By Gavin Staindl
A TOP four place is up for grabs when the streaking Berwick Cougars host Division Two frontrunners Bonbeach on Sunday.
Since playing Bonbeach in a midweek game late last month, the Cougars have rattled off consecutive 10-run wins with the latest being an 11-1 shellacking of Chelsea at Edithvale Road Reserve on Sunday.
Stuck on a vulnerable 1-0 lead through three innings, Berwick’s Josh Leite hit a towering three-run home run halfway up the cypress tree in right field that opened the flood gates for the Cougars.
Coach Wayne Porter added four hits as Berwick piled on 10 runs in the remaining four innings, leaving the umpires with no choice but to enforce the mercy rule and call the game early.
“He (Leite) is a scary hitter,” third base coach Brad Barnett said. “I know, I throw batting practice to him each week and he can hit a ball. He is going very well and he is back in form with his pitching.”
Barnett and the Cougars will be hoping Leite’s hot-streak continues as he is likely to be the starting pitcher for Sunday’s home game.