SUNSHINE is facing mounting pressure to retain its place among the Baseball Victoria summer league division 1 elite.
The Eagles slid further into the mire with an 11-2 loss to top side Geelong at Barclay Reserve on Saturday.
The home side fought hard but was simply outclassed by the premier team in the competition.
“It was a good game early, we had some good at-bats,” Eagles player coach Shaun Moore said.
“Then in the fifth innings, they kind of blew it open to lead 5-2 and carried it on from there.”
Moore put his hand up for some of the blame.
He missed what he says was a catchable fly ball in the outfield that resulted in three runs in the fifth.
“It should’ve been three-out for the innings, but they went on to lead 5-2,” Moore said.
Eagles starting pitcher Rory Meddick had been solid until that point.
He threw seven strong innings, but the fifth blotted his copybook.
“He was a bit stiff at the start, he was just around the zone a little bit,” Moore said.
“After the second innings, he really hit his straps and was really working the corners and keeping the pitches low. When he’s on, he’s a really good pitcher and tough to handle.”
The Eagles have been a breath of fresh air with their competitiveness in their first summer back in division 1.
They have won 10 games and taken the challenge up to the best teams in the competition.
It still might not be enough.
“Years ago, if you got 10 wins, you stay up,” Moore said. “This year, it’s been a good, tight competition and that’s great for the competition.
“Unfortunately, we’re second last and need to try and find a win from somewhere.”
The task does not get any easier for the Eagles.
They face third-placed Blackburn in back-to-back games, tonight at the Melbourne Ballpark (8.50) and on Saturday (2pm) on the road at Billabong Park, before a last-round encounter with fifth-placed Waverley.
“We have to go out there, keep playing and see what happens,” Moore said.
