Knights at the Double in Bristol
The New Forest Thunder Knights recorded their first sweep of the season with two victories against the Bristol Brunels on Sunday. Marcus Senior hit a home run, won game one on the mound and picked up a save in game two to show his value in a terrific all-round performance. In the first game of the day, the Knights took an early lead as Alex Frampton, Sam Williams and Rozi Hathaway drove in runs. Senior then struck out two to limit the Brunels to one run in return. Frampton and Williams combined to drive in four more runs in the second inning, both enjoyed strong games at the plate with four RBIs each. Dan Churchill also picked up his first hit of the season with a strong drive to centre field. Danny Vinkler and Andy Moore caught two Brunel runners stealing in support of Senior in the second, before the away team’s ace hit a three-run blast to centre field to put the game beyond doubt in the third. After coming into the game in Right Field, James Knight picked up play of the day honours by collecting his first hit as a Thunder Knight with an infield single, a moment only matched by the subsequent celebration. Williams made his pitching debut to see out the game, and despite a late Brunels rally, the away side picked up a 17-7 victory. Game two was a much closer affair as the New Forest side came out as 13-12 winners after a nail-biting finish. Sarah Banerjee made her starting debut at second base, making three catches in the infield in support of Moore on the mound. Mack Wylde, Senior and Williams all drove in runs to give the Knights an early lead. However, Becky Cottrell and Rich Evans responded in kind to keep things close in the first. The two sides exchanged runs into the final inning, when Andy Swann drove in Moore and Wylde to separate the sides at 12-10. Manager Warren Doyle came into the game as a pinch runner and added another with quick reactions on a passed ball. Senior re-entered the game to pitch the last inning for the Knights and with the tying run at third and the go ahead run at second, he struck out two batters in succession. After the second strike out, Cottrell broke for home but Senior’s quick thinking got the ball into Williams behind the plate for the tag and the ball game. The wins put the Knights joint second in the division ahead of a home game against the Cornish Claycutters next weekend.