Friday saw the start of the season for Far North Coast Softball Association's junior players with little sluggers proving to be really popular with the preschool kids this year.

With both junior groups lead by veteran softballers Kayleen Shailes and Dianne McGowen, the juniors worked on developing their softball skills through different drills.

Friday also saw the start of Far North Coast Softball Association's mixed competition with two close games full of big hits.

Goonellabah come up against Workers Isotopes in a tough game. Both teams had a great game with the bat with Jeremy Sexton and Dan Bligh from Isotopes and Brett Johnston from Goonellabah all hitting home runs, but it was Isotopes who took the win 37 runs to 32.

Goonellabah’s pitcher Sharon Foster gave her all against Workers Isotopes. Photo: Lauren Forrester

In the other game Rous took on Casino in another game of great batting, with home runs from Sam Dowse and Gave Regueira from Rous and Callum Duncan and Johanna Presgrave from Casino. But in the end Casino just proved too strong taking the win 41 runs to 34.

Rous Rangers' Sam Dowse hit a home run in a display of great batting. Photo: Lauren Forrester

The closet game on Saturday was between Workers Wild Turkeys and Woodburn. Kasey Renwick at shortstop boosted Turkey's infield with four outs in the first two innings, while Rocky Tickle worked hard in the outfield restricting Woodburn's batters. Turkeys took the early lead with consistent batting from Shay Kelly, Renwick and Lyn McDonald. Woodburn then hit their stride in the third crossing the plate six times with hits from Lucy Creighton, Sarah Colbourne and Leone Creighton. But in the end it was Turkeys who ran away with a 14 to 8 win.

Rous turned up this week with three out of four teams taking very convincing wins over their opponents. Rangers came up against Casino Cougars and not wanting a repeat of the last week, Rangers went into bat first and shined with the bat before shutting Cougars out to take the early lead. Cougars were able to score two runs in the second off the bat of Natalie Needham. But Rangers just proved to be too strong with the bat with home runs from Holly Cameron, Dowse and two from Wes Wilford to take the win 27 to 2. Warriors came up against Goonellabah with Polly Dening leading from the pitcher's circle backed by her team in the field. They were just too strong, defeating Goonellabah 12 to nil.

Rogues were too strong for a young Rascals team, with home runs from Connor Cassin and Tess Edwards, while youngster Hayden Grove was a stand out for Rascals taking two catches at shortstop, in their 18 to nil defeat.

In the last two games for the weekend Casino Sharks proved too strong for Byron Redsox winning 14 to 3, and Ballina dominated Dodger with a 10 run lead 14 to 4.