Cougars rule the diamond

By Amy Taylor
THE Berwick City Cougars have now won four out of their past five division-three Baseball Victoria matches after beating St Kilda 8-5 at O’Halloran Field on Sunday.
The Cougars remained scoreless until the seventh inning, with the grim scoreline of 4-0.
Playing coach Wayne Porter said the team was doing everything to lose.
“When the opposition scored and we didn’t, we thought, ‘we don’t deserve this’,” he said.
Making a comeback in the eighth inning with six runs, Berwick City stormed to the front with two runs from Wayne Porter along with Jack Spears.
Singles went to Shaun Fahy and Richard Gyton to turn the scoreline around to 6-4.
The final runs came in the ninth inning after St Kilda narrowed the scoreline to 6-5, but the Cougars pulled together to win.
Porter said they wanted to close them out.
The team rallied around Jude Power as he motivated them with his efforts late in the last inning.
“When the experienced players have doubt, Jude gives confidence all around the field. He has a real knack of bringing everyone together,” he said.
Once again, the durable Power led the way, pitching 150 balls over nine innings and scoring two home runs.
“We have to play as a team and give 100 per cent,” Porter said.
“We just have to remind ourselves that we are playing for our mates.”
Berwick City faces Chelsea at Cyril Molyneux Reserve at 6pm tonight (Thursday) before hosting Williamstown at the same venue at 3.30pm on Sunday.
After a rough start to the season, the Cougars will aim to continue the victory path to the finals.
“You win a few and understand you can do it – that’s the lesson that the club is learning,” Porter said.