THE Shoalhaven Mariners second grade side took to the game seriously on Saturday.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
From the first play, the Mariners looked like a team wanting to claim this 'must-win' game.
The Chiefs were never in the game as Mariners pitching dominated the opposition's hitters from start to finish.
Starting pitcher Bailey Biden threw to just two more than the minimum in his five innings of work - giving up only one hit and striking out four.
Relief pitcher Brenton McMahon was solid too in his two innings of work, facing just two more than the minimum striking out three.
The Mariners were flawless in the field as well, with pivots Michael Vine and Marcus Atkinson doing the heavy lifting.
The big story for the Mariners was that their bats came alive.
They've been slow to get going this season.
Although strikeouts are still a problem for the team, Mariners hitters did a sensational job.
Players had a solid day out with seven hits in this game - hits going to Kai Meuronen two (2B), Brenton McMahon (2B), Bailey Biden (2B), Lee Lawson, Gabe Tate and Andrew Provest.
This sealed the Mariners' 10-nil win against Dapto, seeing them return to the winner's circle at Hector Harvey Park.
Due to the COVID shortened season this year the Mariners will need to continue on their winning ways to make the finals.
Read more: Tigers suffer heavy defeat to premiers Lions
The Mariners take on the Berkeley Eagles at Fred Finch Park in round five.
In third grade, the Mariners were the away team, so they took to the field first.
They started strongly with runs scored by Kayley Ehrig and Ben Elliott after a sharp two-base hit by the latter.
But the Dapto Chiefs responded with two runs of their own.
In the second innings, the Mariners were unable to add to the score after strong Chiefs' pitching.
The hosts kept the pressure on after a hit batted in a third run.
The third innings saw neither team add to their score.
In the fourth, the visitors came out determined to turn the tables.
Hard running forced errors and a Stephen Pearson hit saw Mariners bat through the line-up.
Runs were scored by Ben Elliott, Andrew Provest, Stephen Pearson and Matt Forster.
Again, Dapto Chiefs accepted the challenge.
With four hits they batted in five runs before the Mariners managed to end their innings.
The final innings saw six batters face the plate.
A Gabe Tate hit was not enough to add to the Mariners total of six runs, seeing them fall 8-6.
Andrew Provest pitched the whole game throwing 96 pitches for 46 strikes and five strikeouts.
Hits went to Degan Brekelmans, Ben Elliott (2B), Stephen Pearson and Gabe Tate.
Both the Mariners' fourth and fifth grade matches were washed out on Sunday.
