Richmond snaps skid, sweep Islanders
Flood Field, Richmond, Sunday 26th June 2022
By Alvin Michael | alvinmichael.com | @AlvinMicWrites
Richmond Dukes hosted Formosa Islanders for a double header in the British Baseball Federation Single A South Central-B division. It was the return match up from the previous week, which had served up a dazzling display of baseball. These two foes didn’t fail to deliver again, exceeding expectations and putting on another classic contest for the ages.
Richmond Dukes pitcher, Sam Hofbeck.
Photo courtesy of Robert Markiewicz
Sam Hofbeck was back on the mound for the home side having missed the previous two games. It wasn’t the usual hot start that Richmond had been accustomed to from their ace. He was a little slow out of the gates and struggled to find the strike zone. Through the first five batters he only threw 5 out of 20 pitches for strikes. The top of Formosa’s line-up waited patiently for a pitch they could hit, and when it came, they didn’t hesitate. They jumped out to an early lead putting up four runs off base hits by CF Payton Liao and DH Peng Yu Yang, and a double by SS Hang Li.
It felt like it might be a long afternoon for Richmond, but in an instant, Hofbeck found his groove, striking out the next three batters including the last two on six pitches. CF Evan Burke started the comeback in the home half of the inning with a leadoff double, and C Henry Slesser brought him home with a two RBI single to halve the deficit. Hofbeck was now dealing from the mound, striking out three batters on 10 pitches in the second inning. He was also providing himself some much needed run support, belting a two RBI double to left centre field to take a 5-4 lead at the end of two.
Islanders’ Hang Li hitting, Henry Slesser catching for Richmond, and umpire Chris Goldsmith behind the plate.
Photo courtesy of Robert Markiewicz
Yu Yang may be diminutive in stature, but his prowess on a baseball field is gigantic. He leads his Formosa team in batting average (.714), slugging (1.200), on-base percentage (.725), runs batted in (20), and home runs (2). He demonstrated again why he is the cornerstone of this club. Unphased by Hofbeck’s resurgent dominance, Yu Yang led off the top of the third inning with a first pitch home run to left field. It was a no-doubter from the moment it left his bat, and tied the score 5-5. Islanders rallied behind their leader and strung together back-to-back base hits to put runners in scoring position. But Hofbeck regrouped in time to get out of the inning without conceding any more runs. Richmond hit back right away in the bottom of the third, scoring five runs including an RBI single by RF Luke Ellett, and a solo home run by Hofbeck to take the lead for good.
Yu Yang who also leads his team in wins (2), earned run average (2.58), and strike outs (32), came on in relief in the fourth inning to try to stop the onslaught, and he did so with ease. Striking out 8 over three innings of no-hit work, the only blemish on his stupendous performance was a walk that resulted in a run scored. Unfortunately for Formosa they couldn’t capitalise on Yu Yang’s lights out pitching. Hofbeck was on top form again and kept Islanders at bay. He struck out 7 over the final four innings, allowing just two runs off one hit and three walks, to record his second win of the season, and seal an 11-7 victory for Richmond.
Islanders’ Payton Liao takes a lead off first base, Richmond’s Paul Tiley playing first base.
Photo courtesy of Robert Markiewicz
Game 2 was an offensive shootout with both teams combining for 27 hits and 29 runs. The lead changed hands five times before Richmond eventually regained it for a sixth and final time in a thrilling climax.
SS Hang Li shot a double to left centre and LF Mike Yu followed up with a single to power the visitors into a five run lead. Richmond wasted no time in mounting their own offence. Leadoff batter, 3B Alvin Michael, lined a double to left centre, and P James Guerra doubled to right field to score Michael and SS Sam Hofbeck. Guerra then shut down Formosa in the second inning, as the Richmond train kept on rolling. RF Chris Robertson broke his hitless start to the season with a single to left field. RBI singles in quick succession from Michael, Guerra, 1B Gaston Farina, and an RBI double by Hofbeck, put the home team up 6-5.
Formosa took the lead again in the top of the third, when an error by Hofbeck allowed two runs to score. Richmond didn’t dwell on the error and rebounded immediately. In an almost carbon copy sequence of the second inning, and with two outs, the top of the Dukes’ order came through yet again. Michael, Farina, Hofbeck and Guerra combined for back-to-back hits to score five runs. Richmond was holding onto an 11-8 lead into the fifth. Sensing a need for urgency, Formosa rallied, as Guerra started to fade. After giving up a base hit to Yu Yang, he then walked the next four batters, before giving up a single to 3B Chih Chiao and a double to CF Payton Liao. Formosa scored five runs without recording any outs to take the lead.
Nuri Gimferrer hitting for Richmond Dukes.
Photo courtesy of Robert Markiewicz
Into the bottom of the sixth and final inning, Formosa were ahead 14-12. But Richmond had been in this position before. They thrive in these situations, oozing confidence, with ice water coursing through their veins. There is no panic, just a calm that ripples throughout the dugout, and a steadfast belief that they will somehow find a way to win. And so, the comeback began.
A hit-by-pitch and a walk put the tying run, RF Luke Ellett, on second base with 1 out. Michael, at the plate, was now the winning run. On a 1-2 count, he notched his fifth hit of the game for a career best 5-for-5, improving his season slash line to .545 / .727 / 1.382. Richmond now had runners on the corners with Farina at the plate. The first pitch sailed over C Yu Yeung Cheung and Ellett pounced, dashing home to score the tying run. With everyone focussed on Ellett and the play at home, Michael, who was already in motion to steal second base, took full advantage of Formosa’s diverted attention and glided uncontested into third base. Farina now stood on the precipice of glory, the winning run 90 feet away and still only one out. The very next pitch was hit sharply by Farina, but straight at Peng Yu Yang who was now fielding at third base. He froze Michael at third before firing the ball on a frozen rope to 1B Hsiang-Yu Lin to make the second out.
Gaston Farina, avoids the high inside pitch.
Photo courtesy of Robert Markiewicz
Richmond had one last chance and, as if it was predestined, it fell upon the shoulders of Hofbeck, the hero from game 1. Any base hit would do it and complete the comeback. Formosa had given up the lead, but could take the game to extra innings if they could just make one more out. The game was delicately balanced. Pitcher Yu took his sign from the catcher Cheung. Michael took a healthy lead from third base and stared down at Yu, daring him to pick him off. Yu stared back intensely, the tension rising. Yu started his delivery, but 3B Yu Yang was playing deep in the 6-hole and not holding Michael on. Michael, a 14-year veteran, exploited their indifference to him and took a huge secondary lead. The pitch was down low, bounced in the dirt and got passed Cheung all the way to the backstop. Michael didn’t need a second invitation and sprinted the final 60 feet to score easily standing up, and walk-off into the onrushing arms of his elated team-mates.
Baseball is often described as a game of inches. Today however, after more than two hours of play, it was a game decided on the last three pitches.