HALTON POLECATS

In Friday's game pitcher Robert Mills opened extremely well holding a strong Preston line-up to just one run in two innings, notching up four strike-outs in that time.

However, errors in the field by Halton, as well as a lack of power at the plate led to a complete middle innings breakdown allowing the Mariners the maximum 15 runs across the third, fourth and fifth innings whilst the Polecats continued to be shut out by Preston pitching.

Matthew Thompson, Halton's closer, coming into the game in the fifth inning eventually did stop the Mariners' onslaught as he struck out three in the sixth inning and held Preston to just one run in that inning, but the single most memorable play for the Polecats came from newcomer first baseman John Kilgannon who made a spectacular foul territory catch which scattered the Preston branch.

In the most one-sided Pony League encounter of the season the final score of 17-0 said as much about Halton's lack of drive as it did about Preston's dominance and this of course made Kilgannon spirited effort all the more outstanding.

Halton's high point of the weekend came the following day as the Rookies took on the Cartmel Valley Lions in Cumbria.

In the first inning inside the park, home runs by Darren Rooney and Brian Mack set out Halton's stall as they scored an impressive seven runs, a tally that they were to achieve in each of their three.

Some fine defence in the bottom of the first held Cartmel's initial replay to just three with right-fielder Rooney this time making a fine catch.

The obvious hard work in the field by the Polecats meant that they maintained command in a game which, effectively, was never in doubt as Cartmel were repeatedly thwarted in their efforts to get into the game. Halton thus ran out worthy 21-11 winners.

In Saturday's second game, still in Cartmel, the Polecats played the Valley Lions in the Bronco League. Effectively the first innings was the difference between the teams in this one as Halton were unable to score but with Cartmel reaching the maximum five runs on Will Fearon's three run shot.

Thereafter the Polecats matched the Valley Lions blow for blow with some good hitting and RBI's for Chris Hartley, Peter Ellis and Danny Lloyd, but more important on the day was a series of fine defensive plays that kept the game in the balance throughout.

Hartley, the Polecats catcher, had a great game which began with his two run homer in the second inning to put Halton on board.

He made a fine attempt in the third to catch a difficult ball which was praised all around the diamond and he opened the fourth with a single and a stolen base.

Perhaps his best play though was a smart pick-off of Cartmel's Lee Harrison at second base in the bottom of the fourth after Harrison had doubled.

As if this were not enough Hartley added a ground rule double in the sixth to display his feisty attitude to the end of the game.

Hannah Kendrick showed fine defensive skills in tagging out two runners at second base and more great defence came in the fourth as Ellis's excellent out-field catch ended a Cartmel rally.

The best catch of the day was taken by Polecats centre-fielder Kieren Banlin who made a low grab on the run to end the inning leaving Cartmel scoreless in the fifth with runners stranded on first and second bases.

Pitching and defence held the Polecats together all through the game with their dominance really beginning in the third inning as starting pitcher David Mayock struck out two including prior home run hitter Will Fearon.

The bottom of the third ended with a great play across the diamond by Rookie third baseman David McClennan filling in for the injured regular player.

Despite all of the heroics in the field, however, Cartmel had done enough damage in the first innings to always have Halton chasing the game and they ran out eventual 9-4 winners.

There was no disgrace in the defeat as they gave their all to the end of the game in what was their best team performance of the season against the league champions.

Converted for the new archive on 13 March 2001. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.