When face-to-face learning resumed and schools returned late in term four last year, so did community cricket and no recruitment drives were required.
The numbers were so strong in the under-14s age group that coach Michael Brown created a rotation system, resting four players each week to give new players the chance to learn and participate.
The competition began in November with teams entered from Alexandra, Kilmore, Yea and Broadford. After 12 rounds, the semi-finals were held last Saturday, when Eastern Hill defeated Alexandra by six runs in a very close contest.
Eastern Hill went in to bat first and its opening batsmen said it was the most accurate bowling they had ever faced. The runs started to come when the Kennedy brothers — Jack and Rory — batted together, making 57, and Ollie Fulton hit a boundary off his first ball.
In the field, Eastern Hill was exceptional with a full team effort displaying the full suite of run-outs, clean bowling and classic catches. Highlights were the Brown brothers — Sam and Ben — taking two wickets, Harrison Thompson claiming two and Christian Papi snaring one.
Hamish Melville was solid keeping and Sam Zotti was lightning fast in the field. Tait Hoefchen, Will Scheffer-Steele and Baxter Loweke stopped many potential boundaries.
Eastern Hill Cricket Club president Mark White said he could not be more proud of what the under-14s had achieved this season.
“Without an under-16 competition running this season, all of our junior hopes for success hinged solely on Michael Brown’s under-14 boys. They have done the club immensely proud by winning their way through to the final this season,” White said.
“Win or lose this weekend, the boys can hold their heads high for the way they have played this season.”
A-grade captain Seamus Feery said the entire club had loved watching the under-14s squad grow throughout the season.
“The whole club is rapt for the under-14s,” Feery said.
“It’s a great group and Mick has done a marvellous job with them this season.
“Playing with and against your peers in junior cricket is some of the most fun you’ll ever have in your sporting life. To see the team enjoying their Saturday mornings with each other and creating lifetime memories is brilliant.
“The future of the club looks very bright and I’m hopeful the SDCA is able to re-establish the under-16 competition or some pathways to senior cricket for all of the young cricket talent in the district.”
The Eagles will take on Kilmore in the under-14 grand final at L.B. Davern Reserve in Wandong on Saturday, with the game set to begin at 8.30am.