Liverpool Twojans vs Newcastle Nighthawks—06/06/21
The BBL AA Division saw the Liverpool Twojans travel to Tyneside for an Opening Day matchup with their division rival Newcastle Nighthawks. It proved to be a beautiful day for baseball and both clubs were eager to resume play in their first competitive matchups since the 2019 BBL Finals Weekend and the scorelines did not disappoint.
Game One was slated for a noontime start and featured a stellar pitching matchup. The visiting Twojans sent their veteran southpaw Chris Pittard to the hill to faceoff with his counterpart¸ right-handed hurler Marcus Lewis. The matchup would live up to its billing as both starters would eventually go the distance in this six inning affair where runs became a valuable commodity. The top half of the first began with a ringing single from leadoff hitter, shortstop Ed Wrightson starting the Twojans 2021 season off on the right foot. This proved to be short lived however as Lewis immediately responded with a strike out of the next batter, center fielder Tom Wrightson. Third baseman Connor Whittingham would shoot a line drive to center that would advance Wrightson to second but he would go no further as Lewis would impose his will by striking out the next two batters, Chris Pittard and second baseman Tyler Houle to end the inning. Lewis’ mastery over a hard-hitting Twojans lineup was on display early with 3 of his eventual 11 K’s coming in the frame. Equally impressive was Pittard’s quick work in the home half of the first. In the fifteen pitch inning only standout catcher Home managed to reach base after lacing a double to left. The pitchers’ duel continued into inning number two with a scoreless frame and each starter notching a pair of K’s a piece. The 3rd inning brought the game’s first run. After another inning of quick work from Lewis, Newcastle would break the deadlock in the home half. Pittard would retire the first pair of batters faced but center fielder Dalanaj would later manage a two out single to center. He would become the go-ahead run after a misplayed fly ball by Sean Moore in left would allow him to advance to 3rd and later score on a wild pitch. This however would be the first and only run the Nighthawks would be able to muster against a lights out performance from Pittard who would allow only 4 hits through 6 innings. Liverpool would threaten with 2 outs in the 4th when a double from catcher, and team manager, Scott Gray would place runners in 2nd and 3rd but Lewis would work out of the jam and induce a groundball out to end the inning. The threat was on again with 2 outs in the 5th when Pittard would help his own cause by singling to left and then stealing 2nd. Houle would manage a single of his own to move Pittard over to 3rd where a wild pitch would score him and knot this low scoring affair up at 1-1. Newcastle was never going to go down without a fight and the bottom half of the 5th was perhaps the most dramatic point in this hotly contested game. With the bases loaded and only 1 out, Home stepped to the plate in what would be hands down the most competitive at bat of the contest. After a tense 12 pitch at bat which saw the crafty Home repeatedly foul off pitches, and eventually work his way into a full count, it was the veteran lefty on the hill who would eventually prevail to net his second K of the inning. Lewis would bat next and fly out to centre and the Twojans could let out a huge sigh of relief after working out of a major jam late in the game. To the top of the 6th we went tied at 1. More timely 2 out hitting from Liverpool would see them take the lead Gray’s single and steal put him in scoring position. Ed Wrightson then singled to right field and drove in the go ahead run. This stands as the lone RBI for either team. Brother, Tom Wrightson would also single in the next at bat and a passed ball would shift both runners up into scoring position but another glorious K from Lewis would end the inning. With the 2 hour time limit now eclipsed the 6th inning would be our last and so the home team Nighthawks were down to their final 3 outs. Pittard took to the mound to finish what he started but for the second straight inning Newcastle would threaten with the bases loaded. Valverde would lead of the inning and would become Pittard’s 9th and final strikeout victim. A Santana single and a Patravale pop out would bring this game down to the final out with Santana representing the tying run. Danger loomed as Pittard (perhaps tiring after 100+ pitches thrown) walked the bases loaded. Dalanaj, who had scored the Nighthawk’s lone run, stepped up to the plate with an opportunity to be the hero but a pop fly into foul terrority was corralled by a triumphant ranging Ben Murphy from his position at first base to put this one in the books. Final score 2-1 to the visitors.
