A DETERMINED second grade Shoalhaven Mariners took on Eagles two at Berkeley on Saturday.
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As the visitors, Mariners stepped up to the plate first.
Michael Vine got the hitting started, then both Kai Meuronen and Brenton McMahon were struck by pitches loading the bases.
A passed ball allowed Mariners to strike first - disappointingly it was the only run produced this inning.
Berkeley got hitting early as well, two hits in the first as Glen Needham hit a line drive to open the game and a walk to Darren O'Connell.
The Mariners were in strife early, before starting pitcher Bailey Biden struck out Graeme Miller on three pitches.
Berkeley slugger Vince Pleski knocked in the teams' first run on a line drive to right field.
Biden then struck out the next two batters in order.
The next inning saw Mariners plate six to lead 7-1.
Biden would then retire the next three hitters in order.
The Mariners continued their hot form, to run out winners 15-2.
Special mention to Kai Meuronen and Gabe Tate who had six RBIs between them.
Lee Lawson stole three bags on the day and both Biden and Brenton McMahon were stellar on the mound.
Both struck out Berkeley powerbat Vince Pleski.
Hits went to Lee Lawson (two), Michael Vine (two), Kai Meuronen (two), Brenton McMahon (two), Gabe Tate (two), Marcus Atkinson (two), Bailey Biden and Dan Kelly.
Pitchers Bailey Biden (four innings, two hits, five strikeouts, four walks and two earned runs) and Brenton McMahon (one inning - zero hits, two strikeouts, zero walks and zero runs) were both exceptional.
The Mariners' third grade side started with promise but no runs were scored in the first innings by either side.
The Barbarians young guns stood up in the second with two runs scored.
But two runs earned following a hit by Simon Levy evened the ledger.
The third innings saw Mariners close out Barbarians with pitcher Lee Lawson striking out two and Tom Box taking a gsharp right field catch.
Smart batting saw Mariners on base and sneakily stolen bases added another three runs to the total.
The fourth innings yielded no more runs for either side.
In the fifth, Barbarians capitalised on an early error scoring one more run before two more strikeouts closed down the innings.
Three up, three down for Mariners.
In reply, Barbarians hit out and capitalised on errors, putting four players across the plate, to take the lead.
Despite big hits to the outfield, the Mariners could not match the score - going down 7-5.
Lee Lawson pitched for Mariners with 126 pitches with 82 strikes and 10 strikeouts, as Tom Box took two great outfield catches on the run.
In fourth grade, the Mariners hosted Shellharbour Warriors.
The hosts started strong taking an early lead with a nice triple base hit from Bruce Jones bringing in three runs.
From there, another solid innings from Mariners extended the lead.
With the game slowly getting away from the Warriors, they started on their fight back.
Two strong innings from the Warriors - with the highlight being a hit to left field by Jayden Goodair - allowed them to claw their way back into the game.
Then with a number of unfortunate calls not going the Mariners way and their bats going quiet, it added to the challenge.
The Mariners had an impressive double play with Bianca Cotter to Kieran Harris to Matt Forster in the fifth innings.
The visitors tried to take the lead back but fell short by one, letting Warriors take the win 9-8.
On the mound, Andrew Pearson (67 pitches, 36 strikes and five strikeouts), Kieran Harris (32 pitches,16 strikes and one strikeout) and Austin Raymond (26 with 15 strikes and one strikeout) were all solid.
Despite the loss, hits went to Jordan Butfield, Bruce Jones, Bianca Cotter, Matt Forster and Tony Burgess.
One double hit went to Kieran Harris and the hit of the day was a triple to right field by Bruce Jones
In fifth grade, the Mariners played Cardinals 5A at Ison Park.
Sharp fielding by Raymond Goulden, Cameron Goulden and Chris Keith restricted the Cardinals to one run, before Tony Provest's hit brought in two of the hosts six first innings runs.
After no runs by either team in the second, the Cardinals brought in six in the third - despite handy fielding from Dan Miranda, Raymond Goulden, Cameron Goulden and Ben Quiney - to lead 7-6.
In the fourth and fifth innings, the visitors couldn't score while the hosts added four, to win 10-7 - marking their first victory of the season.
Hits for the day went to Riley Mason, Amber Palmer, Chris Keith and Tony Provest.
Tausia Antonio pitched the full game throwing 91 pitches, 53 strikes and five strikeouts.