Tuesday 14/1 – Draw v Moorabbin 5-5

The winning streak ended but the unbeaten streak was extended as the Doncaster Dragons drew with Moorabbin at Deep Creek on Tuesday night.

The 5-5 result, in which both teams had chances to win in key moments late, came after the Dragons had won their previous five games.

After clawing their way back from deficits of 4-1 and then 5-3, the Dragons tied it up in the fifth inning with a solo home run by Mitch Ellis, followed by singles to Billy Findlay, Callum Lethborg and Brian Chen.

Needing one run to win in the bottom of the sixth and final inning, Luke Utting singled, Matt Josselyn sacrificed, Nic Unland walked and Ellis was intentionally walked to load the bases. But the Panthers made a couple of key defensive plays to salvage a draw.

Both teams managed eight hits. Lethborg led the way for Doncaster, collecting a double and two singles. Findlay had two hits, including a double. 

“We weren’t as sharp defensively as we would’ve liked but still put ourselves in a position to win,” coach Brendan McDonald.

“It didn’t fall our way at the end but we did a great job to get back into the game after falling behind early.

“We’ve got an important little stretch of games coming up, and a few wins should put us in a pretty good spot for the run home.” 

Pitching duties were shared by Findlay, Derek Medlin, Ellis and Josselyn. None of them threw more than 35 pitches, ensuring that the team will have plenty of fresh arms for their away match-up with Blackburn on Saturday. 

Saturday 11/1 – Def Williamstown 5-4

The Christmas-New Year break did nothing to halt the Doncaster Dragons’ momentum as they won their fifth consecutive game with a 5-4 victory at Williamstown on Saturday. 

“That was a really impressive win, maybe our best of the season,” coach Brendan McDonald said.

“[Williamstown starter Spencer] Taack kept us in check but we stuck at it all day and strung together some really good at-bats late.”

The winning streak looked in jeopardy when the Dragons trailed 3-0 after six innings. But the comeback started in the top of the seventh, as Callum Lethborg led off with a single and Matt Josselyn drew a walk. Lethborg scampered home on a wild pitch moments later, before McDonald doubled to score Josselyn and bring the Dragons within a run.

After the Wolves extended their lead on back-to-back triples in the home half of the seventh, Nic Unland led off the eighth with a double, Billy Findlay was hit by a pitch and Lethborg walked to load the bases for Josselyn, who promptly lined a two-RBI single to centre that tied the game at 4-4.

With two out and nobody on base in the ninth, Unland walked, and Jean Alvarado was hit by a pitch before Findlay singled to drive in Unland and give the Dragons their first lead of the game. 

Josselyn then pitched a scoreless bottom of the ninth to snuff out any chance of a Williamstown comeback, stranding the tying run on second base.

Earlier, pitchers Lethborg and Derek Medlin kept their team in the game, combining to throw 4.2 innings for four runs. Josselyn pitched the final 4.1 innings to earn the win thanks to the late rally.

“Our pitchers all threw well and we played solid defence behind them,” McDonald said. 

“That kept us in the game, and some of our veteran guys really stood up when it mattered.

“Scoring in each of the last three innings after being shut out for six showed a lot of character.”

Doncaster will look to keep the winning streak going against Moorabbin at Deep Creek on Tuesday night.

By John McDonald

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