Saturday’s one-run preliminary final loss to Cougars hasn’t taken the gloss of what has been a brilliant Tamworth Baseball debut season for the Armidale Outlaws.
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The Outlaws were pipped 5-4 after leading for four innings and as a club have a lot to look forward to, coach Mick Alldis said.
![Batter up: Armidale's Minoru Masui readies to make a hit. Batter up: Armidale's Minoru Masui readies to make a hit.](/images/transform/v1/crop/frm/ingYyB85ps4jmG9t8mfsHP/fc0ff3b9-391d-46f4-b75d-c907cca3c2d3.jpg/r0_55_1995_2602_w1200_h678_fmax.jpg)
“We can hold our heads up high,” he said.
“We had three guys that hand't played baseball before and a lot of guys that haven't played for a long time.”
And they still have a chance to pick up some silverware with their second grade side accounting for Cougars’ Cavaliers 10-5 in their preliminary final.
Alldis said they knew they were in for a tough game.
“Last time we played them it was a one run game. It was the same again today,” he said.
![Pitching in: Armidale's releases during Saturday's preliminary final. He pitched the first seven of the nine innings. Photo: Samantha Newsam 100916SNA09 Pitching in: Armidale's releases during Saturday's preliminary final. He pitched the first seven of the nine innings. Photo: Samantha Newsam 100916SNA09](/images/transform/v1/crop/frm/ingYyB85ps4jmG9t8mfsHP/10b756ae-4f7d-45ae-bdb6-176d562f7122.jpg/r0_323_1885_2697_w1200_h678_fmax.jpg)
They made their move in the third innings hitting three runs for a 3-1 lead they held until Cougars’ seventh dig.
“They just chipped away and came back,” Alldis said.
“They got the hits when needed.”
He said Kris Bird also threw well when he came on. They really struggled to score off him.
After drawing level in the seventh innings, Cougars then took the lead in the eighth.
Minoru Masui had three hits for the Outlaws including a double with Cameron Beat had one with a double, Liam Garty two singles and Luke Turner a hit.