By Tara Murray
It’s been 37 years between top flight premierships but the Sunshine Eagles are now back on top in the Baseball Victoria summer league premier 1st nine competition.
The Eagles, who have been one of the teams to beat all season, were able to find that little bit extra in Saturday’s grand final to beat the Williamstown Wolves, 2-1.
Eagles coach Stuart Clayton said it was a pretty special feeling.
“We’re ecstatic,” he said. “It was an amazing result in the end and it’s something you can not imagine after 37 years between premierships.
“We’ve won multiple division 2 and 3 premierships and won different grades but it’s been 37 years in the top level.
“It’s really special and the club is ecstatic. The feeling around the club was amazing.”
The Eagles entered the grand final after a week off, while the Wolves had to win two midweek clashes to make the decider.
A win on Saturday would give the Eagles the title, a loss and the two sides would have been back on Sunday with the winner to claim the championship.
There was no high scoring affair, with both sides playing some really good baseball.
“It was a great game and a lot of credit has to go to Willy,” Clayton said. “They did it the tough way playing Saturday, Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday.
“Their pitchers were amazing yesterday [Saturday].”
Clayton said they had a big advantage after having the week off with a few players struggling with a few niggles.
On Saturday, a Darryl George home run late was what was needed to get the Eagles home, with one of his teammates also on base to take give the Eagles their two runs.
Jamie Young pitched well early on, before brother Jeremy Young finished it off.
Clayton said all their leaders had stood strong in the whole finals series to get them over the line.
Jamie Young was named the most valuable player of the finals series.
“He has been with us for seven to eight years now,” Clayton said. “He had four or five years at college and then came back.
“The whole family has been fantastic and been a big part of this and where we are now.”
Just one member of the premiership side from 37 years ago is still involved at the Eagles now.
A young Clayton was part of that side.
“I was a 20-year-old on the bench,” he said. “I’ve been the only one to stick around all these years.
“It’s a relief and amazing. I love baseball and I’ve been involved for 42 years. I can not even put into words what it means.”
Celebrations continued into Sunday, with some of the group partying through the night.
Now with that much wanted championship, Clayton said they hope this is only the beginning.
“We think we have a core group of players that will hopefully keep coming back,” he said. “We want to keep pushing for the next few years.”
