Tara Murray
It’s grand final joy for the North Western Titans women’s side, but heartbreak for the men’s team in Baseball Victoria summer league.
The women’s black side won through to their first grand final on Saturday, before the men’s side fell agonisingly short of Sunday of joining them.
Titans president Ryan Tompkins said he was thrilled with how the women’s side has gone this season.
The women’s side defeated Essendon 18-7 in their division 3 west semi final.
“We’re rapt about it,” he said. “We put our foot down continued and didn’t look back.
“It’s a big boost heading into next week, we’re going in on the right foot.”
Tompkins said they started the semi final slowly, but once they got on going they were able to get on top.
“We gave up a couple of runs early,” he said.
“When it was our turn in the batters box, for the 20th time this season I asked them to score runs and that is what they have done.
“I couldn’t have asked for a better bunch of girls.”
A grand final appearance caps off a massive season for the Titans program. They fielded two sides for the first time as their women’s program continues to grow.
The furtherest the women’s side has previously gone is a preliminary final.
The Black side will face Sunshine Eagles in the grand final on Saturday. The Eagles have been the top team all season, but the Titans pushed them last time the two teams met.
”We wanted to finish in the top four, but finishing in the top two was really good.
“The women’s program has continued to build and develop all year.”
On Sunday, the men’s side wasn’t able to join the women in the grand final.
Losing in a thriller, the men lost 8-7 to Springvale Lions in division 3.
