Keep it simple, Bush tells team
NIGHTCLIFF playing coach Kieran Bush wants to keep things simple in today’s Darwin Baseball League preliminary final at Tracy Village Field.
A grand final berth is on the line when the Tigers meet PINT in the 2pm game and like any major playoff game, both sides must answer some onfield questions.
Nightcliff won four of the six matches between both clubs in the minor round on the back of some strong offence and sound defence, factors Bush wants his players to repeat.
“My instructions will be to play simple baseball, believe in each other and support them when required,’’ he told the Sunday Territorian.
“Relax and keep everything as normal as possible in what is a knockout final.’’
There is a query on who will start on the pitching mound, with Tigers’ ace Daniel Conway Jones nursing a hamstring strain and Bush, Mitch Green and Joel Harvey all in the mix to start the game.
PINT captain-coach Jai Mertin had no hesitation in naming Green Sox pitcher James Goodworth as his starter against the red hot Tiger batting line-up.
“James will be our man on the mound and it’s up to the rest of us in the field to support him and try to neutralise the Nightcliff batters,’’ he said.
“Offensively we’ve had our own batters put up some good numbers, Dave Trindle being one of them and his brother Alan, Tom Schaben who got five hits from as many bats plus we get Luke Howiston back for his first game which will be a big plus for the side.
“No one has batted under 300 for us this year and that’s a big positive for our own offence.’’