Paradise for Surfers in title decider
WITHIN moments of ending Windsor’s five-year Greater Brisbane League (GBL) reign, Surfers Paradise coach Matt Corbitt was plotting a division 1 dynasty of his own.
In a hugely controversial finish to a seesawing, threegame grand final battle, Surfers defied the odds and the rain at Carina on Thursday to prevail 1-0 and seal a comefrom-behind 2-1 series win.
With rain stopping the championship decider for the second time and Foley Field under a 10.30pm light restriction, Windsor players were incensed when umpires ended the game with Surfers leading 1-0 early in the sixth inning.
For first-year coach Corbitt, 25, it was fitting reward for the Bluewave’s rise from the GBL cellar.
“We’re stoked, it’s fantastic. It’s sinking in slowly,” he said.
“Everyone would’ve liked to have played a full series and play the full nine out but ... it went our way and we’ve just got to take it as it comes.
“Windsor are the benchmark and they’ve set the benchmark extremely high. They’ve been in nine-straight grand final series and won five championships in a row.
“That’s what we’re all aiming to do but (it’s) one year at a time, one game at a time. It’s going to take a lot of hard work.”
Veteran Shane Thomson proved the difference on Thursday night, securing Surfers’ first pennant since 2011-12 with a solo home run in the fourth inning.