Teenager Adam Silva had a dirty day in the field on Sunday as the Berwick City Cougars lost to Chelsea at Edithvale Road Reserve. 24190By Marc McGowan
THE Berwick City Cougars’ four-match winning streak came to a ‘screeching’ halt in a 5-3 defeat to lowly Chelsea at Edithvale Road Reserve on Sunday.
Nothing went right for the Cougars in the Baseball Victoria Division-Three clash after they earned a two-run lead at the top of the first frame.
Left-handed teenager Martin Kennedy threw a season-high seven innings for Berwick City, but his efforts were not enough to lift his side’s offence.
Only veteran Shaun Fahy and 14-year-old Mark Surtees, who replaced Jake McLardy in the line-up, shone at the plate for the visitors.
Fahy also pitched the final two frames of the match, but could not prevent the Dolphins from snatching a come-from-behind upset victory.
Second-from-bottom Chelsea’s triumph was just its fifth of the season and followed a 13-0 hiding to the Cougars in their last meeting in November.
Berwick City also struggled in the field and committed four errors in the opening inning.
Teenage slugger Adam Silva and second-gamer Anthony MacKinnon were two of the main culprits.
Cougars playing coach Wayne Porter conceded that he had his ‘worst game of the year’ and was extremely disappointed in his team’s performance.
“We were horrible – just horrible. We handed it to them,” he said.
“We didn’t do much right – I’m pretty sure they only got one RBI off the bat.
“Marty pitched well to keep us in the game, but we didn’t do him justice.”
Porter has repeatedly stated his worries over how his players would respond to a loss, but is confident they can improve against ladder-leader Springvale at Cyril Molyneux Reserve on Sunday.
“Nothing clicked. I could tell there wasn’t the same vibe. I don’t even know if I had my head around the day properly either,” he said.
“I was pretty dark on it, but as soon as I got home and turned on the television and saw other things, it (baseball) paled into insignificance after that with what’s going on around the place.”
Berwick City’s clash with Springvale starts at 3.30pm.
