Nov 19th — Heat 6, Bite 4 — This game took 12 innings to settle. In the bottom of the 12th, the first batter reached on a throwing error by the Bite shortstop, then a 2-run homer gave Perth the win. Perth had scored first, with 3 runs on a walk, three singles, and a double in the bottom of the 1st. A single and a double added another run in the 2nd. The Bite batters struggled for the first few innings. They struck out six times in the first two innings (Latimore was one of the strikeout victims), though they had a double in each inning. Only two batters reached base over the next four innings, and those were both due to fielding errors by the Heat shortstop. Latimore popped out and flied out in those innings. The Bite got going in the 7th, when they scored 2 runs on a walk, a single, and a 2-RBI double. Then they tied the score in the 8th. A walk, a single by Latimore, and a hit batter loaded the bases, then another walk forced in one run. A grounder to second base should have become a double play to end the inning, but the runner at first base was safe, and Latimore scored from third base to tie the score. Both teams had scoring opportunities over the next 4 innings, but neither could score. Latimore led off the top of the 12th with a single, and he moved up to second base on a balk, then to third on a throwing error. But a pair of strikeouts left Latimore standing there, and Perth won the game in the bottom of the inning.
Nov 20th — Bite 4, Heat 3 — Latimore went 3-for-5 with 2 doubles as the Bite earned a split of the series. He doubled in Adelaide’s first run after a single and a walk in the top of the 1st. A solo homer by CF James McOwen gave the Bite a 2-0 lead in the 3rd inning. Adelaide loaded the bases in the 6th, but did not score. Then Perth got one run back in the bottom of the 6th on a walk and a double, and tied the score in the 7th on a single, a bunt, and an RBI single. An RBI double by 3B Stefan Welch (Mets) gave the Bite a 3-2 lead in the top of the 8th. Perth tied the score again in the bottom of the inning on three singles. Latimore gave the Bite the winning run in the top of the 9th. With SS Jeremy Cresswell on base, Latimore’s double into left field brought in the winning run.
The Heat and the Bite begin another 4-game series on Thursday, this time playing in Adelaide.
