TAUNTON Baseball Club endured a difficult weekend in the South West and Wales Baseball League, with both senior sides suffering defeats on the road.

The Muskets travelled to Bristol, where they were swept 12-2 and 13-9 by the Bristol Bats, while the Pistols battled both the weather and the Yeovil Whirlwinds before losing a dramatic first game 19-18. The second fixture in Yeovil was abandoned due to rain.

Despite worsening conditions, both the Pistols and Whirlwinds produced an entertaining, high-scoring encounter. The teams combined for 29 hits across four innings, including two Yeovil home runs and three doubles. Connor Colman and Harry Cave both recorded three-hit games for Taunton, while Steve Coles drove in four runs.

However, the hosts edged the contest in the fourth inning with a walk-off score to seal a 19-18 victory.

Pistols manager Connor Colman said: “Unfortunately the rain broke our rhythm a bit, but we battled until the end in that first game.”

In Bristol, the Muskets faced a strong Bats side which proved clinical in key moments. Game one began evenly before the hosts broke clear in the second inning with six runs from a series of well-placed hits.

Taunton’s highlight came through Andrés Bianco, who hit a two-run home run — his first of the season — but the Bats secured a 12-2 mercy-rule win in the fifth inning.

The Muskets responded strongly in game two after falling 6-1 behind early on, scoring six runs in the next inning to briefly take control. Bristol, however, regained momentum and pulled away to complete a 13-9 victory after six innings.

Muskets manager Jake Palmer said: “We faced a good team today and, while I feel we played well, they were a bit more clinical when it mattered. We’ve got a few weeks until our next game, so we can regroup and go again.”

The club’s Tricky Cider MVP awards went to Holly Way for the Pistols and James Carter for the Muskets. Carter struck out nine batters in a strong pitching display, with his curveball causing Bristol significant problems, while Way scored two runs and added an RBI in only her second game for the club.

Both teams now have a break for the bank holiday weekend as Taunton Baseball Club hosts its first youth event of the season — an open youth session on Saturday, May 23, from 1pm to 3pm at Taunton Green.