Pre Finals Rap
Division 1
With two games to go the playoff participants in the premier competition have been decided. With no midweek games left to play the only outstanding question is, who will finish on top in the Eastern Conference? Melbourne took top spot with a midweek win over Waverley whilst Blackburn lost in a shootout with Cheltenham 15-19 and now sits second.
As there are only two remaining weekend games, the playoff teams will have a couple of weeks with longer breaks to rest their starters and their bullpens before the intensity of final series play. Blackburn plays Sandringham and Preston whilst Melbourne sees the same teams in reverse order. A loss for either in those games could see them lose top spot in the eastern Conference.
In the Western Conference Essendon have top spot cemented being four and a half wins ahead of Geelong. The Baycats have second spot, as they are four games clear of Preston.
The first week semi-final series will be played between the two top teams in each conference as a best of three. The higher club on the ladder gets two games as the home team. With the batting line-ups we have in Division 1 having that walk-off possibility could be a real advantage.
The two winners of the conference finals will then play off in a grand final, three game series.
In the next couple of weeks we should expect to feel the calm before we look forward to the intensity of another intriguing finals series.
Division 2
Sunshine has been powering on top of the ladder all season and is currently sitting two games clear of Werribee. The Eagles suffered a pressure loss, midweek to fourth placed Malvern while Werribee got over Moorabbin. Meanwhile, the Braves need to win one out of two remaining games in order to fend off the fast finishing Springvale who are currently fifth.
Werribee and Moorabbin are currently battling for second place on 18 wins each and they play each other at Moorabbin on Sunday the 15th of February. That game follows the midweek match that Werribee won by one run. Both teams have pitching options and good hitting so that should be a late season event.
In Division 2 the finals will be played in three game series. First will play fourth and second will play third then the winners of both series will play off in a grand final series, also of three games.
Women’s Division 1
The regular season has come to an end with Springvale being the clear ladder leaders. The Lions lost one game during the season to Doncaster, their opponents in this Saturday’s Semi at Wearne Reserve. The winner of that game goes directly into the grand final whilst the loser gets another go in the preliminary the next week.
Meanwhile Footscray and Essendon face each other in a knockout game, the winner of which progresses to the preliminary final. All teams will be looking to show their best, as the last weeks haven’t made much difference to ladder positions. With the return of representative players the competition should be well prepared and fierce.
See you round the grounds.
Cam Gleeson