It took a double extra inning to split Sunshine and Bonbeach in Vic Summer League division 2 baseball action on Saturday, Sunshine emerging with a much-needed win on home soil.
After starting the season well then slipping to back-to-back losses, Sunshine walked away with a 1-0 win to stay within the mix for a top- four spot.
It was a result that frustrated Sunshine coach Grant Weir, with the hosts failing to get a hit until the seventh inning.
“We couldn’t hit and we haven’t been able to for the last three games,” Weir said.
“I explained to the guys afterwards that because we’ve had a lot of them missing games and training, if they come back in and try and hit it’s bloody hard.
“Hitting in baseball is difficult even if you’re getting constant games and at-bats; the very best you’ll do is fail six out of 10 times and hit .400. Guys are missing games and training. It gets harder to hit when you come back and that number goes down; it’s that simple.”
The Eagles started with Griffin Weir on the mound, and while the batsmen struggled for hits it was equally tough for the opposition to score as Weir put up an outstanding defensive effort, being well assisted by veteran first baseman Chad Galloway.
Weir threw the first six innings, before Jared Van Hoon came on as relief to throw the final five. As much as the hitting disappointed the coach, the pitching and fielding work brought a smile to his face.
“The two pitchers were really good,” Weir added.
“I think we allowed three hits for the game. We had four double plays, we caught well, we threw well, and Chad Galloway was outstanding at first to keep us in the contest.”
Sunshine had chances to score in the eighth and ninth innings, but in the end it came down to a series of hits at the bottom of the 11th to decide the contest.
Galloway, Jordan Young and Van Hoon all got hits away, and while Galloway was thrown out at third, the strike from Van Hoon to left field was enough to bring Young home, giving the scoreboard attendant something to do and ending the game.
Weir said it was simply good to grind out a win.
“It wasn’t ugly, but it wasn’t pretty at the same time,” he said. “A win’s a win, and we’re still right in the mix so there’s some positives.
“Hopefully, we can start getting some consistency now with blokes training and playing, and we’ll go from there.”
Ewen McRae
