London Tournament
10th-11th July

Mavericks Win Frank Brady
Trophy at Tournament
 

Croydon, 10th-11th July. The Mavericks picked up their first trophy since the unbeaten 1999 season, when they won the Frank Brady Trophy for the non-qualifying teams, on the second day of the tournament. Having gone down narrowly to Southampton 4-2, despite a no hitter thrown by Henry Collins, and then 11-2 to a combined Richmond club, the Mavericks came back strongly on the Sunday, disposing of Brentwood 17-4 in the first game, and then winning a very close return game with Southampton 7-2.

Guildford's ranks despite being without the recently returned Karl Grigor, and having lost a couple of starters to holidays, were bolstered by Steve Sawyer for the second time this season; Henry Collins making his fist start in a Guildford shirt for almost 8 years; and Tom Haywood returning after a year and a half out of the game. 

First up on the Saturday, were division rivals Southampton Mustangs, who had already swept the season series with the Mavericks. With Guildford playing as the away team, and batting first, they failed to score, as Smith struck out the side. A couple of walks and an error, gave the Mustangs a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first.

Although the Mavericks came right back and tied it up at 1 a piece on Tom Haywoods double, the lead didn't last long, as despite throwing a no hitter on the day, Henry still put 8 batters on with walks, and even with Tom's strong arm behind the plate, the Mustangs runners were able to advance the round the bases. A couple of runs scored on wild pitches, and another following a 3 base error in left field, which would have been Southampton's only hit of the day.

Meanwhile the Mavericks bats were struggling, and although getting more hits than Southampton, weren't nearly as effective at getting the runners into scoring positions. In fact in the 4th inning, Guildford left the bases loaded with the tying run stranded at second base - somewhat symbolic of the season to this point - so near yet so far. The Mavericks should have prevented the Mustangs scoring in the 4th, but Nick Jolly couldn't quite hold on to the ball whilst putting the tag on the runner, who would have been out by good foot or so. Of course he too came round to score.

The Guildford cause also wasn't helped when Henry (who eventually struck out) was hit by a pitch which the umpire missed - obviously part of a ploy by the ABUA to toughen batters up, as an opponent was similarly struck by the pitch in the Richmond game but wasn't awarded first base, as he hadn't made any effort to get out of the way, even though he had almost fallen over in the process!

Although these incidents were amusing, and just part of the game, slightly more annoying was the lack of communication from the umpires when weather intervened. In this instance, lightning was apparently spotted in the distance, and so the game was halted after 5th innings. Of course lightning is not an issue to be taken lightly, especially when players are swinging aluminium bats (although why did the main diamond continue for another 5 minutes?). The problem here, and also in the later Richmond game, was the umpires just marched off without informing anyone on the Mavericks team of what was happening, leaving some bewildered looks behind. A simple matter of lack of communication and courtesy really. However after a 15 minute mothers meeting, they were back, and the game was able to continue.

Re-startuing after a 15 minute delay, and with the rules stating that any incomplete innings would be nullified, and the last complete inning being the final score, it meant that the Mavericks had to overtake the Mustangs in the top of the 6th, and get them out in the bottom of the 6th. However, as it turned out, Guildford added just one more run to the score, coming on Nick Jolly's double, which Jamie Barnett knocked in. So with 10 minutes still remaining, it was agreed that there was insufficient time to play another full inning and a half, which is what Guildford would have needed to win the game.

So the Southampton curse continues, as the Mavericks lose their 3rd straight this season to the Mustangs.

The second game of the day was played on number 4 diamond, against a combined Richmond ball club. Richmond who field a team in each of the divisions, and who also have a new 4th team - the Riverdogs  - fielded a combination of these teams, although primarily it was the Dragons and Flames who made up this afternoons game. Although with this being #4 diamond, and hence no mound, it didn't seem to hinder the Richmond starter, who had a good curve, fastball and changeup going, and sufficiently stifled the Guildford bats, even more than Southampton had throwing a one hitter. It was also obvious that the Mavericks were up against a stronger batting line up than earlier in the day, as well. So Ross Pennington on the mound, more than had his work cut out for him.

Richmond scored twice in the first and 4 more times in the second, before the Mavericks really had chance to catch breath. Ross Pennington helped himself by putting the Mavericks on the board, as having struck out, reached first on the dropped 3rd strike, and then proceeded to come round to score on a stolen base, a wild pitch and an error, such was the Mavericks day. Ross managed to shut down Richmond in the 3rd and 4th innings with some help from Henry Collins in centrefield, who took 3 catches on the run, and Duncan Phillippo at 3B, who showed off his arm, nailing a couple of batters from across the diamond.

The Mavericks sole hit of the game was a somewhat fortuitous RBI single from Michael Burdett, that scored Duncan from third. This brought the Mavericks to within a slightly flattering 6-2. However, Ross struggled in the Richmond 5th, as they scored 3 more times to stretch their lead to 9-2. Following a 20 minute break for rain, which in truth had followed 20 minutes of persistent rain, Richmond were able to coast the rest of the way, changing their starter, and giving some more bench players game time. Even so, the Mavericks were unable to take advantage, and although the game went into the seventh inning, which saw Richmond tack on a couple more runs, this inning was nullified, as time ran out.

So following on from a bright start to the day, the Mavericks fortunes, like the weather had taken a turn for the worse, and they failed to qualify from the group, along their conquerors of earlier in the day - Southampton, both of whom would now have to settle for playing for the Frank Brady Trophy, on the Sunday.

...................DAY TWO  click here