1981 PREMIERSHIP - WAVERLEY GAZETTE 22/4/1981

While there have been other very significant premierships in the club's development, notably C Grade in 1971 and B Grade in 1975, this season qualifies as the greatest because it is what everyone has been aiming for. Winning the premiership at the highest level of competition. The pennant completes a great double for Waverley as it had previously won the club championship which goes to the outstanding club in the first division based on performances by the firsts, seconds and thirds. And the performances of the firsts squad throughout this season, which has seen Waverley climb from 10th in 1979-80 to the premiership, have more than justified the faith in the players from the coaching staff of Dick Mason, Len Sharp and Keith Sheldon-Collins and the selectors led by Percy Bownds. But that judgement has reaped the ultimate reward.

Waverley had not played in a Division One finals series since winning promotion back in 1975 but the big occasion didn't overcome the team. In fact, the Wildcats won the pennant the hard way after dropping their first semi-final to Melbourne which meant that they could not lose another match under the "double elimination" system. From that point Waverley rattled off victories against Coburg, Melbourne (who will ever forget that come from behind victory in the bottom of the ninth?) and Preston twice to clinch the title.

Waverley's premiership winning lineup on Sunday was: Pitcher - Phil Dale, catcher - David Clarkson, 1st base - Andrew Ferguson, 2nd base - David Buckthorpe, 3rd base - Richard Sisson, short stop - Matthew Sheldon-Collins, leftfield - Mike Klinger, centrefield - Lee Foster, rightfield - Geoff Paice, Relief pitchers - Mark Murphy and David Thiele. Bench - Bill Dockrey, Geoff Dunn, Andrew Smith, Ricky Sharp, Greg Ford, Tim Smith, David Binzer. Coaching staff - Dick Mason (head coach), Keith Sheldon-Collins, Len Sharp, Manager - Tony Peek, Scorer - Margaret Bownds, bat boy - Anthony Bownds.

Sunday's performance by this squad had many highlights but there were none better than that provided by pitcher Phil Dale. For the second successive week, Dale pitched a shutout against Preston, one of the best hitting teams in the competition. Last week Dale gave up five hits in nine innings, but on Sunday he was even better, allowing the Pirates only three hits in nine innings. He received magnificent support from every member of the defence who played errorless baseball. In 18 innings against Preston the Wildcats committed only one error.

Another outstanding performance was that of short stop Matthew Sheldon-Collins who made several big plays under pressure. And offensively, Waverley functioned very efficiently as it banged out 10 safe hits and bunted effectively. Waverley scored its first run in the third innings when Mike Klinger led off with a single to rightfield. Klinger, who has been through a batting slump, batted with great power throughout the finals and was a key to the end result.. After hitting safely he advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt by Lee Foster and then scored when Geoff Paice drilled a ball into rightfield for a triple.

The Wildcats scored again in the fifth after lead-off Andrew Ferguson beat out an infield hit. He advanced to scoring position when Klinger crashed the ball through second base. The next batter, Foster, scored Ferguson when he slug bunted the ball down the third base line. Foster was put out at second after the run scored but Richard Sisson kept the rally going by picking a walk then Paice bunted but Klinger was put out by the catcher. On that play Sisson went to second and scampered home when Sheldon-Collins hit to centrefield, making the score 3-0 Waverley.

The Wildcats fourth and final run came in the 8th when it was Klinger again who featured. He led of with his second safe hit for the day, was advanced by Foster's sacrifice bunt, and scored when Paice collected his second hit for the day. Klinger then had the honour of making the last out of the Grand Final when he accepted a routine fly ball, giving Waverley the flag.

This week's celebrations will climax on Friday when Waverley holds its annual dinner dance and senior presentation night. Some 200 people will attend the function which will be highlighted by the announcement of the club champion award for 1980-81.

Sunday's safe hitters were: G. Paice 2 (1 triple), M. Sheldon-Collins 2, D. Buckthorpe 2 (1 double), M. Klinger 2, L. Foster, A. Ferguson.