The Bellingen Brewers B grade side overcame some sloppy defence and base running to roll over the Sawtell Dodgers 17-6 on Saturday.
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The Dodgers batted first and took an early 3-0 lead, but Bellingen answered with six runs of their own to take a lead they would never relinquish. Charles Wolfson had the big blow of the inning, a two-out bases-loaded single that scored two runs.
The Dodgers narrowed to gap to 6-5 with two runs in the top of the second inning, but Bellingen answered with three runs to extend their lead to 9-5. Wolfson again had the key blow with another bases-loaded two-run single.
From that point, Brewers pitcher Paul Holding and the Bellingen defence shut down the Dodgers, holding Sawtell to a single run over the next three innings. Dave Wolfson, Cam Rutherford, Jon Lowe and Luke Nelson backed Holding with outstanding plays.
The Brewers picked up one run in the third inning, as Rutherford beat out an infield bobble with two out, stole second and third, and scored on Callum Rayner's hit. Then they put the game away with seven runs in the fourth inning.
It looked for a time like Bellingen would sweep the day's play and record their first A grade win of the season, but Sawtell rallied to defeat the winless Brewers A grade side, 12-7.
Crafty veteran Darren ("Jacko") Jackson started on the hill for the Brewers and held the hard-hitting Dodgers to just one run over the first two innings. Bellingen countered with a barrage of hits, including two by Jacko, to score three runs in the first inning and two more in the second for a 5-1 lead.
The tide began to turn in the third inning, as the Dodgers scored twice. The Brewers turned a timely inning-ending double play with the bases loaded and one out to maintain their 5-3 lead.
After Bellingen was held scoreless in their half of the third inning, Sawtell seized the lead, 7-5, with four runs in the top of the fourth inning. Bellingen answered with one run, as Neil Davies led off with his second hit of the game and Jacko drove him in with a double, but Sawtell turned a double play of their own to snuff out the Brewers threat.
Leading 7-6, Sawtell pushed five runs across in the top of the fifth inning to put the game away. Cooper Bake-Smith drove in Andy Taylor with a long double in the bottom half of the inning, but that was all Bellingen could do, falling 12-7 to the Dodgers.
Baseball has a bye over the long weekend. The Brewers will be back in action Saturday June 15 against the Coffs Harbour Allstars.