The Inaugural 23 & Under State Championships were held at Milton Park, Campbelltown over the weekend and proved to be a success with 10 female teams and 6 male teams competing. The feedback from the players was very positive and the standard of competition was high.

The men’s competition was tight with 2nd and 3rd positions only decided in the last games of the rounds.

Georges River went up against Southern Districts in the game to decide Macarthur’s opposition in the final. Georges River dominated the game running out winners 8-1.

Macarthur went into the final undefeated with only having 8 runs scored against them and piling on 45 runs for. Not to be too concerned with their opposition Georges River piled in the runs in the first few innings taking a 7-2 lead. Macarthur managed to peg back a run later in the game but it was Georges River running out winners 7-3 and taking the inaugural 23 & Under Men’s State Championship Title.

Men’s Final Placings

1st Georges River

2nd Macarthur

3rd Southern Districts

4th Penrith City

5th Orange

6th Newcastle

The Women’s Competition was a very close affair with placings for the finals determined by runs against in most cases. Pool A saw a 3 way tie with North Shore, Cumberland Nepean and Macarthur all finishing on 10 points with only 1 loss each and runs against came into play. Pool B had Sutherland and Hornsby finishing on top with Sutherland having less runs against finishing first. Manly Warringah and Penrith City game in the last round would be a determining factor in which team would progress. Despite the loss, Penrith City who hung on to 3rd place with less runs against.

Sutherland and North Shore made their way into the final defeating Cumberland Nepean and Hornsby respectively.

Sutherland came out firing and took the lead early in the game 3-0 then North Shore slowly pegged back the runs to force a tie breaker. Sutherland were unable to convert in the top of the innings. In the bottom of the innings North Shore moved their runner to 3rd then a long sacrifice fly scored the winning run, North Shore taking the game 4 runs to 3.

Women’s Final Placings

1st North Shore

2nd Sutherland

=3rd Hornsby & Cumberland Nepean

5th Macarthur

6th Penrith City

7th Manly Warringah

8th Southern Districts

9th Newcastle

10th Campbelltown

Thank you to Softball Campbelltown and their many volunteers who worked tirelessly throughout the weekend to make this event a success.