The Herts Hawks turned Grovehill into a fortress on Sunday, powering past London Mercury in both ends of a Division 4 double header. Behind disciplined pitching, timely hitting, and a relentless approach within the 5-run inning cap rules, the Hawks controlled the tempo across both games to secure a confident sweep.
The opener set the tone immediately. Herts came out aggressive and clinical, putting pressure on Mercury from the first inning. A big early rally — capped by clutch hitting from the middle of the order — quickly put runs on the board and forced Mercury onto the back foot. The Hawks made full use of the 5-run cap, maximising innings without overextending, and repeating the formula again in the second to build a commanding lead.
On the mound, Giuseppe Basilea kept things steady, limiting damage and working efficiently through traffic. Despite a brief pushback from Mercury in the middle innings, Herts responded well defensively, tightening up in the field and shutting down any momentum. The bats stayed hot throughout, with contributions across the lineup — Rangajith leading the way with a standout performance at the plate, well supported by Cornish and Hogg. By the time the final out was recorded, the Hawks had secured a convincing 13–7 win.
Game two followed a similar script, though with a slightly more measured start. Mercury showed more resistance early on, but Herts stayed composed and began to edge ahead through consistent at-bats and smart base running. The breakthrough came mid-game, where another strong inning — again maximising the cap — created separation on the scoreboard.
Darrin Ward took control on the mound in the second game, delivering a strong complete performance. Throwing strikes and keeping hitters off balance, he racked up key outs at crucial moments and prevented Mercury from stringing together rallies. Defensively, the Hawks backed him up well, making the routine plays and avoiding the errors that can so often swing momentum at this level.
Offensively, Rangajith again set the tone, continuing his excellent day with multiple key hits and RBIs. Support came from across the lineup, with Lama, Basilea, and Dunn all contributing to keep the scoreboard ticking. Even as Mercury threatened late, Herts remained in control, closing out an 8–3 victory to complete the sweep.
Across both games, the Hawks showed exactly what you want to see early in the season — improving at-bats, disciplined pitching, and growing confidence in game situations. The ability to repeatedly capitalise within the 5-run inning structure proved decisive, turning good innings into winning ones.
Final Scores:
Herts Hawks 13–7 London Mercury
Herts Hawks 8–3 London Mercury