Taunton Pistols @ Yeovil Whirlwinds

The Whirlwinds hosted the Taunton Pistols in Bradford Abbas for the next fixture in the 2026 South West and Wales Baseball League Division 5 – Severn. Despite being geographically close, this marked the first-ever meeting between Yeovil and Taunton.

With dark clouds looming, Game 1 got underway in earnest. Both teams wasted no time, quickly putting runs on the board. The opening inning ended level at five runs apiece, with the Pistols matching that tally again at the top of the second. Yeovil knew they couldn’t afford to ease off. Leading off the bottom of the inning was returning Whirlwind Jonny Foster, who ripped a perfectly placed line drive over the infield and into the gap, giving him the time to race all the way around for a sensational inside-the-park home run. The momentum carried through the lineup, with Kris Csicso adding a single before Jason Tew stepped up and, on his first pitch, sent the ball over the left-field fence for Yeovil’s second home run of the inning. Patient at-bats from the rookies followed, helping Yeovil match the Pistols with five runs of their own.

When Taunton returned to the plate, their confidence remained intact despite the previous inning. They continued to build innings sensibly, putting runners on base and converting four runs before relief pitcher Simon Causer halted the momentum with a strikeout to retire the side. Yeovil responded by maintaining the pressure. If the second inning had been about power, the third showcased composure and patience. A mix of singles, doubles, and well-earned walks allowed Yeovil to once again max out with five runs. By the end of the third inning, Yeovil had edged ahead 15–14.

As the fourth inning got underway, the narrow scoreline meant the game was still finely balanced. The Pistols continued to produce solid at-bats, steadily building pressure and threatening a big inning. However, rookie Ross Grant halted their momentum with an excellent catch on a foul pop-up near third base, followed by a sharp, heads-up throw back to first to force out the runner. Yeovil secured the final out with a ground ball fielded at the pitcher’s mound and thrown to first. Taunton still managed to add four runs, leaving Yeovil needing four of their own to secure victory.

Yeovil’s first batter had faced only a handful of pitches when the long-threatened rain finally arrived, forcing a temporary suspension of play. Once the shower passed and the ground was deemed safe, Yeovil resumed with the chance to seal the win. Holding their nerve under pressure, they pieced together a combination of walks, singles, and doubles to bring in three runs and advance the winning run to third. A well-placed single through the infield by Chrisi Wilangowski then brought that runner home, securing Yeovil’s second victory of the season with a final score of 19–18.

The second game got underway as quickly as possible with more rain expected. Challenging conditions made it difficult for either side to match the high-scoring pace of the first game. A rain delay interrupted play in the opening inning, and by the bottom of the second, a further heavy downpour rendered the field unplayable. The game was suspended at 4–4 and will be resumed when Yeovil travel to Taunton at the end of June.

By Robert Martin