Match Reports : Arrows remain top of NBL table after split with Bruins
Arrows remain top of NBL table after split with Bruins
BBF NBL
Essex Arrows @ Sheffield Bruins
Essex Arrows split a two-game series with Sheffield Bruins at Thorpe Green Park to remain at the top of the National Baseball League table going into the MLB London Series break.
Despite losing the opening game of the series, the Bruins extended their impressive run of form to three wins in their last four matches.
Victory in game two ended a ten-game consecutive losing streak for the hosts against the Arrows for their first-ever win over the visitors.
Arrows pitcher German Obando was the star of game one. He pitched a complete game, giving up just one earned run for his third pitching victory of the season.
The pitcher is now joint-second in pitching wins this season in the 2024 NBL- just one behind teammate Giovanni Pappalardo.
First baseman Richard Chesterton provided the offensive firepower for the league leaders. He scored two of Arrows’ eight runs in an 8-1 victory.
Game two was a much tighter affair. The Bruins came out of the third inning with a narrow 3-1 lead thanks to runs from Luis Frometa, Jonathan Rodriguez, and Ray Sass.
The Bruins’ Jonathan Rodriguez was in fine form with the bat at the weekend
Photograph : Jody Demay-Davies
Catcher Manuel Silvestre hit a home run deep into left field, bringing in Alex Deacon and furthering the Northern side’s advantage. Sheffield eventually won the game 5-2.
“The last two game weeks have been incredible. We’ve beaten teams that we’ve never beaten before - and gone 3-1 at home. It’s special, our progress in the last 3 years has been undeniable and we continue to ascend,” said Bruins manager Charlie Batho.
There is no NBL action next weekend due to the MLB London Series kicking off at London Stadium, where the Philadelphia Phillies take on the New York Mets in a two-game series.
Sheffield Bruins return to league play the weekend after when they travel to Ferndown Leisure Centre to face the Bournemouth Bears.
Essex Arrows will enjoy an entire month off before they play host to reigning NBL champions London Mets.
The London Mets are in action this week in the WBSC Europe European Federation Cup 2024 in Switzerland.
BC Vetra @ London Capitals
BC Vetra and London Capitals split a two game series at Finsbury Park to maintain their even win-to-loss ratios.
The results mean that both teams are currently in playoff positions in the division despite the Capitals playing four less games than their opponents.
A fantastic three-run sixth inning from Vetra in the first game of the series spurred them onto an impressive 8-5 victory against the 2023 NBL runners-up
Mattia Papini lead the visitors’ offence with two runs and two runs batted in. The shortstop tops his team’s roster in runs, 9, and walks, 7, this season.
The Capitals took their revenge in the second game fixture with a convincing 15-0 victory.
Left fielder Kenichiro Murata was the star of his club’s batting lineup. He scored three runs and drove in a further two.
Centre folder Louis Wampler remarkably managed just as many runs despite not recording a single hit. He reached base on balls three times which bought up his season total to four walks- the most in his squad.
The Capitals next face London Mets on the 23rd June, and BC Vetra return two weeks after that against Sheffield Bruins.
BBF AAA
New Forest Thunder 3-8 & 1-11 Bristol Badgers
Bracknell Inferno 7-3 & 0-11 Cardiff Merlins (AAA)
Action from Sunday’s Cardiff Merlins and Bracknell Inferno AAA clash on Sunday
Photograph : Narasimha Kate
Hurricanes Baseball 5-6 & 1-10 Essex Saxons
Cambridge Lancers 3-7 & 1-6 Herts Cardinals
BBF BBL Higher
Sheffield Kodiaks 2-18 & 5-13 Liverpool Trojans
Long Eaton Storm 5-6 & 13-4 Manchester A's
BBF AA
Herts Ducks 14-14 & 7-0 Herts Hawks
Guildford Mavericks 8-9 & 12-13 Bournemouth Bears (2)
Kent Buccaneers 16-6 & 24-14 Brighton Aces
Milton Keynes Bucks 8-4 & 12-7 Essex Archers
Richmond Dragons 3-10 & 14-7 Formosa Islanders
London Sidewinders 5-15 & 10-20 London Mustangs
Bristol Bats 7-0 & 7-0 Oxford Kings
Brighton Brewers 18-10 & 12-5 Tonbridge Wildcats
BBF A
Taunton Pistols 5-17 & 3-11 Weston Jets
Tonbridge Bobcats 8-9 & 12-8 Bracknell Phoenix
Bournemouth Bears (3) 7-8 & 8-10 Bristol Brunels
Bristol Buccaneers 4-12 & 2-14 Cornish Claycutters
Herts Eagles 7-12 & 3-13 Croydon Pirates
Kent Mariners 6-9 & 5-9 Guildford Millers
Brighton Jets 7-9 & 18-19 Hurricanes Baseball (2)
Herts Ravens 8-6 & 15-4 Milton Keynes Bucks (2)
Cardiff Merlins 18-12 & 14-9 New Forest Knights
Richmond Barons 17-9 & 23-18 Richmond Dukes
Cornish Pioneers 2-14 & 9-15 Taunton Muskets
BBF BBL Lower
Bootle Trojans 3-10 & 14-4 Hull Scorpions
Halton Trojans 1-18 & 2-18 Sheffield Bladerunners (2)
Sheffield Bladerunners (1) 3-8 & 6-14 Wragby Warhammers
BBF East of England Baseball League
Harwich Town Bay Area 16-18 & 10-12 Northants Centurions
Cambridge Royals 13-14 & 11-7 Cambridge Monarchs
BBF Canal League
Limehouse Cutters 10-9 Suez Tomb Raiders
London Mayhem 13-14 Limehouse Cutters
Suez Tomb Raiders 15-15 London Mayhem
Match reports by Michael Thomas
