Week 2 of the BBF baseball season saw opening games for many teams, with the NBL North getting underway with no rain to dampen spirits.
Long Eaton Storm travelled to Bootle to face the Liverpool Trojans. In Game 1, Storm took a four-run lead into the bottom of the third as the Trojans looked to fight back in a tightly contested game. After pulling two back, Storm added a further run in the fourth, with the Trojans managing only one more as pitcher Keanu Stoltz saw out the final two innings of a complete game to secure an opening win of 5–3 for Long Eaton.
Game 2 was another close affair. After an early two-run lead for the Trojans, Long Eaton plated four runs in the fifth to take the lead. Liverpool responded in the bottom of the fifth with five runs to retake it, and Storm could add only one more as the Trojans secured their first victory of the season 7–5, earning a split on the day.
With the newly formed Northern NBL division, the Bruins have less travel than in previous seasons. After their opening fixtures with Liverpool were postponed, they finally got the 2026 campaign underway, hosting Leicester Blue Sox at Thorpe Green Park.
Game 1 was over in five innings as a strong Bruins side scored nine runs in the bottom of the fifth, including a two-RBI home run from Josh Taylor, to win the game 14–2.
Game 2 followed a similar pattern. Despite Leicester’s 3–1 lead heading into the bottom of the third, the Bruins applied the pressure, with Andrei Apostoaei homering twice in another five-inning win for Sheffield, 14–4.
Division 2 opening games got underway across three meetings. Brighton Brewers hosted Herts Cardinals in two high-scoring games. Game 1 featured home runs from Herts’ Riley Manning and Brighton’s Stephen Pollard, with Brighton going on to secure a 16–9 win. Game 2 was closer, with Herts leading by one run heading into the final inning before a four-run walk-off homer by Isaac Neal secured the sweep for the Brewers, who ran out 7–4 winners.
Bracknell Inferno travelled to Bristol to face the Badgers. In Game 1, Inferno took a one-run lead into the final inning and added another to their tally; Bracknell’s Saliya Wijesinghe, who pitched the whole game, saw out the bottom of the inning to secure a 7–5 victory. Game 2 was scoreless heading into the fourth before Inferno knocked in a run to take the lead, only to be sharply answered by a seven-run bottom inning from the Badgers. Bristol added another four runs across the six-inning game, with Andy Bergh giving up just one run en route to an 11–1 victory.
Finsbury Park hosted Essex as the Saxons visited the Metros. Despite a first-inning lead for the Metros, the Saxons dominated over six innings, running out 15–5 victors. Game 2’s 18 runs included two home runs from Essex’s Alberto Novas, who combined for six RBIs, while London’s Joe O’Connell also homered with a two-RBI hit. A six-run sixth inning gave the Saxons a lead the Metros could only narrow by three, the Saxons taking Game 2 10–8 and completing the sweep.
Other Results
Division 3
London Marauders 11 – 9 Croydon Pirates II
London Marauders 17 – 9 Croydon Pirates II
Cambridge Sovereigns 19 – 17 Essex Archers
Cambridge Sovereigns 17 – 3 Essex Archers
Bournemouth Bears 2 – 12 Exeter Spitfires
Bournemouth Bears 6 – 10 Exeter Spitfires
Kent Buccaneers 3 – 4 Guildford Mavericks
Kent Buccaneers 13 – 14 Guildford Mavericks
Bootle Trojans 12 – 4 Hull Scorpions
Bootle Trojans 8 – 26 Hull Scorpions
Leeds Locos 0 – 7 Manchester Bees (Leeds Forfeit)
Leeds Locos 0 – 7 Manchester Bees (Leeds Forfeit)
Wragby Warhammers 3 – 9 Newcastle Nighthawks
Wragby Warhammers 13 – 11 Newcastle Nighthawks
Hildenborough Hurricanes 3 – 14 Richmond Dragons
Hildenborough Hurricanes 6 – 11 Richmond Dragons
Cardiff Merlins 15 – 7 Taunton Muskets
Cardiff Merlins 19 – 8 Taunton Muskets
Division 4
Cornish Claycutters 25 – 4 Weston Jets
Cornish Claycutters 9 – 10 Weston Jets
Manchester Cavaliers 0 – 8 Durham Spartans
Manchester Cavaliers 14 – 11 Durham Spartans
Sheffield Bladerunners 2 27 – 28 Halton Trojans
Sheffield Bladerunners 2 15 – 12 Halton Trojans
Sheffield Kodiaks 13 – 10 Leeds Locos 2
Sheffield Kodiaks 11 – 12 Leeds Locos 2
London Minotaurs 5 – 3 London Mercury
London Minotaurs 14 – 3 London Mercury
Leicester 2 Sox 1 – 10 Milton Keynes Bucks 2
Leicester 2 Sox 2 – 16 Milton Keynes Bucks 2
Birmingham Bats 17 – 7 Northants Centurions
Birmingham Bats 14 – 13 Northants Centurions
Wellington Khaki Sox 15 – 12 Plymouth Outlaws 1
Wellington Khaki Sox 10 – 12 Plymouth Outlaws 1
Newton Abbot Brewers 4 – 11 Bristol Buccaneers
Newton Abbot Brewers 5 – 14 Bristol Buccaneers
Norwich Iceni Rebels 5 – 15 Cambridge Royals
Norwich Iceni Rebels 9 – 10 Cambridge Royals
Bognor Cobras 14 – 15 Croydon Pirates 3
Bognor Cobras 8 – 4 Croydon Pirates 3
Division 5
Northants Centurions 2 6 – 15 Herts Raptors
Northants Centurions 2 0 – 10 Herts Raptors
Tonbridge Bobcats 15 – 14 Kent Mariners
Tonbridge Bobcats 15 – 5 Kent Mariners
New Forest Thunder 17 – 8 New Forest Knights
New Forest Thunder 18 – 5 New Forest Knights
Torrington Riptides 7 – 15 Plymouth Mariners
Torrington Riptides 15 – 10 Plymouth Mariners
Bristol Brunels 8 – 11 Yeovil Whirlwinds
Bristol Brunels 15 – 3 Yeovil Whirlwinds
Guildford Millers 10 – 2 Bracknell Pyros
Guildford Millers 13 – 5 Bracknell Pyros
Richmond Dukes 14 – 10 Middlesex Capybaras
Richmond Dukes 6 – 11 Middlesex Capybaras
Exeter Wyverns 7 – 0 Cornish Pioneers
Exeter Wyverns 7 – 0 Cornish Pioneers
Cambridge Monarchs 18 – 17 Essex Redbacks
Cambridge Monarchs 24 – 16 Essex Redbacks