Scattered showers threatened to interrupt the Middle Rock Mariners' baseball games at Begley Field on Sunday.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The Port Macquarie Pirates opened their campaign in devastating form scoring six runs from four safe hits and two base on balls. The Mariners in reply failed to get a runner on first base.
The Pirates scored another run in the second innings from two infield hits. When the Mariners Nathan Ellul and Warren Collins were on base things looked better for the Mariners but two strikeouts cut down their chance to score.
The third innings once again saw the Pirates score one run. The Mariners started well when Marty Dures smashed the ball to centre field only to fail to score when he was caught stealing to third base.
In the final innings the Pirates scored a further six runs while the Mariners failed to score, leaving the final score a very one sided 14-0 victory to the Pirates.
Warren Collins batted well scoring a safe hit and a walk but overall the Mariners' batting let them down.
In the field the Mariners only gave away one unearned run, however eight walks and 10 safe hits made it very difficult for the fielders to keep the score low enough to be competitive.
It was a similar start for the B grade team giving away seven runs and then failing to score in the first innings.
Although beaten 18-4, there were outstanding efforts by Mick Prosser who had a safe hit to right field.
Jacob Deline had two safe hits and took two good catches at centre field while man of the match Boris Budiono had a safe hit and took three fly balls at second base including a double play where he caught the ball for the first out and then fired the ball to first baseman Tom Critchley for an impressive double play.
Veteran Frank Reilly, on his 73rd birthday, capped off his season by scoring two runs and recording a safe hit to centre field.
The Mariners look forward to next year in what will hopefully be a COVID-free environment.
The club is keen to expand to three teams in 2021 and is hopeful of recruiting young players who would like to give baseball a try and join their friendly club to secure the club's future in the coming years.
Interested players can follow the progress of the club on the Middle Rock Mariners Facebook page.
