Bristol Bats tuned up for their SWWBL/BBF A playoff match up in two weeks time against the Cornish Claycutters with a decisive sweep of the Bristol Buccaneers on Sunday.
The Bats proved too strong for the Buccs winning the double header games 16-7 and 14-7 at Somerdale Pavilion in Keynsham.
A first career home run for Josh Boulton led the way for the Bats’ offense in the first game as the team racked up 15 hits with triples coming from Neptali Ortega-Gutiérrez and Michael Comport.
Paul Gardiner and Tom Rowe both hit doubles while Paul Carter had two hits and Jean Pierre Bernard drove in three runs.
The Buccaneers couldn’t get to grips with Bats pitcher Jamie Godwin, who gave up just one earned run while striking out six Buccs over his five innings pitched.
The second game saw the Bats continue their offensive onslaught with Comport, Carter, Ortega-Gutierrez and Boulton all hitting doubles and driving in 11 runs between them.
Josh Williams-Trim, Paul Blackburn and Dani Searson drove in four of the Buccaneers runs late on but they weren’t enough to challenge a superior Bats line up.
“I am pretty satisfied with our performance with the bat in hand but we had too many fielding errors in the first game and we can’t afford them in the playoffs,” said Ortega-Gutierrez.
On the club’s second field, the Brunels had a tough afternoon against defending champions and Severn Division champions, Cardiff Merlins I.
The Brunels were overwhelmed by Ethan Coles who pitched a rare no hitter as the Cardiff team ran out 22-0 winners in the first game.
Rachel Everett and Charlie Turner both got hits in the second game for the Brunels but the quality of the Cardiff team shone through as they ran out 17-3 winners.
“It was always going to be a tough ask to make an impression on this Cardiff team who have improved on last season,” said Brunels player/manager Rich Evans. “Ethan pitched extremely well but I was delighted with the effort we put in over the two games particularly when we got on base.”
The Brunels were missing several key players including Becky Cottrell who is part of the GB Women’s baseball team who are in France for the European championships. Their first game is on Wednesday against the Czech Republic.
The Bats and Brunels will finish the regular season next Sunday. The Bats travel to Cardiff to take on Merlins II while the Brunels are away to the Taunton Muskets.