BRENTWOOD Stags suffered a narrow defeat to the Croydon Pirates in their first home game of the season.
The British Baseball League Division AA clash at Clements Park, Warley, ended in a 18-16 loss for the Stags in what was a baseball spectacle of the highest order.
However, Brentwood are a visibly improving team for 2013, and fresh from an away win at Richmond last week the Stags took the field with confidence and expectation.
All stood on ceremony at Clements Park as the traditional first pitch of the home season was pitched by deputy Mayor, Cllr Madeline Henwood.
After being introduced to both teams, she pitched a fine delivery to catcher Rob Donat to open the Brentwood season.
But Brentwood's plans were dented early on in the first inning as the Croydon team powered to a 4-0 lead.
The Stags allowed three early field errors to dominate the opening inning. With tenacity and grit the Stags worked their way back into the tit-for-tat scoring and first class pitching from Scott Brampton and catching from Rob Donat which helped them claw their way back to a 6-4 lead by the end of the fourth inning, shutting out the Pirates in three straight innings.
The game continued in a topsy-turvy manner and the home side led 11-10 after the sixth, and a string of singles, doubles and stolen bases by the Brentwood Stags had the Pirates frustrated enough to change pitchers four times.
Brentwood were now dictating the pace and holding a steady course, the Pirates looked to be wilting under the pressure cooker that Brentwood's batting line-up had created.
Brentwood were behind but coming back fast and it now looked like they'd have enough in the tank to catch the South London boys.
And it came down to a do-or-die situation as at the bottom of the ninth the Stags trailed by two with all bases loaded.
As the last pitch of the game was delivered Cook hit a line drive as hard as any seen in the game which brought the Brentwood supporters to their feet in anticipation only to see it picked up by third baseman Vlijt who executed a great double play by throwing to home for the forced out (Jim Talbot), taking a return throw back to third base to tag out the advancing base runner Dave Denison to ensure the Pirates held on for victory.
