Badgers edged out in two tight tussles with Bournemouth Bears
BRISTOL Badgers went down 5-4 and 6-5 in their opening British Baseball Federation (BBF) AAA games against Bournemouth Bears on Sunday.
A series of errors cost the Badgers at crucial times in both games, despite good all-round performances from Luke Claflin and Mike Osbourn with the ball and bat.
Both pitched well and were able to hold a strong Bears line-up in check for most of the afternoon.
Claflin had four hits against good Bears pitching, scoring twice and driving in two runs.
Badgers debutant Mattia Papini had a strong afternoon in the field and grabbed two hits in the second game.
“I know the team is disappointed that a couple of errors probably
cost us coming away with two wins,” said head coach Rhodri Theaker. “The Bears have a good team with strong pitchers so we knew everything was going to be tight. We need to play error-free baseball in the field if we are to succeed this season.”
The Badgers host BC Vetra next Sunday. The game at Somerdale Pavilion starts at noon.
Bristol Bats warmed up for their first South West and Wales Baseball League (SWWBL) fixture by beating Weston Jets 23-7 and 24-4 in friendlies at Hutton Moor Leisure Centre on Sunday.
Paul Carter and rookie Graeme Lawton both hit inside the park home runs in two sold performances by the Bristol side.
“It was a very encouraging performance
and we are looking very solid this year,” said Bats manager Tom Rowe. “It was good to see improvements in the team since last season and I hope we can keep the level of performance up until the end of September.”
The Bats travel to Bournemouth to take on the Bears A team on Sunday.
The Brunels and the Buccaneers were due to have a tune up before their first league fixture but the weather put paid to the intra-club friendly.
While the Brunels have to wait until May 23 for their first competitve game against Bristol Bats, the Buccaneers will be at Weston this Sunday to take on the Jets to kick off their league campaign.