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Manchester A's 2007 Part 1

This feature, and those to follow, will deal with the Manchester A's and their exploits on the playing fields of England during the 2007 season.

A local opening day (29/04) - by R Young

Manchester A’s 18 @ Bolton Blaze 7

In game 1 the A's started a bit slowly going 5-2 behind in the 2nd, but then the experienced A’s pitcher Paul Fagan put more pitches in the zone and Bolton forced to take more swings struggled to break throw a tidy A's defense. Fagan kept going for the full 7 innings to pick up the win, while in offense the A’s scored steadliy off Bolton's regular starter Jamie Sherlock, and were led by other verteran MBC’er Roger Young with 4 hits (including the A’s first hit of the year) and 5 RBIs.

Manchester A’s 34 @ Bolton Blaze 3

Game 2 was a different story, and it was all over afer the first innings, when Yang Wu (who had to sit out the first game after arriving late and Manager Chris Jackson had forgotten to add him to the subs list!) hitting his first pitch out of the park for a 2 run homer. In all 10 runs were scored in the top of innings, including another double for Yang and 2 more hits for Young.

In the bottom of the first Manager Jackson took to the mound and the A’s started with a smart Yang / Young double up the middle to snuff out any thoughts of a Bolton reply. The rest of the game followed a similar pattern with Jackson picking up the win.

Chris Jackson at bat in game 1 for the A's at Bolton.

It was encouraging that although a few players were unavailable all the senior players performed, but there were also a lot of impressive rookie performances, with James Pearson catching a solid game one, and Jack Chiang and Gareth Breirley both showing their potential at the plate. However even better to see was the speed these young players brought to the bottom of the line up. After the game Jackson said he would get out his manager’s manual to find out how best to use the extra speed in the line up – a new commodity for the A’s.

Week two: first home matches (06/05) - by R Young

Sheffield Strikers 6 @ Manchester A’s 10

On a dull day in May the A's started their home campaign with a home DH against the newly merged Barnsley and Sheffield team the Strikers, who are now the Sheffield second team, but with many of the old Barnsley regulars, including Damien Kilkenny, Alan Bowers and Chris Hewitt the Strikers would still be a threat. Andy Metcalf (1:0) who back into the A’s team and took the mound for his first start of the season, Bowers would face him for Sheffield.

As in week 1 the A’s started slowly and were 5-1 down after 2 innings, the 2007 A’s however are a new breed, Metcalf threw more hard strikes producing strike outs or slow grounders the A’s infield revelled on. In reply the A’s chipped away at the Strikers lead, and it was the top order who did the damage with Eduardo Wulff (3 hits), James Pearson (2 hits), Roger Young (3 hits) and Yang Wu (2 hits) who kept coming up with the goods. Bottom of the order took any base chance offered but only Dave Gaskell with a crucial 2 RBI single got a hit. It was enough as the A’s got in front and stayed there for a 10-6 win in 7 innings, Metcalf going the distance.

Sheffield Strikers 1 @ Manchester A’s 11

After a rain break and some uncertainty about the weather game 2 started, and was also similar to week one, with Chris Jackson (2:0) again taking the mound and again proving unplayable, with his 6 innings giving up only 1 ER. The A’s scored from all over the order against the experienced Hewitt, with a big 6th innings finishing the game off by the slaughter rule an innings early.

The A's shelter during a rain break against the Sheffield Strikers.

Week three: on the road to Hull (20/05)

Manchester A’s 6 @ Humber Pilots 13

Manchester A’s 1 @ Humber Pilots 11

The A's took the long trip to division one leaders Hull missing some of their more experienced players, but put up a good fight of the 2 games, but lost out to an on form Hull team. Chris Jackson (2:1) pitched game one (his 100th recorded game for MBC) and recorded his first loss of the year. While in game two Martyn Gough in his first game of the year also recorded a loss.

Week five: a local victory - finally (03/06)

Manchester A’s 12 @ Halton Jags 4

After 7 years of running Halton close the A's were due a victory and finally recorded one with an excellent all round performance. Andy Metcalf (2:0) pitched all 9 innings for the A's and took on first former Trojan Andy Martinez who in the fifth inings was replaced by fireball closer Chris Taggett. Andy Metcalf was in control of the match from the first innings, recording 13 strikes in the day and was backed up by some solid defense (after some early errors) and steady A's scoring, with DH Ian Marginson staring with 3 hits and a walk from 5 PAs. The game was always looking tight though, and the A's were only up 6-4 after the 4th, but Martinez was pushed too far and 3 runs scored in the fifth as Taggett had to come in to try and close sooner than Halton hoped for. However more safety runs and 5 scoreless Halton innings from the fifth let the A's enjoy their moment and record their first over Halton and a National League side.

Note: as is the league rule the A's had to use wood bats for the first time in 2007 (as it was a national league match up), further under lining what an impressive performence it was by Manchester.

Chris Jackson draws a walk from Halton's closer

The A’s bats blunt Bladerunners! (22/07 - Phoenix Park)

Manchester A’s 16 @ Sheffield Bladerunners 15

This game started with two veteran junkballers on the mound, Jim Ellis (Sheffield) & Chris Jackson (A’s). The first saw Sheffield take a 1-0 lead with both teams turning a smart double pay, however after this innings at no point was it a pitchers duel as both offences got to work pounding the ball to all parts of the ground.

With the score 2-1 Bladerunners going in to the 3^rd, Manchester had their breakout inning scoring 6 runs. A combination of timely hitting, notably Wu’s 2 RBI single, aggressive baserunning & patient at bats helped to post this crooked number on the board. Unfortunately Jackson couldn’t subdue the Bladerunners as they hit back with 4 of their own. End of 3, score 7-6 A’s.

Both team traded blows in the 4^th, with singles from Wu & Taylor. The A’s still struggling to find daylight between the two teams, finished the 4^th frame 10-9 up. The 5^th proved to be an important inning as the A’s starter struggled with control, the management went to the pen with 1 down in the 5^th & in came Sean Mcneilage. After fanning Nick Wills for the second out, Mcneilage gave up a towering 2 run shot to Jurkuliak, making the scores 11-10 B/runners. Sheffield added a further 2 runs giving the South Yorkshire team a commanding 3 run lead going in to the bottom of the 5^th. Ellis came out sharp in the bottom of the 5^th restricting the A’s to a single run, Young’s RBI double driving the only run in.

The next 3 innings was all about pitching as both hurlers gave up 1 run each over this period. Top 9, score 14-12 Sheffield. The A’s were now drinking in the last chance saloon, just 3 outs to score at least 2 runs was the required task. Up came the A’s celebrated hitter Marginson, who duly struck out, 1 down. Wulff flied out to 2^nd, 2 down. With two runs behind & 2 down the A’s were staring down the barrel of another close loss. Up steps Rob (Robber) Taylor, who ripped a single up the middle, Taylor then took off & stole second. Young sneaked a single inches over the glove of Wills a 3^rd moving Taylor to 3^rd. Top 9, rally caps were on, 2 down, runners on 1^st & 3^rd & the A’s clean up hitter was up! Something had to give……. and it did! Wu uncharactistically going deep into the count, finally got the pitch he wanted and smashed a double to the right centre gap, this brought in Taylor & Young to score, 14-14, and as Young just beat the play at home Yang made it to 3^rd base.  Foltyn continued the slugfest, ripping the pitch to right field for another double, this drove in Wu 15-14 A’s. Fagan continued the assault bringing home Foltyn from 2^nd.  The inning was finally halted when Gunn struck out. However, by this point the damage has been done, with the A's scoring 4 runs on 5 consecutive hits, some 2 out rally. Taking A’s into the bottom of the 9^th with a 2 run lead & 3 outs to get.

Bottom of the 9^th, 16-14, Sean Mcneilage on the hill & pitching for his first A’s win of the season.  To do this he had to go through the heart of the order, starting with fellow pitcher Jim Ellis, who was 5 for 6 when he strode to the plate. Ellis got a walk & stole 2^nd. This was followed by Nick Wills who walked, Ellis reached 3^rd on an error & Wills stole 2^nd. Nobody down runners on 2^nd & 3^rd, the pressure was now on Mcneilage as Jurkuliak walked to the dish, 3 for 4 with a home run up to this point. Jurkuliak flew out to left, bringing home Ellis & moving Wills up to 3^rd, 1 down. Hewitt was out quickly on an unassisted put-out at 1^st, 2 down. One to go, Jay Stearns stepped up & lifted a high fly ball to the A’s defensive specialist Marginson at 2^nd, who made the grab, ballgame! A’s Win 16-15!

Mcneilage got the win, 3 earned runs in 4 2/3.  Young 3-5, 2 doubles. Wu 3-6 & 5 RBI’s. Foltyn 3-5, 3 runs, 2 doubles. These stats standout, but do not begin to tell the full story.  This was a great team effort, in the clutch, down to their last out, against a team from the National League the A’s pulled through. This is a big win & puts the A’s 2-0 against National League teams so far.

9th inning, 2 out, 14-12 down and Roj is the tying run (picture from Phil's gallery)

Next week the tough games continue with visit of Menwith Hill, games don’t get much harder than this next one!

By Chris Jackson, skipper Manchester A’s.