Bristol Buccaneers prepared for the BBF/SWWBL A final with a sweep in their last regular season game, besting Yeovil Whirlwinds 12-8 and 12-11 at Somerdale Pavilion on Sunday.
In the first game, third baseman Luca McCurdy hit a double as the Buccaneers took advantage of some good plate discipline to get on base and then steal. Will Marshall struck out three Whirlwinds from the mound as the Buccaneers completed the first game win.
McCurdy was back in action with the bat in the second game hitting his fourth home run of the season. Infielder Jordan Nichols found form with an early double, helping the Buccs to a 7-2 lead after two innings, before a spirited Yeovil fightback tied the scores at 11 after three and a half innings.
The final inning saw the scores tied and a tense atmosphere, with the hosts needing one run to win. Luca McCurdy opened the inning with a popup, bringing up Buccs player/manager Rod McCurdy. McCurdy, having taken to the mound to close out the top of the inning, singled and then stole second and third base to be within 90 feet of the win. This brought up Jordan Nichols who struck a hard hard hit ground ball through the infield to drive in McCurdy for the walk-off win.
The Buccaneers will now face Exeter Spitfires in the regional final on Sunday 10th August at Somerdale Pavilion.
“It was good to end the season with two wins but we all know we were below par against Yeovil,” said Rod McCurdy, the Buccaneers manager. “We now have a week off to prepare for the final against an impressive Exeter team but I know we will be totally focused on winning.”
The Bats brought their season to a close, splitting their double header against BBF/SWWBL AA champions Cardiff Merlins on Saturday in the Welsh capital.
In a tight first game, the Bats kept pace with the champions before going down 11-7. Declan Meads and Ayo Salwu both hit doubles in support of Kwan Cheung who struck out four Cardiff batters over his five innings pitched.
The second game was a thriller with the Bats holding on to an 11-10 victory. The Bristol team found themselves one run down heading into the final inning before catcher Fu Lam scored from third on a passed ball by the Cardiff catcher and tied the scores.
A single from Man Hoi Kwan drove in Harley Jones who had walked and stolen second and third to give the Bats a one run lead. Meads then came in as relief pitcher for Noah McCurdy who had struck out seven Merlins over his three innings pitched. Meads struck out the first two batters he faced before inducing a ground ball to get the out from third and grab the win.
“Beating the champions on their own field was a great way to end the season,” said Richard Evans, manager of the Bats. “Our season has suffered from injuries to key players and despite not finding a way into the playoffs, a third place finish is something we should be proud of”.
The Bristol Brunels, the club’s development team, also brought their season to a close with a win and a tie in their double header against the New Forest Knights at Somerdale on Sunday.
The Brunels took the first game 11-10 with Alex Lane-Kieltyka hitting a double and driving in three runs from his three hits. Outfielder Callum Todd also hit a double as the Brunels scored consistently.
Pitchers Ryan Harris and Charlie Ricketts were able to keep the Knights under control until the scores were tied at the top of the final inning. Second baseman Anthony Abel was the hero as his hit drove in Connor Duffy for the walk-off win.
The second game ended in a 19-19 tie in a game that lasted nearly three hours. The Brunels found themselves 14-9 up at the top of the fourth inning but a run surge by the Knights took them five runs clear as the Brunels prepared to bat. Despite heroics from Grant Mathieson, Callum Todd and debutant Josh Daly, the Brunels were unable to find that last run for a second walk off and the scores remained tied.
“Its been a fantastic season for the team and it was good to end on a high note,” said manager Alex Lane-Kieltyka. “The vast majority of the team had never played a game of baseball back in April but every player has developed so well that I am sure many will be pushing for promotion to one of our other teams.”
The club’s youth team, the Bristol Bolts had their first game at the weekend taking on the Birmingham Goats in a four inning game. The Bolts fought back from an early deficit before eventually going down 10-9 on a fun packed afternoon at Somerdale.
“It was a great afternoon of youngsters just enjoying their first game and I want to thank Birmingham for coming down and providing the Bolts’ first experience of a competitive game,” said Andre Shlimon, the Bolts assistant manager. “As well as the game for the older players, we were able to get in a joint training session for the younger ones.”
Next up: The Badgers return to action at Somerdale next Sunday. Already having secured a place in the BBF AAA national playoffs and looking to secure the division title, they welcome Bracknell Inferno for their penultimate regular season game.