Guildford Mavericks 7
Herts Falcons 17

Hemel Hempstead, 22nd June 2003 This was a game that did justice to the field on which it was played. The Falcons have one of the better diamonds in this division, and up until the seventh inning the result was very much in doubt, with the lead changes hands 4 times. However as the Mavericks starter Pete Hammer tired, Stuart Boast, pitching for the Falcons got stronger, and kept the Mavericks hitters on the back foot all day with his change of speeds. 

Guildford got off to an explosive start, Koichiro Furukawa lead off the game with a home run down the left field line. This was his second of the season, and although the next 3 batters were retired in order, the game was tied at 2 after Guildford had batted in the second. 

Herts re-took the lead in the bottom half of the inning, as again Manning and Cornish at the top of the order both scored. The top half of the Falcons order proved to Achilles heel for the Mavericks all day, and in fact is was when the bottom half of the order finally managed to get base, that the game turned. 

Guildford’s inability to score a run, when they had the bases loaded in the third, and the Falcons turning a similar opportunity into 2 runs, was diagnostic of the game as whole. A 2-run fifth, gave the Mavericks the lead again, and this was keyed by an RBI triple from Ross Pennington, who was driven in himself by first baseman, Ben Mullard. However, this wasn’t to last long, as 2 more runs put the Falcons ahead again. 

The Mavericks pulled to within one in the top of the seventh on a double by Pete Hammer, with him scoring on a ground ball from Tomas Diaz. But yet again, Guildford were unable to consistently string their hits together. 

The turning point came in the bottom half the seventh, when despite retiring the first two batters, Pete was unable to get the bottom four in the order, walking three of them, as he was obviously tiring. However, without both Steve Sawyer and Tom Haywood, there was no real back up in the bullpen, and this proved crucial, as Manning cleared the bases with a 3 run double. 

Now trailing by 6 runs, Ben Mullard gave the Mavericks some hope with his first home run for the club, but yet again it came with no one on, and the bottom third of the order were unable to get on base, completing an 0 for 10 day. 

Michael Burdett came on in relief of Pete in the 8^th inning, and despite striking out one, and retiring another on a sacrifice fly, was unable to get the final out, as Herts scored 5 times to bring the game to a somewhat premature and surprising end. 

Again Pete Hammer, grabs the MVP award for the Mavericks, as he almost single-handedly kept Guildford in the game, although mention must go to Koichiro and Ben for their home runs. 

Things don’t get any easier for the Mavericks, as the unbeaten and league leading Milton Keynes Rebels come to Guildford next week. Bring on July is a shout currently being heard in that part of Surrey!

Guildford MVP: Pete Hammer

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