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Manchester Express 2003 (Cont.)

Game Thirteen & Fourteen : Halton Jaguars

The Express (11:3) beat Halton Jaguars (4:10) in a DH 13-5 & 17-11 (both in 7 innings) at Allen Field. For the Express 2 juniors starred as first Jonny pitched all 7 innings in game 1 for his 3rd senior win, while Will hit his first senior HR plus 5 Doubles over the two games, taking his average above 500 and joining the tight competition for the MBC batting champion (see stats).

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	Total	Hits	Err
Halton	0	0	0	3	2	0	0	5	11	3
Express	0	1	5	6	1	0	X	13	12	2

In the second match Mark started on the mound, but still struggling with his shoulder hit four batters and was ejected in the 2nd innings (he is now banned from the first match of the DH v Glasgow). While this was going on Halton built up quite a lead, but Matt took over and pitched well to record his second win of the season, striking out 8 batters, letting the Express (led by Will) hit their back into the lead. Updated Express stats here.

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	Total	Hits	Err
Halton	1	6	1	0	2	1	1	12	10	1
Express	2	1	1	4	6	3	X	17	20	4

Stats: Yobert in the absence of manager Roger was in sole charge of the team for the first time, and he became the 3rd Express manager in succession to get his first win against Halton (after Herve in 2002 and Roger also in 2002). Will became the 6th Express player to homer in 2003. Updated MBC records here

Game Fifteen & Sixteen : Hull Baseball Club

The Express (11:5) lost a tough DH to Hull Baseball Club (14:2) at Allen Field. In the first game Express GB junior Jonny Woodall (3:2) took on GB senior Gavin Marshall of Hull, and the Express were coping pretty well, 4-4 after 4 innings became 4-6 after 6, and then Hull finally got on top of a tiring Jonny in the top of the last innings. Despite playing Gavin well most of the game (recording 8 hits) the Express couldn't rally in the last and lost 10-4 (7 innings).

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	Total	Hits	Err
Hull	2	2	0	0	2	0	4	10	7	4
Express	1	2	1	0	0	0	0	4	8	5

The second game was 5-5 after 1 bizarre opening innings, before Mark again gave way to Matt after a recurrence of his shoulder injury. Hull scored only steadily off Matt (2:1), but the Express didn't really cope with the change in pace of the new pitcher and went down 13-6 (7 innings). A mixed day in defence saw a few Express errors, but also 3 smartly turned infield double plays. Updated Express stats here

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	Total	Hits	Err
Hull	5	3	0	2	1	2	0	13	9	2
Express	5	0	0	1	0	0	0	6	9	3

Express players against Hull

Game Seventeen : Barnsley Strikers

The Express (11:6) lost a good game away to the Barnsley Strikers (6:11) 17-19 (9 innings). The Express were only able to take a bare 9, including a first senior start for junior Dave Gaskell, but they all played well and were leading 10-6 after 5 innings. Until an error full 6th innings saw Barnsley score 11 runs, the Express rallied but could not pull it back. Matt pitched the first seven inning and unluckily picked up the loss, Roger then closed for the Express. For Barnsley Chris Hewitt got a deserved win, going the distance after closer Kris Allot injured his shoulder fielding in the first innings.

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	Total	Hits	Err
Express	2	2	4	2	0	1	4	1	0	17	16	11
Barnsley	2	0	1	3	0	11	0	2	X	19	17	6

Stats: Yobert became the 7th Express player to homer in 2003, his first home run shot since 1998. Matt also added his second homer of the year. Updated MBC records here

Game Eighteen & Nineteen : Glasgow Stars

The Express (11:8) lost a home DH to the Glasgow Stars (12:7) 2-5 & 6-9. Two good games of baseball that saw the Express take the lead first in both matches, and thanks to a grand slam homer from Luis hold it in the second until the final innings, but were unable to come out of the day even after a late Stars rally and several infield errors. Matt picked up his third loss in as many weeks in the first game, Brad Jones got the win - and 15 K's. Roger recorded his second loss of the season in the second, both Matt and Roger pitched the full 7 innings.

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	Total	Hits	Err
Glasgow	0	4	0	0	1	0	0	5	3	1
Express	1	0	0	0	0	1	0	2	2	1

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	Total	Hits	Err
Glasgow	0	0	1	3	1	0	4	9	5	3
Express	1	0	4	1	0	0	0	6	3	6

Stats: Luis became the 5th MBC player to hit a grand slam, after Roger Young (1998), John Tucker (2000), Rick Garcia (2000) - Twice! and Hervé Boutin (2002). Updated Express stats here, MBC records here

Game Twenty : Liverpool Trojans

The Express (11:9) lost a home game to the table topping Liverpool (18:2) 0-16, a better game of baseball than the score suggests. Both teams were scoreless after 4 innings and Matt had bettered Martin Godsall by throwing 4 perfect innings. Liverpool then blew the game open in the 5th scoring 7 (incl. a grand slam from Jon Spodofora), another 3 up 3 down 6TH was followed by a 9 run 7th and final innings as the game finished early with the Express unable to bring any numerous baserunners home.

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	Total	Hits	Err
Liverpool	0	0	0	0	7	0	9	16	7	1
Express	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	5	6

Game Twenty-one : Edinburgh Diamond-Devils

The Express took on an Edinburgh team maybe slightly weary from a DH with the A's the days before on a very hot day, the Devils were however bolstered by some new arrivals that morning, including starting pitcher Dave Farr, who took on Express' Matt Cooper in his last league game for MBC.

The Express got off to a good start with a 5 pitch innings from Matt followed by 3 runs scored which gave the Express the early lead. The Devils then scored 4 runs, but the Express took the lead again in the 3rd after another 5 pitch innings by Matt. A few tight innings all round, bar a solo homer from House saw the Devils leading 9-8 after 6 innings. Roger then came in to try and close for the Express, but an error full innings on top of a few Devils hits saw 6 runs scored by the Devils. The Express again failed to rally in the last 3 innings going down 19-9. This was despite more great hitting from Yang who batted a 1.000 on the day, continuing his great second half of the season form. Dave Farr picked up the win going the full 9, while Matt got another tight lose.

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	Total	Hits	Err
Edinburgh	0	4	0	3	1	1	6	0	4	19	14	2
Express	3	0	2	1	0	2	0	1	0	9	14	6

The Express then finished the season with 7 loses, going from 11:3 to 11:10. Hopefully the next season the Express can go the full distance, but also a fixture list giving the tough games at the end of the season when players were missing to GB etc probably contributed to this run. However in those last 7 games the Express were in with a shout in all them, but in the last 2 or 3 innings of each seemed to lose their touch.

However the Express can take encouragment by this season, no northern club outplayed them and there were several new players who aquitted themselves well, plus the juniors (inparticular Will, Jonny, James) showed they are ready to start bolstering the senior ranks. With more juniors in the wings for next year (incl. Mike, Dave G, Dave M and Chris) and a much more competitve A's line-up, the Express (and MBC) can definitely look forward to an improvement next season, and possibly premier league baseball if the league is split as is being proposed.

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