The word out of the Williamstown Wolves all summer was that their pitching roster would never fail in a three-games-in-five-days playoff series this season. They maintained that belief from day one of preseason and it held true in an absorbing grand final series with Springvale Lions.
Game three of the best-of-three big dance was the time for the Wolves’ pitching depth to shine.
The Lions rolled out Freddie Flores, a first-class pitcher but one who had thrown a complete game less than 24 hours earlier. The Wolves had the luxury of going to their ace Jason Lester, the game-one starter. Flores had no rest, while Lester had three days to think about the outing.
“He [Flores] threw a complete game yesterday and it was amazing that he could lift his arm let alone get back on the hill today,” Wolves playing president Ryan Camov said.
Both pitchers struggled.
Lester lasted only 1.1 innings before Wolves skipper Dean Marnell went to the bullpen. That’s where the Wolves’ array of pitchers comes in handy; Marnell didn’t have to hesitate in making the change.
It was a match-winning move, with Wolves’ relief pitcher Josh Lee strong for the remaining six innings before the mercy rule was enacted. The Lions leaked 18 runs, including a seven-run fifth inning in which all Wolves batters got on base.
“Springvale just ran out of pitching options and we capitalised on it,” Camov said. “Whereas Josh really knuckled down and was great for us.
“He got into his groove and ended up finishing the game.”
The Wolves’ batting was impeccable across the series with 32 runs in three games, but particularly so in the third game.
Team hitting was the theme, but there could be no denying the pop in the bats of designated hitter Chris Mason and American import Russell Moldenhauer.
Mason hit a game-breaking three-run home run over the left field wall to complete the seven-run fifth inning, while Moldenhauer twice hit balls off the wall to add to the Lions’ misery.
