Despite missing a swag of players, Sunshine posted another strong win in Vic Summer League baseball on Saturday.
Travelling to Berwick without five of its first-choice players, Sunshine was able to limit the scoring of the home side in the early stages and keep the pressure on for a 9-5 win that keeps it on top of the division 2 ladder.
After commanding performances with the bat in the opening two games, Sunshine put its defensive prowess on show early as Griffin Weir, on the mound, conceded just one run from the opening four innings.
While run scoring was slow for the home side, Sunshine had an abundance of hitters who connected to establish an early lead before blowing the game open in the fifth inning with five runs.
Most of those came courtesy of a triple from teenager Jamie Young with bases loaded.
Jordan Young, Jared Van Hoon, Weir, and veteran Chad Galloway all got multiple hits in the game to keep the scoreboard ticking over and ensure the home side never really got a sniff.
Weir was relieved of pitching duties in the fifth inning by Van Hoon, who pitched four innings before Jordan Young closed out the game in the ninth.
Sunshine coach Grant Weir said the performance exceeded his expectations given the missing personnel, a situation in which the club will find itself again in coming months.
“Right across the board we were good – even the seconds guys that came up held their own, which was key,” Weir said.
“We’re going to have a number of guys missing over the next four weeks, so it’s important to have that depth.
“When you’re missing half your team, and you’ve got guys playing out of position like Lachlan Ruyter, who pitches in our seconds and I’ve got him playing right field … everyone is doing the right things, which is all I can ask.
“We’ll keep plugging through … hopefully we’ll be a bit like the Western Bulldogs and get all our players back at the crunch time of the season and we’ll have our best team come play-offs time.”
On the women’s front, the scoreline was less pretty, with the Eagles going down to Cheltenham 17-7 in their Saturday game.
Ewen McRae
