Belles defeat Dukes 19-17 in 7-inning thriller

Originally written for Richmond Baseball Club and published at Richmondbaseball.co.uk - News

Jess Vernon hits a ground ball single for a base hit

Belles Baseball beat the Richmond Dukes in a thrilling 7-inning pre-season game at Richmond’s Flood Field on 2nd April 2022.  

The two teams were evenly matched from the outset with the lead changing hands almost as often as the weather. But it was the Belles who finished the stronger and held off the Dukes’ valiant efforts in a nail-biting climax. 

Belles starting pitcher Jess Vernon warming up to pitch.

Manager, and starting pitcher, Jess Vernon was beaming after the final out and gave high praise to the whole team. “The game was awesome, it was our second time getting together this year. The energy was really high despite the weather and snow. Everyone played well and it was great to have a really competitive game and a close game against [the Dukes]. 

“It was really awesome to see that both teams had the bats going and made it really competitive and fun”, Vernon said adding, “We had four players who never played with us before, so to get them into the game is awesome...Kayla’s [Hoffman} pitching was awesome” 

The visitors took an early 1-0 lead off of a sharply hit RBI single by Nuri Gimferrer. A spectacular diving catch by Nat Parker at 1st base, snagging a bullet line drive by Sam Hofbeck, helped to keep the Dukes off the board. Battling the ever-changing weather conditions, including a flurry of snow fall, the Belles showed determination and excellent baseball fundamentals scoring five runs to open up a big lead going into the bottom of the 2nd inning.  

Nat Parker scores a run for Belles Baseball.

Not to be outdone on their home field, the Dukes fought back led by their veterans. Consecutive fly ball doubles to deep left and centre field from Gaston Farina and Paul Tiley respectively, followed up by a laser line drive single to left field from James Guerra cut the Dukes deficit to three runs. 

However, the Belles came back out fighting and continued to tag on more runs to extend their lead over the Dukes, entering the bottom of the 4th inning ahead 9-4. Jess Vernon who had pitched a great game made way for new Belles recruit Alex Freund. Freund started well getting Curtis Day to pop out to second base for the first out. But the Dukes were undeterred and, taking full advantage of fielding errors, loaded the bases. They reaped the rewards of aggressive base running, coupled with some wild pitches from Freund, to level the game.

Gaston Farina tags out Kayla Hoffmann at 2nd base. Photo courtesy of Henry Slesser.

Despite squandering their comfortable lead, the Belles remained unfazed and once again bounced back strongly in the top of the 5th inning scoring three more runs. The momentum switched yet again in the bottom of the 5th when Sam Hofbeck crushed a fastball high out of the strike zone, sending it sailing over the left field fence for a 3-run home run. Adding two more, the Dukes took the lead for the first time in the game and held on to it going into the 7th and final inning ahead 14-13. 

Needing just three outs to secure the win, a pitching change saw Sam Hofbeck come in for the save attempt, but the Belles demonstrated precisely why they became the first ever Women’s National Baseball Champions in 2021. They showed terrific patience and steely determination to load the bases. Their aggression and intelligence on the base paths were no better exemplified by shortstop Kayla Hoffmann, who reached on base with a walk. Sensing the Dukes’ infield were not paying attention and the ball still in play, Hoffmann rounded first and blazed into 2nd. The Dukes were slow to react, and a sloppy attempt to tag her out allowed Hoffmann to advance to 3rd base easily, scoring on a wild pitch in the next at-bat. Hofbeck recovered and the Dukes were able to finally get the 3rd out, but not before conceding six runs. 

Belles regroup before their comeback in the 7th inning.

The stage was set for a dramatic comeback with the heart of the Richmond line up leading off. Kayla Hoffmann took the mound for the Belles to close the game. Richmond quickly scored a couple of runs before Alvin Michael stepped up into the batter's box. Falling behind in the pitching count 0-2, Michael drew on all his veteran experience to work the count full, before unleashing a rocket line drive over the left fielder’s head for an RBI ground rule double. But the Dukes couldn’t capitalise further. Farina struck out and Michael was tagged out at home trying to score on a wild pitch. Down to their final out, the Dukes bravely rallied once more putting the tying run on first base, but Hoffmann kept her composure and capped off a terrific afternoon getting a strikeout to seal the victory, earn the win and the game’s Most Valuable Player award. 

Alvin Michael’s 7th-inning RBI double. Photo courtesy of Henry Slesser.

Dukes’ manager, Paul Tiley, remained upbeat after the loss focussing on the positives from the game. “I thought Luke [Ellett] had a great game, his second ever game of baseball. He took great at-bats and made a lot of contact. Fantastic pitching debut by Henry [Slesser], a last minute addition to the pitching line up and he did a good job. Base running was much better this week, an improvement on last game, which is fantastic”, added Tiley.

The Dukes open their regular season on the road at Herts Raptors on 24th April in a double header. They will be looking to make a strong start to their campaign and take two wins. The Belles travel to Lille, France for a women’s baseball tournament over the Easter weekend. They will be starting the defence of their British title on 14th May in Bristol and look in great form to win it all again.

You can follow the Belles’ exploits via their social media coverage @bellesbaseball. 

Richmond Dukes and Belles Baseball post-match team photo.