Right: Former Berwick City playing coach Brendan Robinson was one of the few Cougars to score on Sunday, but batting has been a major issue at Cyril Molyneux Reserve so far in 2007.By Marc McGowan
BERWICK City Cougars’ playing coach Wayne Porter has put his experienced players on notice after another insipid batting display at Cyril Molyneux Reserve on Sunday.
The Cougars slumped to their third straight Baseball Victoria Division Three loss succumbing 8-3 to the Port Melbourne Mariners.
Wily Mariner veteran and coach Wade Clester pitched all nine innings and did not concede a hit until the seventh inning when Berwick City finally scored.
Clester’s craftiness overshadowed a strong performance from Cougars starter Martin Kennedy, who gave up only two runs through four innings.
The major damage for Berwick City came during Jude Power’s two-inning stay on the mound, which cost the club six runs.
Porter pulled Power from the game with none out in the seventh for reliever Luke Hornstra and the latter was able to clean up the majority of the mess.
Despite the reshuffling of the batting order, the problems that have plagued the Cougars in 2007 continued.
They were not able to establish any momentum but Porter, who was the only run-scorer in the previous two rounds, outgoing former coach Brendan Robinson and the impressive Shaun Surtees were able to benefit from late errors to score.
Porter envisages a five-year rebuilding process for Berwick City and warned that more youth will be given a chance this season.
“We just need work because we still have a lot of young kids in there and if we have to go in with all young kids then that’s what we have to do,” he said.
“We will have a lot move through the ones this year, particularly because the more experienced blokes are not getting it done.
“Our seconds are playing pretty well, so we’ll be giving our young blokes a bit more of an opportunity.”
The Cougars travel to Hanks Reserve in Spotswood at 3.30pm on Sunday to battle Footscray, which is the only other side in the competition without a win.
Picture: Marc McGowan.
