Pitcher targets St David's clean sweep

OJ Pitcher wants a St David’s clean sweep — and says community pride can propel his players to more silverware this season.

The Cup Match batsman was officially presented with the Logica Premier League trophy yesterday to go alongside their Eastern Counties victory over Bailey’s Bay.

Pitcher has now challenged his players not to lose that winning feeling as they head into the end-of-season Logica Championship knockout competition — between the top eight teams in the league — and the delayed T20 cup.

Key to the resurgent team’s success, he says, is their identity.

“We take that into every game,” Pitcher told the Bermuda Sun. “We have that mindset. We want to win for our community, for our loved ones and our families and everyone who has passed it on to us. Our Grandfathers and forefathers have passed this on through our community and it is a big motivation – and we take that approach into the games.”

He added: “We’d like to dedicate this league title to the fallen soldiers. We have lost a lot of loved ones in St David’s, so we dedicate it to them.” 

Pitcher is confident his side can now go on and complete the trophy set. He said: “We’ve won two trophies, now we have two more to go. We should definitely win them but cricket is a funny game – anything can happen on the day.

“Rangers, who came second in the league, have a good team. Bay have had a bad season but it just takes one or two good games for them to get back into the groove, Willow Cuts as well and then a team that people often don’t talk about is Cleveland. We won’t alter anything, though – why change what’s working.

“It [league win] means lot as captain but anybody who knows me will know I’m not into into individual success, the team deserves the credit.”

After being in Bay’s shadows last campaign, Pitcher is delighted to steer his team back to the top of the tree. 

He said: “It’s always felt like we were one of the top teams. Last year we had a bad season but we’ve come back this year and showed how good we really are.

“I have to give certain players credit — George O’Brien and Cameron Fox came back from school and McLaren Lowe came from Stars. Our coach Wendall Smith got us in tip-top shape to play – he’s a quality coach to have.”

St David’s play Western Stars in the Logica Championship quarter-final on Sunday at Lord’s.