WILLIAMSTOWN Wolves meant business in the Baseball Victoria summer league division 2 on Sunday.
The Wolves’ form leading into their top-four blockbuster with Mulgrave Rebels had been sketchy — though it was winning form.
Dean Marnell’s team had a point to prove and made it crystal clear with an 18-3 mercy rule romp on the road in Dandenong.
“It shocked me a bit,” Marnell said of the blowout scoreline. “The two weeks previous, we were really lucky to get away with wins and the boys know that. So to come out today and play like that was really good.”
The Wolves managed to combat the dangerous arm of Rebels’ import starting pitcher Mike McGillivray.
The Canadian had proven troublesome on the mound for opposition batters with a 2.81 ERA.
But the Wolves’ top six — Ryan Camov, Aaron Green, Darren and Michael Pollock, Chris Mason and Josh Lee — feasted on his pitching.
“Their pitcher was good,” Marnell said. “I rate him, he’s one of the better imports we’ve faced. The boys, from the get-go, had really good at-bats and that was the key to it.”
The Wolves did everything right in the field for six of the seven innings. They gave up two errors in one late inning, but it was effectively junk time with the lopsided scoreboard.
David Asp was in command on the mound to set up the big win.
“He dominated the first four innings,” Marnell said. “He got the ground balls and the infielders made the plays.”
The Wolves (7-1) stay at the top of the ladder, level with local rivals Newport Rams.
Meanwhile, the Melbourne Aces claimed one of their three games on the road against Perth Heat in the Australian Baseball League, snapping the home side’s unbeaten streak.
Aces outfielder Carlo Testa was named the ABL’s player of the week, hitting 5-for-11 in round three with a double, a home run, two walks, two runs scored, five RBIs and even a stolen base.
The Aces (3-3) head to the nation’s capital for a four-game series with the Canberra Cavalry (2-3) from Friday to Sunday.
SUMMER LEAGUE
Division 2
Firsts: Mulgrave 3 Williamstown 18; Newport 5 St Kilda 1
Seconds: Newport 5 St Kilda 9; Williamstown 11 Mulgrave 9
Thirds: Williamstown 24 Mulgrave 6; St Kilda 1 Newport 11
Fourths: Werribee 11 Williamstown 12; St Kilda 3 Newport 13
Division 3
Firsts: Footscray 13 St Kilda 6
Seconds: Footscray 10 St Kilda 16
Australian Baseball League
Game 1: Melbourne Aces 0 Perth Heat 3
Game 2: Melbourne Aces 4 Perth Heat 9
Game 3: Melbourne Aces 12 Perth Heat 2
