BIG LEAGUE
The ultimate games in a season of baseball will conclude the year on Friday night and Saturday.
First up on Friday at 6pm Big League team Central is being challenged by the South Indians combination.
Central has been top dog all season with young pitcher and league best and fairest Brad Walkom sure to start on the mound.
He will be ably backed up by Cooper Smith and Justin Tzioutziouklaris who will both be raring to go.
The Ruwoldt brothers, Samuel and Mitchell will be looking to go big from the batting box and will be followed by plenty of others in Jobe Harten, Daniel Feguson, Bree Ridding and the rest of the lineup.
South will be intent on shutting down the batting probably starting Jett Lewis on the mound with Riley Parsons and Bradley Meek to back him up.
They also have plenty of depth in their batting with the likes of Ryan Meek, Nate Habner and Charlie Clarke.
With Central holding top spot all season I predict the first premiership of the weekend for the Central club.
DIVISION 1
Game one of the three series Division 1 grand final between current premiers Central and to some, surprise contenders Federal will start at 8pm under lights at Blue Lake Sports Park.
Expect eight-time league best and fairest Dylan Chuck to start on the hill while Alex Reppin will start for Federal.
This will be a close and tough first up game if the preliminary final is anything to go by.
Both Chuck and Reppin will be throwing rockets and it will be whichever batting side gets on top.
The rules state the pitchers are only allowed 125 pitches over the three games, posing the question whether they only throw half their allowed pitches for the three possible games or do they pitch out?
Both teams have solid relievers with Alex Ridding and Koby Chant for the Magpies and Coach Clay Carpenter and Riley Rolph for the Demons.
Wille they be they able to juggle their pitchers over three possible games, that is the question.
Central appears to have little more consistency in its batting lineup which includes Kyall McClean, Dave Harris, Nathan Meinck, Dylan Gull and Colby Muller.
For Federal its lineup includes Alex Pearson, brothers Matt and Craig Nicholls, Jordan Johnson and League Best Under 20 player Nash Lobley.
Being a little bit biased I predict a win for Central in game one however, beware the raging underdog.
LITTLE LEAGUE
At 10am on diamond 5 the Little League kicks off the day’s proceedings with Central up for the second chance at a club premiership playing a Federal/Tigers combination.
They also have been ladder leaders all season and one would expect them to come out victors.
However, they have had some close tussles over the year against what will be a formidable foe.
There is plenty of pitching ability in the Magpies bullpen with league best and fairest Kye Wren Mitchell probably starting on the hill.
There is plenty of back up for him in young gun Will Walkom and Harvey Gull.
There are plenty of pitchers in the combination too with the likes of Hunter Wyatt, Oliver Bramley and Dylan Simpson.
There is also plenty of batting in both teams too, from Central there is Jobe Lynagh, Connor Ruwoldt, Jack Odgers and Tye Klaassens.
The Federal/Tigers batting depth starts with Ashleigh Elletson, brothers Harrison and Nathaniel Freckleton and Tahj Pitkin.
Given their outstanding season I’m putting my money on Central for the premiership.
MINOR LEAGUE
Following this game at midday the Minor League final gets under way between Tigers and Federal.
Tigers held top spot on the ladder all year but did not finish more than a couple of games in front of Federal.
For these little learners of the game this should be a close tussle.
Either Alfie Merchant or Hayden Rowley will start for Tigers while either Banjo Cannon, league best and fairest in this grade, or Banks Stephen is the likely starter for Federal.
Whilst batting at this level is a little harder expect Rowan Patzel, Spenser Koppe and Sophie Stratman for Tigers and Angus Robinson Brydie Howard and Izac Peace to get among the hits.
One would have to pick Tigers for the premiership being ladder leaders.
JUNIOR LEAGUE
Junior League kicks off also at midday on diamond 3 between Central and Tigers.
Central finished well clear on the ladder and should become premiers.
Alex Hitchon and Aiden Meinck have done the bulk of the pitching, and one presumes that one of them will start.
League best and fairest Jacob Walkom will lead off the batting with help from Angus Powell, Darcy Wurst and Chase Kilpatrick.
Either Ben Reichelt or Titan Dumigan would be expected to start on the mound for Tigers as they have done the bulk of their pitching this season.
In the batting box Atticus Mutton, Jai Hillstone and Joe Box head up the order and will be hoping to score more runs than Central.
DIVISION 3
Also starting at midday on the main diamond at Blue Lake Sports Park Central will defend its 2022-23 title against Naracoorte.
The Rangers finished marginally on top of the ladder so this should be an exciting game of baseball played with a lot of intensity.
League runs batted in winner Ken Sisson will head up the pitching for Naracoorte with reliever Brady Fox waiting in the wings.
They bat deep into their lineup which includes Tom Peach, Deston Comford, Dawson Fox and Asley Cross.
Steve Kuhl will return to the mound after missing the preliminary final and expect him to step up a cog and pitch the whole game.
Central also bats deep and picked up a lot of hits last Saturday.
Their top batters include Anthony Ridding, Ben Green, Dean Cutting and Shane Frankenburg.
Naracoorte to win but beware the old boys.
DIVISION 2
Division 2 follows the Division 3 game at 2pm.
Ladder leaders Millicent are pitted against the South Indians.
League best and fairest Darcy Pink will start on the mound for the Bandits with Saxon Altschwager his back up if needed.
Their batting is led by league runs batted in winner Nick Cory, Daniel Hateley, Tom Winkley and Anthony Mutton.
The Indians pitching should be shared between Riley Parsons, Bruce Morale, Brett Masterman and Wade Chant.
The batting lineup will be headed by Ryan Whitwell, Deegan and Nate Habner, Bradley Meek and Zac Ratcliffe.
While Millicent are clear favourites do not disregard the Southies as they will certainly put up a fight.
DIVISION 1
Game two of the Division 1 three game series commences at 4pm following the Division 2 final.
This game will depend a lot on who starts on the mound for both teams.
Have they held over their game one starters or did they pitch them out?
Relievers are never quite as good as the main starters but can certainly hold their own.
I’m thinking that both starters will have pitched their maximum allowable pitches in the first game so I believe that Alex Ridding will start game two for the Magpies and Clay Carpenter will start for the Demons.
Batting from both sides will be at a premium with hits going in all directions.
Both teams bat long and deep and will be pushing their baserunners hard for extra bases.
Basically, the same players will suit up in the same positions so it will all come down to who makes the least number of errors and which team can bat their runners home.
I’m predicting the series will be tied after two and will go to a deciding game which would start at 7pm with tired legs coming into play.
Having a greater depth in their pitching, Central will be back-to-back premiers.
AWARD WINNERS
Best & Fairest: Division 1 – Dylan Chuck 32 (pictured), Central; Division 2 – Darcy Pink 18, Millicent; Division 3 – Brady Fox 31, Naracoorte; Big League – Brad Walkom 14, Central; Junior League – Jakob Walkom 46, Central; Little League – Kye Wren Mitchell 28, Central; Minor League – Banjo Cannon 21, Federal.
Batting Average: Division 1 – Alex Reppin .527, Federal; Division 2 – Talyssia Moretti .471, Federal; Division 3 – Daniel Hateley .625, Millicent; Big League – Toby Mckinnon .636, Tigers; Junior League – Phoenix Cole .659, South/Federal.
Runs Batted In: Division 1 – Alex Ridding 29, Central; Division 2 – Nick Cory 20, Millicent; Division 3 – Ken Sisson 22, Naracoorte; Big League – Daniel Ferguson 25, Central; Junior League – Jakob Walkom 27, Central.
Perpetual Trophies: Martiensen-Robertson Division 1 Best & Fairest – Dylan Chuck; Ewart Family Division 1 Batting Trophy – Alex Reppin; Terry Probert Memorial Sluggers Award – Alex Ridding; David Chuck Best Under 20 In Division 1 – Nash Lobley; Cooke Family Memorial – Most Valuable
Contribution To Baseball – Tracy Mcadam; Hopgood Trophy – Division 1 Minor Premiers – Central.
TEAM OF THE YEAR: Pitcher – Karl Ransom, Tigers; Catcher – Kane Harrison, Tigers; First Base – Ben Marcus, Tigers; Second Base – Nathan Meinck, Central; Third Base – Dylan Chuck, Central; Shortstop – Alex Ridding, Central; Outfield – Colby Muller, Central; Outfield – Dave Harris, Central; Outfield – Ryan Walter, South Indians; Designated Hitter – Matt Thompson, Tigers; Utility – Alex Reppin, Federal; Coach – Kyle Mcclean, Central; Umpire – Riley Rolph, Federal.
