Arrows1 finish season coming Oh so close (01/10/07)

After the weather took the main headlines for the season, with no league managing to complete all their full fixtures, the Final 4s for National, Premier and Division1 took place at Corydon's Roundshaw field. In the Premier Div Arrows1 managed to pull of a 2nd place finish which game them a birth in the 2nd semi-final, below is the official reports by Tim Stride taken from the BBF website

Premier Division Semi-Final

Saturday, September 1, 2pm

Essex Arrows 5, Southampton Mustangs 4

By Tim Stride

One of the closest games of the weekend, this was an untidy affair littered with errors and arguments but most certainly entertaining for the neutral spectator. The lead changed hands four times until, tied 4-4 going into the seventh, veteran pitcher Paul Raybould came in to relieve for Essex. With the go-ahead run at third he got his team out of the inning unscathed before making a hero of himself with the game-winning RBI-triple to right field, an astonishing hit to conclude a wholly unpredictable game.

It was a game in which Mustangs pitcher Chuck Truelson recorded not only a brilliant name but just one earned run, yet had to endure his team permitting four more runs to hand him a loss. A game in which sixth inning errors threatened to throw the game away for either team. A game in which Southampton would not even have been playing had it not stepped in to replace Edinburgh Devils, which withdrew before the weekend.

The key to the game was errors which cancelled out both starting pitchers’ respectable showings. While Truelson allowed seven hits, it translated into only one earned run and he struck out three. Arrows’ Lance Louw - who tantalised batters on the outside corner of the plate - allowed five hits and two earned runs and struck out ten. He left the game after six innings with bleeding fingers and a bloodied baseball which plate umpire Darrin Muller did not want back.

The first run of the game – to Essex in the second inning – was scored by Alan Williams who would not have reached first base had it not been for a throwing error by Mustangs shortstop Phil Johnson. Southampton replied with an equaliser in the third when Kevin Tu singled in Ross Arieta.

The atmosphere got heated in the bottom of the fourth when Louw – up to bat for Essex - and his manager Phil Chesterton argued with Muller over whether Louw had stepped out of the batter’s box whilst hitting. Essex then fell behind in the top of the fifth when Arieta again scored, brought in by John O’Malley’s single to right.

Southampton’s lead was short-lived as Essex scored two in the bottom of the inning. Dave Shaer walked to lead off. Shortstop Johnson committed his second error, overthrowing to first base and allowing Steve Simmons to reach. Shaer stole third and scored on Kerry Wilshere’s single to left. Simmons, who shouldn’t have been on base, scored on Williams’ sacrifice fly to right field, making the score 3-2 to Essex.

With two outs in the top of the sixth, a dispute over whether Arrows’ Wilshere did or didn’t catch Matt Watts’ flyball in centre (it was at least an outstanding diving effort) resulted in the inning staying alive for Southampton. Watts and the following hitter Simon Taylor came home as shortstop Sheldon Smith’s throw to first bounced in the dirt. Twice the inning might have ended before runs were scored but the Mustangs had retaken the lead at 4-3.

In the bottom of the inning, Phil Johnson’s bad luck struck again… and again… and again. With two outs and two opportunities to end the inning, Johnson made two errors at shortstop which firstly allowed Adrian Bonsor to reach base and secondly saw him score. Had Shane Wodzynski done as he should with two outs and started running from third when Simmons hit to Johnson – who subsequently erred for a third time that inning - he would have compounded Johnson’s woe by scoring the go-ahead run.

But at 4-4, the game was set up for the grand finale.

Reliever Raybould threatened to add to the list of mishaps when he caught Truelson in a run-down between second and third but failed to throw the ball to third baseman Wodzynski in time. This putt Truelson safe at third with Eugene Lin at first, one out and the heart of the batting order up for Mustangs.

Yet Raybould more than made amends, first on the mound by inducing Johnson to pop up to the catcher and fearlessly striking out Watts to get out of the inning; more notably at the plate with the best hit of the game to drive in Williams and put Essex in the Premier Division Final.

Premier Division Final
Sunday, September 2, 10am

Richmond Knights 11, Essex Arrows 0

By Tim Stride

You would be forgiven for thinking Essex doesn’t think fondly of the Final 4. Sunday’s whitewash at the hands of Premier Division South rivals Richmond made it three times in the last four years that the Arrows have left the playoffs disappointed after a successful regular season.

In 2004 they resumed a hard-fought contest against Menwith Hill which had been suspended due to failing light the day before. Picking up the game at 8.30 in the morning - 20-15 down in the ninth with one out and bases loaded - a bleary-eyed Arrows team promptly lost. The following year they lost 21-10 in the semi-final to an unfancied Croydon Pirates 2. Last year they did not qualify.

In 2007 Essex was soundly beaten on the mercy rule (losing by 10 runs or more in the fifth inning) as Richmond went one better than last year’s runner-up spot.

Supporting a virtuoso performance by pitcher George Naumczik (5 IP, 1 H, 4 K), the Knights shrugged off their offensively-lean semi-final showing versus Northampton, recording 12 hits up to the point the game was called with one out in the bottom of the fifth.

In stark contrast, the Essex box score resembled a big basket of eggs (i.e. lots of ‘0’). The Arrows mustered a grand total of one hit off Naumczik. That one hit was Dave Shaer’s lead-off in the first inning which, in the context of this game, was a case of the Arrows peaking way too soon. Essex got the ball past the solid infield only twice and when that happened it was caught both times by centre fielder Brian McKeon.

Meanwhile Richmond batters had a field day off the Arrows’ veteran pitching. Starter Steve Simmons, aged 47, gave up seven hits, five earned runs and three walks in 2 2/3 innings and reliever Paul Raybould – one day short of his 56th birthday – allowed three hits and two earned runs in 1 1/3. The Knights had two walks and added three more runs off 22-year-old reliever Sheldon Smith, after the first out in the fifth and final inning.

Richmond’s offensive success came through a mixture of fine hitting, poor pitching, fielding errors and the ‘manufactoring’ of runs, typified by their first inning.

Leading off, Euan Shields reached when third baseman James Cane fumbled his ground ball. He took second base on catcher’s indifference and was bunted to third by Whittaker. Ryan Bird’s line drive over the second baseman scored Shields. With one out Bird stole twice and came home on Simmons’ wild pitch. Later, no. 5 batter Andy Nickerson came in on McKeon’s double to left field.

The Knights added to their lead relentlessly, scoring in every inning. Notably, Naumzcik hit the only homerun of the weekend on the main diamond, a two-run shot to the short right field porch in the fourth inning which took the score to 8-0. The pitcher led the team with three RBIs in the game.

The mercy rule kicked in at an apt time as events were turning woeful for Essex in the fifth. Left fielder Bill Marchant dropped Bird’s flyball, loading the bases with one out and Smith walked in Shields for Richmond’s ninth run. A single to left by Nickerson drove in Gary Rens and Bird to end the torture for Essex and win Richmond Knights their first national title.

Arrows win Trophy (21/07/07)

The Arrows entered a team in to the annual Croydon Tournament last weekend after winning 1 game and losing 1 game on the Saturday they found themselves entered into day 2 competition for  unplaced group teams from the 1^st day, they played another 2 games and after checking everyone's results were awarded the  Frank Brady Trophy, for a summary and results round up follow the link to BBF website BBF Website

Season Update (13/07/07)

With  not a lot of games managing to beat the wonderful English weather, both teams are struggling to get their seasons going, Essex1 lost their double header away to Croydon2 on the 20^th May with a very heavily depleted squad (only 10 players), losing the 1^st game 12-4 and the 2^nd 7-6, on the 26^th May their double header at home to  National League side Richmond1 was rained out, on 3^rd June they finally managed to get a full 2 games in again they played at home against National League opposition in the form of Bracknell losing the 1^st game 13-4, but got back to winning ways winning the 2^nd game 8-7. After finally getting moving again they were then frustrated the next week as it was down as an off week in the fixtures, June 17^th again saw Arrows1 take on National League opposition this time away at the newly formed London Mets, who are basically a team made up of young GB hopefuls plus accomplished GB catcher and TV presenter Josh Chetwynd, again the Arrows struggled for numbers and were really struggling at the end with only 2 fit players after having 2 injuries concerns in the 2^nd game, unfortunately they could not get anything going and finally went down in both games losing the 1^st  10-0 and the 2^nd 11-1. The following Sunday June 24^th saw the 1^st team travel to Richmond Knights and with the rain still falling again there were worries about getting any type of baseball in, luckily after a little hanging around and warming up, game time arrived and both games were played to conclusion, again the 1^st game was dropped with a score of   7-2, but the 2^nd game saw the team dig deep and they managed to grind out a 4-2 win. The following week July 1^st saw a similar game as at Richmond this time at home to Burgess Hill, with the away team winning the 1^st game 9-2, they were also looking good to take the 2^nd game leading, but a mixture of good offensive baseball from Essex and the Burgess Hill team tiring saw the 1^st team come from behind to record a 9-5 victory. On to July 8^th and the 1^st team saw the culmination of all their hard work so far and a near full strength squad took both games away at Windsor winning the 1^st 8-4 and the 2^nd 10-0. This now leaves them on a 6 and 8 record in 2^nd place just 1 game behind leaders Southampton. The 2^nd Team are now struggling to find their feet after having to Forfeit their game at Braintree on 20^th May, after having a blank weekend on May 27^th they then lost 17-0 to their old enemy Brentwood on the 3^rd June with Brentwood looking solid behind former Arrows player Jeff Allender’s strong pitching, then followed 4 blank weekends with the last 2 being away games at Medway and Thames Valley once again being lost to the rain, they finally got playing again on Sunday 8^th July but lost 22-11 to Braintree. Next weekend sees both teams off with the annual Croydon Tournament taking centre stage

Week 2&3 update (15/05/07)

Week 2 sees Arrows2 drop their game against Southampton2 33-10 and the Arrows1 have a blank weekend, Week 3 all southern league games lost out to the weather, although arrows1 attempted to get their games played but gave up in the top of the 2nd inning of the1st game with the heavens opening again and a bit of thunder and lightning thrown in for good measure, Arrows2 have rearranged their game @ Croydon3 to 12th August, the Arrows1 have yet to rearrange their double header against the Sidewinders

Season off to mixed start (05/05/07)

The 2007 season got of to a mixed start for the Arrows last weekend, the 2nd team got off to a strong start holding of a consistent scoring Thames Valley team 23-19 and the 1st team split a double header on the balmy south coast, shutting out the 1st game against Southampton 5-0, but dropped the 2nd game 7-3. This weekend sees the 1st team without a game and the 2nd team travel to Southampton to take on their 2nd team

Arrows 2 get Division Decision (23/04/07)

Today the BBF have confirmed that the Arrows 2nd team will play this season in Division 2 South, this follow discussions and the help of Richmond Riverdogs agreeing to swap position and move up to Div 1 South, Arrows 2 will fill all of Riverdogs fixtures and vice versa, this now sees Arrows 2 at home to the newly formed Thames Valley Bisons this Sunday

New club forum added (06/04/07)

A new club forum has been set up, a way for players to chat with each other and messages to be left from the team managers, just follow the link above and register, but please remember that it is for players and club representatives only so that team and club issues can be discussed without worry of info falling to other teams. if you are not connected to club please continue to use the guest book

Last indoor training (15/03/07)

This Sunday is the last indoor training, so a good turnout would be nice, also a reminder that the following weekend is very important, the Sunday is the 1st outdoor session of the year, but before that, on the Saturday, the WHOLE club are required at the ground , so that we can get the field in tip top condition for the season, remember, we are all going to play on it, so we should all be working on it

Thoughts for Johnny (15/03/07)

The Arrows club would like to wish our club Physio John Abrams a speedy recovery from his cancer op, John was due to leave hospital either today or tomorrow and will spend the next few weeks convalescing at home.

GET WELL SOON JOHN

Membership forms and Fees reminder (18/02/07)

A reminder to all players that the membership form needs to be returned to Brandon ASAP and all fees are due to be paid by Feb 28th

 

2007 Season starts here (01/01/07)

HAPPY NEW YEAR FROM THE ARROWS

Pre-season indoor training is set to start on Sunday 21st January, the normal Sawyers Hall school in Brentwood has been booked for the usual times of 11:00 to 13:00

 

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