BASEBALL
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Wests Cardinals and Dapto Chiefs may look back at season's end on Saturday's Illawarra baseball clash at Cringila Park as one of the defining matches of the season.
Cardinals are second and Chiefs third, and along with leaders Northern Pirates are battling for a top-two spot and the semi-final double chance.
Chiefs and Pirates were left stranded by a washout last Saturday, while Cardinals took advantage of their major rivals' inactivity by beating Shoalhaven Mariners 9-2.
Cardinals and Mariners managed just six hits each but Cards were gifted 11 walks in eight innings to graft out an important win.
Cardinals veteran pitcher Mick Talty had no issues with control, throwing seven innings for just five hits, with eight strike-outs and no walks.
But Cards will want more output from their batters against a Chiefs side who haven't played since an 11-0 win over Mariners in round 13 on July 4.
It has been a particularly stop-start season for Chiefs who haven't played either Pirates or Cards since losing to Pirates 5-3 six weeks ago.
The previous Cards vs Chiefs match in round 11 was washed out.
In the weekend's other first grade match, Mariners host fourth-placed Eagles at Ison Park.
Following Saturday's matches, just four more rounds remain before the semi-finals.