Post by thebigswinger on Jul 17, 2011 22:42:05 GMT
Sean Briscomb was three outs from a no-no before the constant rain delays caught up with his robot mechanics, and though four hits would load the bases (interrupted by a failed attempt at stealing third), he'd remain on song for the shut-out in the shortened game. Heroic.
Essex Redbacks II 19-0 Brentwood Stags
Eager to avenge opening day defeat at the hands of the Stags, the Redbacks II welcomed the Brentwood team to Chelmsford for the return fixture on a miserable afternoon in July. Not one for the spectators.
That said, the quality of baseball on offer was apparent early in the encounter. Briscomb's bid for perfection was broken up early by an error in the first inning, and another in the second, but behind consecutive doubles from Arun Mandalia (3-5, 2 2B) and Mike Jones (4-6, 2 2B) Briscomb would already have the run support required to win the game.
He was aided further by his own batting, scoring three times, and from a rampant Redbacks line-up that went collectively 17-37 with a few free passes for good measure.
Defensively, the Redbacks were on song. Welcoming Jones back to mind the dish following his impressive outing against the Archers(!), he improved drastically in allowing no passed balls or stolen bases, catching the runner in the top of the seventh for that first fatal out, while Adam Commons, unfamiliar in the hot-corner, impressed following his flukey snare in the intra-club friendly a fortnight before!
But Briscomb did most of the damage himself, striking out 8, making a couple of put outs from the mound and taking advantage of the force out in the 9-hole with the Stags only able to field eight players.
Following four in the first inning, the spidermen scored three times in the second, five in the third, Dave Jesshop knocking in three of them from his bat alone, before a big triple from Adam 'Bear' Commons landed the makeshift third baseman where he'd been doing his fielding. He scored on a passed ball, robbing travel companion Mandalia of a chance for a ribbie, but the thirteenth run was certainly not unlucky for the Redbacks.
The second rain break held up proceedings, but made little difference in the outcome of the match. Although for six outs the Redbacks weren't able to plate another run, they fielded wonderfully, with Jesshop reading a tricky line-drive in left field, Rory Flood following the flight of a well-struck curve ball in centre and Fraser Meikle falling over into a catch at second base!
Having chased starting pitcher Brian Kulasena from the game, the Redbacks wanted a few more rips and a few extra runs, and knocked in six more in the bottom of the sixth to push to a 19-run advantage. Notably this included an opposite-field hit from JP Imperio and CJ Evans's first hit in competitive baseball for over a year, a two-run single.
Briscomb was only three outs from a no-hitter, but Kulasena ruined his bid by hitting away from the fielders with a strong single to right-centre. Immediately followed by another hit that way by relief pitcher Jean-Claude Barralis. Was this to be a big rally?
Kulasena tried to become the first Stag to third base all afternoon, but Jones and Rory Flood (now at third base) combined to stop his progress. However, Jon Houston hit his way onto the bags as well, and was followed by Marcus Brewerton - his epic 9-pitch at-bat was ended by Meikle's diving grab earlier in the game - by virtue of a nice rip to right field.
The tension was building with the bases now loaded, but Briscomb stayed true to form and picked up his seventh and eighth strikeouts to earn a truly spectacular victory in front of a few very proud parents and partners.
Stats of the day
Briscomb's line. Simple.
7IP, 0R, 0ER, 4H, 8K, 0BB, 0HBP, 0SB, 1CS
And only more than one baserunner in an inning in the final frame.
Play of the day
Although I may have not given it the credit it deserved, I reckon Fraser's diving grab was a really important moment in the game. Marcus, who many of us remember from our time at the Stags or Clippers, had managed to work from an 0-2 count into a full count and had fouled off his fair share of pitches, and his crack appeared to be falling into the gap between Blake and Fraser on the right side of the infield.
There was only one way that it was going to be an out, and knowing this Fraser threw himself and got his glove close to the ground to execute a very difficult catch in a particularly effortless way. Aside from the sliding element, but it was slippery under foot so we'll allow him this one. Next time, 'Man Up!'
And Adam's triple was lovely to watch as well. And CJ's return to action.
Comment
It was great to be a part of such a potentially momentous occasion, and superb to be catching Sean's gem this afternoon. It was unfortunate that it got broken up, but Brentwood battled hard considering they were down to eight players in tricky conditions and so I was very impressed by how they handled themselves.
In terms of batting, Arun was a beast and Dave Jesshop was a welcome addition with his speed and great eye for the ball. No one had a bad day with the stick and everyone showed what they can do given the chance, so with a big game against the league-leading Latin Boys next week, a defeat would be no disgrace, provided it's a passionately-fought battle.[/i]
Mike
Essex Redbacks II 19-0 Brentwood Stags
Eager to avenge opening day defeat at the hands of the Stags, the Redbacks II welcomed the Brentwood team to Chelmsford for the return fixture on a miserable afternoon in July. Not one for the spectators.
That said, the quality of baseball on offer was apparent early in the encounter. Briscomb's bid for perfection was broken up early by an error in the first inning, and another in the second, but behind consecutive doubles from Arun Mandalia (3-5, 2 2B) and Mike Jones (4-6, 2 2B) Briscomb would already have the run support required to win the game.
He was aided further by his own batting, scoring three times, and from a rampant Redbacks line-up that went collectively 17-37 with a few free passes for good measure.
Defensively, the Redbacks were on song. Welcoming Jones back to mind the dish following his impressive outing against the Archers(!), he improved drastically in allowing no passed balls or stolen bases, catching the runner in the top of the seventh for that first fatal out, while Adam Commons, unfamiliar in the hot-corner, impressed following his flukey snare in the intra-club friendly a fortnight before!
But Briscomb did most of the damage himself, striking out 8, making a couple of put outs from the mound and taking advantage of the force out in the 9-hole with the Stags only able to field eight players.
Following four in the first inning, the spidermen scored three times in the second, five in the third, Dave Jesshop knocking in three of them from his bat alone, before a big triple from Adam 'Bear' Commons landed the makeshift third baseman where he'd been doing his fielding. He scored on a passed ball, robbing travel companion Mandalia of a chance for a ribbie, but the thirteenth run was certainly not unlucky for the Redbacks.
The second rain break held up proceedings, but made little difference in the outcome of the match. Although for six outs the Redbacks weren't able to plate another run, they fielded wonderfully, with Jesshop reading a tricky line-drive in left field, Rory Flood following the flight of a well-struck curve ball in centre and Fraser Meikle falling over into a catch at second base!
Having chased starting pitcher Brian Kulasena from the game, the Redbacks wanted a few more rips and a few extra runs, and knocked in six more in the bottom of the sixth to push to a 19-run advantage. Notably this included an opposite-field hit from JP Imperio and CJ Evans's first hit in competitive baseball for over a year, a two-run single.
Briscomb was only three outs from a no-hitter, but Kulasena ruined his bid by hitting away from the fielders with a strong single to right-centre. Immediately followed by another hit that way by relief pitcher Jean-Claude Barralis. Was this to be a big rally?
Kulasena tried to become the first Stag to third base all afternoon, but Jones and Rory Flood (now at third base) combined to stop his progress. However, Jon Houston hit his way onto the bags as well, and was followed by Marcus Brewerton - his epic 9-pitch at-bat was ended by Meikle's diving grab earlier in the game - by virtue of a nice rip to right field.
The tension was building with the bases now loaded, but Briscomb stayed true to form and picked up his seventh and eighth strikeouts to earn a truly spectacular victory in front of a few very proud parents and partners.
Stats of the day
Briscomb's line. Simple.
7IP, 0R, 0ER, 4H, 8K, 0BB, 0HBP, 0SB, 1CS
And only more than one baserunner in an inning in the final frame.
Play of the day
Although I may have not given it the credit it deserved, I reckon Fraser's diving grab was a really important moment in the game. Marcus, who many of us remember from our time at the Stags or Clippers, had managed to work from an 0-2 count into a full count and had fouled off his fair share of pitches, and his crack appeared to be falling into the gap between Blake and Fraser on the right side of the infield.
There was only one way that it was going to be an out, and knowing this Fraser threw himself and got his glove close to the ground to execute a very difficult catch in a particularly effortless way. Aside from the sliding element, but it was slippery under foot so we'll allow him this one. Next time, 'Man Up!'
And Adam's triple was lovely to watch as well. And CJ's return to action.
Comment
It was great to be a part of such a potentially momentous occasion, and superb to be catching Sean's gem this afternoon. It was unfortunate that it got broken up, but Brentwood battled hard considering they were down to eight players in tricky conditions and so I was very impressed by how they handled themselves.
In terms of batting, Arun was a beast and Dave Jesshop was a welcome addition with his speed and great eye for the ball. No one had a bad day with the stick and everyone showed what they can do given the chance, so with a big game against the league-leading Latin Boys next week, a defeat would be no disgrace, provided it's a passionately-fought battle.[/i]
Mike