Ballarat High School's firsts crews are in the spotlight today as Courier sports reporter DAVID JEANS takes a close look at each school.

High School boys' firsts have been so close to Ballarat Associated Schools' Head of the Lake glory and boys' captain of boats Patrick Hawkes hopes to be the school's drought-breaking leader on the lake.

"I don't know how I'd describe it...(winning) is what we are here for. The group has organised themselves really well. It's a team effort."

HOMETOWN badminton stars Mitchell Gervasoni and Alice Lorincz have a big day of quarter-finals action ahead in the Australian Junior International at Ken Kay Stadium today.

Both will feature in the singles, doubles and mixed doubles quarter-finals with play to start early this morning.

Gervasoni and Lorincz paired up for the mixed doubles event yesterday at Ken Kay Stadium and took out the second round against Tongan pair Renaey Aikoniume Na'Aniumotu and Lusia Ki Taulanga Faukafa in a resounding 21-6, 21-4.

They will face number two seeded pair Anthony Joe and Joy Lai. 

Click here for the full preview on today's badminton action 

BALLARAT'S top cricketers must lick their wounds today.

Traralgon and Warrnambool cricket associations will battle the Victorian Country Cricket League Melbourne Country Week division two final at Albert Park.

The winner gets promoted to the prestigious provincial division, from which Ballarat fell last season.

Ballarat missed out by 21 runs on finishing top two. Its past two days were spoilt by rain.

Read more here.