Tara Murray
It was a dramatic day for the Newport Rams women’s sides on Saturday in the Baseball Victoria summer league semi finals, but ended in two grand final spots secured.
The premier league side’s match lasted nearly five hours after two heat delays sent players from the field, while their reserves side came back late to scrap across the line.
Rams coach Dean Anglin said the results reinforces what they’re doing at the club is working the right way having claimed the second division title last season.
“The program is developing the right way,” he said. “We were pretty confident we had the right team to be able to compete.
“We’ve got a good program that has grown to this point. I didn’t expect to be competing in grand finals for both the ones and twos.
“We felt strong enough in the ones but felt like the seconds a was a developing program with young girls that have come along so well in the season.”
In the premier league competition, the Rams won through to the grand final with a 9-2 win against Doncaster.
Anglin said the side remained composed throughout the day despite the game not finishing until nearly 7pm.
The second side won their final 16-15 after giving up 12 runs in the final innings against Springvale. They were able to get the six runs needed in the last innings for victory.
Anglin said the majority of that side were under the age of 18 including a number of key players including their pitcher, relief pitcher and catcher.
The top side faces Springvale in the grand final on Saturday.
Anglin said it would be a challenge.
“We have not beaten Springvale yet,” he said. “They had a late innings rally after Essendon had the lead for the majority of the game.
“They have one of the best pitchers in the league and I think we have the other one. They will be really hard to beat.”
The reserves side will face Doncaster in the grand final, a team they had beaten during the regular season.
