Tara Murray
Newport Rams are set for a big finals series in the Baseball Victoria summer league.
The Rams men’s division 2 side sits second and the women’s division 2 side are both sitting top of the ladder heading into the final round of the season.
Men’s coach Sean Arnott said before the weekend’s matches, that overall it had been a really strong season for the club.
“The thirds are on top as well,” he said.
“We’re a couple of points in front in the club championship and that would be nice to win,” he said.
“We haven’t really spoken about it, but it’s something that we have kept an eye on and it would be nice to win.”
For Arnott in his first season at the club, he said it was hard to judge how they would go this season.
“I’m very happy,” he said. “It is hard to say coming into a new club what the expectations are.
“The club wants to become a division 1 club and are very active around that. There is an expectation to play finals and go from there.”
On Sunday, the men’s side defeated St Kilda 5-4 in a close match. It was a good result having had a bit of a stumble the week before.
Arnott said that the overall performance had been good this season.
“The pitching has been really good and I think our pitchers have been as good as any other pitchers in the league.
“Tyler Comben and David Asp have been pitching. Tyler is in his early 20s and David in his mid-40s.”
Arnott said having knocked off last season’s premiers during the season, they would take plenty of confidence into the finals series.
They face St Kilda again on Thursday night and the Ormond Glenhuntly on Sunday to finish the regular season.
The women’s side will also take plenty of confidence into the finals, sitting comfortably on top of the laddder.
On Saturday, they beat Geelong Baycats, 25-4.
The Rams have a bye in the final round.
Meanwhile, Williamstown Wolves had a 3-0 loss to Mulgrave Rebels in the men’s division 2 competition.
The Wolves sit fifth heading into the final round, but are too far back to finish in the top four.
Footscray’s men had a 16-6 loss to Pakenham in division 3, while its women’s team had a 15-2 loss to Essendon in division 2.
