Sunshine Eagles know they need to be on their A-grade game for the rest of the Baseball Victoria summer league premier 1 first nine competition.
The Eagles sit on top the ladder as the competition hits the pointy end but there’s plenty of sides chasing them as they aim for back-to-back championships.
A midweek win against Blackburn last week ensured the side won two matches in a row for a number of weeks.
Ëagles coach Stuart Clayton said it had been an interrupted period for the group after the Christmas break.
“We had a draw and then we were heated out,” he said. “It’s just getting more consistency of games under our belt.
“We have only got four losses for the season and one of those games was taken off us as we made a mistake with the pitching.
“Seventeen wins, three losses and a draw for the season we’re going pretty well.
Clayton said their pitching and defence had been outstanding all season.
The key for them going forward was with the bat and scoring runs.
“We need to have more consistency with the bat,” he said. “We’re hitting 10 runs in one game and two in the next game.
“If we can even it out to five a game it will help out a lot more.”
Clayton said the focus was to ensure they were picking the right pitchers to attack and the right moments.
He said it was a different feeling to this time last year.
“This time last year we were flying and felt like we wouldn’t be beaten,” he said.
“The competition is close and anyone can beat anyone.
“Last year we hadn’t won a premiership before and now everyone is chasing us.
“We are hunted every week.”
On Tuesday night, the Eagles accounted for Blackburn, 3-0.
All three runs came in the fifth innings.
“We had a couple innings where we didn’t get the hits that we needed,” Clayton said.
“We executed a couple of little things and got a lucky hit.
“We got the first one and it opened up the pitcher. We then got another two.”
The Eagles were in action on Saturday against the Newport Rams, after deadline.
The Eagles lost 3-2.
They will now face Essendon in a top of the table clash on Tuesday night with four matches remaining after that.
“Every game is a big game,” Clayton said.
“Some wins would set us up for finals time to give us a shot at it again.”
Meanwhile, Sunshine’s women’s sides were in action of their second last game of the regular season on Saturday, after deadline.
Sunshine Blue, which was in third spot, was in action against Alfredton, which was in fourth.
Sunshine White was in action against Fitzroy Gold.
