The Bellingen Brewers captured their first A grade win of the young season, topping the Coffs Harbour Allstar 4-2.
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The Allstars grabbed a 1-0 lead in the top of the 1st, but the Brewers came right back with 2 runs of their own. Cooper Bake-Smith led off with a single, brother Hunter walked and Jeff Wilson knocked them both in to put Belliingen in front, 2-1.
The Allstars quickly levelled the scores, 2-2, in their next at bat. The Brewers loaded the bases in reply but could not push a run across. Then Bellingen returned the favour, with Terry Booth coming on to pitch in relief of Juaques Kruger and getting a strikeout to strand three Allstars without a run scoring.
The Brewers scratched out a run in the bottom of the 3rd to retake the lead, 3-2. Wilson led off with a walk and, after walks to Matt Erskine and David Edgecock, scampered home from 3rd on a wild pitch.
Booth continued on the mound in the 4th inning with a chance to nail down the win for Bellingen. He got a huge assist from left fielder Rob Kozik, who unleashed a tremendous throw to cut down the Allstars leadoff hitter at second base trying to stretch a single into a double. A hit batter and error put the potential tying and lead runs on second and third base with two out, but Booth struck out the dangerous Chris Cook looking to seal the win.
The B grade encounter between the teams also began as a low-scoring affair. The Brewers held a 1-0 lead after 3 innings, but with two out in the top of the 4th inning, and Scott Hansen pitching a no-hitter for Bellingen, a series of errors led to 5 runs crossing the plate. Allstars cruised from there to a comfortable 9-2 win.
The Junior Brewers opened the day's action with their second straight win. On a day the pitchers for both teams struggled to throw strikes, Bellingen outlasted Coffs Harbour, 12-9. Cam Rutherford had 2 hits for the Brewers and Connor Wear snared a line drive then caught the runner off first base for a game-ending unassisted double play.