Capitals gain ground on first-placed Essex Arrows with a convincing series win
BBF NBL
London Capitals @ BC Vetra
London Capitals closed the gap on Essex Arrows at the top of the NBL table with a resounding series victory against BC Vetra at Saltford Sports Club.
The results saw the Londoners edge closer to the Arrows after they failed to win their series against the Sheffield Bruins. Now just two games out of first place, the Capitals can dream of snatching the NBL regular season title away from the grasp of the Essex side.
The Capitals took no time to get their bats swinging in Bristol. They found themselves up 8-0 after just two innings in game one.
Third baseman Julio Almonte led this early charge with two singles in his first two at-bats. He finished the game with an impressive three hits from four at-bats.
The London club finished Vetra off in the fifth inning for an 11-1 victory after their defence allowed Hironori Tajiri, Rhys Wilson, and Pete Wiedmann to score on throws.
Johan Villanueva had a good game with bat and ball with a double and five strikeouts from the mound
Photograph - Jody Demay-Davies
Johan Villanueva performed well on the mound to allow only three hits and one run, striking out five Vetra batters in the process. The pitcher gained his third victory of the season.
Game two followed a similar pattern to the first game. The Capitals once again took a large lead early on helped by a run in the first and third innings by centre fielder Louis Wampler.
The Capital's offence exploded at the top of the fourth inning with eight runs, two of which thanks to left fielder Cameron Lee’s two RBI homer to left field- his first home run of the season.
Julio Almonte scored a run for his second consecutive game and gained another hit. The Capitals’ man now tops the NBL hitting leaderboard with an impressive 21 so far this season.
Bobby Anderson and Kenta Kido combined pitching duties and allowed just one run between them in their team’s massive 16-1 victory.
London Capitals face Sheffield Bruins next week at Thorpe Green Park on their hunt for first place and BC Vetra will enjoy a two-week break before gearing up for a repeat of this fixture at Roundshaw Playing Fields, Croydon.
Sheffield Bruins @ Essex Arrows
League leaders Essex Arrows dropped one game against the Sheffield Bruins in their split two-game series at Townmead Playing Fields.
Despite being just outside of the NBL playoff places, the Bruins provided good competition for the first-placed side in game one, but they were edged out 7-4 despite a home run from catcher Manuel Silvestre.
The Yorkshire side were able to take revenge in the second match due to the excellent pitching of Ray Sass. He pitched a complete game, gave away just one run, and struck out seven Arrows batters.
“We set a new standard for ourselves today. A new high for wins and a new high for performance level. A real team win to set up the final push. Looking forward to next week already, said Bruins manager Charlie Batho.
The Bruins Jonathan Rodriguez hit a double in Bruins 4-1 over Essex Arrows on Sunday
Photograph : Jody Demay-Davies
Arrows manager Eduardo Rodrigues praised both sides’ performance post-series. He said: “Two great games of baseball today. Solid pitching in game one from Giovanni Pappalardo and Ty Powell.
“Game two we hit the ball really well but unfortunately we couldn’t score the runs that we need to win the game.
“Credit to Sheffield as well on game two they played really well and managed to get the win.”
Bruins await a series against the second-placed London Capitals next week and Essex Arrows will travel to London to play the London Mets.
Bournemouth Bears @ London Mets
Reigning NBL Champions London Mets returned to NBL action after a three-week absence with victory against the Bournemouth Bears.
Right fielder Geremias Dominguez led the champions’ offence with a grand slam to right field at the bottom of the second inning, and pitcher Ryan Mclaughlin allowed no runs in a 6-0 victory for the Mets.
Mclaughlin commented on his team’s first NBL victory in over a month. He said: “After a long break, we’re happy to get a sweep to start the second half.
“It’s going to be a tough stretch of games leading up to playoffs, but we’re excited for the challenge.”
Mets will play Essex Arrows next week and the Bears return one week later to play Sheffield Bruins.
BBF AAA
Cardiff Merlins (AAA) 6-16 & 4-23 Bristol Badgers
London Metros 3-3 & 7-8 Croydon Pirates (AAA)
Richmond Roebucks 4-5 & 4-5 Herts Cardinals
Bracknell Inferno 6-3 & 21-4 New Forest Thunder
BBF BBL Higher
Liverpool Trojans 15-11 & 8-5 Long Eaton Storm
Manchester A's 6-0 & 7-12 Sheffield Kodiaks
BBF AA
Essex Archers 7-12 & 10-13 Milton Keynes Bucks
Herts Hawks 13-1 & 18-2 Herts Ducks
Richmond Dragons 11-6 & 19-4 London Mustangs
Kent Buccaneers 12-2 & 13-1 Tonbridge Wildcats
Formosa Islanders 13-10 Richmond Knights
Brighton Brewers 25-6 Brighton Aces
BBF A
Herts Ravens 5-5 & 14-5 Essex Redbacks
Brighton Jets 14-15 & 5-15 Bracknell Phoenix
Bouremouth Bears 0-7 (Forfeit) & 0-7 (Forfeit) Bristol Buccaneers
Bristol Brunels 8-16 & 8-11 Cardiff Merlins
Cornish Pioneers 5-14 & 0-20 Cornish Claycutters
Richmond Dukes 11-12 & 10-14 Croydon Pirates (A)
Tonbridge Bobcats 11-12 & 12-13 Guildford Millers
Milton Keynes Bucks (2) 22-6 & 9-4 Herts Buzzards
Hastings Pirates 8-12 & 13-10 Hurricanes Baseball (2)
Herts Eagles 0-7 (Forfeit) & 0-7 (Forfeit) Richmond Barons
Taunton Pistols 2-17 & 9-20 Taunton Muskets
New Forest Knights 1-15 & 4-14 Weston Jets
BBF BBL Lower
Leeds Locos 10-11 & 7-1 Bootle Trojans
Halton Trojans 4-12 & 0-25 Manchester Bees
East of England Baseball League
Cambridge Royals 10-11 & 10-8 Northants Centurions
Canal League
London Mayhem 11-12 Limehouse Cutters
Limehouse Cutters 9-10 Suez Tomb Raiders
Suez Tomb Raiders 15-10 London Mayhem
Report by Michael Thomas
