WARRIORS Blues are ready for almost anything this time around.
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Last year the Blues were stunned by the young Warriors Rainbows, beaten 3-1 in a Tamworth first grade baseball upset.
Today the Blues know what to expect from the enthusiastic young Rainbow Warriors, right down to their rainbow-coloured socks.
“We were expecting to win last year,” Blues catcher Chris Dyson said.
“It’s a bit different this year.
“It’s been close between us all year.
“We’ve won twice and they’ve won twice.”
However the Blues have struck a major snag.
They’ve lost lead-off batter Nathan Handsaker.
“He cut his hand open at work,” Dyson said.
“It’s a massive loss for us.
“He’s been our lead-off batter all year. He’s been our best batter by far and that leaves a big gap.”
Dyson and his fellow Blues expect James Psarakis to start from the mound against them after he threw brilliantly to keep them quiet in their most recent one-run game.
“We won the major semi 11-10 but only got over them when they relieved Jimmie,” he said.
However Psarakis might not throw, wily Warriors stalwart Robert Chandler said.
He and his brother Jeff could share the pitching duties with Psarakis or even Joey Holt.
“We’ve had five pitchers during the season – Jimmie, Jeff, Joey and I as well as David Ardill but David’s away at a wedding,” Chandler said.
The senior Chandler brother threw last year’s final and might just reprise that role again but if he doesn’t throw he will be catching.
“I honestly don’t know who we will start with,” he said.
“They (Blues) would probably prefer Jeff or Jimmie because they’ve seen a fair bit of them whereas I haven’t thrown much at them.”
Whatever the decision, the grand final offers another unique piece of sporting history for the club.
“It’s a pretty cool thing to do, split the club down the middle for the benefit of the competition,” he said.
Dyson is hoping the friendly rivalry doesn’t ignite into any “hostilities”.
“Seems everyone else is having brawls at their big games – hope we don’t follow,” he laughed.
He said Johnny Warren would fire in the opening pitches with Mick Aldiss’s left- armers to relieve.
The first grade grand final starts at 2.30pm on John Carter Diamond at the Field of Dreams.