The Shoalhaven Mariners 2nd grade were their own worst enemy on Saturday, as they hosted the Northern Pirates at Ison Park Baseball field in round 3. Going down 5-2, the home side could only muster two safe hits the entire game. Dan Kelly and Michael Vine both with singles to left field. The game was a close one through the first 2 scoreless innings as Mariners starting pitcher Kai Meuronen and Pirates starting pitcher Brendan Sheedy shut down the opposition hitters.

The Pirates scored the first run of the game in the top of the third inning when centre fielder James Lee Narrowly missed a fantastic diving catch in centerfield turning a leadoff walk into a run. Neither team could trouble the scorers in the fourth inning as the Pirates changed pitchers to hard thrower Cory Rower.

The fifth inning was full of action, when the Pirates managed to jump to a 5 – 1 lead. Some sloppy Mariners fielding, untimely walks and a Pirates bloop shot to shallow right field doing the damage. In reply the Mariners did manage 2 runs making the score a little more respectable, but the Pirates walked away winners.

In round 4 action the Mariners take on the Dapto Chiefs, at Hector Harvey oval, Dapto.