18/10/2026
Wet Season Baseball Returns as Palmerston and Rural Reds Edge Nightcliff Tigers
Palmerston and Rural Reds 10 def. Nightcliff Tigers 7
The Darwin Baseball League’s wet season competition got underway on Sunday, with Palmerston and Rural Reds opening their campaign with a hard-fought 10–7 victory over Nightcliff Tigers.
In an entertaining first-round contest, the Tigers showed plenty of fight and produced some strong offensive moments, but a five-run fifth inning proved decisive as the Reds took control of the game.
Palmerston and Rural Reds opened the scoring in the second inning with a single from Tahir before adding two more runs in the third, highlighted by an impressive triple down the left-field line from Alejandro Diaz.
Nightcliff responded strongly in the bottom of the fourth, taking the lead through a productive offensive inning. Jose “Big V”, rookie Harry Martin and Ben Lawerence all contributed singles down the right-field line, while a Reds fielding error helped the Tigers push ahead.
However, the Reds answered in emphatic fashion in the fifth, scoring five runs on two hits to turn the game around and establish an 8–4 advantage. Kayden North-Palmer delivered the key blow with a two-run single, giving the visitors the momentum they needed to secure the win.
Diaz earned the pitching victory for the Reds, allowing four hits and four runs, two earned, over five innings while striking out seven and walking one. George took the loss for Nightcliff after a challenging inning on the mound.
A highlight for the Tigers was the debut of Zac Grimshaw on the mound in the sixth inning. Grimshaw showed strong potential in his first appearance, giving Nightcliff another exciting prospect to watch as the wet season progresses.
New faces and familiar leadership for the Tigers
Nightcliff finished with nine hits, led by Ben Lawerence, who collected two hits and drove in two runs. Lawerence and Jose Big V both finished with multiple hits as the Tigers looked to build pressure on the Reds pitching staff.
Behind the plate and around the diamond, there were encouraging signs despite the result. Nightcliff played error-free baseball, with Lawerence recording eight fielding chances.
The Tigers also introduced a new infield combination, with Harry Martin, Nick and Blake working together while veteran Dave Schroder anchored third base. Schroder’s experience provided valuable support for the younger players, who produced several impressive outs as the new combination began to find its feet.
The Reds, meanwhile, proved dangerous throughout the lineup, finishing with 12 hits. Diaz led the way with three hits and three RBIs, while North-Palmer also collected three hits. Tara added two hits from two at-bats and made an immediate defensive impact at third base, producing two impressive early plays that helped shut down the Tigers’ leadoff opportunities.
The Reds also applied constant pressure on the basepaths, stealing nine bases and drawing six walks. Sayer and Tara were particularly active on the bases, while the Reds defence turned a double play to help limit Nightcliff’s scoring opportunities.
Although the Tigers were unable to claim the opening-round win, there were positives to take from the performance, particularly the clean fielding, contributions from the younger players and the promising pitching debut from Grimshaw.
With the first wet season game in the books, attention now turns to building momentum at training and welcoming more players into the sport.
Want to give baseball a go?
Nightcliff Tigers and the Darwin Baseball League invite anyone interested in trying baseball to come along to training on Monday at 5:30 pm at Darwin Baseball Field.
Whether you are completely new to baseball, returning to the game or looking for a team sport to enjoy during the wet season, everyone is welcome to come down, have a hit and meet the players.
New season, new players and plenty of baseball ahead — see you at the field!
