With a season that has already been tipped on its head by the coronavirus, it seems only fitting that the Far North Coast Major League baseball competition results reflect this too.

Last year’s major premiers, Norths, are 0-2, while the minor premiers, Redbirds, are 1-1.

Marist Brothers ended last season on the bottom of the table, but have been the surprise package this year, beating Norths last week and Workers on Saturday.

Norths were their own worst enemy in their 12-20 loss against Redbirds under lights at Albert Park on Saturday. Redbirds made Norths pay in the third, scoring seven runs after an error led off the

inning making it their most costly of the game.

Redbirds started the game with the bat with their first scoring opportunity coming in the second innings with a single run, before crossing 7 in the third, 4 in the fourth, 1 in the fifth, 6 in the sixth,

and 1 in the seventh.

Norths hit back with one of their own in the second, before scoring 8 in the third, 2 in the fourth, 1 in the sixth.

Mat Sundstrom was most effective with the bat for Norths, hitting two doubles and a single. Andrew Azzopardi was also handy with the bat, hitting a double to left field.

Redbirds had several batters with multiple hits; Josh Denis hit a double and a single, Cooper Olive hit three singles, and Jack Jeffery hit strong with two singles and two doubles.

George Cooper took the mound to start the game for Norths. He walked three batters, and struck out three, with Paul Simes and Azzopardi coming in to finish the game.

Redbirds pitcher, Josh Healy, started with ten walks and a strike out before being replaced by Garon Clough who was more effective on the day with four strike outs and a walk. Olive finished the game

on the mound with four strike outs and two walks.

In the other Major League game for the day, Brothers beat Workers to have their best start to a season in a number of years, with a 3-2 win.

Workers started the game with the bat, but didn’t record any safe hits until the fifth, with a single to Reece Gregor and Alex Battese, who scored Workers two runs. Trent Clark hit the only other single

in the seventh.

Brothers scored their first run (which proved the difference in the game) after the first batter in the lineup, Kody Wilford was hit by a pitch and then scored off an error in the field. Wilford also scored

the second run along with Reece Gallagher in the fourth.

Matt Buckley was the standout with the bat for Brothers, hitting three singles from four at bats. Gallagher also had multiple hits with two-from-three.

Damien Santin pitched all seven innings for Brothers, throwing four strike-outs and four walks, while Nick Battese started on the mound for Workers, throwing two strike outs and a walk in three innings

before Noah Worgan relieved with two strike-outs and two walks.

The win puts Brothers on top of the ladder, followed by Redbirds and Workers with a win each.

Norths will be hoping to get their first week next week against Brothers.

ROUND 2 RESULTS

Major League:

Brothers beat Workers 3-2

Redbirds beat Norths 20-12

Division 1:

Workers beat Brothers 17-4

Redbirds beat Ballina 16-3

Division 2:

Workers Bears beat Redbirds 12-9

Workers Pirates beat Workers Rangers 13-2

Division 3:

Norths beat Casino 14-3

Workers beat Brothers 23-9

Under 20s:

Workers beat Allstars

Senior League:

Allstars beat Workers – 12-6

Junior League:

Workers beat Brothers 14-7

Norths beat Redbirds 10-0

Little League:

Workers beat Brothers 6-3

Norths beat Redbirds 4-0