Cougars power to a win

By Marc McGowan
THE Berwick City Cougars achieved their pre-season goal of winning 11 games with a 5-2 come-from-behind victory over Port Melbourne at Cyril Molyneux Reserve on Sunday.
The Cougars’ 11-5 record sees them one game clear of third-placed Preston, although they still trail top side Springvale by two wins.
Berwick City fell two runs behind in the first inning, but starting pitcher Jude Power shut the Mariners out for the rest of the afternoon in another superb performance.
Power also kick-started the Cougars’ comeback after veteran Port Melbourne outfielder George Camov dropped his skied hit off Mariners pitcher Mick Alldis.
Camov’s fielding error allowed Tim Moon to stroll in for Berwick City’s first run.
Power gave up a hit and two walks to load the bases in the second frame, but escaped without further damage in a sign of things to come.
But it wasn’t until the fourth inning that the Cougars hit the front.
Debutant Anthony MacKinnon knocked in playing coach Wayne Porter, whose slide just beat the catcher at home plate, before a throwing blunder – after an Ian Frost bunt – scored Power.
Chris Macey relieved Alldis in the sixth frame, but another Port Melbourne fielding error gave MacKinnon his first run at senior level and Berwick City a 4-2 advantage.
Power steamed through the seventh inning before designated hitter Matthew Kennedy cracked the ball over the infield to score Shaun Fahy for the Cougars’ fifth and final run.
Porter was thrilled to reach the 11-win tally and admitted he would have to reassess his goals with five matches to come.
“We’ve beaten every team – we just keep in the game and know we’ll work teams out and manufacture runs,” he said.
“Any win’s a bonus from now on. I think there are probably five teams going for four (finals) spots, but if we can win two more games we’d probably be around the mark.”
Porter said the credit for Berwick City’s best season in club history must go to the players.
“They’ve never played in finals before in division-three and I think they’d be pretty happy with it and so they should be,” he said.
“They’re the ones doing it. I’m just helping them out and pointing them in the right direction.”
The Cougars’ postponed round-eight contest with St Kilda is finally expected to be played on 21 February.
Berwick City faces Chelsea at Edithvale Road Reserve at 3.30pm on Sunday.
Left-handed teenager Martin Kennedy will replace Power on the mound.