Sunshine began its Baseball Victoria summer league season on the right note, smashing Werribee by 10 runs on Saturday.
The Eagles dominated the match from the outset and maintained pressure on the Giants throughout the afternoon, blasting 13 runs while restricting Werribee to three.
The win was just what Eagles’ coach Earl Byrne was after following a tough 2013-14 campaign.
Sunshine won just two games last season and was relegated from division 1.
Speaking before the weekend’s win, Byrne said he was intent on making sure the Eagles’ stay in second division was a short one.
“The boys know what to expect this year and what I expect,” he said.
“That is not to spend too long in second division and to try and get straight back up to first division.
“My thing is, if we do any less than finals then I think [the season] has been a failure.
‘‘We need to be in finals at the end of the year for it to be a pass mark.
‘‘Ideally, I would love to finish on top. That’s what I would be aiming for.”
Sunshine has been strengthened by the return of Rory Meddick.
The starting pitcher played a key role in the Eagles’ success two years ago and rejoins the club after a year playing in Ballarat.
Securing an Australian-based pitcher has also allowed the club to sign American hitting import Jaret Chatwood. Chatwood will also play short stop.
The Eagles rounded out their off-season recruiting by adding Daniel Wilkie and Lewis Weldon, who both joined the club from Werribee.
Byrne said he was rapt with the acquisitions.
“Signing Rory gave us a bit more leeway to pick an import that can hit,” he said.
“That has really opened up a lot of doors and really makes the club strong throughout.
‘‘The guys that were playing ones last year, some of them will be playing in the twos
this year.
‘‘It puts a lot more pressure on the guys that are in the ones.”
Saturday’s good news continued for Sunshine in the reserves competition, with the Eagles beating the Giants 11-4.
Sunshine will look to continue its winning streak when it takes on Fitzroy away this Sunday.
