Tara Murray
The Sunshine Eagles pulled off a remarkable win against Doncaster in the Baseball Victoria summer league premier 1st nine on Saturday.
The Eagles looked down and out heading into the eighth innings as they trailed 9-2.
By the end of the eighth innings, the Eagles had levelled the scores.
When Darryl George got a run in the ninth innings, the Eagles needed to hold their nerve in the field to get the win.
They did exactly that to win 10-9.
Eagles coach Stuart Clayton said it was a remarkable win after not thinking they were even going to play due to heavy rain on Friday and Saturday morning.
“It was an update and down day,” he said. “We saw a few photos of grounds covered in water and thought Doncaster might have been the same.
“We turned up and it was in fantastic condition.
“Then I thought we were cooked before coming good in the eighth innings. We got seven runs to tie the game and another in the ninth to win the game.”
Clayton said after starting the season well they weren’t able to find that same connection on Saturday.
He said they were having an off day with their pitching.
“We couldn’t find the strike zone,” he said. “We weren’t getting those pitches and we walked too many.
“We have a few young pitchers who we are working with. Last week they were fantastic, this week they were a little off.”
The change in the game was when Doncaster changed its pitcher from its import, who had been pitching really well, to a younger kid.
Clayton said like their pitchers, Doncaster’s younger pitcher struggled to find the zone and resulted in a few walks and it got the Eagles going.
Devin Leahy managed to get a two run hit to tie the game heading into the ninth innings.
The Eagles then bunted home George to take the front.
Billy Parsons held his nerve in the ninth innings to secure the Eagles a win. Parsons has returned to the club this season.
“He did a great job,” Clayton said. “He has been super for us, pitching three innings each week.
“He’s getting ready for the national season and it’s helping us out a lot.”
Clayton said the home run of Adrian Fittock early in the game was also important.
In good news for the Eagles, import James Williams III played his first game on Saturday, after arriving in the country on Thursday.
Clayton said he looked good behind the diamond while they were excited to see his hitting in the weeks to come.
It was an exciting day all round for the Eagles.
The second side came from 7-1 down with two innings to go to win, 8-7.
The women’s side, which didn’t look like getting on, beat Newport, 13-11 after leaving 12-5 after three innings.
The men’s premier side, which is undefeated, will face Blackburn at home this Saturday.
