ESSEX REDBACKS enjoyed a win but fell to a defeat in their first intercounty games of the National Baseball League season against Essex Arrows.
After gaining their first win last week, Arno Hardeveld was hoping to continue his form, but although he pitched well, a few errors either side of some strong hitting set up a simple win for the hosts.
Arrows pitcher Marco Schmidt didn't allow a run until the fifth inning, although unfortunately for the Redbacks the late rally was capped at one and the Arrows won shortly after that (11-1).
However, extra keen to settle the score and put one over on their local rivals, the Redbacks quickly jumped back in action and rushed to a 3-1 lead after two innings, thanks to a big double from Harry Ward.
At the top of the fourth, the Arrows had pulled within one, but after loading the bases the Redbacks' star slugger Franklin 'Chicki' Martinez hit an important double to score three runs, capping a four-run rally.
Former Redbacks player Richard Chesterton, threw the final three innings for the Arrows, but the home side couldn't find an answer to the pitching of John Read, who picked up his first win in the NBL at the third time of asking this season as the game finished 8-4.
Co-manager Vince Warner said: "The first game was odd but we regrouped in the second match and we hit better and made fewer mistakes. On reflection, a win for each of us was a fair result."
Elsewhere in Essex, the Redbacks' second team welcomed the Old Timers from Enfield in their season debut.
But the Old Timers' experience was enough to win them the game 24-4.
This weekend, the Redbacks NBL team travel to take on play-off contenders, Southampton Mustangs.
With the Mustangs near the top of the league, it'll be a tricky pair of games for the newly promoted Redbacks.