By RUSSELL BENNETT
MAKE no mistake about it, the Berwick Cougars mean business.
The Casey baseball side clinched an encouraging season-opening 6-4 win against Mulgrave on Sunday, thanks to a combination of experience and youthful exuberance. One of the Cougars’ standout performers was ageless veteran, and former first team coach, Wayne Porter.
It would have been easy for the man affectionately known as ‘Mouse’ to walk away from Cyril Molyneux Reserve at the end of last season when his coaching tenure came to an end.
But, instead, he has stayed to become an integral part of new coach Ronnie Carothers’ line-up and on Sunday hit a crucial double to see his side over the line in the first round of the new Victorian Summer League Division 2 baseball season.
“Mouse played a really big role for us.
“He’s just got so much experience to pass on to the younger guys,” Carothers said.
“We played together for a while at Moorabbin and he’s always been great with the kids.”
Mulgrave hit the scoreboard first on Sunday, and went ahead again 2-1 before the Cougars came back to level the scores once more.
Just as Mulgrave started to threaten, the diminutive Porter stood tall.
But just as crucial to the Cougars’ success were pitchers Scott Simpson and fresh import Shawn Smith.
“Scott threw a fantastic game,” Carothers beamed.
“He pitched really strongly for the first three innings and only gave up four hits.
“Then Shawn Smith also had a real impact when he came on for the fifth inning.
“That role really suited him comfortably.”
For more on the first day of the new Cougars season, check out this week’s Pakenham-Berwick Gazette.
