Suiside split doubleheader as Martians stun Marlins to blow open women’s division

It was an action-packed week in Geraldton softball with big results for all teams in the Division 1 men’s and women’s competition. Suiside men played their doubleheader against Rams and Martians, coming away with a win and a loss. Against Martians, Dylan Percy’s Bulldogs went down 10 -6 with Martians Nik Valenti providing one for the highlights with a powerful home run right through centre field. Tane Brott and Luke Valenti pitched superbly for the winners, getting nine strikeouts between them. The second game saw Suiside on top, with Cooper Jefferies outstanding on the pitcher’s mound for the Bulldogs pitching a shutout, giving Suiside the win 3-0. The results leave the division tied on points, with only run difference separating the teams. In the women’s games Marlins had their first defeat since Christmas, going down to Martians 3-1. Marlins lost their lead late in the seventh inning, an error leading to two runs for Martians in a tense game with no score until the sixth inning. With the score tied at the top of the seventh, Zel Van Niekerk got home from a hit from Belinda Basell, resulting in a wild throw, moving Halo Colley onto 3rd base and then Colley got home on the same wild throw to make the score 3-1 for Martians. Marlins star player Taryn Purcell was still upbeat after the team’s loss. “It’s the first loss since before the Christmas break. But we know what we need to work on now to become a stronger team,” she said. In the other match, a depleted Pi’s and Suiside fought out a hard battle with Pi’s taking the eventual win 17-10. Lots of errors on both sides led to a high-scoring and entertaining game. Jade Dawson and Shannon Drew both excelling for the Pi’s side. Pi’s coach David Sutton saw the team struggling before the match due to absences and injuries. “With players still away we have been hit significantly with injuries and thanks to the division two players we were only just able to field a side,” he said. “Special mention to a young 15-year-old Lillie Ahearn who has never played before. She took on the designated runner position and was outstanding and looks like becoming a permanent part of our team.” In the second division, Martians Red went down to Rams White, 6-3. Martians were up 3 to 1 at the bottom of the fifth inning but the last inning didn’t go their way while Martians Black lost to Suiside 5-11. Batavia Blaze had a good day, defeating Marlins 11-5 with coach Adam Gilchrist full of praise for his players. “The team really pulled together as Cam Etherton opened the pitching and did a good job before Eli Etherton finished out,” he said. “With the bat Joel Etherton had a good game hitting a few three-bag hits while the likes of Beau Green and Jack Etherton are starting to find some good form.” For the women, Suiside defeated Martians Black 19-7, in a well-fought-out game as Batavia Blaze defeated Martians Black in the second game of their double header, Martians going down 17-4. Marlins defeated Blaze earlier in the week as Michelle Kyles impressed for Marlins, driving in a total of six runs across the innings.