Thunderstorms raged across the sky as the New Forest Thunder arrived at Westmorland Park for a triple header against Bracknell Inferno. Unluckily for New Forest, their namesake did not help them against Bracknell, whose offence tore through the Thunder's pitching staff (and outfield fence).
In a first inning where all of Bracknell's starting lineup went up to bat, 5 runs were scored off of the back of RBIs from Milano, Naranjo, Prescott, and Shinkawa. With a comfortable 5-1 lead going into the second inning, Collins pitched a complete 5 inning game, attacking Thunder's hitters and getting 10 strike outs by game's end. Kabuzenko hit a 2-run double in the bottom of the 4th which ending up being all of the firepower Inferno needed to claim a 7-6 victory in game 1.
The first game momentum carried on as Bracknell secured a 15-0 mercy-rule victory in game 2 in just 3 innings! Giving Coke what will undoubtedly be the shortest complete-game shut-out pitching performance all season (46 pitches), in a game where everyone in the Bracknell batting order scored at least one run.
The third game ended in yet another mercy-rule result. This time after 4 innings as Bracknell turned a good day into a great one with a 12-2 triumph. Huxley threw 4 innings of 2 run ball to raise his innings pitched to a team leading 16. After a scoreless 3rd inning for both sides, Naranjo put the game to bed with a 2-run home run, well over the left-field fence.
Bracknell sit atop the division at 6-1. They will play next Sunday at Cardiff in their first away games of the season against the only team yet to beat them in 2024.
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