Geraldton softball preliminary finals wrap: Pi’s, Rams and Martians Red secure their grand final tickets

Pi’s Panthers, Rams and Martians Red secured their places in this weekend’s Geraldton softball grand finals after a round of thrilling preliminary finals in men’s and women’s divisions. The matches on Friday and Saturday saw Pi’s Panthers book their grand final ticket in women’s divisions one and two, Rams progress in men’s division one and Martians Red go through in men’s division two. In women’s division one, Pi’s Panthers delivered a stunning 19-4 victory over Suiside in the preliminary final. Suiside got off to a flying start with a barrage of big hits, led by Maddison Jefferies, Teagan Mundy, and Jarmanda Jones, whose impressive three-bagger was a highlight of the early innings. However, Pi’s, bolstered by a lot of noise form the dugout, stayed focused, maintained their composure and dug deep. Suiside’s development co-ordinator Kerri Jefferies-Bowes acknowledged the team’s strong start but noted how Pi’s relentless hitting and costly errors took a toll. “The team’s energy was high, and it seemed as though they were unstoppable,” she said. “However, Pi’s found their rhythm, and a few close calls that didn’t go our way seemed to shift the momentum. Despite our best efforts, we just couldn’t regain our footing.” Pi’s coach David Sutton was proud of his team’s performance and the turnaround from finishing at the bottom of the ladder last season to now securing a grand final spot. “It is a reflection of all the hard work and team building we have put in this year,” he said. “Having Wendy Sutton come on board as assistant coach has been a godsend — it was so good for Panthers all round. We’ve really worked hard to come together as a club and support all.” Kym Trenfield and Kylie Morgan were outstanding at the plate, batting 1000 with safe hits every time at bat. “Having everyone available this week and again for the grand final has given us the confidence we need,” Sutton added. In the men’s division one prelim, Rams dominated Blaze, winning 10-2 via the mercy rule. Paul Valenti, the Geraldton Softball Association chair and a key player for Rams, was pleased with the team’s effort. “We had a ripping game. Everyone contributed with the bat, which is very pleasing going into next week,” he said. Dion Harrison set the tone early with a home run, and Dean Pascoe, who always seems to find another gear in finals, looked in top form on the pitchers mound. Marshall Harrison sealed the game in spectacular fashion, blasting a deep shot over the fence to end it early under the mercy rule. Blaze were certainly not embarrassed, with both Josh and Sean Thompson in good form, but ultimately Rams were simply too strong for the finals first timers The men’s division two preliminary final saw Martians Red overcome Batavia Blaze in a hard-fought 4-2 victory. Heading into the match, Martians had yet to beat Blaze all season, but they rose to the occasion. Both teams struggled offensively, with multiple strikeouts highlighting the dominance of the pitchers. Martians Red’s Eli Etherton notched an impressive 12 strikeouts, while Blaze’s Kynan Leggett recorded nine. Batavia Blaze managed four safe hits, including a triple and a single from Owen Scatena, while Martians Red secured only two. Despite the limited batting success, Martians capitalised on a few crucial errors, wild pitches, and passed balls from Blaze to claim the win and book their spot in the grand final. Earlier, the women’s division two preliminary final between Suiside and Pi’s Panthers ended in a dramatic extra-innings showdown. Pi’s Panthers emerged victorious in a tense tie-breaker, edging out Suiside 12-11 in a thrilling contest. Jefferies-Bowes described it as a “nail-biting contest, with both teams displaying determination.” “Suiside got off to a strong start, taking the lead and holding onto it for most of the game,” she said. “Sue Mundy, Aerin Scatena, Marnie Terhoeve, and Gemma Moore all played their hearts out. Pi’s refused to give up, fighting back to level the score and send the game into a tiebreaker. Despite our best efforts, they managed to edge us out.” The division one grand final showdowns are Rams versus Pi’s Panthers in the women’s and Suiside against Rams in the men’s. The division two deciders will be between Pi’s Panthers and Marlins in the women’s and Suiside and Martians Red in the men’s.