From the Canberra Times, Australia

Heading bat to basics helps ACT turn tables
BY PAUL NEWMAN

The ACT finally found form to score its first win of the Australian under-19 men’s fastpitch softball championships at Hawker yesterday.

The defending champion made a horror start to the tournament losing its first five matches on the tournament’s opening two days.

But a 45-minute batting drill before yesterday’s match against Queensland sparked the team into some much-needed form.

Queensland had thumped ACT 11-1 on day two, but yesterday the home side turned the tables to score a 7-3 victory.

”Finally we clicked,” coach Wayne Duroux said.

”Poor execution with the bat had let us down but after a 45-minute batting session we turned that around.”

Pitcher Matt Kraeh was just as effective with the bat. He hit a triple and a single, as well as keeping the Queensland runs to a minimum.

But in its second match yesterday the ACT found it tough going against Western Australia. It was behind 8-2, before scoring four runs in the sixth inning and eventually going down 8-6.

Relief pitcher Brendan Robinson helped slow the WA run flow as well as hitting two singles with the bat.

Despite sitting at the bottom of the table the ACT still hopes to contest the final on Saturday, but must beat Victoria and WA today to stay in contention.

Meanwhile, in the under-19 women’s tournament in Victoria, the ACT scored a 13-3 win over Tasmania yesterday before losing to NSW 5-0.

AT A GLANCEUnder-19 men: ACT 11 bt QUEENSLAND 1; WA 4 bt VICTORIA 3; WA 8 bt ACT 6; NSW 10 bt VICTORIA 0; NSW 11 bt QUEENSLAND 1.

Editor’s note: Any wonder why these guys are 4x gold?