|
Sunday, 27 November 2011 BV Summer League, Saturday 19 November, 2011. A familiar problem raised its ugly ahead again as the Doncaster Dragons lost 5-1 at Waverley on Sunday.
For most of this season the Dragons have had little trouble getting runners on base. But they have been far less successful in converting those base-runners into runs.
And so it was again at Waverley. Twelve Doncaster hitters managed to get on base -- but 11 of them were left stranded.
There was no shortage of solid hitting. Outfielder Scott Couling led the way with three, including a double off the wall that was as close as the Dragons have come to hitting a home run this season.
First baseman Slade Squire had two hits, including a double, and third baseman Michael Daykin had two hits plus a stolen base.
Shortstop Scott Carr, DH Daniel Imoto and outfielder John King also collected hits for the Dragons.
On a field where Doncaster wins have been few and far between over the years, things got off to a promising start as the visitors took the lead in the second inning. Squire's leadoff double was followed by Imoto's single. King's flyout to left field was easily deep enough to score Squire and put the Dragons on the board.
Starting pitcher Jonny Bravo kept the Waverley offence under tight control for the first three innings. But in the fourth, the Wildcats strung together a few hits, with the most damaging a three-run homer by Mitch Hayes.
That gave the Wildcats a handy lead that they never looked like relinquishing.
Bravo did his best to keep Doncaster in the game through seven innings, not allowing another run after the fourth. He conceded nine hits and one walk, while striking out three.
Doncaster's run production will need to improve on Tuesday night, when the Dragons host power team Essendon in the season's first midweek game at Deep Creek.
| 
