THE Springvale Lions spent three years at the top of the heap in Baseball Victoria’s State League Division Three, but they will again be the hunters when they line-up for Sunday’s season-opener at Williamstown.
The Wolves foiled Springvale’s four-peat bid in last season’s grand final, so Sunday’s rematch is sure to have some extra feeling.
Lions playing-coach Ben Bartlett believes his team will be a hungrier outfit after being dethroned in March.
“Being a grand final replay, the boys are pretty pumped to go over there and get one back on them after last season,” he said.
Springvale will again be led by strike-machine Glenn Richards on the mound.
The intimidating left-armer threw a record 194 strikes last summer, and his marathon pitching stints have become legend at K.H. Wearne Reserve.
Rob Hogan and Myles Barnden will throw some more-than-useful relief throughout the season, but the departure of young guns Sean Howe and Scott Wearne will rob the Lions of some depth in the bullpen.
Howe has gone to live in Queensland and Wearne – who played only a handful of games last year – will fit in comfortably at Division One powerhouse Waverley.
Meanwhile, second baseman Matthew Hale has gone to New Zealand for work and ex-pat American Rob Novotny will spend most of the season pursuing his various baseball commitments in the States.
It was Novotny who signed 22-year-old American hitter/outfielder David Hermes to the Lions over the winter.
Hermes is from Novotny’s hometown of Chicago and arrives fresh from the college baseball system.
Springvale’s Division One women will begin their campaign on 11 October, so pick up the Star next week for a full preview.
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