Ready to take on Rebels

By Gavin Staindl
MICK Wearne has been around baseball too long to believe in miracles, so he has to be believed when he says his Springvale Lions can upset the surging Mulgrave Rebels this week.
The Rebels have only lost one game from their 11 matches but the Lions division two coach believes his side can salvage at least one win from the double-header beginning tonight (Thursday) at Wearne Reserve.
Admittedly, the 5-5 Lions are not in flying form.
On Sunday the Lions were beaten 3-1 by Ormond Glen Huntley in what was the Hunters first win at home and only their second for the season.
Lions’ starter Miles Barnden pitched out the day allowing only four hits but was left stranded by the lifeless Springvale bats that could only muster three hits for one run.
While Glen Richards played his first game since recovering from a broken arm, he won’t be available for pitching duties until early next year meaning Barnden and teammate Rob Hogan will continue to shoulder the throwing load.
Despite Richards’ inclusion, the Lions are still without many of their star players including Lucas Price, Rob Novotny and import Dom Ramos who will miss both games against Malvern with Melbourne Aces duties.
The controversial decision to release Ramos to the Aces, the only division two club to do so, has put much strain on the local Lions to perform.
Meanwhile, the Rebels will retain their dominating import Dan Rogers for either Thursday or Sunday’s match against the Lions.
“They’ve got the best import (in division two),” Wearne said of Mulgrave pitcher, Rogers.
“They’ve only lost one game for the year so it’ll be tough but if we can win one of the two games this week we’ll stay around the mark.
“We’re struggling a bit and we’re undermanned with several players out but we’re trying to stay competitive… we haven’t been beaten badly in any of the games.”