MAZUREK LEADS GOLDEN GROVE TO MINOR PREMIERSHIP VICTORY OVER GOODWOOD
Goodwood SA ~ 23 February 2025
Golden Grove Dodgers all-rounder Chase Muzurek led his team to a convincing 19-3 win over the Goodwood Indians in Baseball SA Major Little League action last Sunday.
Muzurek had a career day for the Dodgers, going 5 for 5 highlighted by two home runs, two doubles, and a triple for 15 total bases, leading Big Blue to the lopsided win over the developing Goodwood lineup.
“Maz” (Chase Mazurek) had as dominant of a game with the bat as I may have seen since joining Golden Grove four seasons ago”, said a happy Dodgers U13-1 Coach Davey Roach . “We’ll need to do our best as coaches to get that sort of form from all of our batters so having Chase lead from the front like that certainly helps”.
The Dodgers also celebrated a belated 2024-25 Minor Premiership in the Ron MacBeth Major Little League Division, finishing with 12 wins and 1 loss. “I’m very proud of our team to end the minor round with a dominant win over a developing side like Goodwood,” Roach added.
Other hitters for the Dodgers were Cameron Majewski with a triple and a double, Hunter Ung, single, and double, with Jack Adams, and Noah Sutherland rounding out the offense, both with two singles each.
Golden Grove opened with two runs in their top half of the opening inning, but the home side Indians were quick to respond with two runs in their bottom of the first to even the score. The Dodgers then stormed back with five in the top of the second, one in the third, and two more in the third, increasing their lead to a margin that was out of reach for their hosts.
The Dodgers continued to apply the offensive pressure by adding on another ten runs in the final two innings to finish the minor round schedule with a big statement to the rest of the league.
“Although I had concerns about the level of preparation we may get from last Sunday’s game, we were able to effectively set skill targets for the game and focus on what we needed to do as we head into finals", noted the Dodgers coach.
“Having sewn up top spot on the ladder, the week before, we used the game against Goodwood to focus on base running, approaches to leads on base, as well as making solid contact in the box without simply going for broke.
We’re asking for hard hit contact with control. The boys did a great job, and the game was played in great spirit all round, “ said Roach.
Ung’s two safe hits proved to be a welcome return to action following a broken foot injury sustained playing backyard basketball early in the summer.
Adams pitched the opening two innings for Golden Grove, staying composed, throwing 37 pitches, scattering three hits, allowing only three runs, and striking out two. Cameron Majewski, 2 IP, 29 pitches, five strikeouts, and Ashton Mogg 1 IP, two hits allowed, and two strikeouts rounded out the Dodgers pitching duties for the day.
“Well done to Jack who came on as a last minute starter. We really wanted to go in to this game using our finals batting line up and players in their designated positions. But with Noah Soar a late scratching with a wrist injury we had a massive hole to fill. Bringing Jack on to start allowed us to make minimal changes in the field to begin the game.
Then with Cameron and Ashton coming in and keeping Goodwood scoreless it was up to our bats to do their bit”, added the Dodgers coach.
"Good vibes are contagious and right now the vibes we got from Chase's big day batting 5 for 5, are worth catching. I feel confident heading into our first finals game against Souths this week."
Baseball South Australia has announced their Ron MacBeth U13-1 Little League Finals fixture starting this Sunday 2 March, with second place Adelaide hosting fifth place Sturt, and third place Kensington at home to East Torrens.
The Dodgers will host the sixth place Southern Districts Hawks this Sunday at 11:00am in the first round finals matchup at the Dodgers Home Grounds at Illyarrie Reserve, Surrey Downs.
PHOTOS - Tanya LeCouteur
Chase Mazurek - 5 for 5 Career Day
Jack Adams - Solid outing on the pitchers mound
Hunter Ung - Single and double at the plate
Minor Premiers - Clinched minor premiership in U13-1 Ron MacBeth Division with win over Goodwood.
The Dodgers' Noah Sutherland (7) slides in safely under the tag of Kensington second baseman Jimmy Newbold (46) for a stolen base in the fourth inning . Photo - Tanya LeCouteur
DODGERS LOSE FIRST GAME OF THE SEASON BUT COACH CONFIDENT OF FINALS RUN
Burnside SA ~ 16 February 2025
The Kensington Cardinals jumped out to an early lead and managed to hand the Golden Grove Dodgers their first loss of the Baseball South Australia Major Little League season with an exciting 8-6 win on Sunday at the Cardinals home in Burnside.
Kensington may have stuck a small pin in the Dodgers balloon, but Head Coach Davey Roach says the loss came with plenty of motivating lessons and will certainly lift the players incentive with the finals set to start in just two weeks.
“I was extremely proud of all of the players from both teams” Roach remarked after the game. “From the opening pitch to the final out, both teams played with enthusiasm and the energy of a grand final”
The Cardinals were able to score two runs in the first inning off starting pitcher Noah Sutherland, and then added four more in the second to take a commanding lead. Kensington star pitcher Archer Spratt handcuffed the Dodgers in the opening two innings striking out 5 and allowing only one run.
The Dodgers’ skipper replaced Sutherland with Chevy Roach in the bottom of the second, and after conceding another two runs, the tide turned for Big Blue. Roach held the Red Birds scoreless for the next two innings and the Dodgers came back to life.
“It was an admirable return to the mound from Chevy after a tough outing against Adelaide two weeks prior, but he helped us keep Kensington off the board with a solid combination of strike outs and ground balls to the field.”
Cameron Majewski took over from Roach in the bottom of the fifth, throwing a handful of pitches before an unlucky defensive error allowed the Cardinals to walkoff with the win.
Golden Grove bounced back with a single run in the third and then added three in the fourth inning setting the stage for an exciting fifth, when Noah Sutherland doubled deep to left field, and then swiped third, before charging home on Ashton Mogg’s double to left field.
Kensington took advantage of a bad luck throw in the bottom of the fifth inning, allowing two base runners to score and handing the Cardinals the win.
Mogg led the Dodgers offense with two singles, and the big fifth inning double, and added two stolen bases, and one run scored. Sutherland belted a double, and drew a base on balls, and continues to cause havoc on the base paths, stealing four bags and scoring twice. Cameron Majewski singled, and then added a run batted in, four stolen bases, and one run scored, Jack Adams, singled, and contributed an RBI, Chase Mazurek, singled, scored one, and stole three bags, and Chevy Roach, singled, scored one, with one stolen base.
Alex Camerlengo, and Hammish Buttfield led the Cardinals batting, both with two singles, with Leo Fabian adding one base hit.
“I was really encouraged by the teams’ determination, accepting the challenge of overcoming and chasing down a lead”, said an enthusiastic Roach.
“The prospect of a come from behind win was discussed between innings and that appeared to lift the intensity on the bench, propelling a flurry of stolen bases, and timely hits that got us back into the game.
Ashton (Mogg) was able to arise from the ashes (pun intended) after he acknowledged struggling in the box following the Christmas break, but he dominated going three for three against Kensington. I loved seeing him work hard through his struggles and lead from the front on Sunday” echoed Roach.
Golden Grove continues to destroy their opposition once they get on base, with eleven stolen bases against the Cardinals.
“Our base running applied a lot of pressure on Kensington’s fielders throughout the game, and when we were able to take advantage of their mistakes, it paid off big for us,” said Roach.
Aside from the solid comeback, the Dodger coach was also very happy with some jaw dropping defensive plays against the Cardinals.
“ Our fielding was exceptional,” noted Roach. “the best we’ve seen this season highlighted by Chase, who made a diving stop to his right, for an unassisted putout at first, and then Cameron made a great line drive diving catch at third, to end the fourth inning.
Although the loss goes down in the scorebooks, Joel (Mazurek), Darryl (Soar), and I, all feel like we saw what we needed to see from our team to be convinced we are ready to see this season through to the Grand Final. Once the sting of the first loss of the year is processed we will have achieved everything we need as a team to put together a successful finals run. I am looking forward to putting it all together on the training track and next weeks final game against Goodwood.”
This Sunday, 23 February, the Dodgers will play their final minor round game of the season, at home against the Goodwood Indians in an 11:00am game at the Dodgers Home Ground at Surrey Downs.
While the final playoff picture will not be finalised until completion of next weeks last round, Golden Grove are confident of winning the minor premiership and a berth in the finals against the sixth place finisher.
PHOTOS - Tanya LeCouteur
Chevy Roach ~ Two scoreless innings pitching.
Ashton Mogg - Two singles and a big fifth inning double.
Cameron Majewski - Run out at first on a ground ball to second base. Liam Harris (5) is the Kensington first baseman.
Noah Sutherland - Scores the tying run from third in the 5th inning, when teammate Ashton Mogg hit a double to left.
Celab LeCouteur - Strong defensive game..
Jack Adams made his first appearance of the season on the mound in releif for the Dodgers . Adams did a commendable job in releif of starfter Cameron Majewski. Photo - Tanya LeCouteur
FIRST PLACE DODGERS CONTINUE TO ROLL WITH WIN OVER SOUTHS
Christie Downs S.A. ~ 9 February 2025
The Golden Grove Central Districts Dodgers continued their unblemished record for the 2024-25 Baseball SA Little League season with an 8-4 victory over the Southern Districts Hawks during Sunday action at Peregrine Park, Christie Downs.
The win improved the Dodgers record to 11 wins, and 0 losses, for sole procession of first place in the Ron MacBeth Major U13-1 Little League Division, assuring them of at least a top two finish with only two rounds to play in the minor round. One more victory will clinch the minor premiership.
Sunday’s victory came only two days after a Friday evening trial match loss to the Adelaide Angels played at Plympton.
In the win over the Hawks, Head Coach Davey Roach played with only seven players, with regulars Hunter Ung (injury), and Noah Sutherland (family) unavailable.
The Dodgers opened the scoring in the first inning, and added another in the second, to carry a slim lead up until the fifth dig when Big Blue crossed the plate four more times to pull ahead by six, then tacking on two more in the final inning to bury the home team.
Chase Mazurek had a big day at the plate for Golden Grove, going 4 for 4, also adding a base on balls to reach base five times, and scoring three of the Dodger runs. Ashton Mogg belted a fifth inning double to drive in two runs, igniting a four run rally, while Noah Soar, and Caleb LeCouteur rounded out the offensive attack, each collecting singles.
“A notable 4 for 4 effort from Chase" praised the Dodgers coach. “He certainly has hit a groove in the batting box and we look to use his lead by example approach with just two games to go in the regular season.” .
Starting pitcher Cameron Majewski was dominant on the mound for the Dodgers throwing 66 pitches, striking out 5, retiring 12 of 14 batters faced, and limiting the Hawks to just one hit. Jack Adams came on in relief to strike out four batters and then was composed in finishing the game, despite a late rally from Souths.
“A fantastic effort by Cam, keeping the game out of reach from the get-go, and then Jack did a good job to come on in relief and close the game”.
On Friday evening a trail match with second place Adelaide Angels was organised, but the Dodgers had to do some last minute calls to put together a full lineup to play the Angels.
“Emotions were up and down during a game played in good spirit against Adelaide” reports Roach. “Special thanks to Adelaide coach Tony O’Reilly and the Angels club for arranging the time for us to have the Friday match.”
The Angels jumped out to a quick five run lead in the first inning, then scored another in the second, and two more in the third to take a commanding lead over the Dodgers, who scored their first run in the third, and then added two more in the final inning in the 8-3 loss.
Cameron Majewski, Chase Mazurek, and Chevy Roach all had singles to figure in the offensive output for Golden Grove, while Chevy Roach, Ashton Mogg, and Jack Adams, shared the pitching duties.
“Despite our loss I am happy with what we took out of the trail game, with our guys feeling the sting of a loss. Confidence is a fantastic aspect to take into finals, but over confidence can lose you the games that mean the most. We were able to hone in on several details we didn’t get right against a quality team like Adelaide, and we will work hard on these skills to be as ready for our Finals run,” noted Roach.
“Well done to Chevy for pushing through early struggles on the mound against the Angels. He had a tough day with control, and Adelaide batters took advantage, but with Ashton (Mogg) coming on in relief, we were able to stem the flow.
Big congratulations to Jack Adams for his first appearance pitching this season. He did a fantastic job getting outs and keeping us in the game. Unfortunately, we were unable to get any serious momentum going offensively, mainly due to solid Adelaide fielding. We’ll look to improve on a few areas at training, ” said Roach.
“To bounce back from Friday’s loss against Adelaide, to then beat Southern Districts on Sunday was exactly what we needed,” echoed Roach , “the kids had high energy in the dugout, despite playing without Hunter (Ung), and Noah (Sutherland). We were able to overcome excellent fielding from Souths, and their starting pitcher had great control and velocity. But slowly and surely the runs trickled in.
“Our focus was to improve our aggressiveness on the bases, pouncing on the next base at every opportunity. Once we had runners in scoring position, we effectively had our best game of the year when it came to batting runs in on groundballs to the right side. We’ve worked on this all season, and this could very well set us apart from our opposition in the finals.”
Chase Mazurek - A big day at the plate, going 4 for 4, aand a base on balls to reach base five times. Chase also scored three of the Dodger runs. Photo - Tanya Lecouteur
Caleb LeCouteur - Important single in the win over Southern Disricts.
Photo - Tanya LeCouteur
Cameron Majewski - Was dominant on the mound for the Dodgers striking out 5, retiring 12 of 14 batters faced, and limiting the Hawks to just one hit. .
Photo - Tanya LeCoutuer
Lockleys SA ~ 2 February 2025
DODGERS OPEN THE NEW YEAR WITH CONVINCING WIN OVER THE EAGLES
Following a long summer break, the Golden Grove Central Districts Dodgers finally made it back out onto the baseball diamond, posting a convincing 12-2 win over a developing West Torrens Eagles side in Baseball SA Major Little League action last Friday evening (31 January) at the West Torrens Baseball Club, Lockleys.
The Dodgers opened the scoring with two runs in the top half of the first inning, then added four in the second, and finally closing the door with three in both the third and fifth innings to cruise home with the win.
“I was very happy with our first taste of baseball since the Christmas break,” said an enthusiastic Dodgers Head Coach Davey Roach.
“Despite almost 8 weeks since our last game against Henley & Grange in December the team showed that the undefeated run in the first half of the season was no lucky event.
“Be confident - Trust your training - Back yourself! This will be our motto going into finals” announced Roach. “The boys certainly lived up to these words with confidence showing in the box.”
Golden Grove leadoff batter Noah Sutherland reached base four times, collecting two singles, driving in a run, stealing 5 bases, and scoring four runs.
“I was pleased with our showing at the plate and on the bases, and despite some noticeable rustiness on some of our swings, there was an abundance of hard hit flat shots that gave the West Torrens infielders plenty to think about.”
Second baseman Chevy Roach had a good day in the field and at the plate, cracking a single in the opening inning, and then his solid line drive into the outfield gap in the fifth inning drove in two runs, and allowed the Dodger sparkplug time to coast into third with a standup triple.
“Chevy executed a well practiced soft back hand toss to Ashton (Mogg) at short stop who fired the ball to 1st for a classic 4-6-3 double play. The confidence these guys have in each other is truly fun to watch,” said the Dodger coach.
Caleb LeCouteur was next offensively with a double, rbi, and two runs scored, while Noah Soar, Chase Mazurek, Ashton Mogg, and Jack Adams all added singles to round out the offense for the Dodgers.
Ashton Mogg had his first start on the mound this season for the Dodgers, throwing a total of 44 pitches, limiting West Torrens batters to just two hits over two innings, recording 4 strikeouts, while only allowing one run.
“Ashton had his first start this season, and before the game I asked him if he was ready, and without much thought his response was ‘Yeah Im good, lets go’. and that to me is a sign of someone with something to prove. Well done mate”.
Noah Soar came on in relief of Mogg in the third inning, pitching effectively, throwing 29 pitches, striking out two, while scattering three hits and allowing only one Eagles run. “ Noah took the ball after Ashton reached his pitch count, and he easily polished off two quick innings of solid accurate pitching including inducing a ground ball to second.”
Annabelle Thomson was the top hitter for West Torrens with two hits, including an eye-popping long ball hit into deep centre for a fourth inning triple. Daniel Wilmshurt also featured for the Eagles connecting for two singles.
Golden Grove last played an official league game back in Round 9 on the 8th December, before pausing for a 5 week summer break, only to have their first game of 2025 against second place Adelaide cancelled due to extreme heat. The following round was a bye because of the Australia Day public holiday, meaning the Dodgers went almost eight weeks without playing an official game.
Then late last week Baseball SA made an eleventh-hour decision to move ahead all round 13 youth age games slated for Sunday 2 February to Friday 31 January, due to the forecast calling for hot temperatures on Sunday.
“With more warm weather forecast, we may face the cancellation of even more games, so we will need to make sure any time on the diamond going forward is focussed on teamwork and camaraderie. One Team - One Goal” said Roach following the win.
Friday’s victory improves the Dodgers season record to 10 wins and 0 losses, to remain in sole procession of first place in the Ron MacBeth Major Little League Division, with only three more games remaining in the minor round prior to the Finals Series in March.
The Dodgers next game will be on the road when they travel down to Adelaide’s southern districts for an 11:00 am game against the Southern Districts Hawks, Sunday 9 February at Peregrine Park, Corner of Flaxmill Road, and Peregrine Crescent, Christie Downs.
Golden Grove - HITTING – Chevy Roach (1B,3B), Noah Sutherland (1B,1B) Caleb LeCouteur (2B), Noah Soar (1B), Chase Mazurek (1B), Ashton Mogg (1B), Jack Adams (1B)
Golden Grove - RUNS – Noah Sutherland 4, Chase Mazurek 2, Caleb LeCouteur 2, Noah Soar 1, Chevy Roach 1, Jack Adams 1, Cameron Majewski 1
West Torrens – HITTING – Annabelle Thomson (1B, 3B); Daniel Wilmshurt (1B,1B)
West Torrens -RUNS - Daniel Wilmshurt 1. Felix Bowbridge 1
[ PHOTOS By Tanya LeCouteur]