Port Macquarie Spartans Baseball Team

This weekend’s games have again been washed out. With better weather forecast for next week, we’re optimistic of getting a game in our first round back after the long-weekend (14 June)!

The weather has again won, and today’s games are a washout. Enjoy your Sunday, and hope to see everyone back on the diamond next weekend.

While Zeus and Poseidon appear to have other ideas, we remain hopeful of getting on the diamond on Sunday in our second attempt at Round 5 against the Giants.

Tomorrow’s games are a washout. Perhaps the gods will favour us with better weather next week.

If the grace of Zeus and Poseidon permit, join us on Diamond 2 tomorrow as we take on Wauchope Giants Baseball Team. B Grade starts at 10.00am, followed by A Grade at 12.45pm.

Against the backdrop of celebration of Spartan mothers everywhere, last Sunday saw a mixed bag for the Spartans with a loss in B Grade and a win in A Grade.

In B Grade, the Spartans maintained their characteristic strong start, holding the Pirates to a single run from their lead-off batter, before answering with 6 runs of their own in the bottom of the first. Unfortunately the momentum was unable to be maintainedwith the Pirates able to score 3 runs in the top of the second, and holding the Spartans to a single run in the bottom despite a monster home run to right field by Mick Marthick. In the third, the Pirates were able to plate a further run and hold the Spartans run-less to narrow the Spartan lead to 7-5. In a final but significant push, the Pirates took advantage of the changing tide to score 7 runs in the top of the fourth, and again hold the Spartans scoreless. The Pirates were ultimately able to sail away, having plundered a final innings win 12-7.

Looking to maintain their season momentum and avenge B Grade’s defeat, Spartan A Grade hit the diamond ready to battle. Despite the Spartans’ early efforts in the field, the Pirates were able to score two quick runs from their lead-off batters, taking an early 2-0 lead. In the bottom of the first, the Spartans’ first two batters were hit by pitch, and a Blake Owen double to left enabled the Spartans to level the score 2-2.

In the second, the Pirates were able to edge forward to a 3-2 lead, scoring a single run in the top and keeping the Spartans scoreless in the bottom.

The Spartans were able to begin a period of disruption in the third, with Todd Maiden taking the mound, keeping the Pirates scoreless. In the bottom, the Spartans’ lead off batter, Ben Thiele was able to again level the score after being hit by pitch for the second time, stealing second, taking 3rd on a wild pitch and scoring on a sacrifice 1-3 play against our three spot batter.

With scores level at 3-3, the Pirates were again able to edge forward in the top of the fourth, scoring two runs, before the Spartans began a final push in the bottom after Thiele took his third hit-by-pitch of the game. With bats firing, almost all Spartan batters chalked up hits, with Owen hitting his second double of the game, this time to right field. With the Spartans eventually plating seven runs and both teams keeping each other scoreless in the fifth, Spartans’ A Grade were able to make their mum’s proud, walking away with a 10-5 win.

Thanks as always to our incredible sponsors
Finnian's Irish Tavern
Mid North Coast Allied Health - Hastings
Lifestyle Group Port Macquarie and Wauchope
INTERSPORT Port Macquarie
Moorebeer Brewing Co.

And to
Samone Holstein for her hours behind the camera 📸
Karen Potts for being our statistical guru behind the scorebooks ⚾️

Finally our external Spartan gratitude to all of our mothers and significant others.

With the weather gods again shining on Hastings Baseball, last Sunday’s Round 3 saw the Spartans playing away to the Middle Rock Mariners.

In what proved to be a gritty, but in some respects mirror reverse of last year’s B Grade grand final, Spartans and Mariners were able to initially keep each other scoreless in the first, before Spartans were able to creep ahead scoring 2 in the top of the second thanks to some good bat discipline and a handful of hits. Following a scoreless bottom due to consecutive strike outs by Jade Holstein on the mound, Spartans went on to score another run in the top of the third, taking a 3-0 lead. Despite Spartans’ growing confidence, the Mariners bats rallied in the bottom of the third, finding several holes and creating the opportunity to score themselves a quick 5 runs. With the momentum shifted, Spartans were kept scoreless in the fourth, and Mariners looked to capitalise on their 5-3 lead with their 9 spot batter leading off the bottom with a double. Never to retreat, and never to surrender, Spartans continued to battle with Mick Marthick retiring the next 3 batters. With a final opportunity to claw back a few runs, the Spartans’ started well with both Sean Faichney and Marthick displaying bat discipline to get themselves on base. While Faichney was able to score on a sac fly to right field from Holstein, the Spartans’ tying run was unfortunately left on base with Mariners quickly retiring the next two batters. Despite a close game, Mariners were ultimately able to walk away with a 5-4 win.

In A Grade, Spartans’ season momentum looked under threat as the Mariners took an early lead, leaving Spartans scoreless in the first and scoring 2 for themselves. Awoken by the Mariners’ initial attack, Spartans quickly rallied scoring 5 runs in the top of the third, thanks to a renewed focus with the bat and a double from Ben Hickey. With Hickey‘s pitching and a tight field keeping Mariners scoreless in the bottom, Spartans renewed the attack scoring a further 4 runs thanks to some aggressive base running. Spartans entered the bottom of the fourth with a 9-2 lead, but Mariners continued to resist, scoring one. In the top of the fourth, Spartans bat discipline peaked, drawing five walks and creating the opportunity to score a further two runs. Mariners were kept scoreless in the fourth, with the first three batters retired thanks to a catch each by Cody Hicks in right field, and Cam Rutherford in left, and a tidy 5-3 play from Bryden Kouwenberg to Ben Thiele. Not satisfied with the 11-3 lead, Blake Owen maintained the Spartans’ momentum in the top of the fifth with a signature double (albeit with an uncharacteristic double to centre (Blakey loves the right field)), leading the way for a further two runs. Never to stop fighting, Mariners fought to narrow the gap in the bottom of the fifth by scoring two, but Spartans were able to walk away with a 13-5 win.

Thanks as always to our generous sponsors:
Finnian's Irish Tavern
Mid North Coast Allied Health - Hastings
Lifestyle Group Port Macquarie and Wauchope
INTERSPORT Port Macquarie
Moorebeer Brewing Co.

Our endless gratitude also to:
Samone Holstein 📸 for her magic with the lens, and
Karen Potts ⚾️ for her tireless efforts behind the scorebooks

💛🖤CALLING ALL SPARTAN MOTHERS🖤💛

Come and join us this Sunday as we take on the Pirates on Diamond 1. All mothers in attendance will receive a free raffle ticket and go in to the draw to win one of five $50 gift cards. We’ll also have a selection of nibbles for our amazing Spartan mums, so bring your drinks and enjoy the day with us.

Are you a baseball tragic looking for purpose in life? A former player whose shoulder has the range of movement of a rusty gate? A significant other looking for an opportunity to help their ‘other half’ secure this year’s MVP? Well, look no further. The Port Macquarie Spartans are recruiting additional scorers. While a basic understanding of baseball would be helpful, no experience is necessary and you’ll be trained and supported by some of the best scorers in the business. If you’re interested, please feel free to direct message us, or come and chat to us at one of our games. If you’re not, we’d love your help scouting for someone who is!