Dan McGrath produced an epic pitching performance as the Doncaster Dragons triumphed 1-0 at Geelong on Tuesday night.
The Baycats had multiple scoring chances but McGrath made key pitches at the right times to lead his team to victory. The left-hander scattered nine hits and two walks while striking out 12 over the eight-inning contest.
“Dan was outstanding,” coach Brendan McDonald said. “He really stood up for us tonight.”
It was a high-quality pitching duel, as Geelong’s Johnathon Tripp and Sam Gibbons combined to allow just four hits and three walks, striking out seven.
After five scoreless innings, Doncaster put a run on the board in the sixth as Nic Unland and Jean Alvarado singled, before Billy Findlay walked to load the bases. Following a force-out at the plate, Marcel D’Avoine lined a two-out single to left field to score Alvarado.
That one run would prove to be enough, but there was plenty of late-game drama. In the bottom of the eighth, Geelong loaded the bases with one out. But one runner was thrown out at home, then McGrath struck out the last batter to end the game.
Doncaster’s next challenge is an away clash against ladder leaders Waverley at 4pm on Saturday.
“We’ve played some really good baseball over our past dozen games,” McDonald said.
“We believe our best is more than good enough to beat the teams at the top, and this weekend gives us a perfect chance to prove that.”
Doncaster Baseball Club 