Emerging Proserpine Pitbulls prospect Ben Valmadre has continued his purple form patch in the Mackay Junior Cricket Association.
The talented sixteen-year-old batsman chalked up back to back half centuries when he peeled off an unbeaten 67 last Saturday in the Pitbulls’ one day victory over Mackay Magpies Black in an Under 17s junior fixture at the Magpies Sports Ground.
It followed his classy knock of 53 in Proserpine Cricket Club’s first round win over Magpies White.
Valmadre is the Junior Pitbulls club and Under 17s team captain and regarded as one of the region’s most promising cricketers.
He faced sixty balls and clouted eight boundaries and shared a third wicket partnership of 55 with number four Ky Porter (22) as Proserpine posted a tally of 6-158 off their allotted 25 overs.
For the Blacks, Rohan Cherian (3-26 off five), Zac Pace (2-35) and Brodie Garnham (1-23) shone with the ball.
In reply the Magpies could only muster 7-118 with the stylish Ishan Rana top scoring with 52 off fifty one deliveries that included five boundaries.
Porter (1-9), Kai McLoughlin (1-12), Ben Altmann (1-15), Jacob Williams (1-16) and Jordan Lawn (1-19) were the wicket-takers for Proserpine.
The win lifts the undefeated Pitbulls to the top of the Under 17s ladder on 24 points – six points clear of second placed Magpies White who defeated Brothers/Pioneer Valley at George Gorrie Oval.
Noah Haebich top scored for the Magpies with 34 off twenty nine balls, an innings that featured four boundaries in a tally of 5-138.
He was supported by Rory Franklin (29 not out), opener Benjamin Meng (23) and Tom Rourke (20) with Connor Muller the pick of the Brothers bowlers grabbing 2-16 off five overs.
Rourke captured the prize wicket of teen sensation Jack Law, bowling the Queensland Schoolboys all rounder for two runs on the fifth ball he faced.
Zac Miles (26) and Cael Landt (21) led the way for Brothers/Pioneer Valley, who were restricted to 8-88 with Rourke (2-14 off four), Lachlan Anderson (2-5), George Fortescue (1-12) and Myles Cochrane (1-5 off four) spearheading the Magpies attack.
Rising Proserpine Pitbulls batsman and skipper Ben Valmadre (centre) has opened the 2024-25 Mackay Junior Cricket season with back-to-back half centuries in the Under 17s competition. Ben is pictured with teammate Jacob Williams (left), who is the club’s second ever recipient of a baggy blue Pitbulls cap for ten years sterling service and inaugural recipient Darcy Milne