Geraldton softball Rd 7: Suiside men’s division 1 keep tight grip on top spot while Martians women a standout

Tight finishes, big batting innings and a few heroic moments wrapped up round seven of the Geraldton softball season, as Suiside keep their grip on the men’s division one ladder with a 6-4 win over Rams.

The match on Saturday swung early in Rams favour after Paul Valenti and Shane Clark sparked a handy first innings. But Suiside steadied and Liam Meharry produced the hit of the day with a strong home run that cleared the fence by 5m, pulling his side back into the contest.

Cooper Jefferies was solid on the mound and Suiside held firm whenever the pressure rose.

Blaze were convincing with their 11-1 win over Martians later on Saturday. Jack and Eli Etherton were superb across their combined spell, collecting seven strikeouts from just 14 Martians plate appearances.

For Martians the ball simply refused to meet the middle of the bat and Blaze cashed in with clean fielding and powerful hitting.

Rams drew 2-all with Blaze in the late match, a contest in which neither side could quite find the telling blow.

Martians delivered the stand-out women’s division one result with a 3-1 win over Suiside on Saturday. Locked at 1-1 at the bottom of the seventh, pitcher Tamara Kuipers stepped up with runners on base and belted a crucial two-bag safe hit that brought home the winning runs.

Rams kept their own momentum with an 8-1 win over Pi’s Panthers on Friday night. The match exploded in the sixth innings when Rams piled on eight runs.

Kristi March doubled, Carolyn Sands singled, Narissa Valenti drove in two, Kate Harrison added another and Stevie Usher launched a three-run homer. Usher was also composed in the circle, giving up only one run from six innings.

There were big swings in the men’s division two scores. Martians put on a show in their 23-6 win over Marlins with 12 safe hits and steady fielding.

Jaryd Bear was the star with nine strikeouts and a double.

Martians also beat Blaze 9-7 in a comeback for the ages after trailing 7-1. Bear sparked it with a grand slam home run.

Suiside overwhelmed Gunduwa 40-0 in a one-sided result, while Pi’s Panthers beat Marlins 11-3 with consistent hitting.

The Rams derby was another highlight with Rams Blue defeating Rams White 9-8 thanks to a six run fourth innings that came without a single hit. Luke Valenti struck out 13 for Rams Blue and Paul Somerville drove in three vital runs.

The women’s division two produced one of the games of the season when Rams White and Rams Blue tied 8-8.

Blue shot out to an 8-4 lead after sharp hitting from Alex Sharp, Karina L Estrelle and Beth Dawson but White stormed back through a Rachel Carter double and a brilliant inside the park home run from Katlynn Nauer.

Both sides ran wild with 30 combined stolen bases and did not commit a single error in the field.

Blaze beat Martians 10-7 in a tight contest, while Gunduwa beat Suiside 19-5 and Marlins defeated Pi’s Panthers 20-6.

The junior fixtures also produced drama, with Blaze edging Bulldogs 2-1 in the 16s match. In the 14s, Rams snuck home 8-7 over Marlins and Pi’s Panthers showed real firepower to beat Martians 17-9.