The stage is set for a fitting finale to the 2021/22 Mount Gambier and District Baseball League season and it all comes down to a three-game series between Centrals and Tigers starting Friday night under lights.
In what shapes as a somewhat David and Goliath battle, Centrals will start as a red hot favourite as the in-form team of the competition.
Tigers will need all the stars to align and the start is key if they are to cause an upset.
Centrals will be led by the newly crowned best and fairest in Dylan Chuck who will have his boys firing.
Tigers may be the underdogs, but will have some confidence coming in after a comprehensive victory just days earlier against South to book their spot.
Tigers coach Karl Ransom would be pleased at the batting performance leading in and he does have a line-up that can cause damage with the bat.
The series will simply come down to a pitching duel and both teams have plenty of cards to play.
Both Dylan and Ethan Chuck will be hard to compete against, but a name that has caused Tigers the most trouble in the past is Koby Chant and he is the key for Centrals.
Tigers will look for Alex Reppin to continue his form and Ransom to do his job.
But Garth Ransom and Hayden Jones will also be important and can be used and to cause Chuck and Centrals a couple of headaches along the way.
Centrals’ key Alex Ridding is a star of the competition at just 18 years old and brings speed to the game.
He will be a handful for Tigers if he can get on base frequently and was one of the biggest influencers behind Centrals’ premiership last season.
Dylan Gull is the man with the biggest head of hair you will see, but can also bring power to the batting box.
The league runs batted in winner with 24 and he will need to add a few more if Centrals are to get the job done.
Koby Chant was the runner up league MVP to his coach Chuck and the big young throw baseman took home the batting average with a whopping .471 and will be the guy to watch as he could turn a game on its head in just one swing.
One of the stars to watch for Tigers is Hayden Jones, who has played high level baseball in the past.
Jones’ knowledge and on base smarts are important as ever to the Tigers outfit.
He is rock solid in the infield and will need to be to help Tigers pull off a miracle.
Matt Thompson is a quiet achiever but finds plenty of bat on ball which helps in tight games and Tigers need him to fire.
Jesse Foster is arguably the best catcher in the league and the former league best and fairest and premiership coach will be key to Tigers’ chances of an upset.
His knowledge and on base smarts will help Tigers a long way to claiming the upset.
The action kicks off at 8pm tomorrow night and the crowd is set to be entertained in what will be the showcase for Mount Gambier baseball.
