This was a game postponed from April 26th after vandals drove motor bikes over Kent's ground rendering it unusable. Instead of it being the first meeting of the two sides for this season it became the last, after Windsor won the first meeting 14 - 12 in Maidenhead at the end of May, and Kent won both games (convincingly) at the double header in Kent a month later. The Mariners form coming into the game was seven straight wins and they sat top of the league with 13 wins to 5 losses in the season. Kent were heavy favourites and they did not expect the game to be anywhere near as close as it ended up being.

Due to many players having holidays and family commitments, it was only nine players who made the trip from Berkshire round the M25 to Maidstone for the game and amongst the nine were three players who had never played the game before 2009. The Bears knew that they would be up against it, but were looking forward to the game never-the-less.

After a fairly shaky first two innings for the Bears where Kent scored six unanswered runs, Windsor started to find their feet in the third inning scoring four runs of their own showing Kent that their hitting had improved vastly, especially amongst the new players, since their last meeting. Kent also went on to score four runs in the third inning taking the score to (a fairly high) 10 - 4 going into the fourth inning. Through the middle three innings both teams' defense were strong with very few errors, and the teams matched each other for runs with both teams scoring one in the fourth, one in the fifth, and the sixth was scoreless. In the seventh inning Kent scored one run taking the score to 13 - 6 and leaving Windsor with a lot of work to do going into the last two innings. The Bears came alive at this point batting around the order and scoring five runs in the eighth starting to haul in the Mariners (who scored only two in response). So it was that Windsor went into the final innings down by four runs. Another fantastic display of hitting saw the Bears score three runs before the final out was achieved by the Mariners ending the game 15 - 14.

For Windsor - Patrick Matias pitched well with Clint Milner pitching out the last inning. Xavier Clift stepped into the catchers position and performed admirably after (regular starting catcher) Tom Minkkinen was unable to take this position due to an injury. There were a few spectacular diving plays from the middle infield, which were unfortunately not caught on camera, and generally solid defense from the entire side. Offensively - the entire side hit and got onto base, and base running was much improved from previous weeks, which the score reflects. It was fantastic to see the newer players getting in there and playing full games alongside the 'veterans', this is a great way to develop (although daunting) and hats off to them. The Bears can be proud of what they achieved on Sunday in what was a thrilling game, but a shame that the win was just beyond their reach.

Looking ahead - Windsor and Maidenhead Bears will be playing the last games of the season at their home ground (Ockwells Park in Cox Green, Maidenhead) on the 9th and 16th August. Coming off the back of the performance against the league leaders last weekend, the Bears will be looking to finish on a high with some wins first against the Brentwood Stags on the 9th (2pm first pitch) and then at the double header against the Herts Hawks on the 16th (12pm and 2.30pm first pitches approx.). As always - anyone who would like to come down to support the Bears and watch a game for free on a Sunday afternoon are more than welcome (please find directions to Ockwells Park on the clubs website) but should remember to bring a chair or mat to sit on.

Midsummers Day 2009 saw the Bears posting their first loss since the 3^rd May 2009 in the first of a string of away games which see them on the road until August.  The Windsor Bears (6 - 2) travelled to Croydon (8 - 2) for their last regular season match up with the Croydon Pirates for this year, having won both games in their previous meeting (a double header in Maidenhead) and having forfeited their first scheduled tie in April due to an insufficient squad size.  Windsor were hoping for the win which put them top of the table with two games in hand, but unfortunately it was not to be.

Windsor went ahead with three unanswered quick runs in the first inning and the Bears looked likely to continue their run of form, but Croydon started to claw that lead back in the fourth, and by the sixth they had taken the lead.  After the sixth inning which saw many errors by Windsor and five runs scored by the Pirates, the heads of the Bears dropped somewhat with the realisation of the mammoth task ahead of them.  Although the Bears had fought back from such a position in previous weeks, the hill was too steep to climb this time with Windsor rallying for a couple of late runs but unfortunately to no avail. 

Croydon pitcher Timothy Ssali was incredibly strong on the day both on the rubber and at the plate, and was Croydon’s stand out player of the match.  He is the best pitcher that the Bears have faced in the league so far, and is no doubt a big influence in the Pirates' solid lead in the league.  Windsor had stand out performances from 'younglings' Cailean Madden (third base) and Kyle Purewal (first base) who are both only 15!  They both excelled with strong defense, good hitting and intelligent base running on the day.

The Bears have done well to win two games out of the four meetings with the Pirates, and remain the only team in the league to have defeated the Pirates, but a loss hurts nevertheless.  Windsor will be looking to pick up a couple of wins this weekend, when they visit Kent Mariners for a double header, to solidify their second position in the table and stay within reach of Croydon.

The local side are still looking for more players (adults (i.e. over 15), or youths under 13) with or without experience.  So if you are interested in playing this fun and unusual team game, or you know anyone who might be – please email Coach Jeremy Neads on bears_headcoach@yahoo.com.

Sunday 14^th June saw the Windsor Bears host the Thames Valley Bisons at their home ground – Ockwells Park in Cox Green.  The last encounter between the two teams, three weeks previously, saw the Bears beat the Bisons heavily by 18 runs to 5, but it was a much improved side who made the short trip from Reading this week.

With both pitchers throwing well it quickly became apparent that this would be a low scoring game.  The first two innings saw no runs score for either side, before the home side went ahead scoring two in the third inning.  The fourth inning was also scoreless and it was not until the fifth when the Bisons scored their first run.  Unfortunately for the Bears they also scored their second, third and fourth taking the lead by two runs which they would hold on to for most of the remainder of the game.

With two outs in the eighth inning (after neither side put any points on the board in the sixth or seventh) - Windsor started to put the come back together that they needed to stand a chance of winning their sixth successive game.  Tom Minkkinen and Cailean Madden (playing his first game of the season) both got on base and scored, showing eager base running on a couple of wild pitches to tie up the game and Windsor were ecstatic to suddenly find themselves back in the game.  It was the play that followed which put the Bears in front in an incredible manner.

Nick Davies was at bat, Phil Norris had reached third base after a walk, a stolen base and achieved third on a single from Patrick Matias.  As the pitcher was contemplating his first pitch to Davies, Matias had taken a large lead off first base and was turning to steal to second seeing that the basemen were well off their bases.  The pitcher was dumbstruck by such an attempt and moved towards second expecting the runner to return to first base.  As Matias continued to second and the attention was on him, Norris saw his chance to steal home – and did so putting the Bears back in the lead.  The throw when it eventually came from the pitcher to the short stop to put Matias out at second was very fast and inaccurate, and the Short Stop was unable to get to it.  Matias was able to round second and move to third as the Center Fielder ran to collect the overthrown ball, and he was surprised to be given the signal to go 'home' from the third base coach (as the Bisons had still not returned the ball to the infield).  He slid into home scoring the Bears sixth and final run of the game having bizarrely stolen 'home' from first base.

After the four run eighth inning display from the Bears – the Bisons were only able to get one runner home in the top of the ninth and the Bears took the victory by one run 6-5. 

A special mention must be made for Tom Minkkinen pitching incredibly in his second win of the season and his first full nine inning game.  He did not leave the rest of the defence much work to do, as he worked his way through most of the outs.  Piotr Tarczynski (former Polish national Catcher) pitched a good game for the Bisons as they were missing their regular two pitchers, only let down by that one error in the eighth inning.

Next week will see Windsor travel to Croydon Pirates in what will be a clash of the top two teams in the league.  Croydon demonstrated their power on Sunday – crushing Herts Hawks 19 – 1, and have not lost all season apart from when they visited the local team for a double header on the 17^th May, so it will be an important game for both clubs.

The double header vs. Herts Hawks, that was originally scheduled for 7th June at Ockwells Park, has been postponed until 16th August due to predicted bad weather on the day.  Could it be that the Bears' hopes of playing post-season baseball come down to these games on the last day of the regular-season?

The story of the year for local side Windsor and Maidenhead Bears seems to be that against adversity they can battle back and emerge the victor.  This is true of the team’s fortunes over the season as a whole, and of many of their games also, as the team again and again prove that they have the determination required to come back and win.  Sunday’s home game against the Kent Mariners was no exception, where the Bears’ calm heads and resolve won them the game by a final score of 14 runs to 12.

This weekend (due to many unavoidable commitments) the Bears squad was a meager ten players, and there was a fear that without the (now becoming ‘ordinary’) size of squad that they would struggle against league leaders Kent.  The Mariners seemed to be suffering from the same kind of problems and came to Windsor with a squad of only nine, and as such did not have the opportunity for any substitutions which would play to Windsor’s advantage in the latter stages of the game.

Windsor trailed for most of the game after Kent took an early lead, but as both teams’ starting pitchers began to tire – Windsor were able to bring starting catcher and regular closing pitcher Tom Minkkinen to the mound whilst Kent had to continue with their only pitcher on the day who Windsor were starting to punish.  After two strong innings hitting from the home team they were able to take the lead in the final inning for the win.

The 'lowlight' of the game was the manager (and first baseman) of the away side being ejected by the umpire in the sixth inning for repeatedly arguing over calls.  It is a shame to ever see this kind of behaviour at a game, but the pressure and heat on the day must have overcome him, and the Mariners were forced to play on without him for the last three innings with only eight men.

It was a day for Windsor’s new(er) players, with Steve Girle playing his first full nine inning game and Ray Matias playing his first in over nine years.  Girle led the team with two hits, and Matias achieved the most RBIs with three.  Nicholas Davies came on to the diamond for Xavier Clift in the latter stages of the game and made the play of the game at first base – fielding the ball on the dive and reaching to first base with his hand to get the ‘out’, he also got two ‘walks’ from the batters box.

Now on a five game unbeaten streak – the Bears look forward to next week’s double-header with the Herts Hawks at Ockwells Park in Cox Green hoping to settle a score.  The Hawks are the only team in the ‘AA South’ league that the Bears have not yet beaten this year, and the only team that they have lost to (missing out by one run in their first meeting of the year at the beginning of May).  As usual – anyone who would like to come down to support the Bears and watch a game (or two) for free on Sunday afternoon are more than welcome. 

On a beautiful day for baseball, local side Windsor and Maidenhead Bears travelled to Thames Valley Bisons (near Sonning Common) to play with their ever-growing squad.  The Bears went down in the first inning giving up three runs to their one scored, but started a come back in the third inning scoring three unanswered runs to bring the score to 4-3 after no runs were scored in the second by either side.

From the fourth inning Windsor started to hit runs almost at will after they got their eyes in, and the Thames Valley pitcher eventually started to tire, with Clint Milner and Fraser Duggan leading the side (who all hit well) with two doubles and a single, and four singles respectively.

In British Baseball a ‘Slaughter Rule’ is applied at any point after the seventh inning of a game which states that if at the end of an inning one side is leading the other by ten runs or more the game ends, and today that rule was applied at the end of the 8^th inning at which point the Bears were leading the Bisons by 18 runs to 5.

The Bears hit well as a side and all 15 players who turned up had a chance to play (which is something coach Jeremy Neads tries to do at all games).  The Umpire gave special mention after the game to Fraser Duggan for his strong hitting and six stolen bases, and to Patrick Matias for strong defence at Shortstop and Catcher, as well as a couple of singles and strong base running.  Clint Milner pitched the win, with starting catcher Tom Minkkinen pitching out the last couple of innings strongly to close.

The Bisons came at Windsor with strong hitting throughout the game, and Ian Herrington (Bison ‘Lead-Off’ hitter and infield utility player) was the player singled out by the umpire for special mention for a strong all around game.

Next weekend the Bears will host league leaders Kent Mariners at their home ground – Ockwells Park in Cox Green – first pitch at 2pm.  They will be looking at developing their new players further and continuing their four game unbeaten streak.  Anyone interested in playing for the Bears or wanting to come along and watch some games are more than welcome!

As the first month of the British Baseball season comes to a close, local side Windsor and Maidenhead Bears find themselves right back in the thick of things in the British AA League South after an uncertain start.  Following a very quiet Spring Training period where the future of the club was seriously under question due to a dwindling squad size after many players left the team at the end of last season, the Bears fortunes are now on the rise.  The squad has been bolstered by some returning players and some rookies (many of which have never played the sport before) and Windsor and Maidenhead are starting to notch up some wins.

It was on deadline day for applications to the league for the 2009 season that Bears coach Jeremy Neads made the heartfelt decision to enter, hoping that the club would find some more players to boost the small number returning from the 2008 season.  The first game of the season was scheduled to be played against Croydon Pirates in Maidenhead on the 19th April but the local team were forced to forfeit as they still did not have the numbers to be able to field a team.  As chances of survival were looking slender, the Bears fortunes started to change with some interest shown in rejoining the club after many years from former Great Britain under-18s Shortstop Ray Matias, who encouraged friends and family (some of which who had not previously played) to also get involved.  This coupled with some interest generated through the club’s website from a few more rookies who wanted to play with Windsor and Maidenhead was just the chance the Bears had been looking for to build for the future.  Coach Neads and the rest of the team welcomed these newcomers with open arms, and set about training them up.

The following week would have seen the Bears play away to Kent Mariners, who postponed the game after vandals rode motor cycles over their field rendering it unusable, so it was with excitement and trepidation (for many) that the Bears took to the field for their first game against Herts Hawks on the Bank Holiday Sunday at the beginning of May.  This game was for many their first baseball game ever, and for everyone it was a long overdue opportunity to get out and play.  Windsor and Maidenhead were unlucky to not win this game after pitching and hitting well.  Unfortunately it was the inexperience of the team in the field which lost this game with a few errors, and the Bears eventually lost by one run (7-8) in what was a closely fought match.  Although the game was lost, the local team benefitted from playing together for the first time in a game situation, lessons were learnt and most importantly everyone enjoyed playing. 

On the 10th of May, the Bears played at Brentwood Stags in Essex.  Having to this point not won, and finding themselves only held off the bottom of the league table by Brentwood (who had lost one more game) the local side knew that this was their opportunity to show what they were made of.  With some tight pitching from Clint Milner and Pat Matias, coupled with a solid team performance from the batters box (special mention again to Clint Milner who hit two home runs on the day) Windsor and Maidenhead went on to win by 19 runs to 9.

After that first victory the morale of the team was clearly lifted, and with the rookies constantly learning and developing, the squad felt happy going into last Sundays (17th May) double-header in Maidenhead against league leaders and previously this season undefeated Croydon Pirates.  The weather on the day was less than ideal for baseball (drizzle) but the games went ahead nevertheless.  After the third inning of the first game – the Bears were down by 6 runs to 0 when they started to turn things around.  Croydon scored no more runs in the seven inning game, whilst Windsor went on to forge the come back which seemed an impossible task ending the game with 7 runs to Croydon’s 6.  Now hitting against the Pirates’ weaker pitchers and with the victory of the first game still ringing in their ears, the Bears were able to take the second game as well by 12 runs to 10.  This was a great achievement for the team with the entire squad showing great skill and stamina (with the majority of players playing the entirety of both games) and demonstrating how far they had developed as a team in such a short space of time.

Windsor and Maidenhead are now sitting third in their league of six teams in the South East, and looking to continue building on their run of form away at Thames Valley Bisons (Reading) next Sunday, before a string of three weeks of home games at their diamond at Ockwells Park in Cox Green (Maidenhead) starting from the 31st May at 2pm. 

The Bears are still looking for more players (adults (i.e. over 15), or under 13s) with or without experience, so if you are interested, or you know anyone who might be – please email Coach Jeremy Neads on bears_headcoach@yahoo.com.  Anyone who would like to come down to support the Bears and watch a game for free on a Sunday afternoon are more than welcome (please find directions to Ockwells Park on the clubs website) but should remember to bring a chair or mat to sit on.