The D Grade Grand Final Report
!!
BERWICK DODGERS D GRADE V MORNINGTON
GRAND FINAL
As I arrived at Bon Beach Saturday for the 1pm start against Mornington,
I gazed up the Australian flag blowing straight out towards the right
field. I smiled outwardly and mused at the fact that we had 5 potent
lefties in the squad. Today will be OURS I thought.
The relaxed confidence amongst the guys was there again as it was two
weeks earlier. I spoke continually to the team about seizing the opportunities
when they arise and don’t leave the game asking …if only.
Being the home team we took the diamond behind ‘iron man’
starter Shane Nyholm – Hunter. The start was a nervous one with
our defence struggling in the blustery conditions. The Pirates put 2
runs on the board and it was game on. Veteran Pirate Ray Pierce took
the ball and also struggled to acclimatise and we took full toll slamming
on 9 runs, including a huge 2 run bomb over the right field fence from
Darren ‘Little Bro’ Hughes.
Mornington continued to bat the ball and picked up 2 more in the second.
They went to Chris Law to head up their defence. Despite my urging to
take as many pitches each at bat, our hitters went in order in a 6 pitch
inning from the new boy. Gradually our 500kg infield broke down as the
momentum continually swung in the Pirates favour.
Catcher Terry ‘TV Van Iersel’ showed the guys how to guts
it out with the bat, and with the addition of “ Mickey the Fish”
Whiting suddenly our fortunes change, and the runs started to come.
Peter “PK” Kimber came in to play 3rd. as we started to
get some infield kills. I had shuffled the line-up in a final roll of
the dice in an attempt to shutdown the Pirates run machine. After their
9 innings they lead 19/13. Shunter
had thrown 196 pitches for the 27 outs. Our task was improbable, but
not impossible.
Slowly, hitter by hitter we knocked the runners around. The pressure
mounted pitch by pitch, with each batter a Pirates “pow wow”
at the mound. The once vocal Mornington crowd fell silent. The Dodgers
“had a sniff”.
With 2 out and bases juiced and 2 runs to win, my only focus was to
steal the lead runner home and force the game into extra digs. But the
Pirates catcher was solid as a rock. With all this going on “Rookie
of the year” Anthony “Willy boy” Carpenter stepped
into the batting box.
After a hack fan he watched a couple of close ones go past Then launched
one into centrefield outside the fielders reach. Two runners crossed
the plate but I sent “PK” and chased him down the line and
crashed into the 12 guys that were already there.
Willy in the meantime had run to 2nd. Jumped on the bag, threw his cap
off his head, threw out his arms and yelled Ta-dah!
The noise from our supporters was tremendous. Friends, family, former
players, club stalwarts and even the odd opponents were all just amazed
at what they had just witnessed. Seven runs in the bottom of the ninth
to win in a fairytale finish.
This win was testament to the “never give up” attitude shared
by this unique and talented group.
Brad Hughes, Craig O’Toole, Paul Chinnock, Mick Leembruggen and
especially Rod Berry all live for this stuff, and with wily veterans
like Brian Lees and Bruce” Nice shirt” Cusack helping with
the moves , we celebrated long into Sunday morning .But the biggest
smile belonged to Big Brett Antione playing in his first final after
5 years at the club.
This win is the culmination of a journey that has taken 5 long seasons
to complete.
To all I have had the pleasure to coach or play alongside, this premiership
is yours to share.
Hope to see you all soon on the diamond.-
Roger Greene
Premiership coach.
