Weekend Recap : Splits all round as NBL maintains the status quo
The weekend’s NBL doubleheaders were all split leaving Essex Arrows in first place with London Mets one game behind with just two weekends to go.
At Finsbury Park the Mets ad London Capitals came away with a win each with the Mets taking the first game 4-1 and the Capitals edging out their opponents 4-3 in the second.
The first game was a tense pitcher duel with the Mets’ Chris Messer getting the win after striking out seven Caoitals over his seven innings pitched
Shortstop Marc Thebarge and left fielder Mitch Type were the one Mets to get a hit off Capitals pitcher Johan Villanueva but both drove in crucial runs.
The second game was equally tight with the scores tied at 3-3 at the end of the third inning.
It took a single to right centre by Kenta Kido, the Capitals shortstop to gain the lead by driving in Louis Wampler.
Capitals pitcher, Masa Hasiguchi was again in fine form getting the win after striking out six Mets’ batters over his seven innings pitched.
In Saltford near Bath, BC Vetra took on Essex Arrows, the league leaders.
A six run third inning was the key to the home side’s 8-7 win in the first game after the Arrows had taken a 5-2 lead by the end of the second.
A double by Mattia Papini got things started for Vetra. This was quickly followed by another double by Aneury Calzado which drove in Papini.
Vetra's Mattia Papini was the spark in Vetra's victory over Essex Arrows in game one of the NBL doubleheader
Picture : Jody Demay Davies
More hits followed with Verta batting around to grab the lead which they never gave up,
In game two the Arrows’ offense took control from the start with an eight run first inning and then scored consistently to run out 16-3 winners.
Essex shortstop, Juan Diaz went three for five with the bat including an inside the park home run in the top of the fourth.
The Arrows also hit three triples and three doubles to underline their superiority.
Next Sunday, Bournemouth Bears host the Arrows and London Mets travel to Salford to face Vetra. Two wins for the Salford team would see them level in the playoff race with Sheffield Bruins with one weekend to go.
BBF/SWWBL Semi Finals
Bristol Buccaneers and the Cornish Claycutters will compete in next Sunday’s BBF/South West & Wales Baseball League Championship final in Cornwall.
Bristol Buccaneers will face the Cornish Claycutters in the SWWBL Championship Final next Sunday
The Buccaneers held on to beat Cardiff Merlins A at Somerdale 21-19 while the Claycutters dominated the Weston Jets 15-6 in Cornwall,
BBF/Womens Baseball League
The Women’s Baseball League returned to action on Sunday with London Mayhem and Sheffield Bruins both grabbing two victories.
Manchester Jetts finished top the Women's Baseball League
Despite their first defeat of the season, Manchester Jetts finished top and will take on the Bruins in the WBL final at Farnham Park on Saturday 7th September.
BBF AAA
Hurricanes v Essex Saxons : 7-0 and 7-0
Bracknell Inferno v Cardiff Merlins AAA : 15-7 and 21-11
Cambridge Lancers v London Metros : 2-12 and 7-5
Croydon Pirates v Richmond Redbacks : 13-7 and 12-5
BBF AA
Brighton Aces v Ken Buccaneers : 3-18 and 5-16
Bristol Bats v Oxford Kings : 7-0 and 7-0
Herts Ducks v Essex Archers : 1-7 and 7-8
Milton Keynes Bucks v Norwich Iceni : 7-0 and 7-0
Richmond Dragons v London Meteors : 3-4 and 4-19
Tonbridge Wildcats v Brighton Brewers : 5-3 and 1-21
London Sidewinders v Richmond Knights : 7-0 and 7-0
BBF A
Kent Mariners v Guildford Millers : 4-14 and 11-15
Bristol Buccaneers v Cardiff Merlins A : 21-19
Cornish Claycutters v Weston Jets : 15-6
London Minotaurs v Croydon Pirates : 2-6 and 11-10
Hastings Pirates v Brighton Jets : 6-5 and 15-16
Tonbridge Bobcats v Hurricanes : 8-10
Herts Buzzards v Essex Redbacks : 6-16 and 8-14
Richmond Dukes v London Mercury : 5-12 and 1-17
BBF/BBL Higher
Liverpool Trojans v Long Eaton Storm : 10-7 and 17-13
BBF/BBL Lower
Halton Trojans v Hull Scorpions : 0-25 and 7-25
Manchester Bees v Bootle Trojans : 11-17 and 11-13
Sheffield Bladerunners 2 v Sheffield Bladerunners 1 : 12-14 and 11-8
Wragby Warhammers v Leeds Locos : 10-15 v 22-3
BBF/WBL
Manchester Jetts v London Mayhem : 1-16
Norwich Iceni Queens v Belles Baseball : 5-18
Sheffield Bruins v SWWBL Serpents : 14-7
Manchester Jetts v Leicester Diamonds 10-8
Belles Baseball v Sheffield Bruins ; 4-12
SWWBL Serpents v Norwich Iceni Queens : 11-3
London Mayhem v Leicester Diamonds : 12-5
BBF/East of England Baseball League
Cambridge Royals v Northants Centurions : 5-13 and 5-11
BBF/Canal League
Limehouse Cutters v London Mayhem : 1-14
Suez Tomb Raiders v London Mayhem : 16-18
