By Lance Jenkinson
Werribee Giants produced its gutsiest win of the Baseball Victoria summer league division 2 season in the top-of-the-table clash with western suburbs rivals Williamstown Wolves at President’s Park on Sunday.
On the stats sheet, the Giants had no right to walk away 8-7 winners, having given up 14 hits to their three.
However, the Giants were able to manufacture runs in a variety of ways, doing enough to put up a winning number on the scoreboard.
“We didn’t play our best game,” Giants coach John Curnow said.
“There was a lot of scrapping, putting the ball in play, putting the pressure on them to get on base, a few walks.
“The guys did really well for the windy conditions.”
Heading into the ninth inning, Werribee was staring down the barrel of defeat with a three-run deficit.
It all came together for the Giants with a number of tough at-bats to clinch a stunning come-from-behind win.
Andrew Maki, Justin Gill and Ryan Balzer all found a way on base to give Oliver Box the opportunity to win it at the end.
Box worked the count before driving in the winning run. Balzer crossed home plate and there was no challenge from the Wolves defence.
Wes De Jong did the bulk of the work on the mound for Werribee with seven innings, while Trent Pantalleresco pitched the other two.
Werribee will continue its three-game series with Williamstown on Thursday night at President’s Park, followed by a third game at Greenwich Reserve in Williamstown on Sunday
