Dragons clinch play-off spot

In what was originally scheduled as the final regular season game, the Dragons travelled to Herts baseball complex to face the Raptors, Herts fourth team. The Raptors caused one of the upsets of the season in the previous league weekend when they stung Pool B leading Braintree Rays for their first win of the 2010 season, so Richmond did not approach this game lightly. Knowing that a win would clinch a play-off spot for the Dragons and put further pressure on Guildford for the home field advantage, the Dragons travelled with a strong squad up the M1. 

Game day was initially overcast, but the sun came out as the Dragons set off to make a statement in the first inning. And what a statement it turned out to be as the Dragons put the game beyond reach before the home team had a chance to bat. 

With heads up running and solid batting the Richmond side went around the order twice before the final out, putting 14 on the board in the top of the 1st.With veteran Woo Kim on the mound, the Dragons played decent defense and limited any potential Herts comeback to 2 runs before blanking the side in the second inning. 

Richmond tacked on another 5 runs in the 3rd inning before Herts put reliever Jim Arnott on the mound. With a substantially speedier fastball than starter Ken Pike it took some time for the Dragons to adjust as they were blanked in three straight innings. 

On the defensive side the Dragons overcame their initial unfocused play and with Kim's pitching, reliever Scott Phillips' fastball-slider combination and a few timely double plays the Raptors were kept to 2 further runs over 5 innings. 

In the top of the 7th the Dragons bats re-ignited and five further runs were put on the board before Phillips struck out two batters looking to end the game with a final score of 24-4.

Despite the un-even scoreline the game was played in a very friendly fashion from both sides and with time and some key additions the Raptors should be able to contend in Single A. 

The win for the Dragons clinched a play-off spot for the team and a win on August 1st against Bracknell would require Guildford to sweep their remaining 4 games to take the top spot. 

Game notes:

• Despite batting lead-off Stuart Hendry led the team with 4 RBIs, taking his season total to 19. 
• Woo Kim's 1 earned run over 4 innings lowered his season ERA to a team leading 3.68. He also had a very effective day on the mound, throwing 68% of his pitches for strikes.