FALCONS FLYING AGAIN

After last week's disappointing loss to Cambridge, the Herts Falcons 2 baseball team played host to the Essex Arrows 2 last Sunday at Grovehill in Hemel.

The Arrows beat Cambridge earlier in the year and so the Falcons knew they were in for a tough game. After giving up 2 runs in the 1st inning, the Falcons responsed with 7 runs on the back of some good hitting and sloppy fielding by the Arrows. Former Arrows player Ross Davies was the Falcons starting pitcher and the young rookie pitched 4 solid innings. Veteran Paul Raybould, who spent 12 years with the Arrows, came in to pitch in the 5th inning.

The Falcons batting was impressive with Ross Asquith getting 2 hits in 4 at bats and scored 4 runs, Todd Nightingale hitting 3 singles and a double and driving in 4 runs, and Eddie Sierocinski who collected 2 hits, 3 runs and stole 3 bases. Special mention should also go to Peter Kikel who scored twice, collected 3 base on balls, and stole 4 bases.

In the bottom of the 7th inning, the Falcons came to bat needing just 4 runs to win the game on the Slaughter Rule (10 run difference). With 1 out, Ross Asquith dropped a perfect bunt to get safely to 1st base and then stole 2nd and 3rd. Substitute Rob Jones, in his first at bat, then singled to right field driving in Ross. Todd Nightingale then drilled a double to the outfield. Next up was Kal Dimitrov and he hit a clutch single and Rob scored. Then came Alex Casey having his first at bat of the game and on the first pitch he saw, hit a towering fly ball over the left-fielders head for a double and Todd scored. Still with just one out and Kal on 3rd base, up stepped Bruce Durrea. Almost immediately, Bruce pounded a fly ball base hit to right field for Kal to score the game winning run.

The final score was Essex 16 – Falcons 26. Had it not been for some untimely mistakes in the field, the Falcons could have won the game more comfortably.

Next Sunday sees the Falcons at home again to play Havering.