This was another tight and evenly-balanced contest between the Herts Raptors and one of the leading Single-A teams, the London Musketeers. The problem was, that it was only tight for an inning and two thirds.

Then, on a damp and gloomy day at Grovehill, the visitors powered into a lead which they would not surrender. By the end, the sun had come out. But it wasn’t much relief for Herts.

Co-manager Michael Cresswell started on the mound and began with a scoreless inning. The first batter forced a tremendous play from young shortstop Aaron Witter, who made a backhand stop deep in the hole and then made a strong throw to first. The next Musketeer popped up to third base, and then a lineout ended the threat.

But it was London’s pitcher, Billy Atkinson-Warne, who was the dominant force. His first inning was marred only by a walk to left fielder Adam White. Of the first seven batters he faced, Atkinson-Warne struck out six.

Hitting in the nine hole, Rob Jones was the first Raptor to put a ball in play. Even then, the ground ball forced out Michelle Johnson, who had worked a walk, at second base. But a steal and a pass ball meant that Mike Cresswell could then drive in the run and put Herts on the board.

But here’s the rub. By that point the Raptors were already 18 runs behind.

With two out in the top of the second, the Musketeers had scored five. After quick outs in the third, they then piled on for 13 more. They hit confidently and hit it hard. But it was a day when a series of Herts infielders were unable to apply the necessary finishing touch and secure the out that was needed.

The rain which had dampened the start of the game became more heavy and forced a long suspension, which did little to revive the Raptors. Cresswell handed over pitching duties to Paul Barton, who later gave the ball to Witter.

Between them, they limited the damage. London scored only three runs in each of the next innings. That left Herts needing an astonishing rally to prevent a slaughter rule defeat in five innings.

Barton got the first hit of the game to lead off the fifth and came round to score. Boruch Boudilovsky turned his walk into a run. But as Herts appeared to be enjoying their success against the relief pitcher Lloyd Winters, a base-running mix up led to a double play at second and it was, in effect, all over.

Musketeers ran out 24-4 winners in the end, and extended their lead at the top of Pool B in Single-A. They won their season series over Herts 2-1.

The Raptors will sweep Haverhill, but the other two series against Essex Archers and Old Timers could be decisive for any prospect of playoff baseball. Essex are first up, visiting Grovehill on Sunday 17th July.

The Herts Raptors kicked off their season in Single-A with a statement of intent. A tight game at Finsbury Park against the London Musketeers ended with a 7-3 win. While Single-A can often bring drama through high scores, drastic errors and marathon contests, this one was a more classic baseball contest.

Raptors’ rookie pitching ace Matt Corran was dealing from the every first moment of the game. The Musketeers lead-off man was struck out and Corran went on to sit down 14 more batters in a full 9 innings of work.

A converted cricketer, Matt was a regular at midweek training last year. He appeared in a few games at the tail end of the 2015 season and now promises to have a big influence on the Raptors prospects. He mixed in breaking balls with a powerful fastball, and located pitches perfectly.

This was not a tale of one man, though. The defence had to remain sharp behind the pitcher, and they did that. Second baseman Adam White dealt calmly with ground balls his way, and co-manager Michael Cresswell turned a crucial unassisted double play at first base to end a London threat in the seventh inning.

Constant threat

Musketeers have been getting stronger and stronger in recent years — reaching the national semi-finals in 2015. Herts knew they would have to take their chances if they were to prevail, and they did that in the top of the first as starting pitcher Lloyd Winters battled to find the low strike zone.

First Michael Cresswell and then Ken Pike got on base, and they both worked their way to home plate to score. Cresswell would be a constant threat all day, and he later tacked on an insurance run with a slide into a close play at home.

Winters soon settled into his usual assured stride, and Herts were held scoreless for the next two innings. He ended the day with 6 strikeouts, and reliever Billy Atkinson-Warne racked up another seven to complete an excellent day’s work for everyone who took the pitching mound.

The Raptors’ crucial burst of offense came in the top of the fifth. It was kick-started by a superb at-bat by Nick White. After years supporting his son through the Herts ranks, Nick had been pressed into service on Sunday hitting in the 9-hole. He watched balls, he took strikes, and he battled off pitches to keep alive to work a walk.

Cresswell followed behind, then Paul Barton got on. White scored before shortstop Rob Jones drove a ball to the outfield, bringing home two more runs to stretch the lead to 7-1.

There would be no more scoring until the bottom of the ninth, when the Musketeers faced a do or die challenge needing 6 to tie, 7 to win. The lead-off got on base and runners stole aggressively. Herts allowed the steals, but the London policy bore fruit quickly and one run scored to chip away at the lead.

Powered through

Matt Corran bore down, though, and when a second runner scored it was at the cost of an out at first base, Corran fielding a comebacker and running it to the bag himself in a belt and braces approach. All it needed was a final strikeout and the victory was secure.

Back at Grovehill, the Herts Hawks were facing the Northants Centurions. The hosts — who were actually the visiting team for this occasion — powered through to another big win.

A home run by Jon Lewys was the obvious highlight, but he didn’t stop there — he also finished a double shy of the cycle. The Hawks doubles were provided by Hunter Devine and Ilya Dimitrov, who picked up 3 and 2 RBIs respectively.

Three pitchers combined to limit Northants to 10 runs, eight earned. Simon Langton struck out three and gave up just one run in his three innings of work.

The Hawks are now 3-0 on the season and already looking poised for another run at the playoffs. They travel to Milton Keynes Coyotes next week, who are 2-2 and will be looking to stop the Hawks momentum. The Raptors next opponent is the Essex Archers, who have won both of their opening games.