SOFTBALL
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TWO points separates first from third at the top of the Port Macquarie Softball Association ladder with finals action just over a month away.
A congested leaderboard sees Warriors, Finnians and Enduro competing for the all-important top two position.
In recent years Finnians have been the team to beat with an absence from last year's finals the only black mark next to their name in the last five years.
Association publicity officer and Finnians catcher Chris Gavrily said it was encouraging for the sport to have such a tight competition which ensured high quality games would be played all the way through to the finals.
"Finnians, Macleay Diamonds and Enduro are all contenders," she said.
Last year's decider was rained out between Enduro and Macleay with both sides awarded a joint premiership.
Gavrily said the association was encouraged by the amount of new players who have added some spark to the competition to go with those players who have grown up playing with and against other players in the area.
"Some of them have played with other players for up to 40 years so it's good to have those new players come in because it exposes you to different abilities rather than knowing where a player is going to hit or pitch," she said.
Finnians clash with Enduro this weekend in a match which sees first take on second.
"Every team wants to finish in the top two because it gives you a second bite of the cherry in the first week of finals," Gavrily said.
"Our batting has become very consistent in the second half of the season after an inconsistent start."
Enduro captain Lea Smith conceded they would have their work cut out.
"We're going to be four players down, but as long as we have a bit of fun that's all we're worried about," she said.
Smith said she was looking forward to the disability league which would be on between 11am and 12pm.
"It's just a good opportunity to get those guys playing softball," she said.