An extraordinary pitching performance from Daniel McGrath has lifted the Doncaster Dragons into their first VWBL Grand Final!

McGrath dominated the preliminary final against North Balwyn, racking up an amazing 21 strikeouts as the Dragons won a high-class game 2-1.

After the Stingers took the lead with a run in the fourth inning, the Dragons hit back immediately. Brendan McDonald walked, Allan Ortiz and Jean Alvarado singled, then Brian Chen hit a sacrifice fly that scored McDonald and tied the scores at 1-1. 

In the sixth inning, McDonald was hit by a pitch and moved up on Marcel D’Avoine’s walk. Ortiz advanced the runners on a fielders choice groundout, then McDonald scampered home on a rundown play to put the Dragons in front.

That one-run lead was enough as McGrath did not allow another hit, ending the game appropriately by striking out the side in the ninth inning.

The win propels Doncaster into a rematch with Greenhills-Montmorency in next Saturday’s Grand Final at Charles La Trobe College. GMBC came out on top when the same teams clashed in the semi-final, but the Dragons look capable of turning the tables.