Battling Badgers fall at final hurdle

Bristol Badgers battled to the final pitch but couldn’t overcome the Bournemouth Bears, eventually going down 17-12 in the final of the BBF AA National Championship.

The two teams traded runs throughout but the Bears scored heavily in the fifth and seventh innings.

Those 13 runs were just too many for the Bristol side to pull back, despite crossing the plate four times in the last four innings.

First baseman George Braeger led the way for the Badgers going four for six at the plate including a double and a triple against strong pitching.

The Badgers totalled 16 hits with Rich Green, Vil Katinas and Rhian Theaker all joining Braeger with multiple hit days.

The previous day, a late run surge took the Badgers past the London Marauders 19-9 in the semi final.

The Bristol side scored 15 runs in the last four innings with eight of the Badgers having multiple hit days.

Katinas and Luke Claflin both hit home runs with Theaker and Par Eliasson both contributing doubles.

The pitching duo of Deivydas Trinkunas and Claflin gave up just seven hits over the nine innings, striking out 12 Marauders between them.

“Every single member of the team should feel proud of what they have achieved this season,”

said player manager Tom Hollies.

“Whilst it is doubly disappointing to lose two successive finals, we have proved that Bristol Baseball Club deserves a place on the national stage.”

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