The final Mount Gambier Baseball League home and away game came to a close for season 2022/2023 on Saturday night with Centrals taking on Federals in the Taylor Prohbert shield match.

The shield match is played annually to pay the respects to two of the most respected names involved in history of either side.

It was always going to be a monumental challenge for Federals, to try and take down the Goliath of the competition on a big night.

Centrals needed the victory to finish undefeated again in the season and secure a straight pass into the grand final in a fortnight.

The match was played in great spirits and in front of a great crowd with Centrals proving it was the team to beat, led by Dylan Chuck who would be amongst the favourites this year to collect his sixth league best and fairest.

Federals had no answer to the challenge, with a solid opening innings of four runs to zero leaving them on the back foot.

A couple of errors in the dewy conditions, along with the consistent run tally, meant they were no match for Centrals.

Dylan Chuck’s two hits and a solid outing on the mound saw him earn the three votes.

In the other match of the week, Tigers took on South in a preview of what will be played next weekend in the preliminary final, where the winner will move into the big dance to play Centrals, and for the losers it was curtains.

Tigers were without pitching duo Karl Ransom and Alex Reppin but this did not bother the Black and Orange army as they went onto a complete whitewash of South, sending an ominous warning of what to expect next week in the final.

Jake Powell was given the ball on the hill and managed a solid six innings to get Tigers well and truly the advantage both on the board and mentally.

South coach Ryan Placcuci will be thinking of a game plan for next week with lots of second guessing after the performance his Indians managed.

Tigers walked away winners 13-1, and Matt Thompson again showed why his name will be very high in the medal count this year with another three-run game and Powell picked up a couple of hits along with a solid pitching performance.