Pitcher Jude Power led the Berwick City Cougars past St Kilda for their fifth win in six matches on Sunday.By Marc McGowan
VICTORIES are becoming the norm for the suddenly formidable Berwick City Cougars.
St Kilda was the Cougars’ latest victim courtesy of an 8-3 defeat at Albert Park’s Tom O’Halloran Field on Sunday.
Berwick City has won five of its last six games and sits second with 10 triumphs overall.
Cougars playing coach Wayne Porter refuses to discuss his side’s finals’ chances, but there appears little doubt his charges are headed in that direction.
Ironman pitcher Jude Power threw another dependable six innings and benefited from Berwick City scoring three runs in the opening inning.
Power added a pair of RBIs in a quality afternoon’s work.
The usual suspects starred at the plate, with Jake McLardy’s speed on show and Tim Moon, Shaun Fahy, Adam Silva and Porter reaching base regularly.
Fahy even took the mound for the final three frames in his first pitching outing for the summer.
Porter said his side did enough to claim the points, but again dodged the finals talk.
“If we keep beating teams that will take care of itself eventually,” he said.
“You never know what’s going to happen. It may take 12 or 13 wins to get a finals spot.
“We’re one win away from (at least) halving the season and I’m happy with that.”
Porter is keen to see how his younger players will respond when the Cougars next lose.
“Now I start to worry about what happens if or when we lose and I want to see how people react to that situation,” he said.
“You have to be prepared to lose because it does happen eventually.
“If they can rebound back quickly that’d be good, but there’s the risk that people will start asking too many questions. That’s the next thing to watch out for.”
Berwick City locks horns with Port Melbourne at Cyril Molyneux Reserve from 3.30pm on Sunday in a crucial clash.
The Mariners are pushing for a top-four berth, but a loss would see them fall two games off the Cougars’ pace.
The contest is the first of two between the clubs before the end of the regular season.
