NEWPORT Rams brought the fireworks in a 25-3 annihilation of St Kilda in Baseball Victoria’s summer league division 2 on Saturday.
The Rams went whack in the first innings with two towering home runs, effectively killing off the game as a contest.
Troy Malthouse unleashed a grand slam home run before Jordan Young followed up with a three-run homer, leaving the Saints shell-shocked.
“We just came out and our bats just fired from the first innings,” Rams assistant coach Gavin Young told the Weekly.
“We put up eight runs in the first. It was just a day where we couldn’t do anything wrong with the bat.”
The hits – 20 in all – kept coming for the Rams. The main source was pitcher Griffin Weir, who had five. Weir was also in command on the mound in another stellar performance.
“Griffin Weir threw a really good game again,” Young said. “He had a day out.”
The Rams were eager to bounce back after a narrow loss to Fitzroy a week earlier.
That defeat snapped a seven-game winning streak and put their position at the top of the ladder under threat to local rivals Williamstown Wolves.
The Wolves, however, lost the ground they made up seven days earlier with a disappointing 10-7 defeat to Mulgrave at home on Sunday. The Rams keep their 1.5 game lead at the top of the ladder and can stretch it to two when they face Port Melbourne at the Melbourne Ballpark today at 6.30pm.
“We want to try and get two games clear going into the last game against Williamstown with us and them vying for top spot,” Young said.
“Every game is crucial at the moment.”
SUMMER LEAGUE
Firsts: Newport 25 St Kilda 3, Williamstown 7 Mulgrave 10. Seconds: Williamstown 2 Mulgrave 12, St Kilda 9 Newport 1. Thirds: Newport 10 St Kilda 9, Mulgrave 7 Williamstown 18. Fourths: Newport 12 Williamstown 3
