SWCA. Division 1 Cricketer of the year Clinton Baker from Mortlake Cricket Club. 130318LP38PICTURE:LEANNE PICKETT
MORTLAKE all-rounder Clinton Baker collected his third South West Cricket (SWC) player of the year award in nine seasons at Noorat last night.
Baker, 31, enjoyed a damaging season with the bat, scoring 693 runs at an average of 57.75.
The Cats' number three batsman made seven half centuries and one ton and also scored 59 in a Twenty20 match.
He took 19 wickets at an average of 17.
Mortlake is eyeing back-to-back division one premierships and meets Pomborneit in the grand final on Saturday.
Mortlake captain Todd Lamont said Baker, who polled 24 votes, was instrumental in guiding the Cats to another grand final berth.
"He has been pretty consistent. Last year he was really good with the ball and struggled with the bat and it's been the reverse this year," he said.
"I think he's had eight or nine scores of above 50. He hasn't bowled as well but he's still taking one or two wickets each game.
"He has plenty of ability, there's no shortage of that."
Lamont said Baker was prolific with the bat in his second season at Mortlake after a decorated career at Bookaar.
"He has been a lot more patient. He's been batting at three, so he's generally had a lot of time to get settled," he said.
"When he gets going he scores pretty quickly. If Josh (Barr) or Tyler (Schafer) are out early, Clinton usually steadies the ship."
Baker, a Melbourne Country Week representative, won SWC's top honour in 2004-05 and 2006-07.
Pomborneit opener Steven Castle won the division one batting aggregate last night with 756 runs.
Castle also scored an unbeaten 95 in the Bulls' washed out semi-final against Terang on Saturday.
Pomborneit coach Max Castle said his son had enjoyed a strong season.
"It has been one of his best seasons," he said.
"He's not as flamboyant and is a more steady bat."
Heytesbury Rebels' Brad Hallyburton took out the division one bowling aggregate with 27 wickets.
Steve Castle was named captain of SWC's team of the year.
Barr (Mortlake), Ben Grinter (Terang), Paddy Heffernan (Boorcan), Jye McLaughlin (Camperdown), Travis Brown (Heytesbury Rebels), Lamont (Mortlake), Baker (Mortlake), Matthew Boyle (Boorcan), Sylas Merrett (Bookaar), Hallyburton (Heytesbury Rebels) and Kyle McDonald (Mortlake) also made the team of the year.
Ecklin bowler Mark Fraser won the division two cricketer of the year award with 27 votes and the bowling aggregate with 43 wickets.
Mortlake's Ian Mahncke won the batting aggregate with 825 runs.
Heytesbury Rebels' Wayne Drayton was named division three cricketer of the year with 23 votes.
Cobden's Glen Cain collected the division three batting aggregate with 681 runs and Terang's Paul Humphrey took out the bowling aggregate with 50 wickets.
justine.mc@fairfaxmedia.com.au
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