Flame Keen To Silence Kookas

Illawarra Mercury

Friday January 14, 2005

By AGRON LATIFI

THE Illawarra Flame had a losing start to 2005 but are confident of avenging their Sydney Major League loss to Baulkham Hills Kookaburras in Sunday's return clash at Fred Finch Park.

Playing their first game after a three-week break, an error-riddled Flame outfit was hammered by the Kookaburras, losing game one of round 14 fixture 14-3 at Blacktown Olympic Park on Wednesday night.

Craig Lewis and Trent Oeltjen, members of the Australian team that won silver at the Athens Olympics, helped Baulkham Hills out-hit Illa-warra 14-3. But it was the massive seven errors, opposed to the two committed by the Kookaburras, which hurt Illawarra most in the seven innings fixture.

The Flame actually led 2-0 after two innings before Baulkham Hills took over, scoring 11 unanswered runs in the next three digs.

Illawarra's two pitchers came in for a hard time. Starter Jamie Simon gave up nine hits and eight earned runs in four innings, while reliever Mitchell Thompson allowed five hits and two earned runs in three innings.

Baulkham Hills starting pitcher Adrian Daley troubled Illawarra's offence, allowing only two hits with no earned runs in his five innings.

Adam Blight and Anthony Hayes both batted three from five, while David Zucconi hit a solo home run in the fifth innings for a Kookaburras outfit which now enjoys a 10-15 win-loss record.

Despite suffering their 12th loss of the season Illawarra, who have won 10 and drawn two of their 24 games, remain in sixth spot. The Flame will be hard pressed to secure their 11th win on Sunday, with Baulkham Hills set to include another Athens Olympian in Gavin Fingleson.

Illawarra will also be without the services of American pitcher Johnny Lynch for the remainder of the season.

Lynch, who struggled with injury during his stint with the Flame, returned to the United States for Christmas and was advised by Minnesota Twins medical staff to take further time to recover.

Sunday's first grade fixture starts at 2.30pm, following the second and third grade games.

© 2005 Illawarra Mercury

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