Bunbury & Districts Softball Association players claim silver medal at Masters Games

Bunbury’s best softball players made waves on the east coast while competing in a national multi-sport tournament, earning a silver medal in the process.

Eight players from four Bunbury & Districts Softball Association clubs travelled to the Gold Coast to compete in the 2022 Pan Pacific Masters Games, which were held over 10 days last month.

Tigers Softball Club’s Steve Hoffman and Jonathan Farr, Wanderers Softball Club’s Heath Buswell, Darryl O’Dine and Murray Connell, Steeler Softball Club’s John Penman and Troy Marsh, and Brett Titterton from the Strikers Softball Club joined three players from Geraldton and another player from NSW to represent the Western Ferrals during the tournament.

The Ferrals competed in four pool games and were initially put into the division two competition, where they notched wins over Brisbane Bombers 10-0, Strikers 9-0, Scorpions and Western Wolverines 7-0 before being bumped up to division one.

The Ferrals’ dream run continued with four more wins, defeating Brisbane Giants 9-2, Tan Uncles 6-0, Lions Masters 13-0 and West Coast Marlins 9-2 to earn them a spot in the gold medal match.

They had a rough first innings against Brisbane Giants, with the Giants scoring eight runs.

Hoffman started out as the pitcher but the Ferrals turned to Buswell, who managed to hold the Brisbane Giants to just two more runs.

Although the Ferrals managed to get a few runs on the board in the last three innings, it was not enough to take down the Giants, who went on to win 10-4, with the Ferrals claiming the silver medal.