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'Cock of North' at
stake today
By SEAN McNAMARA
Ainslie and Eagles meet for the first
time this season in the ACT Baseball
Association's major-league match of the
day at Southwell Park today.
In the other matches of round three, Indi
ans, yet to win a game, meet Wests at Stirling
and Queanbeyan is host to Woden at Quean
beyan and Rangers have the bye; All matches
begin at 3.30pm.
The match of the round at Southwell Park
is also the first 'Cock of the North' game for
the season for the Birds and the Bears and,
by and large, these games mean a lot more
than just competition points for the two clubs.
Perhaps the highlight of the game will be
the pitching duel between Ainslie's player
manager, Peter Faint, and Eagles Grant
Mairs. Both ACT representatives, the two are
neck-and-neck for the accolade of No 1
pitcher in the ACT.
Between them, they have won 56 games
and lost 11 in their ACT careers. Both seem
to have trouble with the other's line-ups.
Faint's worst game in the past five seasons was
against Eagles when he did not finish the first
inning and Mairs' worst game last season was
against the Bears.
They are intense competitors and both
possess cracking fastballs and a delightful
collection of breaking pitches.
The strength of both clubs extends to the
batters. Ainslie's Graham Vickers is the pre
mier lead-off hitter in the ACT with the ability
to hit . both the home run and the single, yet
pick a walk when required.
The rookie under the most scrutiny in the
Ainslie line-up is Graham Kyle. His speed and
arm are of major-league quality and it should
not take him long to reach the standard
required at the plate.
Eagles have marginally better catching
than the Bears with Paul Fowler now settled
as the ACT catcher but otherwise the clubs
are dead even. The infields balance out with
Eagles stronger at second, where Mick Gahan
is ahead of Luke Mills but the Bears' Mike
Richardson has the edge on Mick O'Brien at
third.
The shortstops, Ainslie's Greg Kent and
Eagles' rookie Ian Fowler, are about even and
the outfield combinations are so similar they
could be clones.
At Stirling, Indians will seek their first win
of the season but they will have to work very
hard against the Bob Martin managed Wests.
Two-time All-Australian Keith Wenban
will start for the Lions and he will be the
biggest hurdle the Tribe has. His catcher will
be youngster Paul Martin and the result may
well hinge on the way he handles the very
quick Wenban. If he handles poorly and calls
pitches incorrectly, Indians have a great
chance.
Indians have the line-up to beat Wests with
people such as shortstop David Rowe, catcher
Don Roach and centre-fielder Alan Mitchell.
Much will depend, however, on the efforts of
starter Craig Brewer to keep Wests quiet. The
Lions batting is not strong but, handled
without respect, can be very dangerous.
Woden travels to Queanbeyan and should
have little trouble against the depleted
Boomerangs. Queanbeyan is a proud club,
though, and could make it hard for the visitors
to Margaret Donoghoe Oval.
$