This sox ... Cubs coach not fan of expansion

COOMERA Cubs baseball coach Andrew Azzopardi has no hard feelings for the players who left his club to join newcomers Mudgeeraba Redsox but he believes the team’s inclusion is hurting the game.

The Cubs finished fourth in the Greater Brisbane League last season, edging out the other Gold Coast team Surfers Paradise for a finals spot.

This season the two clubs have been joined by Mudgeeraba and the three sides sit in the bottom four on the ladder.

Azzopardi (pictured) said the inclusion of the new club had occurred at the wrong time and had stretched Gold Coast’s talent.

“We knew it would be a tough season with COVID making imports impossible for all clubs,” he said.

“Then on top of that another Gold Coast team came in and has thinned out the talent.

“It was a stupid idea. We’ve had young guys being thrown in the deep end and we have no choice.”

Coomera ended a 13-game losing streak last weekend when it beat Surfers Paradise then set its sights on new kid on the block Mudgeeraba.

A number of ex-Cubs were scheduled to take the field for the Redsox on Friday night but Azzopardi said he didn’t hold any grudges against them.

“Players will play where they want to play. Them leaving is not what’s frustrating,” he said.

“What’s frustrating is bringing in this team and making kids be thrown in the deep end.”

Azzopardi who joined Coomera as head coach last season after three years with Cronulla in the NSW Women’s State league said his team’s morale has been good considering the losses.