Cougars let one slip

By Gavin Staindl
THE Berwick City Cougars headed to Moorabbin expecting a stabilising win but instead their season has been unravelled – by one of their own juniors.
After losing to Melbourne 8-13 on Thursday night, Berwick needed the win against Moorabbin to retain its third placing on the Division Two ladder but opposing pitcher Nick Veale had other ideas.
Veale, a 17-year-old Berwick junior who plays at Berwick because Moorabbin, which is closer to his home, doesn’t have a junior side, does all his junior and senior training at Berwick but on Sundays represents the Panthers.
Before the match, Berwick coach Mick Poole was not fazed by Moorabbin’s decision to pitch Veale given he gave up 10 runs last time the two sides met in round seven.
But on Sunday, Veale threw 110 pitches, the maximum for an under-18 pitcher, giving up no runs through eight innings and setting up Moorabbin for the win.
When Veale was finally removed from the mound, the Cougars trailed 0-6 but they slammed home five runs in the eighth to close out the innings one run behind the Panthers.
With one dig remaining, Berwick was confident of overrunning its opponent but a well-struck ball that was caught at centre-field followed by a game-ending double play closed the door on a Cougar comeback and left them placed perilously in fourth position.
The home loss to Melbourne on Thursday night did not help Berwick’s cause either.
Trailing 1-8 after six innings, Melbourne turned on the heat by hitting 10 runs in the seventh and running away 13-8 victors.
The double loss leaves Berwick in fourth spot but in a vulnerable position to be overtaken by a host of other clubs sitting one game outside the top four.
The crunch match against third-placed Bonbeach next week will determine whether the Cougars qualify for finals.
“If we lose this week then we’re done,” said coach Mick Poole. “It (the loss to Moorabbin) was probably the worse loss of the season.
“I think we took our eyes off the ball. We were more worried about what would happen next week against Bonbeach that we took this one for granted.”