It was a spectators delight with close and exciting games being the theme of the day, when Far North Coast Softball finally took to the diamonds to play their Finals and Grand Final games.

Rous Hotel Rascals and Lismore Workers Mighty Ducks set the tone for the day with a game that had everyone cheering in the Division 4 Grand Final with 2 runs being the difference at the end of the game seeing Rascals winning by 15 runs to 13. Several games throughout the day, were won or lost by 1 or 2 runs setting up some amazing struggles to either advance to the grand final or win the grand final game.

Casino finished how they started the season with a brilliant display of softball. The brilliance of Michelle Lucas pitching to Joanna Presgrave accounted for seven outs in the game, striking out Rous’ batters who struggled to connect with the ball.

Rangers first two batters were sent back to the bench when Lucas left them swing the bat. Nadine Toniello got bat on ball, only to have it go straight to first base where Mikayla Coe made an easy out.

A homerun to Lachlan Coe, saw Casino score two runs in the first innings before Karen Evans was thrown out at first base by Rous’ secondbase Hannah Elliot for the third out.

Again, Rangers first two batters were struck out. Samantha Dowse hit a long fly out into left field only to have Talarra Berry scamper across the field to catch the ball in foul territory for the third out.

Rous’ pitcher struggled in the second innings loading up the bases by walking the first three batters. With two runs across the plate Lucas hit to Wesley Wilford at third base who made the out on Julia Lucas, trying to advance to his base followed by Shannon Holgate taking an easy catch at firstbase for the second out. A safe hit from Berry saw Casino score again, but it was a homerun from Evans that saw three runs cross the plate to give Casino an 8 to nil lead.

Lucas continued her form, striking out the first two batters. Holgate hit the ball to leftfield reaching first base but was left stranded when Lachlan O’Sullivan hit to Nicole Bruce at second base who calmly throw him out at first.

The bottom of the third saw a change in pitcher for Rangers with Holgate stepping onto the plate. Leadoff batter, Bruce hit safely to centrefield – but this is where Holgate took back control striking out Oliver Shields and with the next two batters being put out at first, keeping Casino scoreless for the first time in the game.

Rangers were now getting bat on ball despite their first two batters being throwing out at firstbase by Lachlan Coe who was covering the shortstop position. Wilford stepped into the batter’s box and hit a fly ball to rightfield, who misjudge the ball, resulting in him reaching thirdbase. A wild pitch saw Wilford score before Lucas shut down the innings striking out the batter in the box. The fourth innings saw Casino with a handy 8 runs to 1 lead.

Rangers had to increase their attack and with Dowse in the batter’s box she smashed the ball to Bruce now at firstbase with such force that it hit her glove and flew off into the waiting hands of secondbase, Mikayla Coe backing her up to take an astonishing catch. An error at shortstop saw Elliot reach first base but a dazzling double play by Presgrave at shortstop took the catch of Samantha Greens bat and caught Elliot of base, throwing out at first.

Casino tried to add to their tally in their final bat but was shutdown by Wilford pulling in an amazing line drive of Lucas’ bat which was going away from him down thirdbase line, a strike out to Holgate and Wilford starring again taking a catch for the last out of the game. Casino taking out the Major and Minor Premiership winning by 8 runs to 1.

In the Division 2 competition, four teams battle out a final prior to the grand final game. Minor Premiers Rous Hotel Warriors took on a determined Lismore Workers Wild Turkeys side in the first of the Finals game.

A homerun by Alex Poole saw Warriors score three runs before Kasey Renwick caught Sue Clark in leftfield and regulation out at first from Worker’s pitcher Lyn McDonald sent Rous out on to the field.

Turkeys could not ask for a better start by scoring six runs with hits from Renwick and Luke Zimmerman as pitcher Esther Denning struggled finding her rhythm.

The two teams attacked the ball and combined with some exceptional fielding there was nothing between the two sides. At the bottom of the second innings, Workers had a 9 to 6 run lead. With Clark now pitching for Rous, Worker’s attack came to a halt. A strike out and to throw outs at first from Rose saw Turkeys scoring no runs.

With the score locked at 9 all, Rous went into bat and capitalised on a wild throw to first base scoring one run and putting the batter/runner on second base. Hits from Poole and Clark score five runs. A sensational catch from Connor Cassin at centrefield stopped the onslaught and sent Worker into bat.

Connor set the pace for Workers hitting to centrefield to reach secondbase. A fly ball to Alicia Robb on firstbase gave Warriors their first out followed by a fly ball to Poole at shortstop. Hits to Thomas, Luke Zimmermann and Renwick saw Turkeys score three runs. But it was all over when Toniello throw out Roxy Tickle racing towards first base given Rous a 14 – 12 win a passage through to the Grand Final.

Ballina Sharks and Dodgers Demons battled out the second Final to determine who would meet Warriors in the Grand Final. Dodgers led from the start with consistent batting and controlled pitching form Christine Rose. Although Ballina got off to a slow start, they got back on track with pitcher Charlene Amber and catcher Molly Donald leading their team’s attack.

But in the end, it was Dodgers who advance to the Grand Final with a 10 to 6 run win.

The Division 2 Grand Final between Rous Hotel Warriors and Dodgers Demons was a thriller with the game going into a tie breaker to decide a winner. Pitchers Esther Denning (Rous) and Karina Connors (Dodgers) gave their side every opportunity to win as they restricted the opposition's attack. Rous were sent into bat and Connors instantly sent them back into the dugout with the first three batters struck out.

Dodgers suffered a similar fate with all three batters being thrown out at first base by thirdbase Ashlen Mathie and two from Denning herself. Connors dominated Warriors in the second and third innings keeping Rous scoreless with three strike outs a catch to Ash Davis at thirdbase and throw outs at firstbase from Emily Wiltshire at secondbase and Connors.

After Denning striking out Kayleen Shailes, Sam Davis stepped up slamming a massive homerun through leftfield to break the deadlock at the bottom of the 2nd dig. Rous’ catcher Sharmeeka McPaul threw out Wiltshire trying to steal to secondbase for the second out followed by Poole at shortstop sealing the third out. Dodgers scored again in the third to give them a 2 to nil lead.

The top of the fourth innings, Warriors lead off batter Jakira Toniello hit safely to leftfield finishing up on third base. McPaul was award firstbase after being hit by a pitch ball. But it was a one base hit to rightfield by Poole that saw both Toniello and McPaul scoring to level up the score to 2 all.

The fifth innings saw both team remain scoreless with Davis taking a catch and throwing the batter/runner out at first followed by a strike out to Conners for Dodgers, while a catch to Sue Clark at leftfield, a put out by Toniello at firstbase and a catch to right fielder Tania Harris-Bateman for Warriors.

With the tiebreaker now in place Denning was sent to start on secondbase for Rous. A wild throw from secondbase saw Denning score and Toniello on thirdbase. McPaul hit firstbase with Shailes making the out. But a series of errors of came into Dodgers defensive play costing them dearly with Warriors scoring four runs to give them a 6 to 2 lead.

It was do or die for Dodgers and they had to score four runs minimum to stay in the game. Cameron Reynolds went to secondbase and was advance to third bae on hit from Connors but resulted in her being thrown out at first base by Denning. Shailes hit a screamer into the hands of Poole at shortstop who quickly turned the double by throwing Reynolds out at thirdbase and giving his team a hard-fought win.

In the Division 3 competition, Goonellabah Gunnas advanced to the Grand Final with a convincing win over Rous Hotel Rouges by 16 runs to 9.

Both teams started strongly scoring 6 runs each with Zarlia Bryant, Jasmin Bryant and Connor Cassin all hitting safely for Rogues. A three-base hit to Zac Poulton a double to Leanne Lovett and Jamila Pursche and a safe hit to Haylee Bolt saw Gunnas level the score.

However, Goonellabah showed their dominance both with the bat and in the field as shut down Rous’ attack in the 2 nd and 3 rd innings with shortstop Jodie Foster leading the charge, while Jamila Pursche lead her team with the bat with a massive homerun through leftfield.

In the other game, Byron Redsox left their charge for the Grand Final to the last innings of the game. Woodburn Wonders had an 8 to 4 lead at the bottom of the fourth innings with aggressive batting from Kristy Lawton, Carmen Ainsworth, Lucy and Leone Creighton and outstanding field play with leftfielder Leila Taylor pulling off a double play in the second with a catch and throwing the runner out at secondbase.

Redsox saw the writing on the wall and in a determined effort to back into the game they unleashed a batting flurry with Frankie Lee forcing her hand. Hits to Kim Garrell, Terrie Currie and Kerry Northcott pushed their players around the diamond and score five runs and advancing them into the Grand Final with a 9-8 run win over Woodburn.

Byron Redsox went on win the Division 3 Grand Final by 7 runs to 0.

Byron Bay Redsox were worthy winners in the Division Three Grand Final.

As stated previously, Rous Hotel Rascals and Lismore Workers Mighty Ducks started the day with a great game in the Division 4 Grand Final. Both teams have several junior players in their ranks and their quality of play and sportsmanship was amazing.

At the completion of the first innings the teams were locked at six all with hits from Kobi Forrester, Harry Clark, Emily Finlay and Tara Clark for Workers, while homeruns to Hayden Grove and Georgia Sheridan were a feature in Rous’ game, as well as hits from Connor Robb and Georgia Williams.

Ducks raced away to a six-run lead at the bottom of second with discipline batting and a brilliant fielding dig with Ava Greensill at second base throwing the leadoff batter out at first, a strike out to the pitcher duo of Tara Clark to Naomi McGowen and a gusty line drive catch off the bat of Grove to Forrester at firstbase to complete the innings.

Not to be out done, Rascals kept Ducks scoreless in the 3rd inning with shortstop Grove throwing out Forrester running to firstbase, pitcher Robb and catcher Charlie Martin teaming up together to tag out Leah Manning trying to steal home followed by second base Melanie Johnson throwing Harry Clark out trying to beat the ball to firstbase. The scored five runs to be within one run of Workers who led by 12 runs to 11.

With the pressure on both teams the scene was set for a thrilling finish. Workers went into bat with Finlay hitting a fly ball to Grove at shortstop. Tara Clark was struck out and with two out, it took 13-year-old Greensill to calm her side down and reach first base on a walk. McGowen and Rhianna Lawton both reach first base on a walk. Greensill crossed homeplate prior to Manning hit a fly ball straight back to the pitcher who easily took the catch.

With a 2-point lead to Workers, Rascals stepped up to the plate and attacked the ball. Zahli Bateman hit safely to rightfield, while Alice Shields was thrown out at first by Greensill. Hits to Sheridan and Johnson saw two runs cross homeplate and the score was now level at 13 all. But with a two base hit to Robb and despite Workers getting the next three batters out, Rous had done enough to win by 15 runs to 13.

A delighted Rous Hotel Warriors with the Division 2 Grand Final winners trophy.

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Far North Coast Softball Grand Finals 2021

Division 1: Casino 1 defeated Rous Hotel Rangers 8-1;

Division 2: Rous Hotel Warriors defeated Dodgers Demons 4-2;

Division 3: Byron Redsox defeated Goonellabah Gunnas 7-0;

Division 4: Rous Hotel Rascals defeated Lismore Workers Mighty Ducks 15-13.