It’s somewhat fitting that Cameron Deeble would end up the coach of the Sunshine Eagles in the Baseball Victoria Summer League.
Having joined the club a couple of seasons ago, Deeble has this season stepped up to take on the coaching role after Stuart Clayton decided to step down.
For Deeble, the Eagles hold a special place in his heart.
“It’s pretty exciting taking on that role in division 1,” he said. “I’ve been at the club for two years.
“They asked me to take on the role. There’s the family connection with my grandfather coaching here and my dad also playing here.
“It’s a little bit sentimental.”
While the grandson of an Australian baseball legend Don Deeble and son of Melbourne Aces coach Jon Deeble, Cameron Deeble has put together an impressive resume himself.
He played overseas in college and represented Australia at a junior level. He has had success coaching at Preston, Westgarth and club coach for Essendon during the winter season.
Deeble said having been at the club the last couple of years gave him a head in getting down to work.
“I got to know the ins and outs for the club,” he said. “The players, the committee members and form a bit of a relationship with them.”
Deeble said the squad was pretty similar to the past few years when they’ve been around the mix.
He said the arrival of American Justin Revels will help with the pitching depth.
“He comes across from the European league,” Deeble said. “Some of our players were over there during the winter season and came across him, so there was a bit of a connection.”
Deeble said they would also have some younger kids step up to fill some gaps.
Deeble said things had been good overall since taking over.
They also have a new seconds coach, with Andrew Leahy coming on to help the development of the young kids in the second side.
The Eagles started their season with a 5-3 loss to Upwey-Ferntree Gully.
On Sunday, they’re set to face Sandringham in round two.
Deeble said they were hoping the experiences of the last few years would hold them in good stead this season.
“We’ve been around the mark and everyone knows what to expect in finals,” he said. “Hopefully we’ll just do a bit of extra work and match our competitors and get across the line.”
