The Bristol Bats split their British Baseball Federation (BBF), Division Three, double header this weekend against division favourites, the Cardiff Merlins. A series re-arranged from what would’ve been opening day in April.
In a dramatic first game, described by players and spectators as an “amazing game of the highest quality”, the Bats succumbed to a walk off, three run home run in the seventh inning by Cardiff’s pitcher Shota Manabe, after a dramatic pitching duel against Bristol’s Nerius Tamosiunas.
The Merlins took a one run lead at the bottom of the second inning as the Bats got to grips with Manabe’s work from the mound. The Bats leveled the game in the sixth inning, with Darius Tamosiunas hitting a double and Declan Meads driving him home with a centre field single.
With one out and extra innings looming, Cardiff recorded two base runners with a single and a walk, before Manabe hit a pitch out of the park to complete a 4-1 victory for the Cardiff side.
The Bats responded in Game Two, coming away with a 12-3 win, with the team’s offense dominating from the first inning. Luca McCurdy hit his first home run for the Bats and Darius Tamosiunas kept up his form with two hits. Noah McCurdy hit a double to right-centre field, as the Bats maintained pressure on the Cardiff pitchers. Meads and Noah McCurdy were in excellent form from the mound, backed by more tight fielding from the Bats.
“It really was an afternoon of the highest quality baseball and we are delighted to come away with the win in the second game,” said Rich Evans, manager of the Bats. “Every player made vital contributions in all facets of the game and our fielding backed up three great pitching performances.”
On deck: Next Sunday, the Bats welcome Bournemouth Bears to Somerdale Pavilion in Keynsham, whilst the Badgers host Richmond Roebucks at the same venue in their BBF Division Two clash.
Both games start at 12 noon.