But
9 runs later, Guildford had drawn to within 3, and looked to have
the game for the taking, against a Colts side, who must have been
taken aback by the sudden resurgence of Guildford bats, which they
had kept quiet for pretty much most of the afternoon. Unfortunately
they
were
not able to support this comeback on the defensive side of the ball,
and with starter Owen Hazelby tiring, cracks were also showing in
the defense. The Colts tacked on some insurance runs in both the
last two innings, which proved more than enough in the end.
Having been beaten comprehensively down at Southampton earlier in
the season, it looked early on, as though the Mavericks were heading
the same way again, as the Colts put 4 on the board in the first,
and two more in the second. Colts starter Lewandowski,
struck
out 4 of the first six Maverick batters, and their defense turned a
double play in the 3rd inning, before a couple of singles and a Rob
Wheeler RBI double brought the Mavericks back into the game at 7-2.
Both sides were shutout in the 4th, before Southampton exploded for
6 runs in the 5th inning, as they batted round round, helped by a
couple of w
alks
and a couple of fielding errors. Back to back base hits from
shortstop Kuo, catcher Wenbin Tu and CF Phil Harper drove in 3 of
the runs, and by the time Guildford came to bat, they found
themselves 13-2 down. This soon became 15-2 as a Duggan double
helped the Colts add two more to their total.
Finally in the bottom of the 6th, the Mavericks bats came alive.
Andy
Sheridan
had come into the game and drove in 2 Jazz Brown and Jason Burns
with a triple in his first at bat. Then in the bottom of the 7th
with two outs, and facing defeat, Rob Wheeler doubled in another
run, to bring it back to 16-5, leaving the Mavericks a couple of
runs short of forcing extra innings. Matt Sheridan then singled, and
Jason Burns just managed to reach safely, as the ball was bobbled on
the infield, giving him time to beat out the throw. Mike Burdett
then cleared the bases with a triple to the centre field wall, to
bring the Mavericks back to 16-8, and ensure the game was going to
last at least another inning. Four consecutive hits from
Jeremy
Abel, Owen, Kevin Warner and Tom Sheridan followed, and by the time
the Colts got the last out of the inning, the Mavericks were only
trailing by 3 runs. A bit rough on the Colts starter Michal
Lewandowski, as up to that point he had dominated.
Not only was the game extended, but the Mavericks now began to
entertain thoughts of winning the game. However these were to
quickly vanish in the next inning. Owen was now pitching further
than he had all season, but with no relief in the bullpen, he had to
continue. Despite giving up a walk and a throwing a wild pitch, it
was a couple of errors on the infield, that really made the
difference, as with just one out, the Colts would have been retired
without scoring, but for these. But that's how baseball goes, and 4
runs later, Southampton had a 20-13 lead, which in the end proved
sufficient. The Mavericks had 3 base hits in the 8th, as Mike
Burdett, Andy Sheridan and Jeremy Abel all singled, but they were
left stranded, and that in effect was the game. The Colts added two
more to their total in the ninth, including one on a run down, which
turned more into a comedy of errors, but the Mavericks were unable
to provide an answer this time.
Overall, however, a stirring performance and fight back from Guildford. Unusually for them, the Mavericks got batter as the game progressed, and but for a second pitcher, may well have turned this right around and completed the amazing comeback. Next week, sees the re-arranged game with Bracknell, postponed from earlier in the season, as the GB Junior team were using the diamond over at Bracknell.
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
