Saturday v Upwey 15/2/25

The Doncaster Dragons’ late-season rally came to an end on Saturday when they lost to Upwey Ferntree Gully on an unseasonably chilly day at GMBC’s Malcolm Blair Reserve.  

While the 8-1 score looks unflattering, it does not tell the story of the game. The Dragons, thanks to another strong performance by starting pitcher Matt Josselyn led 1-0 for most of the contest.

But the defence that had been so good through the first seven innings faltered in the final two, leading to seven unearned runs.

“Matt’s a competitor. He stood up for us and threw one of his best games of the season,” coach Brendan McDonald said.

“It was a disappointing finish after being five outs from victory but we made a few mistakes and paid for them.”

For the first six innings, this was a classic pitchers’ duel between Josselyn and Upwey’s Jarrod Turner. The only score came from a solo home run by Billy Findlay in the fourth inning.

Findlay’s blast was one of only two hits for the Dragons, the other being Rolando Curiel’s third-inning leadoff double. 

Josselyn was again in fine form, pitching eight innings and allowing just five hits and one earned run, with nine strikeouts and one intentional walk.

The loss ended a four-game February winning streak for the Dragons, whose next challenge is against Essendon at GMBC on Tuesday at 6.15pm.

Midweek v Essendon 18/2/25

Billy Findlay led the way with bat and ball as the Doncaster Dragons beat Essendon 6-4 at GMBC on Tuesday night.

Findlay had three of Doncaster’s five hits and four of their five RBIs as the Dragons won their 12th game of the season.

On the mound, he pitched four solid innings, allowing just one earned run, with one strikeout and two walks.

“Billy’s had an incredible season and this might’ve been his best game of the year,” coach Brendan McDonald said. 

“It doesn’t matter how many guys you hit if you can get a ground ball when you need to.”

The Dragons scored a run in the first inning after  Jean Alvarado walked, Mitch Ellis was hit by a pitch and Findlay singled. They added two more in the second inning when McDonald was hit by a pitch, Nic Unland walked and Ellis and Findlay singled.

In the fourth inning, Unland singled, Alvarado reached on error, Findlay singled and Rolando Curiel had an RBI groundout to extend Doncaster’s lead to 6-1.

“The top of our order was excellent again,” McDonald said. “Billy never looked like going out, and Nic and Mitch did a great job setting the table in front of him.

“Papi [Alvarado] was everywhere; he scored three times and made a few nice plays in centre. He even managed to stay on his feet for most of them.”

Essendon hit back in the bottom of the fourth, scoring three times on three consecutive two-out singles that cut the Dragons’ advantage to 6-4 heading into the final frame.

With the game still up for grabs in fading light Unland was called upon to close it out. Three outfield flies later, Unland earned his first save of the season. 

On Saturday the Dragons reach the finish line with an away game against Sunshine, starting at 4pm.

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