Even if Kookaburras upset Albion in the grand final this weekend, teen off-spinner Hayden Baker will look back on this season fondly.
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In his own words, it has been a season in which "it's all been happening": Bolters and Central North (under-17) debut selection and, for the first time, regular Gunnedah first XI selection, en route to War Veterans Cup glory last month and a man-of-the-match performance in the Cup final.
Now he has the chance to win a grand final with Albion this weekend, after being part of the Albion team who lost to Court House in the grand final two seasons ago.
Baker regards Gunnedah's defeat of reigning championships Narrabri in the War Vets Cup final, and his performance in the match, as his No.1 cricketing moment this season.
It's very, very special … If there's one to win, it's this one.
- Hayden Baker on claiming the War Veterans Cup
After the match he said: "It's very, very special … If there's one to win, it's this one."
At this time last year, the 17-year-old, in year 12 at St Mary's College, was preparing to play in the second-grade grand final for Albion after losing his first-grade spot when he fractured his wrist playing rugby sevens and "couldn't hold a bat".
It was his left wrist - his non-bowling arm - so he could still bowl. Albion beat Mornington in the grand final.
"Having to watch on the next day was pretty tough," he said of the first-grade grand final. "But I didn't want to take a spot [in first grade] if I couldn't do as much as I [normally] could."
Baker wants to "push" himself in cricket - "see how far I can really get and see where it takes me, I guess". "I'm really happy with the way things are going. I'm more of a bowler now.
"I've made the transition to bowling off-spin now. I'm getting a few overs under my belt."
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Kookaburras ended Court House's run of two straight premierships, and did it without their skipper Cameron Milne, the competition's leading batsman and bowler this season. Milne is back in the side this weekend.
Baker said: "It will be a tough game against Kookaburras."
Albion captain James Mack described the teen as "pretty versatile".
"He bowls both off-spin and medium pace well," Mack said. "He's probably our best fielder and he's a good batsman as well.
"We have used him at the top of the order and also down the order. So he's pretty handy to have around. He's a good kid too."
This season Baker has taken 13 wickets at an average of 13.92, with best figures of 6-42.