ARMIDALE Outlaws played a home game for the first time in two decades and didn’t disappoint their home fans when they beat Tamworth Cougars 6-4 on their new SportUNE baseball diamond on Saturday.
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A crowd of around 200 turned up to watch ceremonial pitches from Member for Northern Tablelands Adam Marshall, Brendon Webb (Community Mutual) and Pat Gurr (White Bull Hotel) begin the return to baseball after UNE student Will Schmidt had sung the national anthem.
Outlaws coach Mick Alldis said “the new SportUNE baseball diamond looked an absolute treat”.
“The Cougars began the day looking very sharp, with Richard Bullock hitting a double to right field and singles to Kris Bird and Josh Daley scoring a run early,” he said.
“Fortunately for the Outlaws, Josh Shaw settled into his pitching duties and only allowed another two hits for the opposition in the next six innings of quality pitching.”
The Outlaws struck back quickly in the bottom of the first inning, with lead-off hitter Cam Beat getting on board with a single followed by hits to Alldis, Jeremy Bird, Ben Greatrex and Luke Turner which saw them compile three quick runs.
Alldis hit a solo home run in the top of the third and Greatrex and Liam Garty were also very close to hitting home runs as well in the fourth and fifth innings – both recording doubles – with the Outlaws slowly applying the pressure, adding a run in each of these innings to keep the lead throughout the game.
Alldis said the Cougars were never out of the game though, challenging in the last inning with the tying run being on second base with none out.
“The Outlaws infielders held steady though with an out at the plate, a caught line drive and a great play by short stop Cam Beat closed out the game,” he said.
Jeremy Bird finished another great day with the bat with two hits, Alldis had two, Greatrex two, Turner and Garty one each.
Shaw threw 86 pitches (56/30) for the first win on home soil.
The Outlaws now sit second on the ladder with three wins and a loss and a huge home match this Saturday when they play defending premiers and unbeaten Warriors after their two second grade sides go head to head at 11.30am.
The first grade starts at 2pm. Warriors are the only team to have beaten the Outlaws in a first round game where the Outlaws outhit the blue boys.
The young B Orange side played the Cavaliers on Saturday in what was a see sawing game and finished with a 9-all draw.
The Outlaws team levelled the scores in the last innings through a single base hit from Alex Rivas and earlier Shane Wolfenden cleared the fence for the first Outlaw home run for the season.
The B Black team had to come from three runs down early in their game against the Cougars who came out with their bats blazing.
Ray Nickson, Ryan Semple, Ollie Grimble and Jeremy Bird got the home team some solid hitting support in the middle of the game and they ran out comfortable winners 10-5.