Sunshine Eagles have given themselves the best shot at championship glory in the Baseball Victoria summer league premier 1st nine competition.
The Eagles are the first team through to Saturday’s grand final and will have two shots at premiership joy this weekend.
Eagles coach Stuart Clayton said they were exactly where they wanted to be.
“We’ve very excited and it’s a huge benefit for us as we don’t have to play during the week,” he said. “Whoever we play has to play during the week. It sets us up to give ourselves a great chance to win it now.”
The Eagles faced Waverley on Saturday in a preliminary final and it was one that could have gone either way.
In the end, the Eagles won 6-4.
Clayton said they were able to get on top as the game went on.
“The pitchers dominated early in the game,” he said. “We had Jamie [Young] pitching for us. He was really good and their import was pitching tight.
“In about the fifth innings we got a couple of runs. We had some good hits late in the game.
“Young Devin Leahy got three and Jamie had a couple and we got on top.
“They got a couple of runs late to give some hope before Jeremy [Young] shut them out.”
It was a big week for Leahy, who is one of the rising stars for the Eagles.
He celebrated his 18th birthday while he was also selected in the Australian under-18 squad.
“He has been really good for us,” Clayton said. “He’s been a leader for us and works so hard.
“He is just 5’3 and there’s not a lot of him, but he gives 110 per cent and runs like the wind.
“He works hard and trains four or five times a week and we’re seeing it pay off.”
Clayton said he was one of the next group that was coming through with Josh Byrne and Rupert Fischer also playing important roles throughout the season.
While the Eagles now don’t play until Saturday’s grand final, there’s two matches before then to decide their opponent.
Williamstown and Upwey Ftg face off on Tuesday night with the winner to face Waverley on Thursday night.
The winner of Thursday’s game moves into the grand final against the Eagles.
Under the system this season, if the Eagles win on Saturday they will be crowned the champions.
If they lose, the two grand final teams play again on Sunday, with the winner to claim the premiership.
“We get two chances to win the grand final,” he said.
“It gives us that extra break and it sets us up for the grand final. They will have to use their best pitchers to get into the grand final.”
Clayton said they would train as normal this week, but said he might head down and watch Thursday’s match to see who they play.
