Manly Warringah and Macarthur are the 2020 Open State Champions after a great weekend of Softball at Blacktown International Sportspark.

The women’s competition kicked off on Friday Night and the standard of those games set the scene for some exciting Softball over the entire weekend.

Manly Warringah with a depth of experience and talent cruised through their Friday Night game against Cumberland Nepean 8 – 0 before having to fight hard against North Shore in the first game on Saturday after trailing 7 – 3 before powering home for a 8 – 7 win. Manly continued their run with wins against Penrith City, Sutherland and Newcastle before falling to Macarthur in the last game of the rounds.

Macarthur started their championships in fine form defeating North Shore 3 – 0 on the Friday Night but then had a loss to Newcastle a win against Sutherland and another loss to Cumberland saw the Red and Blues on shaky ground heading into Sunday. On Sunday Macarthur proved too strong for Penrith City and had an upset win over the previously undefeated Manly Warringah to move through to a rematch with Manly Warringah.

The final was a close contest with the game being controlled from the mound by Aussie Spirit players Gabbie Plain (Macarthur) and Tarni Stepto (Manly Warringah). Macarthur jumped out of the block to put one run on the board in the 1^st innings. The game remained 1 – 0 until the bottom of the 6^th when Jordy Christensen got on base and scored on a Tarni Steto triple. Stepto scored on a great bunt from Chelsea Bennett to put the pressure on Macarthur heading into the top of the 7^th. Stepto was too good and didn’t allow another run in to lead Manly Warringah to the title.

Final Placings

1^st Manly Warringah

2^nd Macarthur

3^rd Cumberland Nepean

4^th North Shore

5^th Sutherland

6^th Penrith City

7^th Newcastle

The Mens competition was close and the finalists were not decided until the last game of the rounds. Macarthur finished 1^st and headed into the final. 2^nd place was between Georges River and Hornsby and after finishing on the same points and runs against it went back to the head to head game in the rounds which determined Georges River got the spot in the final .

The Grand Final was tight for the first 2 innings before the Macarthur bats started to fire in the 3rd. With loaded bases Aussie Steelers player James Todhunter hit a triple before Boston Lowe drove in the run with a hard hit to rightfield taking the tally to 4 for the innings. 2 home runs to Harry Pudner and Blake Hunter and another run took the total to 7. Georges River had no answer in the top of the 5^th and the game was called. Macarthur are the 2020 Men’s State Champions.

Final Placings

1^st Macarthur

2^nd Georges River

3^rd Hornsby

4^th Penrith City

5^th Cumberland Nepean

6^th Southern Districts

7^th Invitational