Shoalhaven Mariners Minor 1st Grade travelled to Hector Harvey field at Dapto to take on the Dapto Panthers. This game is always played in good spirits and fun by all.
Panthers started strong with there pitcher Trent Boreham getting the first three batters out.
Mariners starting pitcher Andrew Pearson started a little slow for the first batter letting him get a hit. Which ended up as a run with some good base running and an error from Mariners.
From then on Andrew stepped up striking out two out of the next four batters and Greg Symmans taking a nice line drive at first base to retire the side.
Second inning Mariners bats turned on with the big fella Leith Grant starting off with a stand up double and the rest of the side following bringing in seven runs for the innings.
Andrew continued his dominance on the mound striking out the next three batters.
Mariners didn’t stop with the bats this innings with the high light of the inning being Matty Moore smashing a ball to the right field fence nearly getting a home run but falling short getting tagged out at home plate. Not before Mariners increasing their score by five runs.
Then Panthers put on Mr Reliable Andrew (AJ) Jardine on the mound with AJ striking out his first two batters.
Once again Andrew pumped out another couple of strikeouts not allowing Panthers to score.
New comer Heath Peters for Mariners started the innings with a great stand up double but unfortunately Mariners could not take advantage of this with a nice double play from Panthers not allowing Mariners to score.
The bottom of this final innings Mariners gave Andrew a rest from pitching after one of his best pitching performances of his young baseball career.
Austin Raymond come on to close out the game unfortunately he struggled with the field letting him down with some costly errors.
With Panthers staging a last minute fight back a beautiful play from the left field fence with four Mariners players involved after a crashing hit by Trent Boreham had Trent left high and dry sliding into home plate Mariners getting the out and finishing game walking away with the win 13/7
Pitcher Andrew Pearson 79 pitches 53 strikes and 8 strikeouts
Pitcher Austin Raymond 33 pitches 21 strikes and 1 strikeout
Single Hits Andrew Pearson (2), Brian Cremin, Dalton Haines. Doubles to Leith Grant ,Heath Peters with a triple going to Matthew Moore.