On a very wet Saturday morning The Shoalhaven Mariners Major 2nd grade had to attend to a wet ground for an hour before commencing a delayed start to the season opener. Excitement was in the air as winter baseball was back on and last year’s premiers took on the West Illawarra Cardinals at Ison park, Nowra.

The first two innings were over very quickly as Mariners pitcher Michael Vine and Cardinals pitcher Rob Cauduro both started well. Michael Vine’s single to right field, the only hit from either team in the 1st two innings as scores were still tied at 0.

In the top of the 3rd inning the Mariners were made to pay for an early error from shortstop and new recruit Sam DeMeyer. After right fielder Gabe Tate missed a diving catch opportunity and the Cardinals were able to bag a further two hits and score the first two runs of the game.

The Mariners showed promise in the bottom of the 3rd inning as Nick Fisher led off the inning with a single to right field. A Sam DeMeyer RBI single scoring Nick shortly after in what would be the mariners only run for the game.
Michael Vine’s day on the mound would come to an end at the end of the 4th inning but not after he would retire the cardinals in order putting the mariners back up to bat again.

Mariners best hitter on the day (2 from 3) Michael Vine would start of the inning with a double to right field. With none out and Gabe Tate’s single to 3rd base, Mariners now had two on, but would be left wondering what could have been, as the next 3 batters struck out in order.

Relief pitcher and new recruit Kieran Harris now took to the mound for the Mariners and started well, needing just three hitters to retire the side in the top of the fifth.
Hitting became non-existent for the Mariners in the last 2 innings however the Cardinals did add an additional 2 runs getting bat on ball and proving to be too good on the day. Final score Cardinals 4 Mariners 1.