Werribee Giants have delivered a strong first impression to their fans in an 11-3 home opening win over Bonbeach Bluejays in the Baseball Victoria summer league division 2.
The Giants were eager to atone for their first-up defeat on the road to Doncaster and did so in clinical fashion at President’s Park on Sunday.
Giants coach Charles Thompson was very happy to get the first win.
“It would’ve been better if we got it last week, but that’s the way the ball rolls sometimes in this sport,” he said. “Bouncing back was one of the most important things.”
Werribee produced the kind of performance that suggests it will be a challenger again this summer.
The Giants’ pitching and defence was spot on, while their offence delivered 15 hits.
While relieved to get the first win, Thompson was not overly concerned with the loss on opening day.
“The first game of the season with any club, no matter who you’re playing, it can really go either way because you just don’t know what you’re up against and what your line-up is going to look like,” Thompson said.
He said the players were definitely “meshing better” in the win against Bonbeach Bluejays.
Josh Lee was on the mound for Werribee and threw a strong seven and one-third innings.
The competition’s MVP from last season overcame tough conditions to put the Giants into a winning position.
“It was a great pitching performance,” Thompson said.
“He struck out six or seven and gave up four or five hits.
“But the wind was howling all over the place, so balls were jumping off the bat better than they normally would’ve.”
John Curnow closed out the game, giving up just one hit on two and two-thirds innings.
It all clicked offensively for Werribee. The Giants were led superbly by import Dustin Biell, who went three-for-four with a single, a double and a home run.
It was Biell’s first official outing in front of the Giants’ faithful, but it won’t be long before he is a crowd favourite if he continues to put up lines like that.
Wade Balzer and Oliver Box also had multiple hit game. Box had two doubles.
“It was a really good day – everybody got hits,” Thompson said.
“It was terrific, it was electrifying and we had heaps of people there for support.”
Werribee will hit the road on Sunday to face Berwick City at Cyril Molineaux Reserve.
Both teams are 1-1 after two rounds.
“In the past couple of seasons, they’ve always been middle of the pack,” Thompson said of Berwick City.
“Their coach has kept telling me they’re young, but over the course of time they kind of get older and grow a little bit, so it’ll be pretty interesting to see how well they’ve come along this season.
“It should be a good test.”
