Family Affair: 3 generations of the Neilson family step onto the diamond
What a fantastic sight to see three generations of the Neilson family take the field together in an historic day for the Club.
Grandson Cliff made his Seniors debut alongside dad Shaun & Grandfather Ross in the Club’s Metro Major team @ Napier Park against Footscray.
Sadly, there was not a fairytale ending as the Mudcats fell 8-6 to the top-of-the-table Footscray.
But it didn’t dampen the enthusiasm of the Neilson family. Ross, a premiership Wildcats’ president, described it as one of his proudest moments.
Congrats to all the Neilsons on etching their names indelibly in the Club’s annals.
Saturday, Dec 16
Firsts Report – Wildcats win 4-2
Waverley defeated Williamstown 4-2 at home on Saturday afternoon. The Wildcats scored early with 2 runs in the bottom of the first inning when Liam Evans and Tommy Maxfield each drove in runs on single base hits.
Waverley’s defense was steadfast until the top of the fifth when the Wolves levelled the score driving in 2 runs.
The Wildcats scored another run in the bottom of the sixth after Reece Longstaff got on with a single base hit, then advanced to third base on a Mitch Lording double bagger and Ned Hargreaves drove in Reece on a double base hit.
The Wildcats got the extra insurance run with Liam’s solo home run blast in the bottom of the seventh inning.
Pitching.
Three Wildcat pitchers combined to overcome the Wolves.
Finn Weichard started and pitched 5 innings striking out 3.
Jordan Ley took the win when he threw 2 innings in relief in a rare appearance on the mound, striking out 1 batter. Fans were struggling to recall when Jordan last pitched for the Wildcats, rumour has it that it may have in the U14s!
In another story of the day, Tyler Evans who came down after playing 2 games of 20/20 cricket and hadn’t planned to take the field, got the call and managed to scrounge together a uniform & glove to keep the Wolves at bay pitching the last 2 innings to earn the save.
Batting.
Liam led the offense with 2 hits from 4 at bats with a single and a home run and chalked up 2 RBIs.
Mitch Homfray went 2 from 4 with a stolen base.
Ned hit a double and picked up an RBI.
Tommy had a single and an RBI.
Mitch Lording a double plus a walk.
Jordan a single plus a walk.
Damon Hill a single.
Reece a single.
The Wildcats go into the Christmas break two games clear on top of the Premier League ladder following the conclusion of the preliminary round. The competition redraw will take place with the top 8 teams playing each other twice in the race for finals spots in the New Year. The first game back is on the 16th January. See you then.
Have a great break and Merry Christmas.
Go Wildcats!!!
Seconds Report – Won 6-0 vs Williamstown
It was a solid team performance yesterday, with the 6-0 shutout win giving us a 7-2 record heading into the Xmas break.
After a slow start we came alive with the bat in the 3rd, scoring 4 runs with some great team hitting. We dropped down bunts, ran the bases aggressively and put the ball in play to create scoring opportunities.
We ended up with 9 hits for the game, with two each to Zak and Branno and doubles to Sheldo and Will Keys.
Branno worked his way through a tough patch in the 2nd to give us another quality start, while Ethan Holloway took to the mound to close out the game in his 2nds debut. They were well supported by a strong defence and some elite work from Ossie behind the dish.
Merry Christmas and go Wildcats
Tuesday, Dec 12
Firsts Report – Wildcats win 6-1
In a match hailed by club legend David Clarkson as ‘the best I have seen the team play this year’, the Waverley Wildcats were triumphant over the Moorabbin Panthers 6-1 on Tuesday evening at Moorabbin Baseball Club.
In the top of the first, Damon Hill singled in the first at bat of the game. He was moved to second on a sacrifice bunt by Mitch Homfray, then a single by Jordan Ley after a 6-pitch at-bat put the Wildcats on the board when Damon scored. This set the tone for some great team batting by the Wildcats.
The Panthers levelled the game in the bottom of the first but in the top of the third, the Wildcats broke up the tie when Mitch Homfray, after getting on with a 2-base hit, stole home on an error. Then a single by Mitch Lording to left field scored another two to extend the lead to 4-1.
In the top of the sixth, Waverley scored another 2 runs when Reece Longstaff singled to left field, scoring Jordy and Liam Evans.
Tyler Evans earned the win for Waverley, he gave up 2 hits, 3 walks and one run throwing 81 pitches over five innings inducing fly balls and ground balls to get the outs. Finn Weichard had a walk and a strike out when he closed out the bottom of the sixth shutting out the Panthers before the game was called.
Waverley out-hit Moorabbin 9-2 in a great all-round team effort in batting which was backed up by errorless play in the field.
Batting:
Jordy led the offence with 2 singles from 3 at bats, an RBI and he also got on when he was hit by a pitch.
Reece went 1-3 with 2 RBIs and stole 2 bases.
Mitch Lording 1-3 with 2 RBIs.
Mitch Homfray 1 double from 3 at bats and a sac bunt.
Tommy Maxfield 1-3 with a walk and a sacrifice bunt.
Ned Hargreaves went 1-3 and stole a base.
Damon and Finn both hit singles.
Liam got on when he was hit by a pitch.
Go Wildcats!
