Bristol Buccaneers have been crowned as the South West & Wales Baseball League’s Severn Division champions following their victory over Weston Jets on Sunday. Although they split the double header, their tense walk off 11-10 victory in the first game finally confirmed their place as 2024 Severn Division champions.
After the Jets had gone 5-0 up in the top of the first inning, the Buccaneers offense hit back to level the scores at 9-9 going into the final inning. The Jets scored one run to take a lead before disciplined batting and good base running put runners on second and third. First baseman Jean-Pierre Bernard made good contact on the first pitch he saw to reach first base and drive in Paul Blackburn and Tom Rowe to seal the win.
Bernard and fellow infielders Sam Kaiser and Tim Clough had productive days at the plate with three hits and four runs driven in between them. Kaiser rounded off a good all round game from the mound to get the win after three innings pitched.
The Jets took control of the second game to claim a 20-5 victory with their offense completely dominating the Buccaneers pitching staff. The Buccaneers finished the regular season with 19 wins and seven losses and will now play Cardiff Merlins A in the SWWBL semi final on Sunday 11th August at Somerdale Pavilion. First pitch is 12 noon. As division winners, they will continue on to the BBF National Single A Playoff quarter finals in September, but manager Charlie Deeks is keen for more silverware first.
“We have had a great season so far but we are definitely looking to win the League Championship in a couple of weeks,” said Deeks. “The team spirit has been excellent and every member of the team has at some point produced a match winning performance.”
The Badgers remain in contention for a playoff spot in the BBF AAA Division after two wins against New Forest Thunder in Hampshire on Sunday.
The first game was tied at 3-3 before the Badgers launched a 12 run salvo at the top of the sixth inning to eventually win 15-5. The Badgers started the inning with a couple of walks before a single by Doug Scriver drove in two runs. A series of stolen bases, walks, wild pitches and two Badgers being hit by pitches allowed the Bristol team to build an unassailable lead.
Alex Martinson was in fine form again from the pitchers mound striking out 13 New Forest batters over his six innings pitched. Martinson also hit a double and drove in one run with the bat.
The second game was one sided as the Badgers ran out 10-0 winners on the back of doubles by John Brownlee, Tim Singiser and Seyi Awofadeju and more solid pitching from Rhodri Theaker.
“The first game was close until the sixth inning but we were very smart at the plate and on the bases,” said Theaker, the Badgers manager. “We scored early in the second [game] and our fielding, including a double play, was tight and kept the runs off the board.”
The Badgers are currently in second place in their division just 2.5 games behind the leaders Bracknell Inferno with four games to play and a playoff spot within reach.
Pic courtesy of Richard Johnson
The Bats travelled to Guildford to take on the Mavericks in their BBF AA clash and came away with two defeats but remain top of the table.
The first game was a true pitchers duel which the Bats eventually lost 6-4. Leading 2-0 in the bottom of the fourth inning, a couple of errors and hits dropping between fielders allowed the Mavericks to put up four runs before they extended their lead by two in the next inning. The Bristol side replied with two runs but couldn’t make any inroads against Jack Burdett, the Guildford pitcher.
As well as having an outstanding day from the pitchers mound, Kwan Cheung had two hits from the plate while first baseman Lachie Ng hit a double and drove in one run. The Bats also completed a double play with infielders Neptali Ortega-Gutierrez and Rich Evans combining to make the two outs.
The second game went to the Mavericks 13-7 after the scores were tied at 5-5 going into the bottom of the third inning. Good base running and timely hits allowed the Mavericks to score eight runs which the Bats couldn’t claw back. Outfielder Man Hoi Kwan was the most effective Bristol player with the bat with two hits and three runs scored.
“The first game was a great game of baseball with the pitchers dominant throughout. If a couple of balls had gone our way, I have no doubt we could have won,” said Bats manager, Rich Evans. “I am delighted that we eliminated errors in the second game and pleased for debutant Jack Logue who pulled off some great catches in the outfield on his debut.”
The Bats currently sit atop their division and need to win just one of their six remaining games to clinch a playoff spot.
The Brunels brought their season to an end at Somerdale with two close losses to Cardiff Merlins A.
A four-run fifth inning – punctuated by a two-out, two-RBI double by Merlins second baseman Alex Boswell – allowed the Cardiff side to claim a 10-9 victory after the Brunels had established a 9-6 lead through great hitting by Jordan Nicholls, Phil Midgley and Matt Dunkley-Roberts. The Brunels out-hit the Cardiff side 13-4, but 14 walks gave the Merlins free bases all afternoon.
The second game saw the lead change hands throughout, with a dramatic two-RBI single from Paul D’Amore driving in pitcher Midgley and second baseman Michele Botta to tie the game in the bottom of the final inning to force an extra innings game for the first time in Brunels history. However the Merlins scored six in their half of the inning, with the Brunels able to plate only three in response, going down 18-15.
Declan Ryan, D’Amore, Midgley and Dongwoo Jang led the Brunels offense with 11 hits and 11 runs driven in between them. Botta contributed a double, driving in two runs, as well as scoring that tying run.
“Both games could have been won but we are really pleased with the way the team has performed to end with 10 wins, our best season ever,” said Ash Day, the Brunels assistant manager.
Up Next: Next Sunday the attention turns to the playoff chases of our Double- and Triple-A teams, as the Bats travel to Bournemouth to take on the Bears, whilst the Badgers host Bracknell Inferno at Somerdale.