The Tonbridge Wildcats hosted the Croydon Pirates on July 5th at Borley Field in Tonbridge, Kent. The double-header was the second set of games in which the two opponents of the British Baseball Federation’s Division 4 (South) squared off. The Wildcats won both previous games, and entered the weekend with an 8-6 overall record.
Game1: Andrew Sharp started on the pitching mound for Tonbridge and did exceptionally well for the first three innings, allowing only 3 runs from 5 hits and striking out 4 batters. The Wildcats jumped to an early lead in the bottom of the first inning with RBIs from Matt Styles and Noah Bradley plus a run from a passed ball when Rob Best was batting. Styles earned another RBI in the second inning on a sac fly, then Victor Osweiler scored in the third inning from a single by Monty Cunliffe. The Pirates tied the game in the fourth inning from a 3 RBI double, then Best(ie) relieved Sharp(y) but was unable to stop the Croydon offense who put up two more runs to end the inning by rule. The Wildcats responded swiftly, with back-to-back 2 RBI doubles from Bradley and Joe Whitehead. Best earned the win after getting three outs in the fifth (and final) inning, thanks in part to a fantastic double play by Cunliffe in CF to first baseman Whitehead, who leads the Division in double plays! Tonbridge won 11-9 and improved their record to 9 wins and 6 losses.
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Game2: Matt “Moose” Misener hurled a complete game for the hosting Wildcats in a close and dramatic contest. Misener’s pitching and solid team defense held the Pirates to only 1 run in the first two innings, then Tonbridge took the lead from at-bats by Mike Calamito and Joe Whitehead. Croydon tied the game in the third due to an error after two batters, then the Wildcats pitching and fielding clamped down to retire the next three batters. Misener and Sharpy each earned an RBI in the bottom of the third which included numerous stolen bases. In the bottom of the 4th Chad Marshall–in his first at-bat of the season–earned an RBI with a single.
On Deck: the Wildcats next play on July 12th at Borley Field in Tonbridge, against the Bognor Regis Cobras.