Local rivals battle out a win apiece
Flood Field, Richmond, 22nd May 2022
By Alvin Michael | alvinmichael.com | @AlvinMicWrites
Local rivals Richmond Dukes and London Minotaurs shared the spoils of an exciting doubleheader in the Single A South Central-B division. London was riding a 4-game winning streak entering the start of play, whilst Richmond had not played for four weeks since their opening day wins at Herts Raptors. Both teams were evenly matched and small margins decided both games.
The first game was a pitching duel between London’s Noah Kidron-Style, and Richmond’s flame thrower Sam Hofbeck. Both pitchers were on top form going the full 7-innings, with Kidron-Style taking the win despite giving up 6 earned runs on 10 hits, he struck out 10 batters and only issued 3 walks. Hofbeck was unlucky to take the loss, giving up 7 earned on 4 hits and 3 walks, whilst striking out a career high 17.
Minotaurs took a 2-1 lead after the 1st inning, highlighted by lead-off batter Kidron-Style belting a double to left field. Both pitchers settled into their groove soon after, making quick work of the opposing batters until the 4th inning. A routine pop-up to the right side should have been an easy out, but momentary confusion between London’s 1B Rory Dearlove and 2B Russell Eassome, allowed the ball to drop between them in the infield and Gaston Farina to score from 3rd base. Dukes’ catcher, Henry Slesser, drove in another run with a base hit through the left side, and came in to score a 3rd run on an errant throw to first by SS Oscar Russell.
Dukes added another run in the 5th and Hofbeck continued to silence Minotaurs’ offence to open up a 5-2 lead for the home side, before London’s CF James Johnstone scored one in the top of the 6th to bring Minotaurs back to within two heading into the final inning.
Minotaurs battled back and worked Hofbeck’s pitch count up. Showing signs of fatigue, Hofbeck, who was up to 90 pitches, walked the first two batters and Minotaurs duly capitalised. Timely hits from Eassom, Kidron-Style and Johnstone found the gaps in centre and the 3-4 hole to drive in 4 runs and give the visitors a 7-5 lead.
Dukes clawed one back to heap on the pressure, but Kidron-Style never showed any sign of nerves striking out Slesser looking for the final out, and sealing a 7-6 victory.
Dukes’ pitcher, Leo Sakai-James in action on the mound.
In game 2 Minotaurs started off strongly, stringing together more quality plate appearances. Kidron-Style cemented his brilliant performance for the day with a triple to centre-field, helping London to take a 4-0 lead into the bottom of the 2nd. But the home side dug deep and the Richmond offence came alive in the bottom half of the inning. Base hits by Nuri Gimferrer and Paul Tiley, coupled with smart base running tied the game at 4-4.
The Richmond offence never abated as they compiled quality at-bats up and down the order. RBI singles from Robert Markiewicz, Andy Nendick, Leo Sakai-James, and James Guerra plated 4 more runs in the 3rd, and 5 more in the 4th to open up an unassailable 13-5 lead going into the top of the 5th. Minotaurs were down to their final 3 outs, with the ‘open inning’ rule now in force.
Leo Sakai-James started game 2 for Richmond. After his rough start in the first inning, he settled down and went on to pitch solidly, keeping the London bats largely silent for the remainder of the game. Sakai-James recorded the last 3 outs in the top of the 5th for the win, giving up just 6 earned runs on 2 hits, 7 walks, with 9 strike outs for the day. The final score, 13-6.
The game 2 loss snaps London’s win streak, taking their season record to 6-6. Meanwhile Dukes remain tied for the top spot in South Central-B with a 3-1 record having played significantly fewer games. Minotaurs now have a 2-week break before hosting Dukes at Finsbury Park on 12th June. Next up for Richmond will be a tough doubleheader at home to Guildford Gold Cats on 5th June.