By Hugh Scorgie
If the Great Britain Fastpitch League weekend in May was a promise of things to come, then the next outing for the league, on 10-11 June, really delivered.
It speaks volumes that so many of the good players from the GBFL eschewed the temptations of the conflicting Single-Sex Slowpitch Nationals and the baseball season, which is full flight, and turned up to play. For many of us, fastpitch is our game and it is now the priority.
I would add that on the June weekend, I heard more than one veteran player say that fastpitch in this country has never before been this good. I would also say that with so many of the players -- men and women -- travelling to play in Europe this year, both with their clubs and with GB teams, the level of play is noticeably higher overall.
However, it is definitely at the top of both the men’s and the women’s divisions, where games are hard fought and well played, that most of the interest lies.
Men’s Division
The standout game from the June weekend -- and there always is one -- would have to be Heat v Stags in Men’s Division 1. Played in wilting heat of Saturday afternoon, the Stags took an 8-2 lead into the seventh inning, and with pitcher Mario Hernandez in dominant form, they looked to have the game sewn up.
But the Heat are not a team to lie down easily and in the bottom of the seventh put together a couple of quick runs. Then, care of a pinch hit from Coach Colin Barrett and consecutive Stag errors, they managed to load the bases for Darren Meintjes to hit a monster drive towards the centre field fence. Stags centre fielder Adam Newell, tracking it back, couldn’t haul it in and the ball went over the fence for four runs, tying the score and sending the game into extra innings.
In the top of the eighth inning, with the automatic runner starting on second, the Stags pulled themselves together. A good bunt single put runners on first and third, and Mario Hernandez helped his own cause with a hit as the Stags re-took the lead with a four-run outburst.
The Heat managed to stem the onslaught with a dramatic play at the plate, but the damage was done.
In reply, the Heat put bat to ball and had runners on base, but could only manage a couple of runs as the Stags prevailed by 12-10.
This was a dramatic game that had everything and was appreciated by the small crowd that had stayed around to watch it happen. For my money the best game of this year (or last).
Scores and Standings
MEN'S DIVISION 1
Meteors 5, Heat 3
Stags 8, Meteors 1
Stags 12, Heat 10
| TEAMS | WON | LOST | DRAWN | PCT | RF | RA |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stags | 4 | 2 | 0 | .667 | 30 | 24 |
| Meteors | 3 | 3 | 0 | .500 | 31 | 41 |
| Heat | 2 | 4 | 0 | .333 | 37 | 33 |
MEN'S DIVISION 2
Eagles 8, Hawks 5
Strays 15, Eagles 3
Strays 14, Hawks 2
| TEAMS | WON | LOST | DRAWN | PCT | RF | RA |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Strays | 6 | 0 | 0 | 1.000 | 80 | 18 |
| Hawks | 2 | 4 | 0 | .333 | 43 | 62 |
| Eagles | 1 | 5 | 0 | .167 | 38 | 81 |
MEN'S INTER-DIVISION
Meteors 6, Strays 3
Eagles 10, Stags 7
Meteors 6, Eagles 5
Heat 12, Hawks 5
Heat 17, Strays 0
Stags 12, Strays 0
Stags 12, Hawks 1
Strays 14, Hawks 2
Eagles v Heat and Meteors v Hawks on Sunday were postponed due to weather.
Women’s Division
In the Women’s Division it was business as usual in June.
The Mix are looking fairly secure at the top of the league, but it’s closer than this time last year: the Barbarians are within striking distance and the Heat continue to pull off interesting results, this time taking a game from the Barbarians to bring them within a win of tying for second place.
But it is the consistency of The Mix that impresses most. We watch a well-oiled machine that purposefully strings hits together, but they don’t leave it there. The Mix defend what they have, and a look at the stats will tell you they are allowing just over two runs a game. In a league where the pitching is good but not overwhelming, that is impressive.
If you want to beat The Mix, you have to beat them at their own game, because they have established the terms.
Scores and Standings
Heat 27, Cardiff Celts 7
The Mix 12, Heat 1
Heat 4, Barbarians 3
London Angels 15, Cardiff Celts 5
London Angels 17, Free Agents 3
Barbarians 10, Free Agents 4
The Mix 15, Free Agents 4
The Mix 21, London Angels 1
Barbarians 14, Cardiff Celts 0
| TEAMS | WON | LOST | DRAWN | PCT | RF | RA |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| The Mix | 8 | 1 | 0 | .889 | 105 | 24 |
| Barbarians | 7 | 2 | 0 | .778 | 94 | 44 |
| Heat | 6 | 3 | 0 | .667 | 87 | 58 |
| London Angels | 5 | 4 | 0 | .556 | 98 | 76 |
| Cardiff Celts | 1 | 8 | 0 | .111 | 47 | 155 |
| Free Agents | 0 | 9 | 0 | .000 | 29 | 103 |