Bristol Buccaneers overcame an eight run deficit in their first game against Merlins II and went on to sweep the Cardiff team in their SWWBL/BBF double header on Sunday.
Infielder Paul Blackburn walked off the Merlins in the bottom of the fifth inning with a single to claim the 14-13 win after the Bristol offense sprung into life with the remarkable comeback.
Jen Bramhall and Phil Midgley both had three hits with Bramhall hitting a double to kick start the Buccaneers to victory.
Catcher Sam Stainsby had a successful day stealing six bases while Dani Searson pitched two innings in relief giving up just three runs while striking our four Cardiff players.
The second game was easier for the Buccaneers as they ran out 10-4 winners on the back of a solid pitching performance from Sam Stainsby who struck out five Merlins.
Bramhall had another good game at the plate while Josh Williams-Trim hit a rare triple as the Buccaneers racked up their 10 runs in the first two innings.
“We were very slow to start, but I was delighted in the way the team responded to the challenge and put our early mistakes behind us to show that all our hard work at training had made us a better team than earlier in the season,” said Williams-Trim the Buccaneers player/manager.
In Bournemouth, the Badgers split their BBF AAA double header with division rivals, the Bears.
Rhodri Theaker and George Braeger both hit home runs to help the team maintain its push for a playoff spot.
The Badgers lost the first game 4-8 despite a sterling effort by Luke Claflin who was perfect at the plate with four hits in four at bats.
Despite the four runs driven in by outfielder Doug Scriver and Braeger, the Badgers couldn’t quite catch up to a good Bears side.
Theaker’s home run in the second game pushed the Badgers to their 10-8 victory with support from shortstop Mattia Papini who got three hits with one run driven in.
Claflin struck out five Bears over his two innings of relief to help the Badgers to the win.
“The Bears are a good team and I am delighted we split the double header to keep up our play off challenge,” said player/manager Rhodri Theaker. “I am particularly pleased for George who hit his first AAA home run for the club and hope he can repeat it as we move into the final part of the regular season.”
The Bats made the long trip to Cornwall to take on the Claycutters, the Wessex division leaders.
Their 16-9 win in the first game was built on a strong batting performance with the team registering 17 hits.
Josh Boulton and Tom Rowe with three each and Alex Brown with two, including a triple, lead the way.
The second game went the way of the Claycutters after an error by the Bats to claim a 14-13 win.
The result keeps the Bats in second place in the Severn Division and in a playoff spot as the season comes to a climax.
“It was disappointing to lose the second game they way we did but the first win means that we are still in with a good chance of making the playoffs,” said player/manager Neptali Ortega-Gutiérrez. “We have four tough games coming up and will be working hard to make sure we get the best results we can.”
The weather got the better of Saturday’s Bobcats Women’s Baseball League game against the Belles without a pitch being thrown.
All four of the clubs mixed teams are in action this coming Sunday.
The Badgers welcome London Sidewinders to Somerdale for their BBF AAA clash while the Bats entertain the Cardiff Merlins who lie unbeaten at the top of the SWWBL/BBF A Severn Division.
The Buccaneers travel to Taunton to take on the Muskets while the Brunels face Bournemouth for their clash with the Bears A team.