NBL returns with a bang
On the opening weekend of the British Baseball season, the sun finally shone and players and fans alike gathered across the UK to watch some of the most thrilling baseball action in six months. In Britain at least.
Starting in Essex, the newly-promoted Essex Redbacks fancied their chances against the Bracknell Blazers after a couple of lean years for the 2009 National Champions. However, behind Jordan Edmonds in Game 1, the Blazers shutdown the potentially lethal Redbacks batting, plating 16 runs en route to a mercy rule win. The Redbacks recovered to sting the Blazers and head into an early lead in Game 2, but Bracknell ignited to forge ahead. A late rally was capped at three for the Redbacks, though, as co-manager Matt Jennings, representing the tying run, was tagged out at second base in an 11-10 victory for the Blazers.
The sweep was Bracknell’s sixth consecutive league win, as they finished on a high at the end of 2012 and maintained momentum, which could be crucial for this emerging young and talented team. The Redbacks won’t be overly disappointed at the manner of the defeats, showing heart in both, but will be gutted not to have made a better impression against a Blazers side that has struggled in recent seasons.
Elsewhere, the Harlow Nationals split a pair with the Southampton Mustangs on the south coast, with both contenders struggling to get one over on the other. A nailbiting 10-9 win for the hosts was followed by a more comfortable looking 8-1 win for the Nationals as the defending champions got off to a reasonable start against the Mustangs, who have been perennial challengers of late.
A split was widely predicted between these two NBL powerhouses, and again at Finsbury Park where the London Mets played the Lakenheath Diamondbacks. Few would have bet on the Mets looking so comfortable in their 11-6 and 8-1 victories, especially with so many fresh young faces found in the Mets line-up, but they showed maturity beyond their years. Lakenheath will rue not having taken chances when they arose as they are almost an entirely new team this year (service personnel shipping in and out of the US Air Force base has disrupted preparations), although this could yet just be a blip and the Diamondbacks should be back to form soon.
In the final match-up of the weekend, the Herts Falcons easily swept past the South London Pirates, shutting them out in Game 1 and matching their fate in Game 2. The Falcons, runners-up for the national title in August last year, will be pleased to already be leading the charge in 2013, even if there is a three-way tie for the lead after the first weekend.
With the Essex Arrows not playing, the Redbacks, Diamondbacks and Pirates all prop up the table after the first weekend, each hoping to turn it around come next Sunday.
