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Guildford,
July 3rd 2005 (Croydon names to follow)
Croydon starter, xxxxxx, walked
in the go ahead run in the bottom of the 8th inning, after a
clutch 2 out bases loaded single, that drove in the tying runs,
from Rob Shaw, gave the
 Guildford
Mavericks their first win of the season, in the most closely
fought encounter this season. On a day when the lead changed
hands no less than 6 times, it proved to be the greater control
of Maverick starter Tom Sheridan that proved the difference, as
xxxxxx hit 5 Mavericks, include 3 in the decisive 8th inning,
and gave up 8 walks to just three by Tom. This proved the old
adage that putting men on base will come back to haunt you later
on, as although the Pirates out hit the Mavericks 18-10,
Guildford had 2 more base runners on the day, and in the end
made this count, by getting than one extra run across the plate.
Croydon had taken the first
lead of the game, on a couple of 1st inning singles, and a
stolen base, and kept this into the bottom of the second, as the
Mavericks stranded two in the first, as did the Pirates in the
second, although credit again to Tom Sheridan, who struck out
the side, after putting runners at 2nd and 3rd with none out.
After
 Duncan
Phillippo and Marty Poulter had got aboard at the bottom of the
Mavericks order, lead-off hitter, Ally Carr, drove both of them
in to give the Mavericks a 2-1 lead in the 2nd, although what
looked like a bigger lead, disappeared, when Aaron Shepherd line
drive to right,
 fell
into the glove of the Pirates outfielder. The lead didn't last
long as xxxx helped himself with a 2 RBI triple that found the
gap in left centrefield, and this was extended to a 5-2 lead, as
Croydon tacked on another run in the 4th, after the Mavericks
stranded runners at 2nd and 3rd with just one out, in the third.
The bottom of the 4th, gave the
Mavericks their biggest lead of the game, as following a lead
off single from Marty Poulter, and a walk from Ally Carr, Ben
Mullard, in his first game since early May, drove in a run with
an infield ground ball, which turned into a base hit, as it was
ruled that that the first baseman didn't have his foot on the
bag, when he took the throw. Guildford took advantage of this,
as Tom Sheridan doubled down the left field line to drive in a
couple of runs, and Mike Burdett tripled to right-centrefield to
drive in another, to give the Mavericks a 7-5 lead.
The Pirates went down 1-2-3 in
the 5th, helped by an unassisted double play from Ben Mullard
 at
first, who doubled off the runner, after a line drive was hit
straight to him. In the bottom of the inning, it began to look
as though Guildford could open up a sizeable lead, as they had
runners on first and second with just 1 out, and the heart of
the order coming up. However, another good throw from Croydon
catcher yyyyyy, nailed Marty at third, and with xxxxxx going
more and more to his curve ball, Aaron struck out to end the
inning.
This was all the help, the
Pirates needed to get back into the game, as following a one out
single from wwwwww, zzzzzzz hit an inside the park Home Run, on
a stinging line drive to Marty Poulter, which despite all or
nothing sprint to reach the ball, it fell just short, leaving
Marty in no position to field it, as it scooted through,
allowing zzzz to score with ease. A very difficult chance, and
Marty more than made up with it, closing out the inning on a
spectacular catching dive (yes that is the right way round!), to
add to his shoestring catch a couple of innings earlier.
With the game tied at 7, the
Mavericks went down 1-2-3 in the 6th, and this presented the
Pirates a chance to take the lead in the seventh. 4 hits,
including a double by aaaaa and a triple from bbbbbb, opened up
a 2 run lead for Croydon, and they may have held this into the
8th, as despite the first two batters reaching base, 2 stike
outs, left the Mavericks looking likely to add to the
Left-on-Base total. However, Ally Carr, who has been hitting the
ball hitting the ball well of late, came through, driving a
triple over the right fielders head, tying the game, and almost
scoring himself, but ended up in a run down between home and
third, as he tried to take one base too many.
Tied at 9, after 7, there was
no doubt this was going to be a close finish, with every run in
the next couple of innings counting. Things didn't start too
well for the Mavericks, as Croydon yet again opened up a 2 run
lead in the 8th, this time with some heads up running from
third, as following a lead off double, tagged up and scored on a
foul pop up that was extremely well taken, over his shoulder,
going backwards, by Ben Mullard at first.
 Another
single drove in a second run, and left the Mavericks in a hole,
down by two runs, and with just 6 outs left.
Both pitchers had gone the
distance, and this may have been decisive. Although he struck
out Aaron, leading off the 8th, Ben Mullard and Tom Sheridan
were both hit by pitches that got away from him, and although a
strikeout, left Guildford with just one out, xxxxxx hit the next
batter Rob Wheeler to load bases. This brought up Rob Shaw who
was 0-3 on the day, and not recently showing the form, that left
him runner up in the MVP voting last season. However he chose a
great moment to break out of his slump, as he lined the first
pitch into left field, scoring both Ben and Tom, and tying the
game at 11. The 4th batter of the inning was then hit, to load
the bases again, and when Marty Poulter walked, Rob Wheeler
crossed the plate with the winning run. Although Ally grounded
out to end the inning, the Mavericks at least went into the
ninth with a slender one run lead.
Conversely Tom Sheridan was
still hitting the strike zone, and forcing the Pirate hitters to
put the ball into play. Although a few had found the gaps and
dropped for them earlier in the game, their luck ran out in the
ninth, as first a comebacker to Tom, and then a ground ball to D
 uncan
Phillippo at third, which he rocketed across the diamond to
first, left the Croydon down to their last out. Another single
from their lead off
Croydon starter
Duncan swings and misses
Maverick SS, Aaron Shepherd
Marty Poulter is nailed at
3rd
Marty tries to get a
smaller strike zone
Ben Mullard, back after 6
weeks out
Marty celebrates the win,
with his new dance
hitter, looked to give them help, and he was able to steal second, but ccccc struck out looking to end the threat, and give the Mavericks that elusive first win.
So finally a 1 in the win
column, although having played one game more, it leaves the
Pirates still above Guildford. By strange co-incidence the two
teams will meet next week, as they have been drawn together in a
group with the Brentwood Stags, at the London tournament. A
tough schedule remains for Guildford, with trips to Bournemouth
and Cheddar, following home games against Burgess Hill and
Windsor. So the top four left to play, but at least the
Mavericks head into these on a roll....even if it is just a one
game roll!
Maverick MVP: Tom Sheridan |
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