by BaseballSoftballUK, www.baseballsoftballuk.com
The Croydon Pirates all but booked their top-six spot and Herts and Mildenhall split their crucial doubleheader in the only Week 15 National Baseball League action on August 2.
NBL Special Correspondent Simon Fitzjohn reports:
Essex Arrows @ Croydon Pirates
An understrength Essex side was put to the sword by the Pirates, who boosted their record to 9-15 with a sweep of both games.
The 7-0 and 17-4 wins saw Croydon pitchers Tim Ssali and Jose Sosa pick up the victories, with Matt Gilbert and Richard Chesteron the Essex losers.
With the Arrows struggling for numbers, 64-year-old coach Phil Chesterton was even pressed into playing first base in Game Two.
Phil Chesterton said: “The key for us is to get through to the end of the season without forfeiting a game. We knew when we entered this season we were going to face some hard truths and we have not been disappointed.
“That may sound negative,” Chesterton continued, “but it isn’t. We are definitely a work in progress and I think next season will be when all the hard work starts to pay off.”
Mildenhall Bulldogs @ Herts Falcons
Mildenhall and Herts both have a chance of claiming sixth spot after the teams split their doubleheader in wildly contrasting games.
The Falcons squeezed to a 6-5 win in Game One, Pete Kikel outdueling Barry Wiles on the mound. But the Bulldogs responded with a 19-8 blowout in Game Two.
John Blose took the win in this game, with Dan Kerry launching a home run.
Herts’ Aspi Dimitrov said: “We left the field quite disappointed, but after a day or so I think we will be quite happy with this. At the end of the day, we are as we were, but with a round of games less to play.
“We didn’t really take our opportunities,” Dimitrov continued, “but we have not lost any ground in the race for the playoffs.”
{mrb-result:2010-07-31|2010-08-01|GB}
{mrb-standing:great-britain-2010}