The two challenging teams were not given the chance to battle it out due to rain at the 2013 South Brisbane Club Classic over the Queen’s Birthday long weekend. Whilst the Western Australian based Southside Mariners had earned the easy path straight through to the final by finishing atop of the ladder at the completion of the round robin, Sharks battled it out game after game to reach the final two.
In what was a strong field with four local and four interstate teams with plenty of Australian and international representatives, there was hitting a plenty with an abundance of exciting men’s fastpitch softball on display.
The finals started early for Sharks who simply had to keep winning on the final day to stay in the comp. This started against the hard hitting Giants and Sharks started strongly with Julian Jemmott slamming a lead-off home run to get an early run on the board. But Giants struck back with some good team hitting by the likes of Shaun Marino and Corey Matakatea to drive in a 4-1 lead.
But Sharks were not down or out and showing some real heart finished strongly equaling the score and then going ahead via an Adam Pearce power-drive with runners on base to advance to the semi versus WA based Monarchs.
The heavens opened and the pitchers, Andy Blackshaw for Sharks and Neil Delpero for Monarchs, struggled to control the ball in what were the most testing of conditions. Sharks gained a one run lead at 3-2 towards the end of regulation time but the advantage was taken away with a towering home run from Monarchs clean up hitter Jason Garner. Sharks scored again in the tie-breaker and this was again matched by Mariners.
In consistent rain both pitchers continued to dig deep to send the game over three hours and in to a ninth innings where Sharks put on a 6 run hitting display, highlighted by a Guy Covacin grand slam home run. Josh Davison was another to lead from the front finishing with three hits from four at bats. Monarchs could only respond with two runs and their tournament was over.
In what was shaping up to be a classic grand final with Mariners only beating Sharks 1-0 late in the round robin game and Sharks having all the momentum, officials controversially stepped in to call off the game citing safety reasons given the wet and the purse went to the higher placed Mariners.
The All-Star team consisted of Drew Faulker-pitcher, Andrew Havercroft-catcher, Jason Garner-1st, Nick O'Shea- 2nd, Joel Southam-3rd, Tyron Bartorillo-S/S, Josh Wagner-L/F, Scott Patterson-C/F, Julian Jemmott- R/F, Zenon Winters-Utility and Michael Balt- Coach.
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