Bronco reports

A frustrating but high quality day of baseball saw Bracknell’s under 13 Bronco team lose two games against Brentwood Bucks. Bracknell were playing catch-up all day having given up runs early in both games but excellent team spirit and determination had the opposition worried right until the end. In game one it seemed that Bracknell could only hit the ball straight into the gloves of the opposition while too many walks allow the Bucks to score too easily. With a change of pitcher, Bracknell stopped any further scores in innings 4 and 5 and, despite bringing the potential tying run to the plate, Bracknell succumbed 6-8.

In game 2, a change in the line-up seemed to lift spirits once more. Although they conceded three runs in the first inning catcher Luke Rivens twice forced runners out at home to stop runs being scored. Chloe Wiggington’s 2^nd inning unassisted double-play paved the way for Bracknell ’s bats to reduce the deficit to three runs. After conceding a couple in the fourth catcher Barker and pitcher Bernard Scheuerman shut down Bucks allowing only one more run in the next two innings. Chloe Wiggington drove in Luke Rivens with an RBI double but three runners were left stranded. At the top of the final inning Bracknell’s first four batters scored, including a Rivens RBI double. Sian Wigington’s single loaded the bases were loaded with Daniel Whitton, the tying run, on 3^rd. Sadly a fouled off bunt attempt with two strikes ended the game with the score 9-8 to Bucks.

A brilliantly tenacious and well-spirited tussle between these two sides made for a fantastic afternoon of youth baseball.

The under 13 Bronco team also played two games in their first home appearance in a day of two halves. Having not played for 3 weeks due to a combination of weather and school holidays, Bracknell hosted local rivals Windsor Bears in a double-header. Having won the toss to play at home first, Bracknell faced only 4 batters in the first inning which included a controversial “did-not-slide” out at home. Bracknell batted through the side and notched up 5 runs in reply. This pattern of Bracknell dominance continued with patient and powerful hitting by Luke Rivens (2 RBI double), Cam Barker and Chloe Wigington (doubles) and Sian Wigington with a 2 RBI double on the 1^st pitch she faced; and some excellent defense too, notably from rookie Ian Stone with an unassisted out on first in his first league game, until the score was 9-0 to the home side. A change of pitcher allowed middle-relievers Daniel Whitton and Chloe Wigington to get some experience and whilst Windsor did capitalise on this, Bracknell kept their nerve to reply with a further 5 runs. At the top of the 6^th and final inning, Windsor needed 4 runs to tie; the tieing run did come to the plate but Bracknell’s closing pitchers Alex Price and Bernard Scheuerman finished the job with no further runs scored. Bracknell won 14-10.

Bracknell’s under 13 Bronco baseball team started the defence of their 2007 National Champions crown with home openers against Brentwood and London Sluggers. Alex Price pitched 4 awesome innings with 5 strike-outs and giving up only 3 hits. Bracknell’s bats powered 13 hits and 12 runs in that time with the highlights being Luke Riven’s 2 RBI single and 4 consecutive hits from Bernard Scheuerman, Cameron Barker, a patient Aaron Cooper (a 2 RBI double) and Chloe Wiggington. Price closed inning 4 with 3 straight outs in 13 pitches. Brentwood took opportunities when Aaron Cooper took the ball to pitch but could only score 2 more with Alex Price executing a double-play with 1 out and 3 on in inning 5. Bracknell piled on more agony with their second 4 consecutive hit rally, with rookie Miles Fulker getting his first hit for the Club. Price hit a 2 RBI double. Some nervous defence in the 6^th inning allowed Brentwood to double their score to 10, but Sian Wiggington kept her head to end the game with an unassisted 3^rd out on 1^st.

GAME 1	1	2	3	4	5	6	Runs	Hits	Errors
Brentwood	1	1	1	0	2	5	10	8	3
Bracknell	4	1	2	5	5	X	17	19	6

GAME 2	1	2	3	4	5	6	Runs	Hits	Errors
Bracknell	1	1	2	0	0	0	4	9	1
London	3	1	3	1	0	X	8	8	1

London Sluggers looked to be a more formidable opponent and Bracknell had to work much harder in Game 2, particularly in the heat. Despite our first 4 batters all hitting singles, we could only score 1. Bernard Scheuerman opened and kept the pressure and came out of a jam leaving 3 Sluggers on-base. Luke Rose scored his first run for Bracknell on a walk. Luke Rivens executed a crucial double-play to keep Sluggers down to 1 run in the 2^nd. Powerhouse Aaron Simmons hit a double (short of the home-run fence by about 8 feet!) and Aaron Cooper followed with a 2 RBI double. At the middle of the 3^rd, the scores were tied 4-4, but Sluggers added 3 more and once again left 3 stranded. The game was not out of reach for Bracknell but Sluggers then called up their ace and shut hitters down allowing just 2 more hits and no runs for the rest of the game. Aaron Simmons closed facing 4 batters and stuck-out 3 of them, but the damage had already been done.

A very good result on the day, particularly knowing that 3 rookies had their first taste of league games.