CHALFONT PARK FLAMES
18 - BURNERS 19
Chalfont Park Flames
staged an amazing comeback in their game
against the unbeaten Burners last Thursday
night. Trailing 12-1 after three innings,
the Flames suddenly sprang into action and
hit three home runs (Sara Daughtrey, Chris
Snelling (later voted MVP) and Simon
Beedell) in the fourth innings to kick start
their game.
By the end of the 7th
innings following some excellent defence the
scores were tied at 16-16 with darkness
setting in as the extra innings started.
Batting second and needing to score 4 runs
to win the game, the Flames just came up
short to lose by 1.
A great performance which
proves they can compete with anyone in the
division and sets them up to play the
winless Ascot Blue Jays away tonight.
THAMES VALLEY COUGARS 5 - CHALFONT PARK
PHOENIX 21
This week the Phoenix
travelled to Richings Park to take on last
seasons unbeaten league champions the Thames
Valley Cougars. The Cougars are currently
sitting in second place having only lost to
the league leaders Ascot.
We knew this was to be
our hardest game to date and watching TV in
their warm up confirmed their class.
However, unlike last
week's slow start, the Phoenix went straight
into their traditional "one big innings"
batting round the order and more, bringing
home 8 runs and many wondered if the Cougars
were trying to lull us into a false sense of
security. Highlights included Chris Paine
running through first base deflecting the
ball off his hand into his face, recovering
enough to make it second off the next hit,
only to injure himself again sliding into
the base!
In contrast the Cougars
started slowly, only scoring 2 runs, thanks
to some great outfield play, including a
well taken catch by Clare Winter at right
field off the bat of their biggest hitter.
Chalfont kept it ticking
round in the second and third innings
scoring three and four respectively while
the Cougars were struggling to find form
with the bat and again only scored two in
the second and just the one in the third, a
home run from the aforementioned big hitter,
Craig Moran. The Phoenix were fielding
sensibly and picking off the lead runners to
keep the score down.
The Phoenix suffered a
small blip in the fourth, failing to score
any runs but luckily this spurred them on
and they then held the Cougars to no score
as well.
After a good fifth inning
in which they scored six more runs with some
good base hits, the Phoenix needed to
continue the strong fielding, prevent the
Cougars from scoring, take the game on the
mercy rule and get to the bar to watch the
football. After the first out and no runs
scored, Tony Hewston made a stop at third
base threw to Annie Brothwell at two, who
jumped to catch and make the out and then
Geoff Brown took a catch at left field to
seal the game and the first great, yet
slightly unexpected win of the evening.
Another great team
performance from the Phoenix who are
improving by the game and have now won three
from three in their new higher division and
take third position in the league having a
game in hand over the teams above. Thanks to
Martin Cartledge and Liz Warner for their
much valued support and congratulations to
Geoff Brown who was awarded MVP in the bar.
Next week sees the
re-arranged first game of the season against
the BA Flyers at Chalfont Park.
