IT was a fee-fi-fo-fumbly Werribee Giants that lost 9-2 to the Port Melbourne Mariners in the Baseball Victoria Summer League men’s division 2 at President’s Park on Saturday.
Making a remarkable eight errors in the field, the young Giants sorely missed infield stars Darryl George, on duty with an Australian representative team, and Wade Balzer, out with a hamstring injury.
A disappointed Giants coach Earl Byrne told the Weekly it was an unprecedented number in his time as coach.
“It wasn’t good. I don’t think I’ve been involved in a ones game where we’ve made that many errors since I’ve been here. It’s something that I’m going to have to have a look at at training this week.”
Starting pitcher Chris Webb worked hard on the mound for the Giants.
The left-hander lasted 70 pitches before he was taken out of the game in the fifth inning.
It was a premeditated move by Byrne to cut the youngster’s pitch count after a heavy workload to start the season.
“I could’ve gone with him longer, but he threw 70 pitches and I wanted to give him a break this week. He’s thrown 100-plus pitches for us every week and I wanted to bring the pitch count down.”
That chance was gleefully accepted by 15-year-old Wes De Jong, another leftie. He produced three strong innings before closer Trent Pantallaresco was called in for the last.
“The pitching was OK,” Byrne said. “It was decent enough to win a ball game.” The Giants’ bats were not exactly blazing either.
The Mariners’ starting pitcher was on track for a no-hitter in the fifth inning before the Giants awoke to finish with six hits and two runs.
Oliver Box was the Giants’ only multiple hitter as he continued his strong start to the campaign. “He’s stepping up for us and showing these kids what it’s all about,” Byrne said.
The Giants (2-3) face their toughest early-season test against Newport Rams (5-0) on Sunday.
