AFTER a tough loss in their most recent outing, the Mitchell Majors bounced back in a huge way to record a 15-0 win at home over the Knox Falcons in the A3-grade of the Melbourne Winter Baseball League.
Saturday afternoon’s conditions weren’t pretty, but a slightly delayed start didn’t phase the Majors as they quickly showed they were keen to prove that their 10-run loss to Footscray in the last game was nothing more than a blip.
Club coach Lachlan Ruyter returned to the lineup and made an immediate difference on the pitcher’s mound despite the slippery conditions.
He somehow used his leg to parry a catch to Ben Harkom at short stop during the first inning, and pitched with skill and consistency to ensure his side got the upper hand.
Ruyter backed it up with the bat minutes later as he helped the Majors skip out to a 4-0 lead.
The Majors continued to mount pressure on the visiting Falcons both in the field and with the bat, piling up a number of hits in the second inning which moved the lead to six.
But it was the fourth inning that brought the real fireworks. Catcher Tom Flannery was inches away from a home run to record his second double of the day, but Ruyter refused to be outdone.
Playfully taunted by his teammates that he couldn’t clear the fence after fouling on his first swing, he blasted a monster hit over left field to notch a second home run of the season, and essentially put the game to bed.
The Majors would score a further seven runs to close out a complete performance, while Ruyter kept Knox’s batters at bay.
The final scoreline, 15-0, was a reflection of the dominance, power and discipline that the Majors can produce when at their best.
As for the A4-grade side, it was an all-too-familiar story as Knox put on seven runs in the first inning which proved to be the difference.
A stronger performance for the remainder of the game brought the scoreline back to 11-5, and gives them something to build on heading into next week.
The Majors will host Greenhills Montmorency in a season-defining matchup for the A3-grade team which currently sits in fifth position.