WITH the South West and Wales Baseball League (SWWBL) season entering its final stages, both the Muskets and Pistols were in action on Sunday, July 5.

The Muskets shared the spoils with the Exeter Spitfires, losing the opening game 9-3 before bouncing back to win the second 14-2.

Meanwhile, the Pistols also split their double-header against the Bristol Brunels at Taunton Green, going down 20-4 before responding with an impressive 11-3 victory.

The Muskets travelled to Exeter for the reverse fixture of their opening day meeting, with game one following a familiar pattern. Despite outhitting the Spitfires 11-8, the visitors were unable to convert their opportunities, leaving 11 runners stranded on base. A six-run fourth inning from the hosts proved decisive as Exeter secured a 9-3 victory.

Game two was far more evenly contested until the Muskets seized control in the fourth inning. James Carter delivered an outstanding performance on the mound, striking out 11 batters while allowing just two runs over seven innings to guide his side to a convincing 14-2 win. At the top of the batting order, Chris Ostler and David Van Der Poll set the tone, combining for five hits and five runs.

Muskets manager Jake Palmer said: "It was a good day overall. We could have done a bit more in game one, but we imposed ourselves in game two and came out of it with a well-fought win."

At Taunton Green, the Pistols welcomed the Bristol Brunels, who arrived second in the Severn Division with a 9-5 record. Game one proved a difficult afternoon for the hosts as they struggled to contain Bristol's offence. The Brunels amassed 20 runs from 21 hits, and although the Pistols rallied in the fourth inning, they were unable to recover from the early deficit, eventually falling 20-4.

The home side responded superbly in game two, racing into a 4-1 lead before steadily adding to their advantage over the following innings. Pitchers Stuart Cook and Harry Cave combined for a four-inning no-hitter, backed by an excellent defensive display that included two double plays to keep the Brunels off the bases. Strong hitting throughout the line-up helped the Pistols seal an impressive 11-3 victory.

Pistols assistant manager Sam White said: "It was a brilliant performance today. Game one we were unlucky, but game two showed how defensively sound we can be as a team. Great decision-making and some amazing plays, including an unassisted double play to end the game."

The Tricky Cider MVP awards went to James Carter and David Van Der Poll for the Muskets, and Harry Cave and Connor Colman for the Pistols.

Carter's dominant pitching performance included 11 strikeouts while conceding just two runs across seven innings. Van Der Poll enjoyed an excellent day at the plate, recording four hits across the two games, including three doubles.

For the Pistols, Cave closed out game two with two scoreless innings of relief to preserve the combined no-hitter, while Colman impressed both behind the plate and in the field. He also crossed home plate three times and stole four bases.

This coming Sunday, July 12, the Muskets return to Taunton Green to host the Bournemouth Bears, while the Pistols have a weekend off.