The Bellingen Brewers opened their season on Saturday facing the Woolgoolga Bluesox.
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In the B grade opener, Bellingen came from 13-9 down in their final at bat to level the scores, before falling to last year's grand final winners, 14-13. New Brewers recruits Callum Rayner had three hits, three runs scored and three runs batted in; Paul Holding had three hits and Luke Nelson two. Joel Northcott had two hits and reached base twice more on hit by pitches.
With more than half their starting line-up unavailable, Bellingen struggled in A grade, dropping a 10-1 decision to the Bluesox. Cooper Bake-Smith picked up where he left off last season, as the team's and association's most valuable player, with a double and single in two trips to the plate.
Expectations are high for the Brewers in 2019 after an outstanding recruiting season. In addition to adding Rayner, Holding and Nelson to the team's B grade line-up, Matt Bryant has returned after a season's absence and young Cam Rutherford is back for his first full season of seniors play.
In A grade, the team has added former Manly first graders Darren Jackson and Lee Coltman, who will make their Brewers debuts this coming Saturday against the Sawtell Dodgers. Also joining Bellingen is former Allstar shortstop Neil Davies, and the team is hopeful that on-again, off-again Brewer Rhys Bonventi will be rejoining the club soon.
