The London Mets shut out the Mustangs in both games to sweep their closest rivals and move two games clear at the top of the NBL.  This was expected to be the toughest test of the season so far for both sides, and while Southampton came up well short on the day, the Mets showed both class and determination to prove they are worthy of top spot.

Southampton’s lack of offense was the only constant across the two games, which saw a 10-0 mercy-rule victory for London followed by a nail-biting 1-0 triumph in extra innings.  The Mets got to Gary Davison early in game one, scoring two in the first and two in the third, before a catalogue of infield errors in the fourth allowed them to take an 8-0 lead.  After a solid start to the season defensively, the Mustangs were left scratching their heads as play after play went awry.  Justin Frosina and Victor Aizpurua each registered two errors, while others had only generous scoring to thank for the fact that their misplays were not documented.  Meanwhile, Julian Somers pitched dominantly for the Mets, allowing just two singles and one walk as the Mustangs never looked like scoring.  Davison conceded a further run in the fifth before new-boy Jose Sosa pitched a one-run sixth, meaning Southampton suffered the ignominy of a mercy-rule defeat in six innings.  Martin Tucker (2 hits, 2 RBIs) and Josh Rapaport (2 hits, 5 steals, 2 runs) were the biggest offensive contributors for the Mets.

Game two was a memorable pitcher’s duel, as Tomas Zondra and Pietro Sollecito both performed brilliantly.  Frosina put his earlier defensive woes behind him, starting three double plays to lead an errorless performance from the Mustangs.  Zondra did not get the offensive support he needed, however, with Southampton unable to produce timely hits to take advantage of several promising situations.  The game’s key play came with the game tied at 0 in the bottom of the seventh, as Southampton’s Aizpurua tried to stretch a one-out double into a triple.  Though he was initially called safe at third, the umpires convened and reversed the call much to Southampton’s dismay.  Their pain was exacerbated in the top of the eighth, as a sac fly from Jonathon Cramman scored Trevor Allen to give the Mets a 1-0 lead.  There was still drama to come, though, with Davison reaching third with one out in the bottom of the frame.  However, Sollecito held his nerve to retire the last two batters and preserve the win for London.  Both pitchers went the full eight innings, with the Mets ace allowing 7 hits and 1 walk with 3 strikeouts, while Zondra gave up 6 hits and 3 walks to go with 6 strikeouts.

This double header was a reality check for the Mustangs, who had every reason to be bitterly disappointed with their performance in game one.  It was billed as their biggest game of the season so far, and they produced probably their most inept display since joining the NBL.  However, stand-in manager Ross Arieta chose to focus on the pride they restored in game two: ‘After failing to perform at our level in the first game, I was proud of the performance in the second.  A ball dropping here or there would have been the difference in a closely fought contest’.

Player of the day: Tomas Zondra for a heroic pitching performance with no offensive support.

Play of the day: Justin Frosina, take your pick among his three double plays in the second game.

Mustangs reporter.

It has been confirmed this week that one of the most fiery players in the league will be making his way to the south coast.  Former Croydon Pirates and Harlow Nationals player, Jose Sosa, will be joining the Mustangs in their push for the national title.  Sosa, who has a career .320 batting average in the NBL and averages two home runs per year, will bring a potent bat to the already powerful Mustangs lineup.  By accompanying Gary Davison, Justin Frosina, and Alberto Rodriguez, this addition will make for a formidable heart of the order.

The Mustangs welcome Jose to our family, and we look forward to a productive finish to the season!

Head Coach

Ben Davis

Southampton’s hot streak continued as they clinically swept the Bracknell Blazers at Westmorland Park to avenge a pair of painful defeats last season.  Gary Davison continued his bid to retain his title as the league’s best two-way player with a mammoth performance, including his third complete-game win of the young season.

The Mustangs had a job on their hands to keep up with their hosts in the early stages of game one, as youngster Jordan Edmonds breezed through three scoreless innings for Bracknell.  Meanwhile, Miguel Rodriguez took advantage of an error by Victor Aizpurua in the second to drive home two runs and give the home side the lead against Davison.  As so often this season, the Mustangs took charge of the middle innings, scoring one in the fourth and two in the fifth off Edmonds to tie it at 3-3, with Justin Frosina and Aizpurua providing clutch RBI hits.  Once Edmonds was lifted with seven strikeouts and having allowed just four hits in his five innings, the Mustangs blew it open with a five-run sixth inning against Adam Huxley.  Davison then showed guts to pitch through a sixth-inning jam, and completed the game despite allowing a consolation two-run home run to Rei Martinez in the seventh.  The right-hander finished with nine strikeouts to go with seven hits and four walks allowed, and the entertaining contest ended 8-5.

Lee Ralph was his typical uncharitable self on the mound in game two, allowing the Blazers just one walk through his four innings of work, throwing 68% of his pitches for strikes (perhaps the zone wasn’t too bad after all).  The only run that scored against him, in the fourth inning, was almost prevented by a brilliant relay throw to home by Frosina which Oscar ‘why didn’t you catch it then’ Sierra could not quite handle.  Southampton were already seven runs up at this point, though this reporter cannot quite recall the offensive highlights which contributed to this scoreline.  Claims that Davison smacked two home runs for a combined total of five RBIs remain unconfirmed, though Sierra, who was RBI-less for the day despite hitting two doubles in the game to go with two singles in game one, could be heard lamenting the fact that his teammate never left any ducks on the pond for him.  Either way, Tomas Zondra shut out the Blazers for the final three innings to complete a 7-1 win, which was also memorable for a stunning diving catch from Bracknell first baseman Joe Taylor to start a double play.

With his side now 7-1 for the season, Mustangs manager Ben Davis praised ‘a very tough Bracknell side, with good pitching’ in his post-match interview.  Davis was also confident ahead of next Sunday’s mouth-watering clash against the unbeaten London Mets, adding ‘this was the first time all year we started to click as a team, and I am excited about the prospects for the rest of the season’.

Player of the day: Has to be Gary Davison for erasing any concerns that his off-season weight-loss programme may have had an adverse affect on his power.  Well done slim!

Play of the day: Ben Davis for a turn of pace not seen since his high-school track and field days, as a full-on charge showed that a forceful approach is best when encouraging wandering dogs to leave the field of play.

Mustangs reporter.