Port Macquarie Spartans Baseball Team

As the mercury continued to fall, the Spartans continued to generate heat in both grades as they played away to the Mariners this week.

B Grade started with a blast as a combination of hitting and bat discipline facilitated an early 6 runs with each of Chris Oliver, Michael Potts, Mick Marthick, Jade Holstein, Tony Bransdon and Chris Michell each chalking up a run for the Spartans in the top of the first.

The Mariners sought to answer early, clawing back 3 runs before the Spartans were able to close out the innings thanks to a 6-3 play from Sean Faichney to Potts, an infield fly, and a caught fly at short stop by Faichney.

The Spartans’ scoring continued into the top of second with runs to Potts, Faichney and Marthick enabling B Grade to take a 9 - 3 lead into the bottom of the second.

On a defensive roll, the Spartans were able to keep the Mariners scoreless, with outs secured by a 4-3 double play thanks to a caught fly by Bailey Michell at second, and an out at first when the Mariner’s batter was left stranded away from the bag on the catch. The third out was secured by a second 4-3 play between B. Michell and Potts.

Keen to keep the scoreboard ticking over, the Spartans bats opened up with doubles to Potts and B. Michell, and runs being plated by Oliver, Potts, Faichney and B. Michell.

The Mariners were again kept scoreless in the bottom of the third, thanks to a 4-3 play between B. Michell and Potts, a strike out to Holstein, and a caught fly at second by B. Michell.

In the fourth, both the Spartans and the Mariners kept each other scoreless, with outs being secured by the Spartans through a 1-3 play between Holstein and Potts, a 5-3 play between Brandson and Potts, and a 2-5 play between Oliver and Brandson.

Heading into the top of the fifth with a 13-3 lead, Holstein was able to plate a final run for the Spartans before the Mariners made a final push to close the gap. While the Mariners were able to score two, the Spartans were able to close the game with a pair of strike outs to Holstein and a 1-3 play between Holstein and Potts.

Walking away with a 14-5 scoreboard, the Spartans B Grade secured their fourth win of the season, and were able to edge themselves into second place on the leaderboard.

Despite several absences from the regular A Grade line up, the Spartans were able to continue their season’s momentum in to the top of the first with early scoring to Ben Thiele, Mick Marthick, Ben Hickey and Cameron Rutherford.

The Mariners hit back with a quick, single run before the Spartan’s secured outs through a 5-3 play between Thiele and Marthick, a caught fly at centre field by Todd Maiden and a strike out to Hickey.

After being kept scoreless in the top of the second, the Spartans‘ tight defence returned the favour with a caught fly by Bailey Michell at second, and a further strike out to Hickey.

The Spartans’ bats returned in the top of the third with doubles to Hickey and Bryce Procter, single runs scored by each of Thiele, Hickey, Proctor, and Chris Oliver, and two runs being scored by each of Maiden, B. Michell and Rutherford.

Taking a 15-1 lead into the bottom of the third, the Mariners were able to find four runs, before the innings was closed out with a strike out to Thiele, and a 6-3 play from Proctor to Marthick.

In the fourth, Marthick was able to chalk up an extra run for the Spartans, before the Mariners were again shut out with a caught fly at first, a catch by Hickey at centre field, and 6-3 play between Proctor and Marthick.

Taking a 16-5 lead into the fifth, Rutherford, Bryden Kouwenberg and Thiele were able to plate three runs, aided by a double to left field by Thiele. Keen to close the gap, the Mariners were able to score two in the bottom of the fifth before a 6-5 play between Proctor and Maiden led to an out at third, and the innings was closed with a 1-3 play between Thiele and Marthick.

The 19-7 win to the Spartans A Grade also takes them to 9-0 for the season, as they continue to hold first spot on the leaderboard.

Our ongoing thanks to the support from our longterm sponsors
Finnian's Irish Tavern
Mid North Coast Allied Health - Hastings
Lifestyle Group Port Macquarie and Wauchope
INTERSPORT Port Macquarie
Moorebeer Brewing Co.

And our special thanks to

Samone Holstein 📸 for being lenstacular.

Karen Potts ⚾️ for being statstacular.

Additional thanks to Michael Potts (plate) and Jade Holstein (base) for their collective efforts in stepping up and umpiring the A Grade game.

Eager to chalk up their third win for the season, the Spartans B Grade played host to the Giants in round 8.

With Bryden Kouwenberg taking the mound for the Spartans, the top of the first innings saw the Giants held to a pair of runs, with Kouwenberg retiring two on strike outs, and a third returning to the dug out after being caught attempting to steal second with a 2-4 throw from Chris Oliver to Jade Holstein.

With the bat, the Spartans asserted themselves early, completing a run through of the line up with each of Oliver, Michael Potts, Mick Marthick and Holstein plating runs to give the Spartans an early 4-2 lead.

The Giants fought back in the top of the third, taking three runs before the Spartans were able to shut down the scoring thanks to a put-out at third by Tony Bransdon, and a second pair of strike outs by Kouwenberg.

Trailing by one, and back at the top of the batting order, disciplined batting by the Spartans was rewarded with runs being scored by each of Oliver, Potts, Sean Faichney, Marthick, Holstein, Matt Barrow, and Brandson.

Despite the Spartans’ 11-3 lead, the Giants continued to battle, quickly loading the bases. With two missing thanks to a 1-3 play between Kouwenberg and Potts to remove the lead-off batter, and a forced out at home on a 5-2 play between Brandson and Oliver, the Giants’ scored three thanks to a monster double to centre field by their one-spot batter. Keen for another bat, Kouwenberg struck out the next batter to shut down the innings and take the Spartans into the bottom of the third.

Racing the clock, the Spartans continued to show discipline with the bat, ultimately enabling Marthick, Holstein, and Troy Hill to score. At the end of the game, the Spartans were able to take away a hard-fought 14-8 win.

A Grade continued their season form, with Todd Maiden taking the mound to start the game and quickly retiring the Giants first three batters thanks to a strike out, a 4-3 play from Bryden Kouwenberg to Ben Thiele, and a caught fly taken at short stop by Bryce Procter.

The Spartans offence started with a minor wobble as the led off batter flied out to second, but was quickly restored as each of Chris Forster and Blake Owen found first base, only then to be driven home by a signature double to centre field by Proctor.

Taking a 2-0 lead into the top of the second, the defence continued with the Giants being held to a single unearned run, and the Spartans securing outs through a 1-6 play at second between Maiden and Proctor, a caught foul fly behind the dish by Ben Hickey, and a strike out to Maiden.

After being held scoreless in the bottom of the second, the Spartans returned the favour to the Giants in the top of the third thanks to a sliding catch at centre field by Blake Owen, a caught line drive by Foster at third, and further strike out to Maiden.

The pattern continued across the bottom of the third and top of the fourth. With Cameron Rutherford taking the mound to avoid Maiden becoming pitch restricted, he was able to quickly dispensed with the Giants‘ eight and nine spot batters with a pair of strike outs, before Hickey secured the third out at home on a great 7-2 play from Bailey Michell at left field.

Keen to extend their lead, the Spartans’ bats began to fire in the bottom of the fourth with outfield singles to Proctor, Maiden, Rutherford, Thiele and Foster, and a double to left field for Kouwenberg. By innings end, each of Proctor, Maiden, Kouwenberg, Rutherford and Thiele had been able to convert to runs, given Spartans a 7-1 advantage.

Always fighters, the Giants began to roar in the top of the fifth with a complete run through of their batting order ultimately plating five runs, before the Spartans were able to end the rally with a jaw-dropping diving catch at centre field by Owen, a caught fly at first by Thiele, and a further catch to Owen.

With a single run lead and limited time on the clock, Hickey was able to plate a final run in the bottom of the fifth thanks to a double from Michell, before the Spartans declared on time, walking away with a 8-6 win, and an 8-0 win record for the season.

This week’s “Kaz’s Play of the Day” was given to Blake Owen for his multiple, running, sliding and diving catches at centre field. To quote Kaz, “He had a blinder… this is why he is the best in the business”.

Our thanks to the support we continue to receive from our sponsors
Finnian's Irish Tavern
Mid North Coast Allied Health - Hastings
Moorebeer Brewing Co.
Lifestyle Group Port Macquarie and Wauchope
INTERSPORT Port Macquarie

And our unsurrending Spartan gratitude to:

Samone Holstein 📸 for being the Queen of the Shutter

Karen Potts ⚾️ for being our Scorebook Tsar.

Thanks also to Jade Holstein for riding shotgun in the scorers’ shed with Kaz during A Grade. ✏️

With a forecast of rain, Round 8 saw the Spartans playing away to the Pirates on diamond 2.

Keen to build on a pair of wins, the Spartans’ B Grade looked to make a quick start with the first two batters, Chris Oliver and Michael Potts, quickly finding base. With the Spartans eager to swing the bat, Oliver was able to put the Spartans on the board, before the Pirates retired the next three batters due to a pop-up catch, and a pair of run-outs at first.

The bottom of the first saw Holstein put on a strong display on the mound. Unfortunately though, the Pirates were able to find multiple holes in the field, plundering 5 runs before the Spartans closed out the innings thanks to a catch at short stop by Sean Faichney, a strike out by Holstein, and a 6-3 play between Faichney and Potts.

Despite their efforts to claw back runs, the Spartans were kept scoreless across the second and third innings as multiple hits found the Pirates’ fielders, including a monster hit by Holstein going straight down the fielder’s throat at centre fielder.

With Mick Marthick taking the mound, the Spartans were about to secure outs across the second and third in the form of four strike outs, a 5-3 play between Bailey Michell and Potts, and a second 6-3 play between Faichney and Potts. Unfortunately though, the Pirates were able to score a further three runs, seeing the Spartans trailing 1-8 headed into the fourth.

With plenty of time still available, Matt Barrow sought to lead the way for the Spartans with a combination of bat discipline and aggressive base running. Holstein also found first and was able to get himself in scoring position. With Barrow plating a run for the Spartans, the Pirates were unfortunately able to make three consecutive outs, ending the innings with Holstein left in scoring position.

The Pirates carried their momentum into the bottom of the fourth, scoring a further 5 runs and advancing their lead to 12-2.

Never to surrender, the Spartans began a mini-rally, with further runs scored in the top of the fifth by Oliver, Kouwenberg, Faichney and Barrow, before the Pirates ended the innings to take the game with a 12-6 win.

It was reversed fortunes in A Grade with the Ben Thiele, Blake Owen, Ben Hickey, Todd Maiden, Bailey Michell and Cody Hicks each plating a run in the first innings, and Bryce Proctor arguably smashing the longest home run in Hastings Baseball history to give the Spartans an early 8-0 lead (I’ve heard they’ve now widened the search for the ball, to Kew…).

Keen to avenge their B Grade brothers, the Spartans A Grade were able to quickly retire the Pirates’ first three batters thanks to a tidy 4-6-3 double play from Michell to Proctor to Thiele, and a strike out to Hickey.

Taking an 8-0 led into the top of the second, a second monster hit from Proctor looked to continue the Spartans’ offensive momentum before the ball found the Pirates’ fielder deep at centre field. Maiden was able to put a further run on the board thanks to a line drive to centre field by Hicks, before the Pirates were able to make the third out.

The Spartans were able to quickly close out the Pirates’ second innings with Proctor taking a catch at short stop, and a pair of strike outs from Hickey.

With the Spartans back at the top of their batting order, and despite an interruption in play due to rain, the barrage with the bat recommenced with a safe hit to right field by Thiele, before a Hickey double to left field drove in Thiele, and put Owens in scoring position. Showing a love of the outfield, a safe hit by Proctor to centre field scored Owens and moved Hickey to third. In what was fast becoming a game of follow-the-leader, a line drive by Maiden to centre field scored Hickey, and moved Proctor to second. Discipline with the bat saw Bailey Michell take first, pushing Proctor to third and Hickey to second. Next to bat, Bryden Kouwenberg hit to left field scoring Proctor and Maiden, and moving Michell to second. A hit by Hicks to third enabled Kouwenberg to find second, and secured first base for himself. Back at the top of the line up, a safe hit by Thiele put Kouwenberg in scoring position, and moved Hicks to second before the Pirates called the game, and the Spartans walked away with a 15-0 win.

With the Spartans’ B Grade not presenting her with too many options, the “Kaz’s Play of the Day” went to Bryce Proctor for his spectacular bomb in A Grade. Kaz also called out the Pirates’ master first baseman, Brett Dubar, for his excellent cameo role as the plate umpire for the B Grade game. I’d also call out Kaz for her resilience in the flooded scoring shed during the sudden rain-delay downpour.

As always, our special thanks to:
Samone Holstein 📸 for her endless hours behind the lens.
Karen Potts ⚾️ for her scoring wizardry.

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

Sunday (21 June) saw blue skies as the Spartans played host to the Mariners on Diamond 1.

Enthused by their first win of the season, the Spartans’ B grade hit the diamond looking to turn a win into the start of a streak. With a different plan in mind, the Mariners came out swinging and it wasn’t long before their lead-off batter had plated their first run before the Spartans’ starting pitcher, Jade Holstein was able to close things down, handing out a pair of strike outs to their five and six spot batters.

Keen to answer, the Spartans displayed discipline with the bat and it wasn’t long before Chris Oliver, Mick Marthick, Matt Barrow and Jade Holstein had put runs on the board, providing the Spartans with a 4-1 lead heading into the second innings.

Showing themselves to be the competitors that they are, the Mariners‘ second innings led off and second batters were able to score a couple of runs before the Spartans’ field were able to end the innings through a catch at left field by Marthick, an infield-fly, and a 1-3 play between Holstein and Michael Potts at first.

Using their momentum, and back at the top of their batting order, the Spartans’ bats again came out fighting with Oliver, Potts, Sean Faichney, Marthick and Barrow each scoring runs, aided by precision hits to right field by Faichney and Barrows, and a double to right field by Marthick.

With the help of a 5-3 play between Tony Bransdon and Potts, the Spartans were able to keep the Mariners scoreless in the top of the third. Through a combination of bat discipline and hitting, the Spartans were able to extend their lead in the third to 10-3 with Oliver scoring, and with clean bat contact by each of Holstein and Manbir Roopari unfortunately finding the Mariners’ fielder deep in left field.

After relief pitcher Marthick was able to shut out the Mariners in the top of the fourth with two strike outs and a caught foul fly by Oliver at home, the Spartans returned with the bat with further runs scored by Joe Carbonetti, Bransdon, Potts, Faichney and Marthick. When the game was called due to time with one out, and Barrow and Holstein still on base, Spartans were pleased to take their second win of the season with a 15-3 scoreboard, and a renewed confidence for the remainder of the season.

With a 5-0 win record, A grade was keen to continue their record in round 6. Apparently the Mariners’ A grade didn’t get the memo and came out swinging, scoring four quick runs from their first four batters. Never to retreat, and never to surrender, Bryden Kouwenberg quickly found second base with a lead off double to left field. The early momentum initially continued with the Spartans’ two-spot batter Chris Forster also taking a base, but began looking shaky after monster hits by Blake Owen and Ben Hickey consecutively finding a deep-fielding Mariner at centre fielder, the latter enabling Forster to score. Bryce Procter followed, finding first on a hit to left field, before consuming bases like Pac-Man as he took a 83 metre dash around the remaining three bags on a double to left field by Todd Maiden.

With the Spartans trailing the Mariners 3-4, both teams held each other scoreless in the second innings, the Spartans aided by a pop-up fly caught by Kouwenberg, a catch by Cody Hicks in left field, and the Mariners’ clean up batter being caught stealing at second by a perfect throw from home by Maiden to Hickey.

Building on their defensive momentum, the Spartans quickly dispensed with the Mariners five, six and seven spot batters in the top of the third, thanks to a caught fly by Bailey Michell at first, a Kouwenberg strike out, and a 6-3 play from Hickey to Michell.

Going into the bottom of the third with a continuing one run deficit, the Spartans combined bat discipline with some aggressive base running, allowing the offensive energy to be converted into runs by each of Hickey, Maiden, Michell and Hicks.

Leading into the top of the fourth with the Spartans holding a 7-4 lead, both the Spartans and the Mariners battled fearlessly, holding each other scoreless. Stand out defensive plays in the fourth and fifth for the Spartans included three strike outs for Kouwenberg, a line drive catch by Proctor at third and a catch at centre field by Owen.

With the Mariners unable to plate any further runs in the top of the sixth, the game was called and the Spartans A grade were able to walk away with a hard-fought, 7-4 win.

They say it takes a village to raise a child, and goodness knows it requires that and more to run community sport. For those who may not know, Karen Potts has been a stalwart for the Spartans - tirelessly keeping our scorebooks over the years. Scorers are the quiet guardians of baseball, seeing everything, but saying little. So who better than our wonderful Kaz to point out a highlight from each week’s game. This week’s standout for the inaugural Kaz’s Play of the Day is Bryden “Burgs” Kouwenberg, with Kaz noting his “pitching in A grade was amazing, stumped Mariners…”.

Our continuing thanks to our wonderful Sponsors:
Finnian's Irish Tavern
Lifestyle Group Port Macquarie and Wauchope
Moorebeer Brewing Co.
Mid North Coast Allied Health - Hastings
INTERSPORT Port Macquarie

And our undying loyalty to the amazing:
Samone Holstein 📸 for capturing the good, the bad and the (mostly) ugly; and
Karen Potts ⚾️ for her skill in turning a pencil case of coloured pens into something meaningful.

After a four-week weather enforced hiatus, the Spartans returned to the diamond two weekend’s ago (14 June) as visitors to the Giants.

The Spartans’ B Grade showed bat discipline from the start, with Chris Oliver, Matt Barrow, Tony Branson and Jade Holstein all scoring in the top of the first innings to give the Spartans an early four run lead.

With Holstein taking the mound, a tight Spartans’ infield held the Giants scoreless, with the Spartans’ short stop, Sean Faichney playing a critical role in all three outs, including a line drive catch.

Looking to capitalise on their lead, the Spartans were able to plate a further two runs in the top of the second, with runs to Mick Marthick and Manbir Roopari, aided through a monster double to centre field from Barrow.

Taking a six run lead into the bottom of the second, the Spartans were able to shut down the Giants despite a couple of hits, with Holstein striking out three of the Giants five second innings batters.

In the bottom of the third, Giants were able to claw back two runs despite Holstein again striking out the first, fourth and fifth of their batters.

Spartans continued to expand their led in the fourth, with Faichney and Barrow each adding to the total.

While the Giants were able to plate a run in the bottom of the fourth, Marthick moved onto the mound and the the Spartans were able to close out the innings with Marthick striking out the innings’ third and fourth batters.

Not content with an 8-3 lead, Spartans took a further two runs in the fifth with Oliver and Marthick scoring, aided by a Faichney sac-fly to centre field, and Barrow smashing out his second double of the game.

Spartans were ultimately able to secure a 10-3 win after keeping the Giants scoreless in the bottom of the fifth, with a standout line drive catch by Tony Branson at third base.

After welcoming Bryce Proctor into the Spartans family and holding a leading 4-0 spot on the season table, Spartans’ A Grade hit the diamond with momentum with each of Bailey Michell, Ben Hickey and Blake Owen peppering the Giants’ outfield with doubles, enabling Spartans to take an early 2-0 led heading into the bottom of the first.

Giants quickly answered, plating two of their own as the Spartans battery and field took a little time to warm up.

The second innings saw each team held scoreless, with a Spartans’ line drive from Todd Maiden unfortunately finding the Giants’ short stop, and each of Michell and Cam Rutherford taking flyballs to close out the Giants’ innings.

Determined to secure a lead, Spartans’ lead-off batter, Chris Forster took first after being hit-by-pitch and followed up by stealing second. After the Spartans’ two-spot batter went missing on a strike-out, Hickey drove Forster home with a game-erupting home run over the cones at centre field. Despite being buoyed by Hickey’s monster, Proctor displayed incredible discipline with the bat to quickly get himself into scoring position before finding home on a wild throw and taking Spartans to a 5-2 lead.

In the bottom of the third, Giants were able to find a couple of holes with the bat, scoring one, and narrowing the Spartans’ lead to 5-3.

The fourth again saw both teams holding the other scoreless, with Michell and Owen each taking a catch at second and short stop respectively.

In the fifth, Hickey was able to plate the Spartans’ final run thanks to a safe fly to right field by Owens, allowing Spartans to walk away with the chocolates and a 6-3 win after the Giants were shut out thanks to a strike out by Hickey, a caught foul fly by Proctor at third, and a caught foul fly by Forster at first.

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

Our eternal Spartan thanks also to:
Samone Holstein 📸 for always providing what AI never can, and
Karen Potts ⚾️ for her mastery with the scorebooks.

After several weeks on the weather bench, we’re excited to be back on the diamond this Sunday. Looking forward to seeing you there!

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.