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British Baseball Beat: Heating up

by Matt Smith

Britain is experiencing scorchio weather this week and the action is certainly hotting up in British Baseball too.

Mets Gonna Mets, but that’s a good thing in the NBL

The London Mets (17-1) got straight back to winning ways in the National Baseball League last Sunday, avenging their previous defeat by the Herts Falcons (7-13) in the process.

The Mets beat the Falcons 14-4 as some measure of pay-back for the latter spoiling an attempt at an unbeaten season by the reigning champs. First baseman Rich Minford led the offence with 4 RBI from a 3-for-4 performance, whilst Michael Hoyles (4IP, 2ER) and Fred Mosier (2IP, 2ER) kept the Herts’ hitters in check.

The Mets then jumped on their hosts by defeating the Essex Arrows (5-15) 11-0. Brian Lainoff pitched five score-less frames for London, allowing only one hit and one walk whilst striking out three.

As the Mets continued their dominance and march to a first seed in the play-offs, the Arrows’ victory in the opening game of the day’s action may prove to be more than a mere footnote.

The Arrows beat the Falcons 12-11 to draw within two games of them for third place in the league. Although the current second-placed London Capitals (10-10) are far from an easy opponent, there’s no doubt that both the Falcons and Arrows would prefer to finish third in the standings and avoid the Mets in the semi-final game.

The Arrows still have plenty of work to do to avoid finishing fourth, yet winning the final match-up against the Falcons this season at least helps with the task. They’ll look to build on the win this coming Sunday in a double-header against the Capitals, as the Falcons host the Mets.

Triple-A

In Triple-A, East London Latin Boys (16-4) remain the division leaders following two victories over the Richmond Knights (6-14).

The Latin Boys’ closest rivals, the Essex Redbacks (11-9) and Herts Londoners (9-7), split a double-header in dramatic fashion. The Londoners took the opener 10-4 with Miguel Sarmiento’s home run (and what can only be described as post-home run Superman swag) captured on camera.

However, the Redbacks found some kryptonite for the second game and absolutely demolished the Londoners 27-0.

Whilst those teams stayed where they were in the standings, the big movers were the London Mammoths (9-11). They jumped from 6th to 4th by winning both games against the Oxford Kings (8-10).

This Sunday will see some repeat match-ups as the Redbacks and Londoners renew their rivalry, as will the Mammoths and Kings. Kent Buccaneers will look to jump into the play-off places as the current sixth-placed team host a double-header against Richmond.

Lucky number 13 for Bournemouth

The Bournemouth Bears’ (13-0) 13th game of the season did not prove to be unlucky, as the Double-A Pool A leaders defeated the Guildford Mavericks (6-11) 29-13 to remain unbeaten

Richmond Dragons (5-10) were walk-off winners against Herts Hawks (8-6) in the first game of their double-header, winning 10-8, before the Hawks snapped a six-game losing streak in the second contest with a 12-9 victory, powered by a home run by Double-A debutant Nico Durer.

Bristol Badgers (10-5) stay second in Pool A after being awarded a forfeited 7-0 win over Brighton Jets (1-11), seeing them remaining four games back of the Bears, with the Hawks and further 1.5 games back off the Badgers. The Hawks will be the next team to attempt to thwart the Bears’ perfect regular season on Sunday, whilst the Dragons host the Jets.

Double-A Pool B results and Single-A results were still to be added to the BBF website at time of writing.

South West Baseball League

It was a mixed weekend for Bristol in the SWBL, but their game report on Facebook highlighted the efforts of young pitcher Charlie Taylor who showed composure beyond his years to close out the Buccaneers’ victory over the Brewers.

Match report TAYLOR PITCHES BUCCANEERS TO THRILLING WINCharlie Taylor (16) held his nerve to pitch Bristol…

Posted by Bristol Baseball Club on Monday, 22 July 2019

Galaxy lead the way in Scotland

Leeds Rams ramping up

And finally, some great news to end on. Leeds Rams are working hard to bring baseball back to the city and they had their first game a week ago. Onwards an upwards from here!

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