Bristol Baseball Club will once again host the British Baseball Federation (BBF) Single A national baseball finals this coming weekend.
The club will welcome Cardiff Merlins, Brighton Brewers, London Mustangs and the Tonbridge Wildcats to its diamonds at Somerdale Pavilion in Keynsham.
In the semi-finals on Saturday, the Merlins with take on the Mustangs at 11.00am and then the Brewers will face the Wildcats at 3.00pm.
The winners will then compete for the championship on Sunday at 3.00pm. The losing semi-finalists will play each other for third place at 11.00am.
Spectators are welcome on both days.
“Its a tribute to the club that the BBF has asked us to host national finals for the second successive year and we look forward to welcoming the four teams to Somerdale Pavilion,” said club chairman Richard Evans. “The team at Somerdale has been very helpful in helping us develop one of the best baseball facilities in the country and we hope people interested in baseball will come and watch the four games.”
On Sunday, the club’s development team, the Bristol Brunels split its friendly double header against Weston Jets winning the first game 11-7 but losing the second 10-8.
Outfielder Tom Maclennan hit an inside the park home run to cap a great season for him.
Fellow Brunels Alex Lane-Kieltyka, Rachel Everett and Matt Barter all had good days with the bat to support the team’s pitchers.
The fixture was also an opportunity for new players to select and manage the team for the first time. Rookies Declan Ryan, Rachel Everett and Jo Sutcliffe took charge on the day as the club looks forward to next season.
“It was great to work with Rachel and Jo to select and run the team and an experience that will hopefully put us in good stead for next season,” said Declan Ryan. “We are absolutely delighted to have won the first game and push the Jets very close in the second.”
Now the regular season is over, the club is focusing on friendlies and two tournaments to be held in early October.