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Aggressive base running, timely hitting, and steady pitchers propelled the Marlins to the top of the three team competition, outscoring their opposition 49-12 in four games played.

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The Marlins certainly had to rely on their playing skills to sweep the two day event, but it was a chorus of singing teammates that ultimately appeared to help keep the side loose and then go out and steamroll the opposition on the field.

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The 14 player roster was comprised of promising U12 year olds from the Golden Grove - Central Districts, East Torrens, Port Adelaide, Northern Districts, and Kensington baseball clubs, all of whom bonded well during their six-week training preparation.

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The boys not only delighted their supporters with impressive results on the scoreboard, but their success also included singing an old 1930s song in the dugout each game.

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GAME 1 – SATURDAY, 13 APRIL - In the opening game of the tournament the Marlins kicked things off with a narrow 2-0 win over the Adelaide Seahawks .

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The Marlins opened the scoring in the first inning with Ryder McQuire-Thomas (Northern Districts) crossing the plate following a wild pitch.

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The Marlins then managed to protect their slim lead until the fourth inning when Chase Mazurek (GGCD) scampered home on a passed ball.

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Marlins starting pitcher Liam Harris (Kensington) registered 9 strikeouts over the opening three innings, no hitting the Seahawks, albeit giving up 6 walks and beaning two batters. James Newbold (Kensington), Hunter Ung (GGCD), and Noah Soar (GGCD) came on in relief of Harris, each working one inning and combining for six strikeouts and two walks, preserving the no-hitter and the victory.

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Catcher Oscar Patman (East Torrens), Harris, Newbold, Mazurek, and MacQuire-Thomas all collected single hits for the Marlins.

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GAME 2- SATURDAY, 13 APRIL - The Marlins jumped on the Adelaide Rays pitching early for 5 runs in the first dig, and from there never looked back, pounding out 13 hits, including home runs to Ashton Mogg (GGCD), Aaron Davis (East Torrens), and Cameron Majewski (GGCD), enroute to a 18-5 dredging of the Rays.

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Cooper Simmons (Port Adelaide), Patman, Simmons, McQuire-Thomas, Majewski, and Davis, all led the offensive attack with two hits each, with Davis highlighting the charge with his homer and three runs batted in.

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Majewski was the Marlins starting pitcher lasting two innings, striking out one batter, allowing four hits and three runs. He was replaced by Chase Mazurek in the third inning, facing three batters, for no runs and one strikeout. Ashton Mogg pitched ⅔ of the final inning facing 5 batters, before giving way to Zac Gratton (East Torrens) to close the door and turn out the lights with the third out.

 

GAME 3 – SUNDAY, 14 APRIL - Starting pitcher Hunter Ung and Aaron Davis (East Torrens) were the headline acts in Sunday’s early morning 13-3 verdict over the Rays on the Back Diamond, at West Beach.

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Ung was on the money, throwing 40 of 54 pitches for strikes, fanning 4, allowing no runs.

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Davis meanwhile chalked up his second home run of the tourney when he slammed a sharp liner to left that got by the Rays outfield, rolling toward the boundary fence and allowing the lanky speedster plenty of time to score the round tripper.

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Ashton Mogg relieved Ung on the mound for the final inning, facing six Ray batters, striking out one, and allowing three runs.

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Ten-year-old Patman continued his hot hitting with two more singles, while Harris, Davis, and Majewski were all penciled in for two hits on the scoresheet.

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Simmons, Mazurek, Ryder McQuire-Thomas, and Mogg, all had smashed doubles, while Gratton, and Noah Sutherland (East Torrens), each added singles to round out a 16 hit Marlins barrage.

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GAME 4 – SUNDAY, 14 APRIL -Tall right hander Zac Gratton started on the mound for the Marlins in Sundays fourth and final game against the Seahawks.

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Gratton’s teammates gave him a comfortable seven run cushion after just two innings, and from that point onward the Marlins sprinted home with a 16-4 victory. Gratton fanned six batters, while scattering three hits, allowing just three runs.

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The Marlins were relentless at the plate, bombarding the Seahawks with 16 hits.

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McQuire-Thomas 3 hits, Mazurek, Patman, Simmons, and Mogg , each with 2 hits, while Davis, Ung, Gratton, Newbold, and Majewski all added singles.

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Davis relieved Gratton in the 4th inning, striking out two of the four batters faced, before giving the ball to Alex Camerlengo (Kensington) in the final inning. Camerlengo faced four batters, fanning two, while allowing just the one Seahawks run.

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Patman proved to be a man on a mission for the four games batting at a red hot .875 BA clip, Ryder McQuire-Thomas also hit .875 BA, followed close behind by Chase Mazurek .833 BA, Cooper Simmons .750 BA, Cameron Majewski .714 BA, and Aaron Davis .714 BA.

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Liam Harris topped all pitchers with 9 strikeouts in just 3 innings of work on the mound.

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Overall, the tournament proved to be a great experience for the players, coaches, and game officials, and hours of enjoyment for parents, grandparents, and family and friends, who attended the two-day event.

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The Marlins dugout chorus. "You Are My Sunshine”, orchestrated by shortstop Noah Sutherland became somewhat of a rally chant of sorts. It certainly kept the bench in good spirits, and it was all to the bemusement of the 100 plus supporters who watched each match.

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The singing and fun banter on the bench solidified the team spirit and comradery amongst the players and coaching staff, something Head Coach Stef Gratton pointed out was most pleasing.

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“After a slow start in game 1, the boys settled, and the bats came alive across the last three games and we had a successful undefeated tournament.”

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“The friendships formed and the way they came together in a short time was the biggest victory for me”, Gratton added.

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Gratton had a stellar coaching staff in Dalton Osbourne, Davey Roach, and Karen Mentha, all of whom indicated they were very satisfied with the outcome.

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Special thanks to Score Keeper-Jess Paton, and Vanessa Davis - Recording Balls and Strikes .

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