Falcons stay top with crucial double
The Falcons flew west to Hursley Hurricanes, in Eastleigh, on Sunday 31st July, for what was expected to be a difficult away game.
Ben Sawkins led off with a fine double and came home off debutante Molly Rayner's confident first hit in a senior league game. The Hurricanes responded well at first, and it could have been a tight game, however pitcher Jason Mercer quickly turned up the heat, consistently attacking the strikezone and putting the home team under pressure.
Big sticks from the Hurricanes threatened the outfield, but Rochelle Enticknapp and Bart Garofalo blocked right field, whilst Vicki Cathie's long arm and Peter Martin's pinpoint accurate throws to catcher Carrie Suhr helped keep the runs at bay.
The infield pairing of James Mortimore and Lauren Smith was deadly, with consistent outs at first base. Running out of ideas, the Hurricanes were unable to attack the left base-line due to an on-form Emma Brown at third base, and a superb catch from a low line-drive helped her win female MVP. Meanwhile the Falcons' strategic batting line-up was paying dividends as the Falcons hit nine runs in the fifth, helped on with a Ben Sawkins home run and a dramatic slide into third base by MVP Sam McGann. The Hurricanes were limited to four runs in the last six innings as the strikeouts kept coming and the Falcons came home with a deserved 18 - 7 win.
Report by Jason Mercer
A convincing win over Portsmouth Zombies kept Chichester Falcons flying at the top of Solent League Division Three on Wednesday 3rd August.
Determined to wreak revenge on their defeat at Oaklands Park earlier in the season, Chichester wasted no time by hitting eight runs in the first, three of which came from first baseman Lucy Morris, who put up her second career home run, bringing in Vicki Cathie and Ben Sawkins in the process. Pitcher Jason Mercer was on fine form, using the gusty conditions to rattle the Zombie bats and restricting them to just one run in reply.
The Falcons turned up the heat again in the second, with Peter Martin hitting the first of two doubles on the day before Ben Sawkins hit the ball far enough to reach the perimeter hedges. On an open field Sawkins would have had time to reach home plate, but with the ball lost and unplayable, he was placed on second base for a ground rule double. Thankfully junior Falcon Bronte Harvey stepped up and brought him home with a line drive to left field, continuing to establish herself in the seniors team with her calm, consistent approach to the game.
Zombies couldn�t resurrect anything at bat; a weak chopper down the third base line was hoovered and gunned to first by third baseman David Morris, as Jason Mercer�s knuckleball continued to torture the Portsmouth offense. Ally Warr and Emma Brown were untroubled in the outfield as the Falcons found themselves 22-3 up in the third, before taking their foot off the gas somewhat. Nevertheless Carrie Suhr forced an error in the fourth to get herself on second base, Clive Janes was smart and aggressive running the bases to add another run, and finally Stefan Panayotopoulos knocked in a further RBI to end the game 25-3 to the Falcons.
Juniors
Meanwhile the Falcon Juniors have started their holiday softball programme � six outdoor sessions in Oaklands Park, with a helping hand from BaseballSoftballUK Fastpitch Development Officer Johanna Malisani. Johanna will be taking the players through their paces and hoping to pluck a few starlets for the GB Academy after the summer. �With this months� good news of baseball and softball returning to the Olympics in 2020, this is a crucial time for our youngsters to better themselves and start to work alongside GB staff and players,� says Falcons captain David Morris. �With Jo Malisani working with us right here in Chichester, our juniors are right in the shop window and have an incredible opportunity in front of them�.