THE 14th annual Mount Gambier Baseball Masters tournament was held over Friday, Saturday and Sunday at Blue Lake Sports Park, with nine teams nominated.
Four teams travelled from Adelaide and one from Williamstown/Naracoorte, with four from Mount Gambier to make up the nine.
Due to COVID-19, last year’s tournament had to be abandoned just a month before it was scheduled and with no masters competitions over the last 12 months, players were keen to return to Mount Gambier.
Weather conditions late Saturday and early Sunday morning were patchy but no games were lost due to the rain.
The weekend saw 18 games of 90 minutes duration played, with all teams in pools A and B playing four games each.
Because Pool A only had four teams in the round-robin competition their fourth games were medallion rounds, with the top two playing for gold and silver while the next two teams played off for bronze.
In Pool B, medallions were decided by ladder positions.
Northern Aces held Misfits at bay to win seven runs to four in an enthralling contest, with the locals holding their own against a talented city side.
Mount Gambier team Central overcame a fighting Willy Rangers for the bronze medallion12-7.
In an impressive performance in Pool B, the Adelaide Aces won gold, not losing any of their four games and finishing top of the table.
The Mount Gambier Legends were awarded silver but only due to the fact their defensive run count was less that Playford City who took home the bronze medallions.
As an aside to this particular competition, there was another interesting little battle going on between the Legends and the Northern Aces.
They were in the Battle of the Block.
Northern Aces entered two teams in the tournament, one in each pool.
Whenever they play against each other in any master’s competition they play for a trophy affectionately called The Block.
Starting back in 2002 the two teams have met on 26 occasions, with the Legends in front leading 15-11.
Included in that 11 is Aces’ 8-6 win on the weekend.
The trophy was presented by inaugural Legends player Ian Ewart.
Mount Gambier Legends president Peter Walter presented medals to all winning team members.
The competition is organised and run by the Mount Gambier Legends Baseball Club.
Sponsors of the tournament included the City of Mount Gambier, Swallow Drive Butchers, Collins Court Butchers, Farmers Union Iced Coffee, Bakers Delight, Limestone Coast Timber Floors Pty Ltd and She’s Apples.
