Tooth and nail for flag triple

By Gavin Staindl
DOWN 5-3 in the sixth, the Springvale Lions were four outs away from losing the Division One baseball grand final but a stunning comeback by its lower order delivered the Lions a third straight premiership.
Five consecutive walks deep in the sixth innings not only equalled the score, but brought Jade Hough to the plate who smacked the game-winning double, giving Springvale the 7-5 victory over rivals Doncaster at Malvern Park.
But it was during the sixth innings when the Lions were down two outs and trailing 5-3 that Coach Simon Wearne admitted she thought it was over.
“I thought we would lose,” Wearne said.
“We had our seventh, eighth and ninth batters to come up and I knew if one or two could get on base we would be in with a shot, but I didn’t know if they could.”
But a “game-winning” stand by lower order batters Shirlie Loon, Rebecca Strachan and Shelley Pitman opened up the match for the Lions.
The three batters all reached on base because of walks, with Shelley Pitman’s gutsy, full-count at-bat loading the bases.
That brought in leadoff hitters Risa Nakashima and Shae Lillywhite, and both were walked to even the scores at 5-5.
On the ensuing at-bat, Hough reached second base with a double RBI giving her side the 7-5 lead.
Wearne, who had pitched solidly all day, surrendered the mound to Nakashima who pitched out the final innings for the win.
“It is great to steal the game from the back pocket of our arch-nemesis,” Wearne said.
“Those (bottom) three girls won us the game.
“In games during the year Shae (Lillywhite) has got four hits and got us over the line, or I’ve struck out 10 and got us over the line but this time it was them.
“On paper we are not as good as them (Doncaster) … yet we find a way to win.
“We never give up, never say die.
“I don’t know how but in pressure situations we always seem to perform.”
The win is Springvale’s third consecutive Division One premiership and it’s the third straight time the Lions have beaten Doncaster in either a grand final or preliminary final.
Despite the pre-season decision to split Springvale into two teams, the Pumas and Lions, both sides managed to reach the finals.
“That’s the most pleasing thing,” Wearne said.
“To come up with half a team when Doncaster has seven state players in their side, and somehow get over the line is just great.”