Jeremy Stacey.
DENNINGTON under 17 cricketers breathed a sigh of relief when Jeremy Stacey broke through for his first wicket.
Excitement grew when he snared a second with the first ball of a new over.
His teammates swamped him when he completed the hat-trick.
But the celebrations erupted when he dismissed his fourth batsmen in four balls — a rare double hat-trick.
“Everyone was jumping around, going off,” Jeremy said yesterday, reflecting on the highlight of his emerging cricket career.
“We were rapt after the hat-trick and there were two or three minutes to get back and bowl the next ball.
“I got him out and everyone was going crazy.”
Jeremy, 15, achieved the double hat-trick against Woodford at Dennington Turf on Sunday in the last round of the Warrnambool and District cricket under 17 season.
He started the feat by bowling the dangerous Adam Sell for 25 to end his second over.
The left-arm medium pacer followed up by capturing Jack Clifford lbw with the first ball of his third over.
Victim number three, Sam McKinnon, was also out lbw while victim number four, Brayden Burgess, lost his stumps.
“The next one, it just missed the outside edge,” he said.
Jeremy finished with the astounding figures of 6-8 from six overs as Dennington dismissed Woodford for 128.
But the Dogs couldn’t capitalise on their bowling display and were all out for 85 in reply.
Jeremy has played at Dennington since taking part in a Milo Have-a-Go program at the club years ago. He is a distant cousin to the Dogs’ top-grade captain Dustin Drew.
He showed initial promise as a batsman but has transformed himself into a bowling all-rounder and has 21 wickets in juniors and seniors this season.
“I used to be more of a batter in the under 13s. I just bowled occasionally but I’ve become more of a bowler now,” he said. “I started training up in the higher grades.
I’ve been taught how to bowl a bit better, what lines and what areas to bowl.
“Dustin Drew, he’s been a good help and Jamie Sabo, and Terry Beks is a good coach. I’ve had good coaches,” Jeremy said.
Dennington will take on under 17 minor premier Russells Creek in a knockout semi-final starting this weekend.
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