07/05/2026
With the weather gods again shining on Hastings Baseball, last Sunday’s Round 3 saw the Spartans playing away to the Middle Rock Mariners.
In what proved to be a gritty, but in some respects mirror reverse of last year’s B Grade grand final, Spartans and Mariners were able to initially keep each other scoreless in the first, before Spartans were able to creep ahead scoring 2 in the top of the second thanks to some good bat discipline and a handful of hits. Following a scoreless bottom due to consecutive strike outs by Jade Holstein on the mound, Spartans went on to score another run in the top of the third, taking a 3-0 lead. Despite Spartans’ growing confidence, the Mariners bats rallied in the bottom of the third, finding several holes and creating the opportunity to score themselves a quick 5 runs. With the momentum shifted, Spartans were kept scoreless in the fourth, and Mariners looked to capitalise on their 5-3 lead with their 9 spot batter leading off the bottom with a double. Never to retreat, and never to surrender, Spartans continued to battle with Mick Marthick retiring the next 3 batters. With a final opportunity to claw back a few runs, the Spartans’ started well with both Sean Faichney and Marthick displaying bat discipline to get themselves on base. While Faichney was able to score on a sac fly to right field from Holstein, the Spartans’ tying run was unfortunately left on base with Mariners quickly retiring the next two batters. Despite a close game, Mariners were ultimately able to walk away with a 5-4 win.
In A Grade, Spartans’ season momentum looked under threat as the Mariners took an early lead, leaving Spartans scoreless in the first and scoring 2 for themselves. Awoken by the Mariners’ initial attack, Spartans quickly rallied scoring 5 runs in the top of the third, thanks to a renewed focus with the bat and a double from Ben Hickey. With Hickey‘s pitching and a tight field keeping Mariners scoreless in the bottom, Spartans renewed the attack scoring a further 4 runs thanks to some aggressive base running. Spartans entered the bottom of the fourth with a 9-2 lead, but Mariners continued to resist, scoring one. In the top of the fourth, Spartans bat discipline peaked, drawing five walks and creating the opportunity to score a further two runs. Mariners were kept scoreless in the fourth, with the first three batters retired thanks to a catch each by Cody Hicks in right field, and Cam Rutherford in left, and a tidy 5-3 play from Bryden Kouwenberg to Ben Thiele. Not satisfied with the 11-3 lead, Blake Owen maintained the Spartans’ momentum in the top of the fifth with a signature double (albeit with an uncharacteristic double to centre (Blakey loves the right field)), leading the way for a further two runs. Never to stop fighting, Mariners fought to narrow the gap in the bottom of the fifth by scoring two, but Spartans were able to walk away with a 13-5 win.
Thanks as always to our generous sponsors:
Finnian's Irish Tavern
Mid North Coast Allied Health - Hastings
Lifestyle Group Port Macquarie and Wauchope
INTERSPORT Port Macquarie
Moorebeer Brewing Co.
Our endless gratitude also to:
Samone Holstein 📸 for her magic with the lens, and
Karen Potts ⚾️ for her tireless efforts behind the scorebooks