It was a statement day for Herts Raptors as they travelled to Cambridge. They swept their double-header against the Monarchs with authority and showed another hint of why this lineup could be dangerous when it clicks. A 15–4 win in the opener set the tone, and the Raptors backed it up emphatically with a 16–2 result in game two — complete performances fueled by timely hitting, aggressive base-running, and composed work on the mound.
Herts came out of the gate quickly in Game 1. A five-run first inning immediately put Cambridge on the back foot, and from there the Raptors never really looked back. Even when Cambridge scratched a few runs across, the visitors responded with steady pressure—tacking on in the second and third before breaking things open again late.
At the heart of that offensive surge was Craig Elliott-Davey, who delivered a huge middle-of-the-order performance, driving in three runs as part of a multi-hit outing. Reilly Williams provided consistent support with a pair of hits and two RBIs, while Greg Bochan and Rufus Lloyd kept the line moving—both picking up key hits and contributing to the steady offensive production.
On the mound, Abdul El Hamri built on last week’s no-hitter with another solid four innings. He struggled to get his strike zone to match up with the umpire’s in the early going, but stayed impressively focused. He limited damage, surrendered only two hits and struck out six. Even with some traffic on the bases, El Hamri stayed in control, allowing the Raptors’ bats to build and maintain a cushion.
With momentum firmly in their pocket, Herts came out for the second game looking even sharper—and they wasted no time doubling down. Another strong start saw five runs in the first inning, followed by five more in the second. By the middle of the game, this one was already looking out of reach for Cambridge.
Nic Hine was the standout with the bat this time, putting together a dominant offensive showing. The highlight was the catcher legging out a home run on a ball driven deep to right-centre field. But it wasn’t a one-off – Hine had multiple hits and four RBIs, consistently finding gaps and driving in runs at key moments. Ollie Nourse also impressed, reaching base and contributing across the board, while Elliott-Davey stayed hot with another multi-hit effort.
On the pitching side, Andrew Slater delivered one of the cleanest outings of the day—three shutout innings with five strikeouts and complete control. When Cambridge finally managed to push a couple of runs across later, the damage had long been done, and Herts remained firmly in command.
From first pitch to final out, this was a confident, complete display from the Raptors. The lineup fired on all cylinders, the pitching staff threw strikes and missed bats, and the team responded to every moment with authority. If this double-header is any indication, Herts are building something serious.
(Photos by Richard Williams)