By Lance Jenkinson
Sunshine is setting the pace in the Baseball Victoria summer league division 1 competition.
The Eagles have moved a game clear on top of the ladder after a 6-0 win over Cheltenham Rustlers at Barclay Reserve on Sunday.
The Stuart Clayton-coached Eagles are a perfect 4-0 and they are the only remaining undefeated team in the competition.
“We’re plugging along alright,” Clayton said.
“The side that we played today just came up from division 2, but, at the end of the day, you’ve just got to beat whoever you’ve got on the park.”
Sunshine knows it will need to take it up a cog for its upcoming three-game series with Newport Rams.
The western suburbs rivalry has dished up some tasty encounters over the years, but this one will have some added spice to it after the off season.
The Eagles not only brought in one of Newport’s most promising youngsters in Nikau Pouaka-Grego, but they fought tooth and nail to extract Riley Barr from the Rams’ clutches.
Barr was on the mound in Sunshine’s shut-out win over Cheltenham on Saturday.
He has been a supurb addition to the Eagles.
“He’s pitched in three games for us,” Clayton said. “He threw five innings today and didn’t give up a run.
“He’s been sensational for us on the mound.”
Barr’s addition completes a stellar pitching department for Sunshine.
Alongside Barr are Jeremy Young, Griffin Weir and Adam Irons – all have the strength in their arms for long stints on the mound.
The pitching depth is where the Eagles hope to gain an advantage later in the summer.
“They’re all senior guys that have been around for a while,” Clayton said. “They understand the big picture.
“If everyone is sharing the innings around, come the end of the season, if we’re lucky enough to make finals, everyone will be fresh.”
In registering six runs, Sunshine did what it needed to do in the big moments to keep Cheltenham at arm’s length.
Young had the big hit, scoring a triple to bat in three runs with bases loaded.
Eagles import Bryce Alridge hit a double to send home two runners.
Sunshine has been the most potent team from the batters box so far, but Clayton issued a warning to his team not to get too carried away because tougher opposition pitchers await.
“Realistically, we played a team that came up from division 2 last year,” he said.
“If we can score three or four runs, we’ll be pretty competitive in most games.
“Today we scored six and held the other side to zero, so we’re going alright. The first game of Sunshine’s three-game series against Newport Rams will be at Barclay Reserve on Saturday at 3.30pm.
