BASEBALL
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Illawarra baseball premiers Northern Pirates hope there's no rustiness from three weeks off ahead of Saturday's clash against Wests Cardinals at Dalton Park.
In a stop-start season for all first grade clubs, Pirates have been frustrated by a washout and the bye in successive weeks.
The premiers, along with Cardinals and Dapto Chiefs, are battling for the top two positions to avoid a likely elimination semi-final against Berkeley Eagles.
Just four more rounds remain before the semi-finals with Pirates boasting the best record (seven wins, one loss and one draw) to be in the box seat to claim the minor premiership.
Meanwhile, Cards will want to hit better after managing just six hits in a 3-1 loss to Chiefs last Saturday.
Cards batters had only four hits off Chiefs starter Mitch Simon in seven innings, plus had two men picked off by Simon in scoring position at second base in crucial mistakes.
In Saturday's other game, Chiefs will be looking to consolidate second spot by beating Berkeley at Eagles Field.
Eagles are coming off blowing a 4-0 lead in an 11-8 loss to Shoalhaven Mariners to hand the Nowra-based club their first win of the season.
Eagles' two wins of the season have been against Mariners and they need a victory over one of the top three clubs to finish fourth and take some confidence into the semi-finals.