New Forest Knights @ Yeovil Whirlwinds

Last Sunday saw the opening weekend for the 2025 South Wales & West Baseball League season with the Yeovil Whirlwinds starting their campaign with two games against the New Forest Thunder Knights, having met them the previous week in their pre-season warm-up tournament.  

Like that encounter, game 1 proved a tight affair. Both pitchers struggled early to consistently find the strike zone resulting in good scoring innings for both sides. After two innings the game was tied at ten runs apiece. Helped by a great fielding block and throw out at first by second base Kris Csicso, the hosts limited New Forest to four runs in the third inning.  

A further five runs in their next at bat saw the Whirlwinds take a slender 15-14 lead into what would be the final inning of the game. Saving his best inning for last, Yeovil’s pitcher David Cheetham recorded two strike outs to help ensure the Knights only added one further run to their tally, tying the game at 15 all.  

With a runner in scoring position, left fielder Aidan Johnson hit in the winning run (his fourth hit of the game) giving Yeovil a 16-15 win. Special mention to rookies Andy Vittles and Gordon Soutar who recorded five RBIs between them. 

A quick rejig of both lineups preceded the commencement of game 2, in which tighter defence on the Whirlwinds side proved to be the difference maker. The highlight play was Jason Tew’s solo double play (tagged runner and throw out at 1st base) in inning one, holding the guests to one two runs and a blank in inning two saw New Forest only register two runs in their first two at bats.  

In contrast, the home side’s run scoring form continued with them taking a 10-2 lead into inning three. Another tag out from Tew, coupled with two simple throw outs at first base ensured the Knights could only double their run tally.  

Five further runs for the hosts (mostly thanks to triples by Tew and Cheetham) meant Yeovil would go into the fourth and final inning with a comfortable eleven run advantage. Four runs in their final inning where not enough for New Forest to force Yeovil to bat again and the game ended 15-8 to the Whirlwinds. 

The perfect start to the new season with both established and newer players already performing well. Yeovil will look to take this momentum into their next game, this coming Sunday 13th April at Bradford Abbas Sports Club. If you are interested in trying out baseball then please don't hesitate to get in touch. 

By Chris Spurway