HITTING FORM: Musketeers batter Brad Dutton connects during his team's 5-3 win at Tivoli yesterday.
HITTING FORM: Musketeers batter Brad Dutton connects during his team's 5-3 win at Tivoli yesterday. David Nielsen

Muskets meet test of depth

NO BANDITS in the bullpen, but no concerns for the Ipswich Musketeers following their series sweep of the Coomera Cubs.

Without star pitcher Rhys Niit or heavy-hitters Andrew Campbell and Wade Dutton, the Musketeers proved they can bat deep in an 11-7 win on Friday night.

Starter Dan Butcher managed just five innings before needing to be replaced, but thankfully the hosts were more than capable of sticking with the visitors' deep batting line-up.

"(Coomera) have a lot of talented imports in there, so it was good to get a win over them,” Musketeers president Jon Campbell said.

"We showed what we can do with the bat on Friday night. From what I'm told some of their guys play in the second-tier in Japan, so they're pretty damn good players.”

Ipswich continued that showing in the second leg yesterday, making less hits count for more in a 5-3 win.

Musketeers incumbent Dean Jones proved his longevity with eight innings at the mound and pitching seven strike outs.

"We needed our starters to go deep and they did, he had a good game for us,” Campbell said.

Captain Brad Dutton had three hits to lead all-comers at the plate on Sunday, and praised the team's ability to grind out a win against quality opposition.

"It was a good test for our boys with three Bandits players missing,” Dutton said. "Everyone played the way they needed to and because of that we came out ahead in two close games.”

Dutton has hit his stride in recent weeks, and even took the mound to close out the game on Sunday.

"I'm feeling good,” Dutton said. "Through the middle half of the season when everyone is missing their Bandits players, that's the time of year you need to step up and get those wins.

"It's really make-or-break for your season.”

The series sweep solidified the Musketeers' hold on fourth position ahead of a trip away to sixth-ranked Surfers Paradise this week.

With a number of former Gold Coast players in the Musketeers line-up, Dutton admitted there was added interest in the clash.

"It'll be a good contest, they're not missing any players so they'll be at full strength,” Dutton said.

"We have some former Surfers boys in our team who are up for the challenge.

"I'm sure they would have had this one circled on their calendar.”


Fighting to end the inequality: Big Rigs and TWU

Fighting to end the inequality: Big Rigs and TWU

Over the years the TWU and Big Rigs have played their parts in the role of keeping...

Sad day for all in transport

Sad day for all in transport

It is a sad day for all of us in the industry as Big Rigs magazine has been a part...

$145m to upgrade SA truck routes and roads

$145m to upgrade SA truck routes and roads

The package is part of a $1.5 billion infrastructure funding boost