Kris Bird's decision to leave Cougars for Outlaws this year was not popular among his former teammates. But blood, as they say, is thicker than water.
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And at Field of Dreams 1 on Saturday, the 34-year-old celebrated with his brothers, Jeremy and Keegan, after Outlaws' historic grand final defeat of Cougars.
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It was the first time the brothers had played together in a grand final: Jeremy and Keegan left Cougars and joined Outlaws for their 2015 foundation year.
In winning their debut title in convincing 6-1 fashion, Outlaws stopped Cougars' three-peat bid. And they atoned, somewhat, for their grand final loss last season.
For Bird and his Outlaws teammate, Brian Hopton, it was a third-straight premiership.
Leaving Cougars after 15 years at the club was a tough decision, Bird said.
"I thought it was time to go and help my brothers try and win a grand final," he said.
He added that he "appreciated" what Outlaws had done for Tamworth baseball, as the launch of the club had "helped save baseball".
Bird said he "owed it" to Outlaws founder Mick Alldis, who left the region last year, to help the side win a premiership.
His former teammates, he continued, were "upset at the start" when he left the club.
"But they realised it was a pretty good move for baseball in general," he said, adding that he had won "four or five" premierships with Cougars.
Playing against his former teammates in the finale was "good", but also "a bit hard".
"I didn't want to break any hearts, but pretty happy to do it."
Bird said Outlaws executed their game plan in the grand final. "It come to fruition - it was real," the bricklayer said.
In the earlier game on Saturday, Outlaws won their first B-grade title and, in the process, stopped Outlaws winning a fourth-straight premiership.
