LADDER AFTER FIRST 9 GAMES
1 GMBC
2
Ringwood
3
Greensborough
4
Heathmont
5
Research
6
Westgarth
7
Knox
8
Watsonia
9
Croydon
10 North Balwyn
At the half way mark of the season there as been a few
surprises but nothing earth shaking.
Monty are out in front and a desperate to make amends for
how last year ended. Their hitting is strong but do they have the pitching
depth.
Ringwood are a bit of surprise and have rode the back of
a young pitching staff. Can that young staff and along with bright carry them
all the way. Questions still remain on
their offence.
Greensborough back in the finals mix after the absence
last year. Strong hitting line up but a
lack of bullpen options are likely to hurt in the stretch.
Heathmont have underachieved but done enough to hold 4
spot. They possess the best squad but is
the hunger there to win it again?
Research would consider themselves this year’s biggest
disappointment, but word is help is on the way for their struggling pitching
staff.
Westgarth would be delighted to be where they are right
now and rightfully so. Can they hold and
scratch a couple more wins to stay in A grade.
Knox hurt by departures namely John Hussey. They will be looking to win some of the close
games they gave away in the first half.
Watsonia another team stuck on 2 wins. Plenty of pitching with some quality young
arms but will the tire as the year goes on?
Croydon veteran players and club men have done a good job
holding the group together, can they keep the rams in A grade for another year?
North Balwyn despite big recruits to coaching and playing
personal they have managed only 15 runs in 9 games. Their 2nd half surely can be as
bad as their first, Right?
So after that little run down on the season so far. Below is how MR X sees the year panning out.
PREDICTED LADDER COME ROUND 18
1
Ringwood
2
GMBC
3
Heathmont
4
Greensborough
5
Research
6
Knox
7
Westgarth
8
North Balwyn
9
Croydon
10
Watsonia
GRAND FINALISTS
Ringwood v Heathmont
GRAND FINAL WINNERS
Ringwood
CROYDON V KNOX
Knox beat up on Croydon last time 12-2 at home. Knox have not been in the best form of late
losing two close games in a row. Josh
Yung is back from college for a bit and pitched well last week. Croydon have called in some old heads for
this clash, but word is one ABL experienced pitcher is off to Research. Croydon have done a great job this year but
MR X has Knox and its legion of lefties getting the W 8-4.
GREENSBOROUGH V GMBC
Monty smashed the burras in the first game of the season
12-3. The burras have closed the gap however and this will not be a blow
out. Ratcliffe will be going off against
Lethborg most likely, with that match up favouring the Greensborough. The hitting line ups lean strongly towards
monty. MRX has this as close and as
match of the round but is giving GMBC the nod 7-5
NORTH BALWYN V WESTGARTH
The stingers got the year off to a good start winning
this one 8-0 of the Westgarth, but not much else has gone right since
then. In fact more than half their total
runs for the year were scored in the first game! Westgarth should be pleased with what they
have done so far, but there is still a long way to go. MR X says North Balwyn will get back on the
winning board here 7-1
RESEARCH V RINGWOOD
The once mighty (during the regular season) road runners
have slipped greatly. A possible midseason transfer of a Blackburn/aces pitcher
would really help them if the coup can be pulled off, but how would that go
down with the group in light of earlier seasons problems with player payments? They can hit with the best of them but the defence
and pitching has let them down this year against the top teams. Ringwood are the real deal, well drilled and
all playing as a team. Ringwood won the
first meeting 9-4 and there is no reason to see a change here. MR X says Saints win 9-4
WATSONIA V HEATHMONT
Heathmont won the first meeting 6-3 in the last on a Josh
Hendricks (possibly the league’s best hitter at present) Grand slam. Heathmont have just done enough this year,
but the talk now coming out of their camp is watch out in the 2nd
half. Weichard is playing in the lower
grades this week, and Harman is back.
They look grizzly bears, and they eat like grizzly bears so perhaps they
were hibernating during the first 9 games.
Watsonia will struggle in the 2nd half. They have relied too heavily on their
pitchers and they can’t keep carrying such a burden. MR X has the penguins winning this 10-1
ODDS OF WHAT YOU MIGHT SEE THIS WEEKEND
North Balwyn using all new bats and burning the ones from
the first half 7-1
Weichard using Tin and hitting 6 home runs in the 4’s 5-1
Berka in a research uni have $1000 on it at $1.01