Baseball: Swans win first bight tropy in 20 years

Swans' major league trophy cabinet will be dusted off after years in the wilderness after the black and whites made easy work of avoiding any last-minute minor premiership challenge from nearest rivals Sharks last Saturday.

Nathan Nordmann's three-run missile in the fifth innings sealed the game, giving Swans an unassailable 19-9 mercy-rule victory and their first big trophy for two decades.

Ash Christensen took on the number one spot for Swans.

He pitched four innings to earn four strike-outs while conceding nine safe hits for just four earned runs as Sharks left numerous runners stranded. Nathan Bann led Swans' hit list with two singles from two charged plate appearances, along with two walks, three runs scored and one run batted in.

Daniel Frost and Kyle Edwards both picked up a double and single plus two RBI apiece.

Josh Cosgrove brought in three runners, with two RBI from his only base hit and another from a loaded-bases walk, while Nordmann finished with two from five and four big RBI.

Sharks out-hit their opponents with 13 safe hits, but were unable to capitalise with runners on base.

Chris O'Hara led the way with a perfect three hits from three at bats for a 1000 average.

Dan Page closely followed with two from three plus three RBI.

Darren Derschow slapped two doubles and scored one RBI while Brian Noakes joined the list with two singles from three at bats.

The result also gives Swans the home berth in the three-game grand final series starting on Wednesday, March 5, with game two on Saturday 8 and the third, if required, the following Saturday.

Last Saturday's night game was again cancelled, with Pirates collecting two valuable points and coming within one game of second-placed Sharks while also holding a big percentage advantage.

The two sides clash this Saturday night at 7.30pm for the final game of the regular series.