Newton Aycliffe Spartans are still looking for their first win in the British Baseball Federation North League AA Division following a double defeat to Manchester Torrent last Sunday.
Spartans were glad to have a home fixture after weeks of postponements due to the weather and even then were forced to switch the games from their home diamond at Horndale Avenue to Shildon Leisure Centre. It was perhaps fitting with all this wet weather this summer that Spartans should be facing a team called ‘Torrent’.
The first game saw the visitors take control early on the back of some impressive hitting and aggressive base-running. Spartans struggled to gain any momentum and soon Manchester were out of sight racking up 25 runs to the Spartans’ 2 when the game was called finished after 5 innings.
The second game was a much closer affair than even the score-line suggests. Spartans quickly found themselves 13-2 down after 3 innings however the Spartans’ bats then came alive with Stu Bradon and Mike Holton both hitting home runs. Despite the final 19-10 score in favour of the team from the North West, the Spartans can take some comfort that they scored double digit runs and took the opposition to the full 7 innings for the first time this season.
This Sunday, the Spartans are at home again, with the league leading Sheffield Bladerunners the visitors. First pitch is a 12pm and the Spartans would welcome anyone come along and support the North East’s only baseball team.
Anyone interested in joining the Spartans are invited to join them at their weekly training sessions. First ‘taster’ session is always free. These are held every Thursday evening (weather permitting) from 6pm until dusk at Horndale Field, opposite Greenfield College, Newton Aycliffe. www.facebook.com/aycliffespartans; @naspartans
