BASEBALL action returns to the Lower South East this weekend, as the Senior season returns from its Christmas break tomorrow.
Starting line-ups for all teams will be an unknown factor due to the availability of players during the holiday season.
League leader South Indians will come up against second-placed Federal at 5pm for the first game of the night.
While South sit comfortably on top, it has lost three games this season and Federal pitcher Alex Reppin is in fine form of late.
Recently picking up 15 strikeouts in the last game before the break against Central, he will be one to watch if South will take home the win.
Young batters Wade Chant and Nathan Taylor lead the way in the Federal batting averages and the team will hope to see them continue their streak.
They are closely followed by the older heads in the team in Reppin and Shane Howard.
South may look to Dean Hamilton on the mound, but it would be no surprise to see Bruce Morale hit the hill.
The batting strength of the Indian batters has been to the fore all season and they are led by Dean Hamilton, followed closely by brothers Ben and Bruce Morale.
South’s defence is usually tight, but Federal’s line-up can apply pressure and may be in for a chance of its first win against the Indians.
The second game for the night will see Tigers and Central go head-to-head at 7.30pm.
When compared, the Tigers are in front two games to one this season and sit in third place, five points above Central.
This is a must win game for the Magpies if they are to keep their finals’ dream alive.
Dylan Chuck is the number one pitcher for Central and it is expected he will take to the mound.
Coach Nathan Meinck also has a number of juniors in his squad and they are still learning the game.
Central’s batting has not been up to scratch this season, but the side is led by Meinck in the discipline, while Mark Kilpatrick, Jeremy Aston and Brad Lynagh have also contributed well.
Tigers on the other hand look to have the more settled line-up and are only one point behind Federal for second place on the ladder.
It is expected Karl Ransom or Brandon Telford will take to the pitching mound and either one should have the wood on the Central batters.
The Tigers’ defence is tight throughout the field no matter which players they use in which position.
Although he has missed several games, Ransom leads the Tigers’ batting, ably backed up by Jesse Foster, Brandon Telford and Joe Sims.
This game may go down to the wire, but if Tigers can assert their dominance, they should win comfortably.
The junior competition kicks back into gear January 20.
