BALLARAT City Brewers will head into the grand final of the Victorian Summer Baseball League as heavy favourites to clinch back-to-back titles following a dominant semi-final win on Sunday.
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Unlike last year’s premiership victory, however, the Brewers are confident a win this time around would see them gain promotion to a higher division.
Ballarat won the division three title last year but was not promoted as it did not fill three senior sides and its junior program was still in its infancy.
However, club president Jeff Clack said a win this year should all but guarantee promotion to division two – but there was still one more game to win until those thoughts could even begin.
“We’ve done everything that has been asked of us and should we win, then we are confident of being promoted,” he said.
“We’re quietly confident, the firsts are playing really well at the moment and have a lot of confidence.”
The Brew Crew stormed into the grand final on Sunday with a 22-3 demolition of Ormond-Glenhuntly Hunters.
In fact, so destructive was the performance, both captains agreed to enforce the mercy rule.
Leading 12-0 after two innings, the match was Ballarat’s right from the outset and from that point onwards it was merely a procession.
Ballarat now earns a week off before the grand final at Prince of Wales Park in two weeks’ time, where they could very well meet the Hunters once again.
The Hunters finished second and had a second chance and will meet Research Lower-Plenty in the preliminary final for a chance to reach the season decider where Ballarat awaits.
The Ballarat City Brewers seconds team were knocked out in the first week of finals after going down 4-14, while the thirds will play their grand final this week Fitzroy after beating Essendon 15-10.
