Friendly Fire vs. Real Flyers - 28.06.2005

BRISTOL - The teams battled the elements on this wet and thundery evening but it was the Flyers that overcame both the weather and their opponents to win by the mercy rule 20-4.

As the rain came down in the early innings the match looked like it might be quite an even contest. After the bottom of the second it was still tight with the Flyers just ahead. However, it was the 3rd inning that saw the weather gradually improve and the contest effectively end. Friendly Fire failed to score in their half of the 3rd and the Flyers managed to put a further six runs on the board.

It was a combination of strong hitting by the Flyers and some erratic fielding and pitching in the tricky conditions by Friendly Fire that allowed the gap to widen in the 3rd - and subsequent - innings. However, there were some highlights for the Fire despite half the team being slightly distracted by the threat of more lightning.

Unfortunately the highlights mostly came after the mercy rule was called at the end of the fifth inning. They included some consistent pitching by third base and second-string pitcher Griff (who came on in place of Moonie midway through the match as a part of scheduled team rotation) and a remarkable seven bases - a triple and a home-run - in her last two at-bats from centrefielder Han (in her first match back after a lengthy absence).

Indeed it was these two members of the "Ginger" aristocracy that were awarded man and woman of the game for Friendly Fire.

Quotes from Friendly Fire following the game:

Team captain and 2B, Mand, admitted she was "a plonker with a bat and a slippery glove."

Jess (SS) was slightly more upbeat, saying "despite the loss I thought we played pretty well."

Griff (3B) said "Conditions were difficult... Once we sort out our hitting we will be OK as we are a strong fielding team."