World Series Junior League - Game 2 v Puerto Rico

Our assignment in the second game of a double elimination competition like the Junior League World Series was pretty straightforward - win. A win would keep us alive and a loss would see us bow out.

The assignment was immense again - Yabucoa, Puerto Rico - a small but significant Latin American island nation...another world baseballing nursery near to the Dominican Republic, Cuba and Florida, USA.

Our line up was as follows: Alex Ranieri (catcher), Clayton Campbell (pitcher), Andrew Martin (short stop), Brent Iredale (3B), Sam McGoldrick (2B), Ryan Franks (1B), Nicholas Chappell (RF), Liam McCallum (CF), Jack Grey (LF) and Liana Davidson.

The day got underway with sodden grounds underfoot after early morning conditions that were better suited to the Latin Americans - and their Latin - than Australians. However clearing late morning skies and humid conditions paved the way for the showdown. Early pitching exchanges were fierce on both sides with Clayton Campbell leading the way from the mound for us with a mix of power, grace and charm. A bit like his dad.

Arriving at the ground, the news travelled quickly that Riley Watson and Brock Tonna were ill. We were down to ten fit players with Soloman Maguire already upended at Westmead Hospital back in Australia. A skinny roster with a big task ahead. Early fielding errors cost us dearly...but Campbell was having none of it, working over the batters to get out of early jams.

At 0-0 after three innings it was Alex Ranieri - 'The Panda' to his teammates - who hit beautifully today. His double shot to left field was followed up by a later single in the same direction. He hit as clean as a whistle and crisp as a frosted lawn. Cool. Impressively, both were in pressure moments. His hit was followed up by Brent Iredale who skied one over their left fieldsman who was running in more directions simultaneously than the Federal Liberal party. Scoring one run, Iredale then reached home for our second run after Clayton Campbell tucked one through the short stop gap. Liam followed suit, belting one to the right of the short stop who scratched and nested in the dolarite, without a result. Two batters on base were then scored when 'The Lad', Sam McGoldrick eased one on the ground to left field and both Campbell and McCallum scored. The latter in a flurry of dust, face first like that old Tooheys commercial.

At the top of the fourth it was suddenly 4-0 our way. Campbell's off speed deception, kept things quieter than Alison Moyet's post 1990 career. He was tight off his own pitching, taking a brilliant return catch and feasting on lots of dribblers into the lush infield.

The Puerta Rican horns and cheering did not deter us today. They were soon put on silent. They were a jolly crowd... laughing and hooting (until we hit the front) and they thought Liana was great, albeit shocked that a girl might enter the junior league fray - and be standing on second base when you are down by four runs!

Jack Gray and Ryan Franks earned walks, so did Clayton Campbell. The precision of the Chinese Taipei team earlier in the week was replaced by the bravado and confidence of the free swinging Puerta Ricans. They had swagger and aggression. Misplaced too often.

By the top of the fifth innings, Stacy Campbell's lovely motherly chirp of "c'mon son", filled the ears of those in the ever increasing crowd in the stands. Clayton responded. Locals were applauding and getting quite excited for the Australian team, willing resilience and strength as a possible victory approached.

Suddenly Liam then crushed a well hit line drive to right field in the bottom of the fifth innings setting us up for the kill. We soon had three runners on base... yet none scored. The tension mounted.

When a Puerto Rican runner reached third base from a skied ball to right field that we missed (thereby destroying a likely 'no hitter' for the pitcher), their next batter hit what he thought would be a sac fly. All the while Liam McCallum was patrolling centre field. Stalking and hunting.

Liam McCallum then moved to his right, took the catch, swivelled and threw it eighty metres home laser-like over the home plate to nail the runner from third base. It was a double play sensation that had the stadium in raptures. It held Puerto Rica scoreless. Magic clutch play.

By the last innings, Clayton Campbell strode the hill with a 4-0 win in sight. His concerned mother assured him from the stands..."patience son, patience". Nothing like a mother's wisdom. A strikeout followed then another and yet another. Despite the late baseballing tricks and ploys from the Puerta Ricans - injury delays, gamesmanship at its finest - we triumphed. They had more injuries and drama than Erin Molan, Jana Pittman and Anthony Mundine combined.

The Puerto Rican archipelago (what do they taste like?) is a busy stretch of many islands. Their history involves repelling the French, the Dutch and the British. However, they didn't get the email from Australia. They were swimming for their lives most of the game, playing catch up and being hosed at key moments. We were busier than a Kardshian make-up artist - and looked just as stunning, with the first ever Australian Junior League World Series victory by an Australian team.

A famous victory of style and substance. The boys defied many odds today - illness, scheduling, weather, the lot - and were inspirational as a group, achieving what many Australian boys of this age or older have never done - beating a Latin American baseball team. 

We are still alive with a chance to move even further into the tournament. Pitching restrictions enforce extended rests on our boys thus far, so our depth will be tested when we meet the Czech team tomorrow.