WHATEVER could go wrong did for the Werribee Giants on a disastrous day in the Baseball Victoria summer league on Sunday.
The Giants coughed up a six-run lead to lose 13-10 to Moorabbin in a hitter-dominated division 2 bout at President’s Park on Sunday.
The woes ran deeper than the win-loss column for the Giants.
Wade Balzer, their best hitter on the day with 4-from-4 in the batters’ box, pulled a hamstring in his last at-bat.
Even worse was an injury to up-and-coming seconds player Will Castillo in his senior debut.
The teenager attempted a slide into third base and broke an ankle. He’s likely to miss at least 12 months while it heals.
“It was a bummer of a day for us,” a downcast Giants coach Earl Byrne told the Weekly. “We’ve seen him a lot at training and he’s got a bit of talent even though he is fairly raw.
“We said we’ll put him in the seconds and watch him develop. Now he faces 12 months on the sidelines.”
The Giants held a healthy 8-2 lead before giving up six runs in a hellish sixth inning.
Starting pitcher Chris Webb left runners on base when he was pulled.
Reliever Trent Pantallaresco had no answers either.
“We were up, looking pretty good and hitting the ball really well,” Byrne said. “The whole mood of the team changed in that sixth inning.” Closer Dane Gregory was one of the shining lights on a bleak day for the Giants pitching staff.
Promoted from the seconds, he is certain to keep his place in the top side after two strong innings.
For once, the Giants batters provided the run support, but this time it was a pointless exercise.
Ten runs is a mark the club has seldom reached in recent times. “That’s the most runs we’ve scored in two years and we got beat,” Byrne said.
It was a young Giants line-up that took to the field. Byrne relished the chance to see how his young players would stand up without two key players – Melbourne Aces star Darryl George and the experienced John Curnow – to lean on.
“What I wanted to do more of this year was to develop the kids and it gave me a chance to do that,” he said.
The Giants (2-2) host Port Melbourne (1-3) in a crucial game at President’s Park on Sunday at 3.30pm.
WERRIBEE GIANTS RESULTS
Division 2: Werribee 10 Moorabbin 13
Division 2 reserves: Werribee 6 Moorabbin 7
Division 2 thirds: Moorabbin 12 Werribee 12
Division 2 fourths: Moorabbin 20 Werribee 1
