Softball season tees up for return in Geraldton

The Geraldton Softball Association season begins this week and anticipation is high, with fresh faces and exciting developments set to shape a memorable year on the diamond.

This year will be particularly special for the association as it will be sending its first U23 Men’s team to the State Championships in more than two decades.

“It’s a huge moment for us and we can’t wait to see what this talented group achieves,” an association spokesman said.

The season is also bolstered by the introduction of three new tee-ball divisions designed to foster talent and create pathways into softball.

“We’re really focused on growing the game from the ground up. The new divisions for the juniors are a crucial part of that,” the spokesman said.

The club’s senior ranks are equally impressive this year, with nine Division 2 Men’s teams, seven Division 2 Women’s teams and four Division 1 Men’s teams, highlighting the increasing participation in the sport.

PI’s Panthers will be fielding their first men’s team in Division 2, coached by Sandra Watts, a former Division 1 player who has retired from playing to take on coaching.

“We’ve got a great bunch of blokes with very little softball experience but they’re keen to learn. The committee has worked really hard over the off-season to get this team together and we’re optimistic about what they can achieve,” a club representative said.

The Rams, in Men’s Division 1, are also gearing up for the season despite challenges with player availability.

“We’ll have a lot of changes week to week, but we’ve got a strong core group. We’re confident we’ll be there or thereabouts at the end of the season,” a club member said.

Association president Paul Valenti said he was excited at what was shaping up to be a landmark year for the association.

“We’re welcoming a new season with new divisions and our first State Championships representative side in decades,” he said.

“This year is also the 50th edition of the June carnival and we’ve got some exciting additions planned. It’s going to be a big year for the GSA.”

The season kicks off on Thursday with a Women’s Division 2 match between Midwest Marlins and Batavia Blaze. That same night, Martians Black will take on Midwest Marlins in Men’s Division 2 action.

On Friday, Suiside will face PI’s Panthers in Men’s Division 2.

Saturday will feature key match-ups, including Suiside against PI’s Panthers in Men’s Division 1 and Martians clashing with Rams in Women’s Division 1. Other fixtures include Gunduwa facing Suiside in Women’s Division 2 and Martians playing Rams in both Men’s and Women’s Division 2.