2025 Opening Day Results
Sunday April 6th was Opening Day for the South West & Wales Baseball League, with both our teams in action. The New Forest Knights returned to Single-A action for the second year with a trip to league newcomers Yeovil Whirlwinds. While The New Forest Thunder moved into Double-A for the first time in a brand new SWWBL Double-A division, hosting Cornish Claycutters for the first games at our new Gracelands Field at Gang Warily. Both teams handed out debuts too, with Grant Benham making his first start for the Knights, and Ryan Bartlett playing for the Thunder. Plus Chris Stickland and Doug Sutherland played their first games at Double-A having moved to the Thunder for the 2025 season. Thunder Open Season with Explosive Win in Gracelands Field Debut The Thunder kicked off their 2025 campaign in emphatic fashion, earning a 20–9 victory over the visiting Cornish Claycutters in the inaugural game at their new home, Gracelands Field. Despite a bright start from the Claycutters, Thunder starter Bobby Samuelson quickly found his rhythm, recording his first strikeout of the season before inducing a double play to end the top half of the first inning. Samuelson then helped his own cause at the plate, driving in the Thunder’s opening run with a double. The hosts would tack on two more in the inning to take an early lead. Samuelson kept the momentum going with another clean inning in the second, bookended by a strikeout and a pair of groundouts. He continued to swing a hot bat, adding a second double in the home half, followed by another two-bagger from Rob Holbrook that extended the Thunder’s lead to 5–2. The Claycutters responded with a pair of runs in the third, capitalizing on smart baserunning to close the gap. But the Thunder answered back immediately, turning up the pressure with aggressive baserunning of their own. Their hustle forced defensive miscues from the Claycutters, allowing four more runs to cross the plate. The fourth inning brought fireworks on both sides. The Claycutters mounted a comeback with five runs on four hits and five walks, tying the game at 9–9. But the Thunder weren’t finished. In the bottom of the frame, the home side erupted for 11 runs, batting around the order with a relentless mix of base hits, stolen bases, and savvy baserunning. Shannon Hall, who had been hit by a pitch earlier in the inning, returned to the plate and capped off the rally with a dramatic three-run home run—the first in Gracelands Field history—sealing the walk-off victory under the mercy rule. It was a statement win for the Thunder and a memorable debut for their new ballpark, highlighted by Head Coach Shannon Hall’s historic blast. Thunder Fall Short in Game Two as Claycutters Take 15–6 Win The Thunder couldn’t replicate their earlier success in Game Two of the Opening Day doubleheader, falling 15–6 to the Claycutters. The visitors came out strong, scoring four runs in the first and following up with a dominant eight-run second inning, highlighted by doubles from Cruz Chourre and James Shaw. The Thunder managed just one hit in the opening frame—a double from Angus Blair—and were shut out in the second despite loading the bases. The Claycutters extended their lead with three more runs in the third, but the Thunder showed signs of life, plating five in the bottom half thanks to a flurry of walks and hit batters. A scoreless fourth for the Claycutters gave the Thunder a chance, but a quick three-out inning ended any hopes of a comeback. The loss leaves the Thunder 1–1 to start the season after a mixed Opening Day at Gracelands Field. Knights Fall Just Short in Season Opener Against Whirlwinds The Single-A New Forest Knights opened their 2025 campaign on the road with a high-scoring thriller, narrowly falling 16–15 to the Yeovil Whirlwinds in the league newcomers’ debut outing. The Knights set the tone early, with Andy Bashforth drawing a leadoff walk, swiping two bases, and scoring on Mitch Sullivan’s RBI single—the first hit of the game. That combination of patience at the plate and aggressive baserunning helped the Knights plate five runs in the top of the first. The Whirlwinds answered immediately, matching the five-run tally in their half, highlighted by a triple from Aiden Johnson. The second inning followed a similar script, with Bashforth again walking, stealing bases, and scoring, as the Knights knocked five singles and batted around for another five runs. But the hosts kept pace with three more singles of their own and added five runs, despite Knights pitcher Leigh Froud picking up his first strikeout of the season. Tied 10–10 entering the third, the Knights edged ahead with a four-run inning. Sullivan ripped an RBI double and scored on a single by player-manager Sam Williams, while Amber Rainbird picked up her first hit of the season. A close play at the plate and a strikeout left two runners stranded, keeping the score within reach. Yeovil responded with a two-out rally, capped by a two-RBI single from Andrew Vittles to put the Whirlwinds ahead 15–14 heading into the final frame. In the fourth, Bashforth led off for the fourth time and notched his first hit of the day, capping a perfect 1.000 OPS outing with three walks and eight stolen bases—including a daring steal of home. The Knights added one more run to tie the game but left the bases loaded after a pair of strikeouts and a groundout halted the momentum. Sullivan took the mound to close, quickly recording a strikeout, but a walk and a stolen base set the table for Johnson, whose single brought home the winning run. Yeovil walked it off 16–15 in a dramatic finish. Despite the loss, the Knights showed plenty of promise at the plate and on the basepaths in a game packed with offense and early-season excitement. Knights Overpowered in Game Two as Whirlwinds Complete Sweep The New Forest Knights couldn’t slow down the red-hot Yeovil Whirlwinds
Ground-Breaking News! New Forest Baseball breaks ground on a diamond at Gang Warily Recreation Ground.
The New Forest Thunder Knights have taken a huge step towards bringing a home for baseball to the New Forest. Entering their third season, New Forest Baseball Club have installed a diamond at Gang Warily Recreation Centre to provide a dedicated space for training and for games in the South West and Wales Baseball League (SWWBL). Gracelands Civil Engineering and Groundwork (Gracelands) kindly donated their time and resources to dig out the four bases and pitching mound, with members of the baseball club picking up the tools over the weekend to get the work completed. More than 20 of the current team turned out to be part of building the new home of New Forest Baseball, with New Forest Tea Co. providing refreshments. The team’s Fundraising Manager, James Knight, said: “When we started this club three years ago, we never could have foreseen the levels of success we’ve reached in such a short amount of time. From first year playoffs, to second year expansion into two teams, to a true home in our third year, our club just keeps growing. “None of this would have been possible without support from our players, families, friends, Fawley Parish Council, Gracelands, or our other sponsors and donors through the years. A massive thank you from all of us!” As a thank you to Gracelands, the field will be named “Gracelands Field at Gang Warily” for the inaugural season. It wasn’t just through support from Gracelands that the field was possible. The club managed to raise more than £2000 via crowdfunder over the winter break, with contributions from friends, family, and the wider baseball community. Ibstock Bricks also donated vital material for the building of the pitching mound. The field will host weekly training sessions on a Wednesday as well as games for both the AA New Forest Thunder and the Single A New Forest Knights. Opening Day for the British Baseball Federation is 6th April, with the New Forest Thunder kicking off their campaign in the AA League against the Cornish Claycutters. Come down as the first pitch at the new ground is thrown, and the first game of baseball is played at our new home. Notes:
New Forest Baseball Continues to Grow as Season Ends
After a mixed season on the field, the New Forest Baseball club have continued with their mission of growing the sport in Hampshire and Dorset, with new members joining from across the region. The positive growth of the club mirrors the successful debut season of the New Forest Knights, the club’s Single A development side, which saw the vast majority of its players make their British Baseball debuts. After being dealt a late surprise double promotion by the British Baseball Federation, the AAA New Forest Thunder struggled against opponents with greater experience and depth. However, the whole squad continued to battle, with the last home game of the season against Cardiff providing a particular highlight for 2023’s Rookie of the Year, Amber Rainbird. Back in April, the Knights roared out to a 4-2 start, with wins against the Bristol Brunels and Bournemouth Bears showcasing the ability of key players such as Lewis Kelly, Ben Coxhill and Manager Sam Williams, whose walk off Home Run in week one was arguably the highlight of the whole season. A difficult stretch ensued, as the Knights faced three of the four South West and Wales League playoff teams either side of the away leg at the Brunels. Kieran Jewell’s walk off winner against the SWWBL’s Severn Division Champion Bristol Buccaneers was the midseason highlight – closely followed by home runs for Coxhill and a rejuvenated Eddie Donald. Two forfeits by the Cornish Pioneers boosted the Knights win total, as did a final day win against the Bournemouth Bears. With most of the team having not played a single inning of baseball prior to the season, eight wins, a team batting average of .347 and .999 OPS provides an incredibly strong basis for Williams and the team to build upon in 2025. Over a season in which they only faced three teams, the Cardiff Merlins, Bristol Badgers and Bracknell Inferno, the Thunder picked up seven wins as they were often overmatched at the plate and struggled for pitching depth when Chris Lawson, Shannon Hall and Al Banerjee weren’t available. However, despite a tough season, there were plenty of positives. Amber Rainbird picked up her first hit of the season in the Thunder’s last game, taking a pitch from Cardiff’s Eiki Ito through the shortstop and third base gap. Banerjee came incredibly close to a no-hitter against the Merlins in a midseason clash, and Bobby Samuelson tripled against Bracknell at Farnham Park. As the offseason kicks off, the club is moving forward with plans for a permanent home in the New Forest. Backed by a range of amazing sponsors, the Mailman’s Arms, Clayson Scaffolding, the International Sports Turf and the New Forest Tea co, the club also enters the autumn break in a much stronger financial position, ready for a successful 2025.
Huge Sponsorship Boost for New Forest Baseball
New Forest Baseball are delighted to announce Clayson Scaffolding as the latest company to sponsor the club. An incredibly generous sponsorship contribution from Clayson has helped to ensure the club has the funding to pursue growth and the further development of its existing players. With the cost of field hire and equipment a constant issue for clubs across the country, this latest sponsorship deal has helped the Thunder Knights to cover all match day hire through the 2024 season. In turn, this has allowed the reallocation of funds towards a prospective permanent home for the club, as well as much needed equipment such as balls and protective wear. New Forest Knights Manager & Club Treasurer, Sam Williams, said: “We’ve been very fortunate to have brought in some fantastic sponsors this season, which is testament to our players and the local community who are working hard to support the club. “Our goal from day one of the club was to make it sustainable and grow baseball in the New Forest and the surrounding region. Clayson’s support is invaluable and will help us achieve this goal, giving us a strong platform to finish this season and move in 2025.” Based in Dorset, Clayson Scaffolding provide services across the South West of England. With decades of experience, owner Leigh Cornick is more than happy to help with all things scaffolding, no matter how big or small the job is. On the field, the New Forest Thunder got back on track against the Bristol Badgers at the weekend, picking up a 6-2 win in their home opener. Chris Lawson pitched seven strong innings, striking out six and allowing only four hits throughout the full game. Bobby Samuelson made the play of the game with a stunning diving catch in the outfield, and the Thunder bats got to work with eight hits against the hard and fast pitching of Alex Martinson. A run of home games awaits the Thunder as they make up for a long spring on the road. Cardiff are next up, as they make the trip from South Wales on Sunday. ENDS
Thunderstruck – First AAA Win of the Season
The New Forest Thunder picked up their first win at the AAA level after an intense day of baseball in Cardiff on Saturday. Across two low scoring games the Thunder pitching duo of Chris Lawson and Shannon Hall gave everything they had to put the New Forest team in a position to take two wins against the Merlins. Sadly, the second game slipped away in the very last inning, but the show that both teams put on was a testament to the way they have stepped up two levels in 2024. Game one was all about the pitching display put on by Lawson as he struck out 11 and only allowed five hits through seven innings. In a characteristically determined performance, the Thunder starter got stronger as the game developed, striking out the final batter and stranding a runner in scoring position. Earlier in the matchup, the away side’s plate discipline and some timely hitting put six runs on the board through the first three innings. First inning RBIs for Lawson and Marcus Senior, along with a throwing error put three runs on the board, before Warren Doyle and Bobby Samuelson came into score in the second following a single to left field from Hall. Assured fielding from Rob Holbrook, Angus Blair and Hall helped seal the victory, with Lewis Kelly and Andy Swann also contributing on their AAA debuts as the New Forest side held on for a 6-4 victory. After a short break in the Welsh sun, the second game proved to be even tighter than game one. On the mound, Hall struck out twelve and only allowed three hits in a dominant display. However, the Thunder bats couldn’t quite back up their starter and the away side succumbed to a walk off 1-0 win after seven tense innings. Senior, Hall and Andy Moore put hits on the board to match the three from the Merlins, but the New Forest side couldn’t get the luck they needed as several well hit balls were excellently fielded by the Cardiff third baseman and centre fielder. With the game seemingly heading to extra innings, Nick South made his way around the bases after pinch running for Rhodri Cavell. With one out and the runner on third, Griffin Phillippi made enough contact to force the ball back past the mound and Lawson’s throw to Holbrook behind the plate couldn’t quite prevent the winning run from scoring. The New Forest Knights were also in action, as they made their first visit to Bristol to play the division topping Buccaneers. Strong hitting performances from Sam Williams, Ben Coxhill and Doug Sutherland weren’t quite enough to see the Knights come away with a win. However, Williams was upbeat despite the results, seeing a lot of positives, including some good pitching from Coxhill to finish the second game of the day. Game one saw the Knights rally around starter, Chris Stickland, several times as the Buccaneers were made to work at the plate and on the bases. Some good fielding from Coxhill and Sutherland limited the home side to one run in the second inning, before a rasping line drive double from Williams helped bring the Knights close. Eddie Donald and Dan Churchill added hits, as the away side had one of their best days at the plate of the season, but a strong Buccaneers lineup kept the line moving and walked away with a 15-5 win. It was much the same in the second game, where Williams and Coxhill hit well again, but the home side were able to take advantage of a number of walks to put the game beyond the reach of the Knights. Shaun Barrett added three runs to his stolen base total after a couple of walks, bringing his season tally to 17 and four behind Coxhill’s team leading 21. Jordan Snelling also got in on the stolen base action after drawing a fourth inning walk, but it wasn’t enough to close the gap as the home side ran out 20-6 winners. The Thunder return to Cardiff to face the Merlins again next Saturday, whilst the Knights return to Bristol for a crucial matchup with the Brunels.
Thunder Fall Just Short in AAA Debut
For the first time in 2024 both the New Forest Thunder and the New Forest Knights were in action, as the Thunder made their season, and AAA, debut away to the Bristol Badgers. Despite fighting valiantly in both games, the debutants came up short against an experienced Bristol side. However, Manager Warren Doyle was very happy with the performance from his side, praising the way they fought – particularly in the first game. After a slow start, the Thunder rallied around Shannon Hall on the mound after he kept them in the game through the first three innings. At 3-0 down, Mitch Sullivan recorded the first ever AAA hit for the away side as he forced the ball down the right field line to fire up his teammates and get the bats going. With Hall also on base, Chris Lawson drove Sullivan in, before the Thunder added a second via a failed pickoff attempt. Going into the sixth the score remained close, with Bristol adding another run to put them 4-2 ahead. Hall collected his first hit of the year with a single into the outfield, before a Lawson double put runners on third and second. Making his Thunder debut, Angus Blair drove in Hall, before Andy Moore collected his first hit and RBI with a single to right field, scoring Lawson. Amongst six debutants for the Thunder was Bobby Samuelson who put in an excellent performance in Left Field making a great sprinting catch and throwing out a Bristol runner at third base. Despite the comeback, the New Forest side couldn’t quite hold on and a fifth Badgers run sealed the game for them in the bottom of the sixth, as the game finished 5-4. Game two also went back and forth through the first few innings, before the home side showed their experience to close out an 8-2 win. Chris Lawson was solid on the mound for the Thunder, striking out five Badgers through five innings, but a mix of the weather and some tired ABs for the away side saw the game slip away towards the end. Lawson and Moore collected hits, whilst Samuelson added his first RBI in Thunder blue by drawing a walk with the bases loaded. In the outfield, David Jarmillo and KiJae Seung were excellent, catching everything that came their way, whilst Doyle, Blair and Hall turned the first double play of the season for the new AAA side. At Single A, the Knights came up against one of the South West and Wales League favourites as they matched up with the Taunton Muskets at Ballard School. Despite dropping both games, the home side played with energy and commitment throughout and ran the experienced Muskets close in game two. Amongst the highlights was Jordan Snelling’s snag at second base off a rasping line drive that looked destined to go the fence. Ben Coxhill continued his fantastic start to the season with two hits in game one and Shaun Barrett played well in his first appearance at first base in a Knights jersey. Rhi McMah’s three hits led the team in game two, as her batting average moved up to .625, with Chris Stickland picking up two knocks and driving in four runs. Coxhill also picked up five stolen bases to take him to 17 on the season and fifth on the national leaderboard after four games. The Thunder travel to Cardiff on Saturday to take on the Merlins, whilst the Knights visit Bristol for the first time this season to play the Buccaneers on Sunday.
Derby Delight as Knights Win Two
The New Forest Knights bounced back from defeat in Cornwall with two wins at home to the Bournemouth Bears on Sunday. After a late scare from the weather, the Knights management team declared the game on and set the scene for a great day of baseball in New Milton. Game one saw Ben Coxhill excel on both sides of the ball as he turned an inning ending double play and hit the game winning single to see the Knights to a 16-15 win over their south coast rivals. On the mound Rhi McMah pitched the complete game for the home side, picking up three strikeouts and holding the Bears to a crucial scoreless fourth inning. The Aussie has now picked up two wins in two games for the New Forest team, already equalling her total from 2023. Alongside Coxhill and McMah, Marcus Senior added two hits, Eddie Donald hit a ground rule double to bring in two runs and Andy Bashforth picked up his first hit in the Knights’ green. With the AAA Thunder’s game cancelled, members of the team arrived from Bracknell just in time to see their clubmates walk off the first game in dramatic style. With two outs and two runners on base in the final inning, Coxhill stepped to the plate and drove the first pitch of the at bat through the infield to bring Jordan Snelling home and secure the Knights’ third win of the season. They didn’t have long to wait for the fourth either, as game two also went the way of the home team behind a strong performance from Chris Stickland. Pitching in his third game of the season, Stickland supported himself with the bat, picking up three hits and driving in a run as well as striking out two Bears’ batters. Roxie King also had a game to remember as she recorded her first hits as a Knight, driving in three runs in the process. In only her third week of British baseball, King also drew a walk and stole two bases during the game. After putting 14 runs on the board through the first three innings of the game, the Knights had a solid lead to defend heading into the final stretch. Stickland drew two pop ups to bring the Bears down to their final out of the game before a ground ball from their lead off hitter went straight back to the pitcher who threw to Dan Churchill at first base to end the game 14-11. The wins see the Knights move to 4-2 on the season ahead of the visit of the Taunton Muskets next Sunday. The Thunder hope to finally get their season underway at the Bristol Badgers.
Knights Go Down Fighting in Cornwall
The New Forest Knights succumbed to their first defeats of the season on Sunday after a long journey to Cornwall to face the Cornish Claycutters. Scores of 17-3 and 18-3 didn’t reflect the heart shown by the Knights as the team took some good steps forward, with a number of players impressing Manager, Sam Williams. After the four hour journey, the Knights got off to a quick start in game one. A drive to centre field by Williams scored Ben Coxhill and Lewis Kelly after Shaun Barrett recorded his first hit of the year to lead off the game. Chris Stickland pitched his first complete game for the New Forest side, only allowing seven earned runs on the day after a number of defensive mix ups allowed the home side to pull clear. Through two games, Stickland’s accuracy and consistency has helped him establish himself as a key member of the Knights’ pitching staff ahead of a long summer of games. Despite the score getting away from them, there was no sign of the away side giving up. Andy Swann picked up his first hit of the season and Coxhill recorded his first ever hit in the Knights’ green. Game two saw Eddie Donald on the mound for the second time this season, as he pitched another complete two innings and continued his adjustment to his new position. As well as pitching well, Donald also stood out as the best Knight hitter in game two, picking up two knocks and showing his all round development. There were a number of other firsts during the game, with Rozi Hathaway picked up her first hit of the season on an infield single, Ben Coxhill made his first pitching appearance in relief of Donald and Simon Schwarz collected his first hit for the team he helped to found in 2022. Despite the efforts of the travelling team, the home side’s defensive ability and hitting prowess proved a difficult challenge for a team predominantly made up of rookies. However, Williams was positive after the game, highlighting the growth of individuals and the commitment of those who travelled to Cornwall for the game. Next week sees the New Forest Thunder play their first game of the season away to Bracknell Inferno, as well as the Knights playing host to the Bournemouth Bears in an exciting local derby.
Knights Sweep Brunels to Start the Season
A walk off home run put the cherry on top of a great managerial debut for Sam Williams, as the New Forest Knights won both of their games on British Baseball opening day. On a cloudy afternoon at Ballard School, the Knights and the Bristol Brunels slugged out two high scoring affairs. The home side came out winners by one run in both games, thanks to some excellent pitching from Chris Stickland and Rhi McMah and some timely hitting by Williams. Game one saw Eddie Donald on the mound to start his first game in the New Forest green. He picked up two strikeouts and navigated the Knights through two innings before being relieved by Stickland. Making his first ever appearance in British Baseball, Stickland pitched excellently, forcing the Brunels to put the ball in play and the home side to make some excellent defensive plays. Williams drove in two runs in the third after Shaun Barrett was hit by a pitch and the Brunels pitcher walked Kieran Jewell and Ben Coxhill. Donald also picked up an infield hit during the game, before Stickland closed proceedings out on the mound for a 13-12 win. Before the huge walk off blast that sealed an 18-17 win in game two, the New Forest side had battled hard to stay in the game. Leigh Froud made his pitching debut, doing well to force contact and go toe to toe with Alex Lane-Kieltyka for Bristol. Lane-Kieltyka’s lead off home run set the tone for a high scoring affair, in which Lewis Kelly and Al Galpin got their first hits for the Knights. Veteran third baseman Marcus Senior was his reliable self, picking up two hits and driving in four runs. Rhi McMah added two further hits, but it was her pitching that gained the plaudits on the day. Coming into the game with the scores close, the Aussie limited the Brunels scoring despite a number of errors in the field. Entering the final half inning, the Knights were five runs behind. The first three hitters walked, before Senior and Kelly drove in three runs. That left two on base, with Williams pinch hitting for Andy Bashforth. The New Forest Manager didn’t wait around, taking the first pitch he saw deep over the outfield fence, driving in three runs and putting the Knights at 2-0 after the first weekend of British Baseball in 2024. A trip to Cornwall and the 2-0 Claycutters awaits the Knights next week, ahead of a local derby against the Bournemouth Bears.
New Forest Knights Set for British Baseball Opening Day
With the New Forest Baseball Club expanding to two teams ahead of the 2024 season, the New Forest Knights are set to get their season underway on Sunday. The expansion to two teams is a sign of how much the club has grown in the 18 months since their founding in Autumn 2022. Over the winter 25 new players joined, allowing the club’s committee to make plans for teams at two levels of the British baseball pyramid. On Sunday, the Knights will take on the Bristol Brunels in the South West and Wales ‘Single A’ division. New Manager, Sam Williams, is heading into the season with a focus on developing new players and creating a team in which everyone has the opportunity to contribute. As well as the Brunels, the Knights will face up against divisional rivals, the Bristol Buccaneers, Cardiff Merlins and Bournemouth Bears in 2024. Cross division games against the Cornish Claycutters, Taunton Muskets and Weston Jets also beckon, as the South West & Wales league continues to expand. New Forest Knights Manager, Sam Williams, said: “We’re very lucky to have so many enthusiastic new players on board for the 2024 season. The club is growing all the time, which mirrors how popular baseball is becoming in the UK. “I’d love to see new players or anyone interested in baseball at a game this season, please get in touch if you think this is the sport for you.” The new season also brings a new home ground for the Knights, as they’ll play all their games at Ballard School in New Milton. With the scheduled games coming thick and fast, the Thunder will play the majority of their games at Wide Lane in Southampton as the club continues to search for a permanent facility to build an infield and mound. After being allocated to AAA this season, the Thunder are continuing preparations for their first game of the season against Bracknell on April 28th. With some notable new additions, the team will compete predominantly against the Bristol Badgers and Cardiff Merlins’ AAA side as they look to make a splash at a level the majority of the team have never played at before. Last season, the Thunder Knights reached the semi-finals of the South West and Wales playoffs, before finally falling to defeat against the Merlins. The Merlins went on to win the national playoffs, before also being promoted to AAA where the two teams will renew a healthy rivalry this season. If you’re interested in playing baseball, or coming along to watch either team, please get in touch via the club’s Facebook or Instagram pages or by emailing newforestbaseball@outlook.com.