MATCH OF THE ROUND: UMBC 3s take big opening day win

It was a bluebird day at Melbourne Uni’s Ross Straw Field for their A3 opening day clash against Heathmont.

The visitors got a 4-run jump in the top of the first, with UMBC’s journeyman starter Gary Mills taking a dig to blow out the cobwebs.

Uni replied with 6 runs in the bottom half of the inning, and it was a one-sided affair from there.

Mills responded with three shut-out innings, before being relieved by Kyle Nakamura who also allowed zero runs.

Meanwhile UMBC piled on the pain, with contributions across the lineup plating 19 unanswered runs to finish with a 19-4 score line.

Uni team manager Jonathan Jones was understandably impressed with his team’s first outing for the season.

“We had guys hitting up and down the lineup, everybody scoring, knocking people in, and we wound up with a pretty comfortable win,” he said.

Jones was particularly impressed with his team’s ability to respond after Heathmont got the jump in the first.

“It’s alright to get punched every now and then by the other team. But if you can show them you can punch back quickly and twice as hard, that sets the tone for the rest of the game and that’s precisely what they did today,” Jones said.

For player of the round Jones nominated first-baseman Sach Fernando (pictured right), who went 3 for 4 including a bases-clearing triple, and 4 RBIs.

Stay tuned for match of the round coverage each week throughout the season!

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About MWBL

The Melbourne Winter Baseball League Inc. is the largest baseball league playing baseball in winter in Australia. Encompassing over 30 clubs, 170 junior and senior teams, and 2000 registered players.

The MWBL was formed in 1984 when the 3 Melbourne metropolitan leagues amalgamated – City Baseball League, Diamond Valley Baseball Association and the Ringwood District Baseball League.

Originally known as the Victorian Winter Baseball League, the league’s clubs in 2010 voted to change the name to the MWBL to better reflect the geographical representation of the clubs.

MWBL Executive Board

President – Mr. Peter Dihm

Vice President – Mr Phil Barclay (RDJBL Chairperson)

Vice President – Mr. John King (DVJBA Chairperson)

Vice President – Mr. Gary Mack (Pennant Chairperson)

Mr. Geoff Dunn (MWBL Umpires Panel Chairperson)

Secretary – Vacant

Treasurer – Mr. Mark Le Grew

Administrator – Mr. David Rice