick’s Andrew Peulen, who has been the Dodger talisman throughout the season. ‘Bull’ leads Berwick in batting average (.462), hits (18), home runs (1) RBIs (18) and disputed calls with umpires (806 - surprisingly a career low) this season, but he also hasn’t conceded a run in over thirteen innings pitched. If Berwick have the lead late and the ball is handed to Peulen, then Frankston may have to start planning for a week off next week.
For mine, Frankston’s security in the starting pitching lends me to give the edge to the Tomatoes, however last week’s game was a one-run game and I expect a similar margin on Saturday.
A3
Second Semi Final: Bonbeach v Berwick
The best defensive team in A3 hosts the best offensive team in A3 as Bonbeach do battle with Berwick for the right to progress directly to the Grand Final.
A solid line-up, the Bonbeach team has dominated defensively all season, and concede just over six runs per game, though that does jump to nine runs per game against the three other teams that will battle the Blue Jays in the 2011 finals series.
Berwick has ridden a strong offense all season, with nine of the ten Dodger batters who have had forty or more at-bats averaging over .348 for the season. No wonder they averaged over fourteen runs per game this season!
Only one team did the regular season double over Bonbeach – and that was the Berwick Dodgers. That’s enough for me to go with the Dodgers on Sunday.
First Semi Final: Cheltenham v Dandenong
While the Rustlers eased their way into the finals, Dandenong had to do it the hard way, edging both Dingley teams out in the race for fourth position by a solitary point.
The two regular season meetings were high-scoring affairs, with the Rustlers saluting in both games 20-13 and 19-7, and I envisage Saturday’s final also being high-scoring and in favour of the Rustlers as I can’t see where Dandenong will be able to keep the Cheltenham bats quiet and score enough runs to progress to the Preliminary Final.
A4
Second Semi Final: Dandenong v Frankston
With a percentage of .865, Dandenong’s A4 team finished the eighteen round season with the highest percentage of any senior team in the DBA (Cheltenham Blue and Dandenong Blue in the Under 14’s both had higher percentages for those trivia buffs among you), and in reality, the A4 Premiership is theirs for the taking, unless they somehow conjure a way to throw it all away from here.
The evergreen Frankston Tomatoes stand in Dandenong’s way in the Second Semi Final, and while the Tomatoes lost just four games over the course of the season, two of them were to the Angels (who went through the season undefeated), who depantsed Frankston both times, winning 13-3 and 16-2.
With an average winning margin of 14 runs per game, it’s impossible to go past the Angels here
First Semi Final: Berwick v Cheltenham
Both Berwick and Cheltenham were entered last week comfortable in their positions on the A4 table, and the home draw would suit the Dodgers, who won both matches between the two teams at Berwick extremely comfortably, scoring 28 runs in both matches at the Dodgerdome.
The only thing that prevents me lauding the Dodgers further is the presence of Steve Babidge in the Cheltenham line-up. Personally, I don’t know if Steve is throwing, however I do recall playing in a 17-innings Grand Final where Steve threw every pitch for the Rustlers in a phenomenal effort (I was 2-6 and a sacrifice for those interested…no-one? I’ll move on then) so you’ll appreciate why I might give Cheltenham more than a chance of winning. That said, I do think Berwick will get the chocolates.
B1
Second Semi Final: Moorabbin v Pakenham
Largely an unknown quantity at the start of the season, Moorabbin has dominated the B1 Grade over the course of the regular season, and deservedly head into the finals as the outright Premiership favourites.
Their first challenge in the finals comes from a real Cinderella story in Pakenham, who were a club on their knees as recently as 2008 when they were down to a handful of players and forfeiting matches, however credit to all concerned at the club, which has risen like a Phoenix from the Flames to not only have three teams, but their top two teams in Second Semi Finals on Sunday.
The two teams fought out a one-run game last week, though I anticipate that there was a bit of cat-and-mouse regards tactics in the game. What stands out for me is the fact that Moorabbin is a perfect 8-0 at home and average over ten runs per game while conceding fewer than four runs per game.
Advantage: Moorabbin
First Semi Final: Boneo v Chelsea
An interesting battle takes place down Boneo way on Saturday as while they’ll be enemies for nine innings, following the cut-throat First Semi, the next time several of the players see each other they will be in the same uniform with several Boneo players suiting up for the Dolphins in the summer (if the rumours are correct).
Ironically it was the two away sides that won the two regular season matches, and I’m marginally giving the edge to Chelsea for the First Semi Final, not because of they road team enjoying the head-to-head advantage, but because Boneo’s home form over the last two months of the season was ordinary, beating just wooden-spooners Ormond-Glenhuntly at home during that time.
B2
Second Semi Final: Chelsea v Pakenham
A really tough game to pick a winner from as both teams have been free scorers throughout the season, averaging over fifteen runs per game, with the Pumas ending the season as the highest scoring team in the three B Grade divisions with 248.
The teams split their two contests during the regular season, so perhaps it’s best to sit back and watch ye olde fashioned shoot-out at the OK Chelsea (yeah I know, OK Chelsea is terrible, but appreciate the effort will ya?)
My interactive tipping mechanism suggests Chelsea. What’s yours say?
First Semi Final: Dandenong v Carrum Downs
Despite playing a game more than the Cardinals, the Dandenong team scored over 200 runs and had better pitching stats than the Carrum Downs boys, who didn’t have the ‘luxury’ of dropping a pitcher or two given the Cardinals ill-fated playoff run in the B1 Grade.
Though Carrum Downs won their first meeting this year, Dandenong won the return bout 11-0 and I think that result was a reflection of the difference between the two teams. I can’t see the Angels losing here
B3
Second Semi Final: Bonbeach v Chelsea
Bonbeach and Chelsea are hardly friendly neighbours, however no one could deny that the two sides have been by far the best two teams in the B3 competition this season and will likely play in the Grand Final in a couple of weeks time.
Heading into the Second Semi Final, there will be few rabbits that either team can let loose from the hat as they have met four times over the eighteen round season. The designated home side won all four meetings (Bonbeach 3 Chelsea 1) in the regular season, which is a good enough trend to suggest the Blue Jays will advance to the Grand Final with a win on Sunday.
First Semi Final: Dingley v Carrum Downs
A return match from Round 18, the Dingoes enter as the home team and as favourites after defeating Carrum Downs in a match Jason Delange’s team had to win to make the finals. For Carrum Downs, their loss should have consigned their season to a final-less fate, however Dandenong inexplicably lost to Pakenham and fell out of the four on the final day of the season, leaving the Cardinals in fourth position.
I’ve a bit of a personal interest in the B3 Dingley team having played with Jason and a few others looking after a group of youngsters a couple of years ago and am delighted with their efforts. For sentimental reason’s I’ll be backing them throughout the finals, and while that may be more in hope as the finals roll-on, for this week, the tip is most justified as the Dingoes return home after defeating the Cardinals on their patch last week.
WOMENS
Preliminary Final: Melbourne University v Footscray
While the A and B Grades are just starting their finals, the women are a week ahead of the rest of the competition, and while Berwick can cool their heels slightly having qualified for next week’s Grand Final, just who will play them is still a matter of contention, with Melbourne University taking on Footscray at the neutral venue of Sandringham.
Footscray did take scalp the students on one occasion over the regular season, but with Vic Brown to control proceedings on the hill for Melbourne University, I’m backing the students to show why they were just percentage points behind Berwick on the ladder at the end of the regular season and qualify for next weekend’s Grand Final.
Good luck to all players, coaches and officials on the weekend.
In all, 28 teams begin their September campaigns on the wekeend with dreams of Premiership glory in a couple of weeks time. To all players and coaches, congratulations on making the finals in your respective grades, and all the best of luck to you all over the following three weeks.
Now, without further adieu, to the games:
A1
Second Semi Final: Cheltenham v Dingley
Dingley were all set to claim the Minor Premiership as recently as a fortnight ago, however Sam Street went back to College in the US and both Berwick and Cheltenham decided to tee-off against both Grant Irving and Matt Prior, the Dingoes two best pitchers.
On pitching alone, I can’t go past Cheltenham here. They have 3-4 arms which consistently get outs, whereas Dingley enter the finals on the back of two big losses and two poor outings from their two best starters. With Brendan Horne and several Cheltenham teammates hitting well, it’s difficult to predict anything other than a Cheltenham victory.
First Semi Final: Berwick v Frankston
Berwick holds the home advantage heading into the First Semi Final, however the Dodgers have yet to beat Frankston this season, and the Tomatoes haven’t overly been headed in any game thus far against Brendan Robinson’s chargers, winning their three meetings 14-6 6-1 and 12-6.
While Saturday’s meeting is a whole new ball game, it was interesting to note that John Hussey, who relieved Ben Pittaway last weekend at ‘The Patch’, had the wood over the Berwick hitters, and if he starts, I think the Berwick boys may be in for a long day.
Much will depend on the Berwick pitching. If Glenn Richards and Scott Wearne can keep Frankston to 2-3 runs, then they will be right in the game, but I predict a low scoring game as Hussey will be extremely tough to score off. For mine, Frankston is a real wildcard with Hussey on the hill and their sweeping the finals over the next three weeks isn’t out of the question. They do have a hurdle in the Dodgers to overcome first, but I think they’ll just get over the line.
A2
Second Semi Final: Dandenong v Dingley
If offense is what you want, offense ain’t what you’re going to get when the two best A2 teams collide on Sunday at Couch Burner Stadium, as both teams have been all about pitching and defence in season 2011.
Both teams concede on average less than 2.5 runs per game and in reality, an error here or a walk there has a high chance of being the determining factor result wise here.
The two teams are evenly matched; however the Angels will be able to have all available hands on deck, while Dingley will have their A1 team in action at the same time. That and the home field advantage gives the Angels the edge for mine.
First Semi Final: Frankston v Berwick
I watched a good pitching duel between Matt O’Brien and Alex Da Silva last week and expect the same again on Saturday.
While I’m confident ‘Humphrey’ can do the job again for the Tomatoes, Da Silva did walk eight in his previous appearance, and if he does that again on Saturday, then Berwick’s finals campaign may be very short lived.
For mine, the wildcard is clearly Berwick’s Andrew Peulen, who has been the Dodger talisman throughout the season. ‘Bull’ leads Berwick in batting average (.462), hits (18), home runs (1) RBIs (18) and disputed calls with umpires (806 - surprisingly a career low) this season, but he also hasn’t conceded a run in over thirteen innings pitched. If Berwick have the lead late and the ball is handed to Peulen, then Frankston may have to start planning for a week off next week.
For mine, Frankston’s security in the starting pitching lends me to give the edge to the Tomatoes, however last week’s game was a one-run game and I expect a similar margin on Saturday.
A3
Second Semi Final: Bonbeach v Berwick
The best defensive team in A3 hosts the best offensive team in A3 as Bonbeach do battle with Berwick for the right to progress directly to the Grand Final.
A solid line-up, the Bonbeach team has dominated defensively all season, and concede just over six runs per game, though that does jump to nine runs per game against the three other teams that will battle the Blue Jays in the 2011 finals series.
Berwick has ridden a strong offense all season, with nine of the ten Dodger batters who have had forty or more at-bats averaging over .348 for the season. No wonder they averaged over fourteen runs per game this season!
Only one team did the regular season double over Bonbeach – and that was the Berwick Dodgers. That’s enough for me to go with the Dodgers on Sunday.
First Semi Final: Cheltenham v Dandenong
While the Rustlers eased their way into the finals, Dandenong had to do it the hard way, edging both Dingley teams out in the race for fourth position by a solitary point.
The two regular season meetings were high-scoring affairs, with the Rustlers saluting in both games 20-13 and 19-7, and I envisage Saturday’s final also being high-scoring and in favour of the Rustlers as I can’t see where Dandenong will be able to keep the Cheltenham bats quiet and score enough runs to progress to the Preliminary Final.
A4
Second Semi Final: Dandenong v Frankston
With a percentage of .865, Dandenong’s A4 team finished the eighteen round season with the highest percentage of any senior team in the DBA (Cheltenham Blue and Dandenong Blue in the Under 14’s both had higher percentages for those trivia buffs among you), and in reality, the A4 Premiership is theirs for the taking, unless they somehow conjure a way to throw it all away from here.
The evergreen Frankston Tomatoes stand in Dandenong’s way in the Second Semi Final, and while the Tomatoes lost just four games over the course of the season, two of them were to the Angels (who went through the season undefeated), who depantsed Frankston both times, winning 13-3 and 16-2.
With an average winning margin of 14 runs per game, it’s impossible to go past the Angels here
First Semi Final: Berwick v Cheltenham
Both Berwick and Cheltenham were entered last week comfortable in their positions on the A4 table, and the home draw would suit the Dodgers, who won both matches between the two teams at Berwick extremely comfortably, scoring 28 runs in both matches at the Dodgerdome.
The only thing that prevents me lauding the Dodgers further is the presence of Steve Babidge in the Cheltenham line-up. Personally, I don’t know if Steve is throwing, however I do recall playing in a 17-innings Grand Final where Steve threw every pitch for the Rustlers in a phenomenal effort (I was 2-6 and a sacrifice for those interested…no-one? I’ll move on then) so you’ll appreciate why I might give Cheltenham more than a chance of winning. That said, I do think Berwick will get the chocolates.
B1
Second Semi Final: Moorabbin v Pakenham
Largely an unknown quantity at the start of the season, Moorabbin has dominated the B1 Grade over the course of the regular season, and deservedly head into the finals as the outright Premiership favourites.
Their first challenge in the finals comes from a real Cinderella story in Pakenham, who were a club on their knees as recently as 2008 when they were down to a handful of players and forfeiting matches, however credit to all concerned at the club, which has risen like a Phoenix from the Flames to not only have three teams, but their top two teams in Second Semi Finals on Sunday.
The two teams fought out a one-run game last week, though I anticipate that there was a bit of cat-and-mouse regards tactics in the game. What stands out for me is the fact that Moorabbin is a perfect 8-0 at home and average over ten runs per game while conceding fewer than four runs per game.
Advantage: Moorabbin
First Semi Final: Boneo v Chelsea
An interesting battle takes place down Boneo way on Saturday as while they’ll be enemies for nine innings, following the cut-throat First Semi, the next time several of the players see each other they will be in the same uniform with several Boneo players suiting up for the Dolphins in the summer (if the rumours are correct).
Ironically it was the two away sides that won the two regular season matches, and I’m marginally giving the edge to Chelsea for the First Semi Final, not because of they road team enjoying the head-to-head advantage, but because Boneo’s home form over the last two months of the season was ordinary, beating just wooden-spooners Ormond-Glenhuntly at home during that time.
B2
Second Semi Final: Chelsea v Pakenham
A really tough game to pick a winner from as both teams have been free scorers throughout the season, averaging over fifteen runs per game, with the Pumas ending the season as the highest scoring team in the three B Grade divisions with 248.
The teams split their two contests during the regular season, so perhaps it’s best to sit back and watch ye olde fashioned shoot-out at the OK Chelsea (yeah I know, OK Chelsea is terrible, but appreciate the effort will ya?)
My interactive tipping mechanism suggests Chelsea. What’s yours say?
First Semi Final: Dandenong v Carrum Downs
Despite playing a game more than the Cardinals, the Dandenong team scored over 200 runs and had better pitching stats than the Carrum Downs boys, who didn’t have the ‘luxury’ of dropping a pitcher or two given the Cardinals ill-fated playoff run in the B1 Grade.
Though Carrum Downs won their first meeting this year, Dandenong won the return bout 11-0 and I think that result was a reflection of the difference between the two teams. I can’t see the Angels losing here
B3
Second Semi Final: Bonbeach v Chelsea
Bonbeach and Chelsea are hardly friendly neighbours, however no one could deny that the two sides have been by far the best two teams in the B3 competition this season and will likely play in the Grand Final in a couple of weeks time.
Heading into the Second Semi Final, there will be few rabbits that either team can let loose from the hat as they have met four times over the eighteen round season. The designated home side won all four meetings (Bonbeach 3 Chelsea 1) in the regular season, which is a good enough trend to suggest the Blue Jays will advance to the Grand Final with a win on Sunday.
First Semi Final: Dingley v Carrum Downs
A return match from Round 18, the Dingoes enter as the home team and as favourites after defeating Carrum Downs in a match Jason Delange’s team had to win to make the finals. For Carrum Downs, their loss should have consigned their season to a final-less fate, however Dandenong inexplicably lost to Pakenham and fell out of the four on the final day of the season, leaving the Cardinals in fourth position.
I’ve a bit of a personal interest in the B3 Dingley team having played with Jason and a few others looking after a group of youngsters a couple of years ago and am delighted with their efforts. For sentimental reason’s I’ll be backing them throughout the finals, and while that may be more in hope as the finals roll-on, for this week, the tip is most justified as the Dingoes return home after defeating the Cardinals on their patch last week.
WOMENS
Preliminary Final: Melbourne University v Footscray
While the A and B Grades are just starting their finals, the women are a week ahead of the rest of the competition, and while Berwick can cool their heels slightly having qualified for next week’s Grand Final, just who will play them is still a matter of contention, with Melbourne University taking on Footscray at the neutral venue of Sandringham.
Footscray did take scalp the students on one occasion over the regular season, but with Vic Brown to control proceedings on the hill for Melbourne University, I’m backing the students to show why they were just percentage points behind Berwick on the ladder at the end of the regular season and qualify for next weekend’s Grand Final.
Good luck to all players, coaches and officials on the weekend.
