Werribee Giants have let a massive opportunity for automatic promotion go by the wayside.
The Giants were front runners of the Baseball Victoria summer league division 2 in the latter rounds before they was forced from top spot after consecutive losses at the end of the regular season.
“A little bit disappointed, but unfortunately, that’s just the nature of the game,” Giants’ coach Charles Thompson said. “The past few games I’d probably say we were in it, we were close, but we couldn’t execute when it was time.
“We left a lot of runners on base, and you can’t do that. It’s hard to win.”
The good news for Werribee is that it won’t be long before it has a chance to redeem itself.
The Giants can still be promoted through the finals series if they reach the grand final.
Then, of course, there’s the small matter of a premiership to play.
The Giants cannot afford to dwell on the past fortnight, nor can they celebrate what was otherwise a great summer for the club.
It will virtually be a new season for the Giants when they square off against Upwey-Ferntree Gully in a best-of-three semi-final series beginning tonight at Preston Baseball Club at 7.30pm.
Thompson is confident there will be no lingering effects from season’s end, particularly Saturday’s 12-2 hiding at the hands of pre-finals favourite and minor premiers Sunshine.
“It’s one of those things where they’ve got to separate their end of season and finals, and just get the job done now,” Thompson said.
“I think they’ll jump over the hurdle this time and just execute.
“That’s what we’ve been working on the past couple of weeks in training, and it hasn’t quite transitioned yet, but I think that time will come.
“I think my boys will definitely take care of business.”
John Curnow is slated as Werribee’s starting pitcher for game one.
The veteran has produced one of his best seasons for the Giants and will be entrusted to get the series off to a flyer.
“He’s been doing an outstanding job for us,” Thompson said.
“Every time we call on him, he comes through for us.”
