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.
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 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.