Neptali Ortega-Gutierrez hit a walk off two run single for the Bats as the Bristol side came from behind to beat Guildford Mavericks 7-6 at Somerdale on Sunday.
Down by two runs at the bottom of the final inning, Ortega came off the bench to drive in two runs to split the BBF AA header. In the last dramatic inning, shortstop Alex Brown hit a double before pitcher Nerius Tamosiunas drove in Brown to cut the deficit. A walk and a stolen base put Bats runners on second and third before Ortega crushed the ball to left centre field for the win.
The Bats could also have taken the first game after launching a six run comeback at the bottom of the final inning, eventually losing 9-8. Down 9-2, wayward pitching put two runners on base before Brown stepped up to drive in Michael Buser to start the fightback. Catcher Lachie Ng singled to drive in another run and then infielder Rich Evans hit a two RBI single to cut the deficit further. Ortega and Buser were able to drive in another two runs but with bases loaded the Bats were unable to find the one outfield hit that would have secured victory.
“They were two fantastic games which showed our character to come back in both,” said Richard Evans, the Bats manager. “We got off to a slow start in the first game and the four errors allowed Guildford a healthy lead which we just could not overtake.”
The Badgers travelled to Hampshire to face New Forest Thunder in their BBF AAA double header and came away with shared spoils. Three errors in the first game cost the Badgers dear as they went down 6-2 despite pitcher Alex Martinson striking out 11 New Forest batters. The Bristol offense struggled against excellent pitching from the Thunder’s Chris Lawson, registering just four hits.
The Badgers responded well in the second game running out 16-2 winners. Alex Martinson hit his maiden home run for the club and drove in three runs while outfielder Tim Singiser added three hits including a double, three runs driven in and two runs scored. They were supported by Doug Scriver and John Brownlee who both had two hits and drove in two runs. Laura Hirai impressed again from the mound with six strikeouts over her six innings pitched.
“It was a shame we couldn’t support Alex’s pitching in the first game and the errors were crucial in the end result,” said Badgers’ manager Rhodri Theaker. “I am absolutely delighted with the way Alex has pitched but he and the whole club will be delighted with his first home run.”
Also in action at the weekend were the Bristol Brunels who travelled to Weston to take on the BBF/SWWBL title-chasing Jets. It was a tough afternoon for Bristol’s development team who went down 13-5 and 14-9 in the double header.
The Brunels only registered three hits in the first game and four fielding errors didn’t help the Bristol team’s cause.The Jets scored from the start and were ahead by 11 runs at the bottom of the fourth innings. The Brunels did respond with five runs but the deficit was too big to overcome.
The second game was closer as the Brunels got their offense going with Rod McCurdy leading the way with three hits, including two doubles. First baseman Rob Horne and pitcher Ryan Harris had multi-hit games with four hits and four RBIs between them.
“It was a tough day all round for us against a good Weston side,” said Alex Lane-Kieltyka, the Brunels manager. “Our pitching struggled to find the strike zone in both games and we couldn’t get bat to ball in the first. We will be doing a lot of basic drills at training before the next game in two weeks time.”
Next up: All Bristol teams have a break next week for the British Baseball Summer Cup before resuming their schedules in two weeks time.
The Brunels welcome Taunton Pistols to Somerdale, while the Bats host Bournemouth Bears Double A. The Buccaneers travel to Bournemouth to meet the Bears’ Single A team, whilst the Badgers head to Bracknell to resume their close, tense rivalry at the top of the AAA South West division.