BC Vetra and Sheffield Bruins split tight series for the second consecutive weekend
BBF NBL
BC Vetra @ Sheffield Bruins
Sheffield Bruins and BC Vetra proved there is little to between themselves in the NBL this season after two exciting matches at Thorpe Green Park ended with one victory each- mirroring their previous battle last weekend at Saltford Sports Club.
The Bruins missed the chance to make up some ground on their opponents, who are currently occupying the last postseason slot in fourth place. Vetra remain 1.5 games ahead of the Northerners.
The Bruins’ Manuel Silvestre won game two with a walk off sac fly.
Two three-run innings at the top of the second and sixth were enough to secure the Bristolians a vital 6-2 win in game one.
Despite not scoring a hit in the game, both Mattia Papini and Vilmantas Katinas eventually found home plate after being awarded first base on balls.
This display of plate discipline has been a key asset of Vetra’s offence this season. Papini and Katinas co-lead the division for the number of walks this season, 10, alongside the London Mets’ Marc Theberge.
A strong Vetra defence led by starting pitcher Jorge González and closer Viktoras Ratkevicius allowed only Daniel Moran and Alex Deacon to score for the Bruins.
Game two looked to be a mirror image of the first. This time it was the Bruins who scored three runs in two separate innings.
Third baseman Apostoaei Andrei and shortstop Jonathan Rodriguez both smashed in home runs to put their side into a comfortable 6-0 lead by the end of the third inning.
The Bruins took a six-run lead into the final inning, but their once-comfortable position was emphatically turned on its head by an incredible Vetra inning.
A stunned and error-ridden Bruins defence imploded, giving up six runs and eventually, their lead after left fielder Katinas capitalised on a wild pitch from home-run-scorer Rodriguez.
Second baseman Manuel Silvestre broke Vetra heart’s with a walk-off sac fly out to left field which allowed centre fielder Luke Martin to score and deny the Bristol club a famous comeback.
Despite his team failing to complete their comeback, Vetra manager Tadas Sarakojis was proud happy with his team’s effort. He said: “The second game did not get off to a good start after we conceded two home runs.
“But the team didn't give up and we come back in the game. Unfortunately Sheffield managed to score right at the end.
“As a manager, l proud of my team team because Vetra never gave up.”
Both teams face a tough series next weeked against the two best teams in the NBL. The Bruins will travel to Waltham Abbey to play league leaders Essex Arrows, and second-placed London Capitals will come to Saltford to face BC Vetra.
BBF AAA
London Metros 15-5 & 17-0 Herts Cardinals
Richmond Roebucks 12-0 & 4-6 Cambridge Lancers
Cardiff Merlins (AAA) 2-12 & 2-5 Bristol Badgers
Action from the Bristol Badgers v Cardiff Merlins AAA double header
Picture - Carie Stainsby
Hurricanes Baseball 0-7 (Forfeit) & 0-7 (Forfeit) Croydon Pirates
Bracknell Inferno 4-2 & 19-6 New Forest Thunder
BBF AA
Bristol Bats 9-10 & 9-4 Bournemouth Bears (2)
Herts Hawks 6-7 & 11-7 Essex Archers
Oxford Kings 12-6 & 7-8 Guildford Mavericks
Brighton Aces 8-14 & 8-14 Kent Buccaneers
Formosa Islanders 15-2 & 12-16 London Mustangs
London Sidewinders 7-9 & 15-11 Richmond Dragons
London Meteors 23-3 & 14-12 Richmond Knights
BBF A
Richmond Dukes 0-18 & 7-13 London Minotaurs
Kent Mariners 7-9 & 18-19 Bracknell Phoenix
Bristol Buccaneers 12-13 & 16-13 Bristol Brunels
Bournemouth Bears (3) 0-7 (Forfeit) & 0-7 (Forfeit) Cardiff Merlins (A)
Weston Jets 11-1 & 8-5 Cornish Claycutters
Milton Keynes Bucks 12-7 & 16-1 Essex Redbacks
New Forest Knights 12-14 & 20-21 Taunton Pistols
Croydon Pirates (A) 8-9 & 13-7 London Mercury
BBF BBL Higher
Sheffield Bladerunners (1) 24-3 & 15-3 Halton Trojans
Hull Scorpions 3-7 & 5-8 Leeds Locos
Manchester Bees 9-17 & 13-6 Sheffield Bladerunners (2)
East of England Baseball League
Norwich Warriors 6-7 & 13-14 Northants Centurions
Cambridge Monarchs 4-5 & 15-16 Harwich Town Bay Area Blues
Canal League
Limehouse Cutters 1-7 Suez Tomb Raiders
Suez Tomb Raiders 11-0 London Mayhem
London Mayhem 1-11 Limehouse Cutters
Words by Michael Thomas
