After a tough 2013, Sunshine coach Earl Byrne went into Baseball Victoria’s summer league season chasing a fast start.
The Eagles had been relegated to division 2 in the off-season after winning just two games in 12 months.
On the back of some impeccable pitching and massive hitting, Byrne has got his wish.
Sunshine now sits on top of the ladder with a perfect 4-0 record.
“Getting off to a good start was my focus,” Byrne said.
“Now we just have to keep the ball rolling. We were too used to losing last year. If that had continued it would have been a really sombre mood around the place.”
Sunshine has taken care of two of last year’s finalists, Werribee and Springvale, in the season’s first month, and it smashed Berwick City 11-1 on Sunday.
The Eagles’ off-season recruits have wasted no time making themselves at home in their new colours, with former Werribee duo Daniel Wilkie and Lewis Weldon blasting home-runs in the round one match against their old side.
Byrne says the next step is to maintain the high level.
“We have been pretty good in all areas so far, so I can’t really pick at too much,” he said. “It’s only certain situations in a game that you can pick out, whereas last year you could pick out a lot of stuff after the game. Now we’re doing most things right.
“We’ve been hitting the ball well and pitching well. Probably some of our walks we need to cut down on a little bit.”
Sunshine’s schedule is about to get busier with the summer league beginning midweek games as of this round.
The Eagles will take on Moorabbin twice in the space of five days and then front up for a match against Bonbeach St Chads on the following Sunday.
Byrne said pitching depth would be the key to getting through the busy fixture.
“That is one area where we will either get found out or be good,” he said.
“We have Rory Meddick back playing with us this season. He will add some good depth to what we’ve got. And we’ve got back Adam Irons, who didn’t pitch much last year because of a sore arm. He’s starting to come back and pitch a bit more. Effectively, we have gained two pitchers.
“Then there is myself and a couple of other guys, who fill in here and there. We’ve got the depth; it’s just a matter of staying injury-free.”
