Sturt Baseball Club top-tier men’s team is looking to back up its women’s grand final win and claim their first title since 1991

Sturt is hoping to become the first SA baseball club to win division one men’s and women’s championships in the same season.

Sturt Baseball Club men’s division one coach Tom Brice. Picture: Jeff Nicholas

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Sturt is hoping to become the first SA baseball club to win division one men’s and women’s championships in the same season.

The Saints are already halfway to completing the double after their women triumphed 9-5 in their title decider against Glenelg last week.

Sturt’s men faces reigning premier Goodwood in a best-of-three grand final series, starting at West Beach on Friday night, and are aiming for their first flag in 28 years.

Saints men’s coach Tom Brice says a title mean so much to the club, particularly because most of the team are Sturt juniors.

Sturt women’s baseballers celebrate winning the title last week. Picture: Jeff Nicholas

Brice says the side has gone through tough times over the past decade and earning a grand final berth is reward for those who have stuck by it.

“It’s been a long-time coming,” Brice, 37, says.

“We are confident and excited about the prospect.

“I grew up playing for Sturt and that’s where my heart lies so it would mean all the more to me to get the club back on top.

“To give back and get the club to where everyone hopes and wishes, it would be means a lot.

“Out of our 20 guys, 17 of them are born and raised Sturt guys and there’s not too many clubs that can boast that kind of statistic.

“It’s because of the hard work that was done over the 2000s, it was like the dog days and it was tough to keep the guys motivated and at the club.

“The group we have is a very proud and passionate group because they started when we weren’t the best team.”

Sturt Baseball Club player/assistant women’s coach Julie Wadham. Picture: Ashley Mossman

A Sturt championship will also top a special week for pitcher/outfielder Wilson Lee.
Lee claimed the Capps Medallist as the division one men’s best and fairest on Wednesday night.

As for Sturt’s women, they are celebrating winning the title in their inaugural season.

Player/assistant coach Julie Wadham says talented players and support from the club are behind the team’s success.

“It was a real indication of how much hard work has been put in to get to that day and all through the season, not just by the girls, but the entire club,” Wadham says.

“At the start of the season I could tell we had a really good bunch of individual players and to see it come together was a fantastic way to end our first season together.”

The men’s grand final series begins at West Beach on Friday night at 7pm.

Game two is at West Beach on Saturday night at 6.30pm before game three, if necessary, is at the same venue on Sunday at 1pm.