By Tim Doutré
NEWPORT’S Division One baseball season ended with a loss last weekend but coach Darren Malthouse saw the silver lining.
The Rams finished ninth after round 21 last week but Malthouse said the season held good signs of things to come.
“It was a very positive season,” he said. “We probably didn’t finish the way we wanted to losing our last five games but we tried a lot of young guys. Just a good year with a disappointing ending but its very positive down at the club – upgrade of the rooms and upgrade of the field.”
The Rams finished 10th last season but with two extra teams in the competition the ninth place finish was a real step up. “Last year we had a lot of older guys leave and we had to play really young guys but this year they were a bit older, stronger and more experienced.”
Malthouse mentioned the likes of Jordan Young, Chris Bramwell, David Land and Scot and Troy Malthouse as the younger players who stood tall this season.
Although Bramwell’s return to the Rams was soured in the final rounds of the season.
“Chris Bramwell we had back for most of the year. He was back from the oil rigs. He caught the last game with a broken bone in his foot. He hit the base hard the week before and broke a bone.”
All indications for 2010/11 were positive with Malthouse confirming the side would have a similar look next season. “I asked them all and they said they were going to play next year. Hopefully we get Kyle (Moore) our American import back.”
Another possible boost will be the inclusion of another one of Malthouse’s sons to the line-up.
“My son Dean will be back in Australia in December. He is at Southern Arkansas University on a baseball scholarship. He is in his fourth year. He finishes in December so hopefully we get him back. He is a catcher and somebody who is a big hitter.”
Werribee marched in to the Division Two grand final and secured a promotion to Division One next season after getting the upper hand in the tie-breaking semi-final clash against Williamstown on Sunday.
The two sides were one apiece after the Williamstown side levelled the series on Saturday but the Werribee side showed its depth and endeavour knocking over the Wolves by a mammoth 22-0. The Bees will take on the winner of Fitzroy and Melbourne with their semi-final result under appeal.
