Undefeated Central goes into final as favourite

Undefeated Central goes into final as favourite

Central goes into the 2020-21 Mount Gambier and District grand final with confidence after an undefeated season, but playing a best of three series will be a whole new ball game.

South Indians is under no illusion of the task in front, but the side has belief driven by coach Bruce Morale.

Whether they use the same pitching strategy in this series as they did for the preliminary final we will just have to wait and see.

Their starter in game 1 should be evergreen Dean Hamilton backed up by Morale.

Maybe Morale could start game 2 and helped out by Ryan Placucci as they appear to not have a lot of depth in the pitching department with probably only Ben Morale with a chance.

The Magpies on the other hand have a wealth of pitching talent.

Joint League Best and Fairest Dylan Chuck is sure to start on the mound for game 1 with back up from Dylan Gull, Alex Ridding, Koby Chant or Ethan Chuck.

One of these is sure to start game 2 with Dylan Chuck returning to the hill in game three if it’s required.

Both teams bat deep into their line-ups with Hamilton and Bruce Morale both leading the League batting averages.

For the Magpies Kyall McClean and Gull lead the way.

It looks to be an enthralling series with only one club going home with the silverware.

The first game is scheduled for Friday night under lights starting at 8pm, before games 2 and 3 (if required) at 4pm and 7pm on Saturday respectively.

Full catering and bar facilities will be available.

In the knockout preliminary Final, South Indians were first out of the blocks opening the scoring in the very first inning against Tigers on Saturday.

Damien O’Dine clipped his first safe-hit of three and was batted in by Dean Hamilton.

Tigers evened the score in the bottom of the second after Jesse Foster also hit his first of three for the game and crossed with support from Levi Morton.

The Indians went ahead in the top of the third scoring three thanks to Bruce Morale, Hamilton and Ben Morale.

Tigers added one of their own in the bottom of the fourth when Jesse Foster’s Texas-leaguer landed wide of centre-field, but from that point on it was all a pitcher’s game.

In a tactical move from South Indians coach Bruce Morale, pitchers traded places on the mound four times, while Tigers coach Karl Ransom stepped on to the hill at the top of the fourth.

Both sides conceded 10 safe-hits.

The Mount Gambier and District Baseball League presentations also took place over the weekend.

Dylan Chuck and Garth Ransom of Central and Tigers shared the Martiensen-Robertson best and fairest award in Division 1.

South Indians pair Hamilton and Bruce Morale respectively claimed the Ewart Family Division 1 batting trophy and Terry Probert Memorial sluggers award.

The John Rogers Memorial Best Under 20 player was Central’s Koby Chant and the Cooke Family Memorial most valuable contribution to baseball was made by Chris Rundle and Brayden Morton.

The 2020-21 MGDBL team of the year contained pitcher Alex Reppin, catcher Kyall McClean, first base Garth Ransom, second base Dylan Gull, third base Bruce Morale, shortstop Alex Ridding, outfielders Craig Chittleborough, Brock Keding and Jordan Aston, designated hitter Dean Hamilton, utility and coach Dylan Chuck and umpire Riley Rolph.

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