Dukes run riot over Raptors in season opener
Grovehill Park, 24th April 2022
By Alvin Michael | alvinmichael.com | @AlvinMicWrites
The Richmond Dukes opened their 2022 BBF Single A season with two impressive wins on the road at Herts Raptors, winning the first game of the doubleheader 16-2 and the second game 11-4. Solid pitching and fielding, combined with quality at-bats up and down the Dukes’ line up, proved to be too much for the home side as they were unable to mount any meaningful offence of their own or subdue the Richmond juggernaut.
Dukes’ manager Paul Tiley was ecstatic with his team’s performance and results. “Great way to start our 2022 season. When we focussed and had our head in the game, we took every advantage we could. [We] had a lot fun and made it a great day of baseball”. Tiley went on to highlight some standout performers saying, “I think Toby had a great day with the bat. Great catching performance by Henry, [he] only took up the position 10 days ago. Pitching – when [we] got in a jam, we got out of it. Great job by all 4 guys”.
It was a late start, and with a strong wind blowing in from right field it might have impacted both sides. But any concerns there may have been were quickly dismissed from the outset. Herts starting pitcher, Max Farmbrough, couldn’t locate the strike zone which the Dukes batters took full of advantage of. Farmbrough walked 6 of the first 8 batters and gave up 5 runs on wild pitches. With the 5 run max per inning rule in effect, the Dukes took to the field for the bottom of the first with a healthy lead.
Dave Wrigley started the game for Richmond and showed his veteran class on the mound. Backed up by nearly flawless defence, Wrigley made quick work of the Raptors hitters. The Dukes continued to pile on the misery for their hosts in the top of the second inning, adding 3 more runs to pad out their lead, highlighted by a Toby Reynolds RBI double to centre field. The Raptors never gave up, and were rewarded with a run off of a line drive double to left centre field by Charlie O’Brien, but it would prove to be merely a consolation run.
Entering the top of the fourth and final inning ahead 9-1, and with the no run limit rule in force, the Richmond bats turned hot. A line-drive double down the first base line by Paul Tiley and a deep flyball double to left centre field by Gaston Farina, bookended more patient, quality at-bats from the rest of their line-up, combining for 7 more runs.
Dukes’ starting pitcher Dave Wrigley throws the first pitch of the game for a strike.
The Dukes never looked under any real pressure, and even when the raptors loaded the bases in the final inning, Richmond pulled off a text book defensive play to get the lead runner at third base out. Leo Sakai-James who replaced Wrigley in relief, made a cunning pick off move to third base throwing behind the runner who was caught in no-man’s land. Quick thinking by the Dukes’ infield forced the runner back and forth before he was finally tagged out at home plate by Sakai-James in a perfectly executed 1-5-2-6-1 rundown. Sakai-James then struck out the final batter to end the game and seal a comfortable victory.
The Dukes came out of the blocks swinging for the start of game 2 led off by Andy Nendick who hit a flyball double to left field. Monty Nendick followed his father’s lead with a flyball double down the left field line scoring 2 runs. Monty then toed the rubber in the bottom of the first inning, and having helped himself to a 3-0 lead, he looked to shut the Raptors out. Herts did get a couple of runners in scoring position and scored a run, but the superb Dukes defence didn’t allow them to capitalise further. Sam Hofbeck made a terrific play in centre field, covering a lot of ground to record a flyout on a full sprint to end the inning.
In the top of the second, Richmond continued their barrage starting with a long single to deep left field by Farina. The Nendick father-son combo continued with Andy getting his second hit of the game and Monty following up with a bloop double to right field. Rob Markiewicz then hit a RBI flyball single to left centre field, scoring Monty for the fifth run of the inning. The Raptors loaded the bases in the bottom of the second with some good hitting and patient at-bats of their own, including a line drive single to left field by Jamie Berlofsny. But Monty, who was voted MVP for both games, pitched superbly, tallying his third strikeout to get out of the jam without allowing any runs scored.
“I was pleased with my pitching to keep the raptors to one run, but even more excited for hitting my first double and having my father as one of the RBI’s”, said Monty who was humble in accepting the MVP award adding, “I’m extremely grateful to be voted MVP and to have two wins in the bag thanks to the rest of the team”.
Some mental fatigue crept into the Dukes’ defence, allowing the Raptors to build momentum. Herts scored three more runs in the third inning off of back-to-back singles by John Worstad and Jordan Fox, cutting the deficit to 5 runs. However, the result was never in doubt. Going into the bottom of the 4th and final inning, Richmond had extended their lead again to 11-4 in part thanks to a towering moon shot by Hofbeck that bounced off the left field fence for an RBI double. To their credit the Herts Raptors kept battling, putting runners on first and second, but with the hard throwing Hofbeck on the mound they were unable to get the runners home. Hofbeck struck out the final batter to close out the game.
Richmond Dukes have a long lay-off now before their next outing against the London Minotaurs on 22nd May in their home opener at Flood Field. They’ll be hoping to extend their win streak and remain atop of the Single A South Central-B division.
The Richmond Dukes opening day roster.
Back row (left to right): Rob Markiewicz, Monty Nendick, Chris Robertson, Evan Bates, Alvin Michael, Toby Reynolds, Gaston Farina, Henry Slesser.
Front row (left to right): Andy Nendick, Luke Ellet, Paul Tilley, Leo Sakai-James, Sam Hofbeck.