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| Richmond Lifts London Tournament Trophy |
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Team Richmond
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Croydon Pirates have had a tight grip on the London Tournament trophy for the past few years. But there is more competition now in the top echelon of British Baseball and a strong Richmond Flames side eliminated the hosts from this year’s competition in the final game of their Qualifiers’ Group.
With Richmond leading 3-2 and the clock running down in a timed game, Croydon managed to get a man on base with two down. But their last finger was prised from the trophy when Rhys Dixon popped up to a gleeful Cody Cain at third base for the final out.
In the final that followed, Richmond eased to an 8-1 victory over a Milton Keynes team that had been undefeated to that point.
Milton Keynes had qualified from a tight group on Day 1 of the tournament, knocking out Essex in the process – but Essex went on to claim the Frank Brady Trophy as winners of the Plate competition. Milton Keynes had two easy victories in their Qualifiers’ Group to reach the final.
Richmond were second to Croydon in their round-robin group on Saturday, but had their revenge in topping the Qualifiers’ Group on Sunday.
Richmond’s Yoshi Saito was crowned tournament MVP.
The tournament was played on the weekend of July 14-15 at Roundshaw Playing Fields in Croydon.
In the Home Run Derby, Maikel Azcuy entertained the spectators with a remarkable display of slugging. His total of eight home runs was enough to earn him the victory.
It’s now over 12 months since Richmond, or any other team, has defeated Croydon in National League play. However, the Pirates’ failure to defend their London Tournament crown adds to the disappointment they experienced in losing to the Flames in the 2006 National Championship best-of-three final.
But it would be difficult for anyone to resent Richmond’s recent successes: led by the ever-amiable Jesus Gandara, the team is as gracious in victory as it is in defeat.
In addition to the British teams that took part, the Saints travelled from France and the Spartans came over from Ireland.
Full results from both days’ competition at the London Tournament are set out below.
Joe Gray
RESULTS: SATURDAY, JULY 14
Games finished after seven innings were completed or after 105 minutes had expired, whichever came first. Teams in bold qualified for the main tournament on Sunday. The other teams contested the Frank Brady trophy.
Group 1
Saints 11, Southampton 3
Spartans 13, GB Juniors 9
Saints 16, GB Juniors 4
Southampton 4, Spartans 3
Group 2
Croydon 8, Windsor 4
Richmond 8, Herts 1
Croydon 13, Richmond 2
Herts 7, Windsor 6
Group 3
Essex 4, Medway 3
Milton Keynes 7, Northampton 3
Medway 2, Northampton 0
Milton Keynes 7, Essex 5
Group 4
Croydon II 18, Brentwood 1
Brentwood 11, GB Cadets 4
Croydon II 9, GB Cadets 3
RESULTS: SUNDAY, JULY 15
The final was a seven-inning game. All other games finished after seven innings were completed or after 105 minutes had expired, whichever came first. The winners of each Qualifiers’ Group, shown in bold, went through to the final.
Qualifiers' Group 1
Medway 10, Spartans 0
Saints 6, Medway 5
Milton Keynes 9, Spartans 1
Milton Keynes 11, Saints 1
Qualifiers' Group 2*
Richmond 17, Southampton 1
Croydon 19, Southampton 0
Richmond 3, Croydon 2
* Croydon II withdrew.
Final
Richmond 8, Milton Keynes 1
Frank Brady Plate Trophy
Essex and Windsor were the only two of seven teams to go 2-0, but Essex took the trophy by one run on run differential. The scores were:
Windsor 19, Northampton 6
Essex 8, GB Cadets 2
GB Juniors 6, Herts 6
Brentwood 16, Northampton 9
Herts 7, GB Cadets 6
Essex 13, Brentwood 4
Windsor 5, GB Juniors 4
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