The Carine Cats kicked off their 2025 State League campaign with plenty to cheer about in Round 1 — from Aussie Spirit selections to a sea of blue and black proudly packing the stands, it was a promising start to the season for coaches Chris McCabe and Drew Herrington.

With the school holidays in full swing, the crowd included plenty of junior fans staying up late to catch their heroes in action, and they weren’t disappointed. Before the first pitch was even thrown, the Cats were already celebrating, with former Cats’ juniors and current State League stars Liv Kuzminski and Sara Riou announced as selections for the Aussie Spirit squad ahead of the upcoming international series against Chinese Taipei.

Although Kuzminski was unavailable for the round, she was there cheering, supporting and coaching as the rest of the squad stepped up in style, showcasing the club’s blend of experience and rising talent across two hard-fought games.


GAME 1: ASH’S CATS CLAW THORNLIE 9-2

The Cats came out firing in Game 1 against Thornlie, with the return of Ash Harwood to the pitcher’s mound proving a major boost. Harwood dominated the circle, collecting five strikeouts while giving up just one hit across the game.

Annaliese Daley provided a steady hand behind the plate, while the outfield trio of Lauren Brown, Sara Riou, and State League debutant McKinley Robson patrolled the turf with authority. Brown impressed with a stunning low running catch, while the infield combination of Tabby Rewell (SS), McKenzie Vawser (3B), Georgia McCabe (1B), and Dempsey Henderson (2B) kept things tight defensively.

At the plate, Riou starred with a perfect 3-for-3, while Brown added two hits and a walk. The Cats’ bats kept the scoreboard ticking over, eventually cruising to a 9-2 win.


GAME 2: ROBSON RISES IN TOUGH LOSS TO MONARCHS

Game 2 saw the Cats take on Bayswater Monarchs and start strong, with early hits from Brown, Riou, and Daley pushing two runs across the plate in the first innings. However, Bayswater responded with a five-run burst and two more in the second, putting Carine on the back foot.

But the Cats weren’t done. From the third innings on, Carine shut down the Monarchs’ scoring while chipping away at the deficit, including a fifth-inning run from Macca Vawser.

A highlight came from McKinley Robson, who followed up her strong outfield efforts with a debut in the pitcher’s circle — throwing three scoreless innings and collecting two strikeouts in a confident display of poise under pressure. A great sign for the future! Despite the comeback, Carine fell short, going down 7-3.


NEXT UP: CATS FACE THE ROYALS

Round 2 will see the Cats face off against last year’s runners-up, Royals — a true early-season test. And don’t forget — a massive shoutout to Auto One Midland, proud partners of the Carine Cats and always backing us to the hilt!