Did that just happen? Did the Doncaster Dragons really just win the first MWBL Men’s A Grade Premiership in the club’s history?

And did they do it by beating Greenhills Montmorency in the grand final by the extraordinary score of 12-0?

You bet they did!

A year ago, the Dragons were playing in B Grade. Two weeks ago, they were thumped 9-1 by GMBC in the semi-final.

But the past didn’t matter at LaTrobe on Saturday as the Dragons completed the rare feat of getting promoted to A Grade and winning the championship in the same season! Something that hasn't happened since 1991-92!

After the drubbing two weeks ago, GMBC were entitled to go into the grand final full of confidence. But from the moment this game started, there was a different feeling about it, and not just because the teams had switched dugouts. 

The Dragons opened the scoring in the top of the first inning when Marcel D’Avoine singled and scored on Alan Ortiz’s double.

Daniel McGrath, fresh from his amazing 21-strikeout performance against North Balwyn a week earlier, kept Monty in check with a 1-0 lead through the first three innings as the game seemed headed towards a tight, low-scoring contest.

But the Doncaster offence, which had scored only three runs in the previous two games, exploded for four runs in the fourth inning. It all started when Ortiz was hit by a pitch. With two outs, Derek Medlin, Liam Robertson and Dakota Gibson all singled. An infield error plated another run, and suddenly Doncaster had a 5-0 lead. 

Things got even better in the fifth inning. Hits to D’Avoine, Ortiz, Brian Chen and Medlin put another two runs on the board.

After an outfield error in the sixth inning, Ortiz drove in another run with his third hit of the game to give Doncaster an 8-0 lead.

As word started to spread about the possibility of ending the game on the mercy rule in seven innings, the offence got back to work. Chen singled to lead off the seventh inning, and pinch hitter Fraser Boyd doubled. Gibson was hit by a pitch to load the bases, and Luke Utting walked to drive in a run. 

With bases still loaded, Brendan McDonald crushed a double to deep centre field to drive in three runs and give his team a 12-0 lead.

All that was left was for McGrath to get the final three outs, which he did with a minimum of fuss, taking his strikeout total to 11 and sparking joyous scenes from the first base side as the Dragons celebrated one of the greatest days in the club’s almost 50-year history!