Mets keep NBL hopes alive & Claycutters crowned SWWBL champs
BBF NBL
London Mets @ BC Vetra
Reigning NBL champions London Mets convincingly beat a playoff-chasing BC Vetra side in a two-game series at Saltford Sports Club near Bath..
Despite their double defeat, Vetra still have an outside chance of making the NBL playoffs owing to an unlikely final-day scenario.
The Mets' offense exploded for eleven runs off just six hits in the opening four innings against Vetra to take home an 11-1 victory in game one.
Catcher Callum Vinall was the star of the Londoners' batting order. His first home run of the season in the fourth inning capped off a very productive day that included two hits, two runs, four RBIs, and one walk.
Tim Brown pitched his third victory of the season in his fifth appearance. The Mets player retired four batters via strikeouts across five innings and gave up just one earned run.
Game two saw the Mets build even further on their impressive run total in the previous match, scoring 15 from 11 hits.
Vinall, once again batting in the nine-hole, had another productive time at the plate. He smashed home two runners and scored twice himself to help his side to a 15-1 victory.
Winning manager Derrick Cook was pleased with his team's series performance. He said: “In all facets of the game, we played well today. It was a team effort, and we got the job done.”
London Mets go into the final day of the NBL regular season assured of a playoff spot. However, they are also in with a chance of taking home the regular season crown should they win their matches against London Capitals and BC Vetra, and Essex Arrows fail to win any of their two matches.
BC Vetra are in a much more difficult position ahead of the final day. They must defeat the London Mets and Sheffield Bruins and hope that the latter loses to Essex Arrows.
Should this scenario happen, Vetra will be tied for the final playoff spot with the Bruins and have a chance of making it into the final four for the first time in their history.
Essex Arrows @ Bournemouth Bears
Essex Arrows head into the final week of the NBL regular season as league leaders following their sweep of Bournemouth Bears at Ferndown Leisure Centre.
The Arrows’ batting order delivered high run totals in their 12-2 and 14-8 victories against the Bears who have now failed to win in each of their last nine NBL games.
Centre fielder Angel Perez scored six runs across both matches and also drove home three runs.
The Arrows' Angel Perez has been one of the offensive stars of the 2024 NBL
The Arrows’ star has been one of the best offensive players in the NBL this season. He leads the division in total runs scored, 24, and co-leads in batting average, 0.429, alongside London Mets infielder Marc Theberge.
Bournemouth Bears are already ruled out of the playoffs but have a chance at revenge on the final day in a single-match repeat of this fixture.
Victory against the Bears and the Bruins will see the Arrows crowned as regular season champions, but the Essex side will still make the playoffs regardless of results.
BBF AAA
New Forest Thunder 0-7 (Forfeit) & 0-7 (Forfeit) Bracknell Inferno
Richmond Roebucks 0-15 & 0-13 Essex Saxons
Hurricanes Baseball 0-7 (Forfeit) & 0-7 (Forfeit) London Metros
BBF BBL Higher
Manchester A's 0-7 (Forfeit) & 0-7 (Forfeit) Liverpool Trojans
Long Eaton Storm 11-1 & 8-3 Sheffield Kodiaks
BBF AA
Herts Ducks 0-7 (Forfeit) & 0-7 (Forfeit) Milton Keynes Bucks
Guildford Mavericks 3-8 & 4-15 Bristol Bats
London Sidewinders 18-6 & 12-1 Richmond Knights
BBF A
Kent Mariners 10-13 & 18-19 Brighton Jets
London Minotaurs 16-13 & 8-10 Croydon Pirates (A)
Hurricanes Baseball (2) 7-12 & 11-9 Guildford Millers
Essex Redbacks 12-3 & 13-14 Herts Buzzards
Milton Keynes Bucks (2) 6-5 & 8-5 Herts Ravens
Herts Eagles 4-6 London Mercury
Richmond Dukes 5-14 & 20-18 Richmond Barons
Bracknell Phoenix 2-7 & 16-17 Tonbridge Bobcats
Bristol Buccaneers 4-15 Cornish Claycutters - SWWBL Championship Final
The Cornish Claycutters celebrate being crowned 2024 South West & Wales Baseball League Champions and number one seeds for the national A playoffs
BBF BBL Lower
Bootle Trojans 14-6 & 12-13 Sheffield Bladerunners (2)
Get all the results, stats and standings here
Words by Michael Thomas
Full post season brackets are on their way.
