Loss may be a big win

By Gavin Staindl
AFTER winning four in a row, the Berwick Cougars slipped up at home to Waverley in extra innings, but the outcome may be reversed.
Waverley was in high spirits after its 3-2 win over Berwick in the 13th innings on Sunday afternoon, but a misinformed pitching decision could mean Berwick is awarded the win.
Waverley used an under-18 pitcher in the division two match on Sunday only two days after he threw more than 40 pitches against Melbourne on Thursday night.
The Baseball Victoria by-laws, which try to protect juniors’ arms, state that no pitcher under the age of 18 can throw a 40-plus pitching game and return to the mound within three days.
On Sunday, Waverley introduced the youngster in the middle of the game where he threw one strike-out before being hurried off the field.
Baseball Victoria is investigating.
In the meantime, Berwick briefly topped the .500 mark for the first time since round two of last year after it beat Springvale 9-6 on Thursday night.
Ryan Phillips pitched all nine innings, while Berwick rallied for nine hits on the night as it improved to 4-3 and increased its winning streak to four games.
But the string of wins came to an end on Sunday against Waverley when a passed ball by Phillips ushered in the go-ahead run in the 13th innings.
Still recovering from his stint on Thursday night, Phillips was not expecting to pitch again on Sunday but after Matt Rossman threw 125 pitches over 10 innings, Phillips’ help was needed.
As the closer’s pitch sailed past the catcher, Phillips could only watch as the runner on third based advanced home for the winning run.
But Berwick coach Mick Poole praised Phillips’ resilience over the two games and said Rossman’s outing, which included 14 strike-outs and only three hits, was “the best seen in a long time”.
Berwick is set to host Moorabbin in another Thursday night encounter before travelling to Surrey Hills to take on undefeated Melbourne on Sunday.