London Mets the big winners at Croydon NBL meeting

BBF NBL

London Mets @ Essex Arrows

Reigning National Baseball League champions, the London Mets gained vital ground on first-placed Essex Arrows with an extra-innings victory to kick off a packed Sunday schedule at Roundshaw Playing Fields, Croydon.

After a split series between the sides last weekend at Enfield Playing Fields, the two sides again looked an even match.

Second baseman Brendan Power capitalised on a fielding error to squeeze the Mets in front after two innings. Still, their lead was quickly pegged back by an Arley Lorenzo double to left centre which drove in Yonathan Novas.

No further scores during the remainder of the regulation seven innings meant that extra innings were required to separate the two sides.

The champions’ offense exploded at the top of the eighth inning. A three RBI double to centre field from Power added to Jamie Dix’s go-ahead run to give the Arrows a monumental task to overcome.

Third baseman Richard Chesterton drove home Novas after he stole third base to cut the Mets’ lead to three, but relief pitcher Ryan McLaughlin held his nerve to gain the final two outs via groundouts and hand his side a crucial 5-2 victory.

Bournemouth Bears @ London Mets

Seven-consecutive-time NBL champions London Mets showed their pedigree in their second match of the day with a 16-0 destruction of Bournemouth Bears.

Marc Theberge was once again the star of an explosive Mets batting order. He smashed in five runners across three hits and scored two runs of his own.

The shortstop continued his stellar form which has helped him become one of the best batters in the division this season. He leads the leaderboards in batting average, RBIs, runs, on-base percentage, slugging percentage, and walks.

After an uncharacteristically poor run of form which included just two wins from six matches, today's results brought the Londoners to within one game of Essex Arrows at the top of the NBL table.

“In game 1 against the Bears the bats came alive, and in game 2 we played an all around great game to edge out the Arrows. We’re building momentum at the right time of the year, now it’s a matter of continuing to improve and adjust each week,” said London Mets’ Ryan McLaughlin.

The Mets have a London derby to look forward next week when they face the London Capitals at Finsbury Park.

Sheffield Bruins @ London Capitals

London Capitals strengthened their grip on a postseason playoff spot with an impressive win over a resurgent Sheffield Bruins side who had won four of their previous five matches.

The result was a huge improvement for the Capitals who lost 11-2 and 5-3 across a two-game series against the same opponent last week.

Star Capitals pitcher Masa Hashiguchi struck out nine batters in his sixth win of the season

Picture : Jody Demay-Davies

Star pitcher Masa Hashiguchi allowed just one run and struck out nine batters in his sixth win of the season.

It was a real team effort from the Londoners offense which incredibly saw each member of their batting order, including pinch hitters, get on the score sheet.

Centre fielder Johan Villanueva’s three-run homer deep into centre field was the highlight of his team’s offensive effort.

Bruins’ Jonathan Rodriguez also managed a homer for his team’s only run in their 11-1 loss. The third baseman is now tied for the most home runs in the NBL this season, four, alongside teammate Manuel Silvestre and Geremias Dominguez of the London Mets.

Sheffield Bruins @ Bournemouth Bears

Sheffield Bruins avenged their earlier defeat with a dominant offensive performance against Bournemouth Bears.

The Bears are in a torrid run of form which reads six consecutive defeats and just one win in their last eight from the side at the foot of the NBL table.

Alex Deacon batted in four of the Northerner's 13 runs with a fourth-inning grand slam deep into left field.

Despite giving up three runs in his team's eventual 13-3 victory, pitcher Ray Sass got his sixth win of the season, drawing him level at the top of the NBL leaderboard alongside London Capitals’ Masa Hashiguchi and Essex Arrows’ Giovanni Pappalardo.

Sheffield Bruins manager Charlie Batho was pleased with his team's performance across their two fixtures. He said: “I’m Proud of the lads today. If this year in the NBL has proven anything it’s that every game is going to be a battle and we have to earn everything.”

“After a tough game one, the team responded and played to our standard in game two. Getting out of there with a spilt was huge for us. Now we can recover for a few weeks and regroup for the final push.”

Bruins have a three-week break before facing BC Vetra, but the Bears have to wait only two for their two-game series with NBL leaders Essex Arrows.

BBF AAA

Bracknell Inferno 4-3 & 1-9 Bristol Badgers

Cambridge Lancers 3-6 & 1-16 Essex Saxons

London Metros 16-6 & 7-0 (Forfeit) Hurricanes Baseball

Cardiff Merlins (AAA) 2-9 & 17-7 New Forest Thunder

BBF BBL Higher

Manchester A's 1-11 & 13-10 Long Eaton Storm

Liverpool Trojans 12-1 & 20-4 Sheffield Kodiaks

BBF AA

Formosa Islanders 10-8 & 9-8 London Sidewinders

Bristol Bats 0-7 (Forfeit) & 0-7 (Forfeit) Bournemouth Bears (2)

Milton Keynes Bucks 7-0 (Forfeit) & 7-0 (Forfeit) Herts Ducks

Norwich Iceni 5-6 & 8-5 Herts Hawks

London Meteors 9-4 & 19-13 London Mustangs

Richmond Dragons 11-2 & 11-7 Richmond Knights

BBF A

Milton Keynes Bucks (2) 11-12 & 16-7 Herts Buzzards

Herts Ravens 15-16 & 9-4 Milton Keynes Bucks (2)

Herts Eagles 11-3 & 17-7 Richmond Dukes

Hurricanes Baseball (2) 19-7 & 21-10 Brighton Jets

Kent Mariners 19-8 & 15-13 Hastings Pirates

London Minotaurs 10-14 & 9-8 London Mercury

Guildford Millers 15-16 & 17-16 Tonbridge Bobcats

Croydon Pirates (A) 10-15 & 18-3 Richmond Barons

BBF BBL Lower

Halton Trojans 16-17 & 6-22 Bootle Trojans

Hull Scorpions 15-7 & 18-5 Manchester Bees

Sheffield Bladerunners (2) 4-15 & 4-22 Wragby Warhammers

East of England Baseball League

Harwich Town Bay Area Blues 6-7 & 6-8 Cambridge Royals

Norwich Warriors 0-5 (Forfeit) & 0-5 (Forfeit) Northants Centurions

Canal League

London Mayhem 14-1 Limehouse Cutters

London Mayhem 18-16 Suez Tomb Raiders

Catch up with all the stats and standings here

Words by Michael Thomas