THE South West and Wales Baseball League (SWWBL) season got underway this weekend, with both Taunton Baseball Club sides returning to action.

The Muskets, who are the defending Double-A champions, began their campaign at Taunton Green against the Exeter Spitfires in the newly rebranded Division 3, earning a split in their double header.

Meanwhile, the Pistols travelled to Bristol for their Division 5 Severn debut, where they suffered a pair of defeats against the Bristol Brunels.

At Taunton Green, the Muskets and Spitfires renewed their rivalry for the first time since the season of 2019. Game one developed into a classic pitching duel between Andrés Bianco and Mike Osborn, with both sides showing early-season rust.

Defensive errors from the visitors and baserunning mistakes from the hosts kept the contest finely balanced. Taunton struck first, building a 3–0 lead, but were unable to extend their advantage as Exeter gradually fought back. The Spitfires edged ahead late on and held their nerve to claim a narrow 5–4 victory.

The Muskets responded strongly in game two. After falling behind early, they rallied to take a 4–2 lead in the opening innings and never looked back. Pitcher James Carter, who was well supported by solid defensive play including a sharp double play and key outfield catches, helped shut down the Spitfires’ offence.

Taunton continued to add runs and secured a convincing 9–3 win to earn a split from the day. Muskets manager Jake Palmer said afterwards: “We were unlucky in game one but showed a lot of character to come back in game two. It was great to be back on the diamond, and our new players, Chris Ostler and David Van Der Poll, settled in quickly and will be great assets this season.”

For the Pistols, it was a challenging introduction to the Severn division. Travelling with just eight players, they faced an uphill task against a well-drilled Brunels side. Game one saw Bristol take control early, with the Pistols unable to build momentum in a 15–2 defeat.

However, Taunton showed a significant improvement in game two, racing into a 5–3 lead after two innings and matching their hosts throughout a high-scoring contest. Despite a strong offensive display — with all eight players recording hits and four hitting doubles — the Pistols were denied in dramatic fashion as the Brunels rallied late to secure a narrow 17–15 walk-off victory.

Pistols manager Connor Colman remained upbeat after the match. He said: “It was a very positive day despite the results. It was difficult with only eight players, but after the first game we really stepped up. There were some great plays from Steve Coles, Dan Brown and Harry Cave, and we pushed them right to the last inning.”

Off the field, Taunton Baseball Club has continued its partnership with Tricky Cider Ltd as MVP sponsor for the 2026 season. Week one awards went to Andrés Bianco and Chris Ostler for the Muskets, and Harry Cave and Chris Worley for the Pistols.

Looking ahead, the Muskets return to Taunton Green this coming weekend (April 19) to host the Cardiff Merlins, while the Pistols have a bye before travelling to the New Forest to face the Knights on April 26.