Mister Baseball

by Joe Gray

The main news from Sunday was the LONDON METS’ sweep of the RICHMOND FLAMES, which saw the defending champions open up a two-game lead in the division. In the other games in the National League South, the CROYDON PIRATES entertained the BRACKNELL BLAZERS, with both teams looking for their first win of the season. BRACKNELL took the first game 5-2, which left CROYDON as the only team yet to win.

The PIRATES entered the final inning of the second game with a 4-0 lead, and Byron Cotter, the team’s starter, was looking dominant on the mound. However, two hits and two errors later, BRACKNELL trailed by just one run and had Ryan Trask, who represented the tying run, at third base with two out.

With a full count against the batter, Trask charged down the line from third base as the pitch was delivered and, incredibly, evaded the tag from CROYDON catcher Andy Kulina to tie the game at 4-4. The pitch was ball four, and then a third hit and a third error of the inning put runners on first and third. Cotter held his nerve, though, to strike out the next batter looking on a 2-2 count.

In response, CROYDON loaded the bases with two out, and Sam Touchstone, the youngest player on the team, stood in the batter’s box. He had seen the pitcher, Jordan Spicer, walk two of the last three batters but, on a 1-1 count, saw a pitch that he liked and drove it straight back over Spicer’s head for a walk-off single.

Elsewhere, the MENWITH HILL PATRIOTS of the National League North won both games against the HALTON JAGUARS, by scores of 11-5 and 5-3.

This Sunday, the MANCHESTER EAGLES are on the road against the LIVERPOOL TROJANS, while MENWITH HILL host the HUMBER PILOTS. There is a week off for the National League South teams.

	Time	Home	Visitor	Result
Sunday, May 04 2008
	12:00	Halton Jaguars	Menwith Hill Patriots	05:11
	12:00	Liverpool Trojans	Humber Pilots	05:04
	12:00	London Mets	Richmond Flames	04:02 (6)
1 2 3 4 5 6 R H E Richmond Flames 0 0 0 0 0 1 2 London Mets 1 0 0 0 0 3 4
	12:00	Croydon Pirates	Bracknell Blazers	00:05
	14:30	Halton Jaguars	Menwith Hill Patriots	03:05
	14:30	Liverpool Trojans	Humber Pilots	13:03
	14:30	London Mets	Richmond Flames	10:00 (6)
1 2 3 4 5 6 R H E Richmond Flames 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 London Mets 2 1 3 1 2 1 10
	14:30	Croydon Pirates	Bracknell Blazers	05:04 (7)
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 R H E Bracknell Blazers 0 0 0 0 0 0 4 4 Croydon Pirates 0 1 0 3 0 0 1 5

Standings NL South

Standings NL North