Torrington Riptides defeated by title-chasing Plymouth

The Torrington Riptides welcomed the Plymouth Mariners to North Devon for another two-game fixture on Sunday, a week after facing them in Plymouth.

Torrington were chasing their second win of the season, while Plymouth were keen to keep pace with league leaders Exeter and secure their place in the August play-offs.

The Mariners got off to a strong start in game 1, with lead-off batter Lewis Rosevear hitting a home run off the second pitch of the game. It would be the first of two Plymouth home runs in that inning, and five in the day.

The highlights for Torrington were in their fielding, including a quick play by Joshua Owen at short stop, great catches by Ashley Hendy at first base and Matthew Relewicz in centre field, and an amazing diving catch by pitcher Fred Batt. But the Riptides’ batters were unable to get a single hit, and Torrington were shut out by Plymouth 19-0.

In game 2, Ed Willmott pitched all six innings for Torrington and gave a stellar performance, with a club record 10 strikeouts. The Mariners were kept to just five runs by the end of the third inning, but a string of hits in the fourth doubled their tally.

At bat, Willmott and Ed Keech combined in the first and fourth innings to score Torrington’s first two runs. Hits from Jess Cooper, Fred Batt, and Kevin Xaiver would add two more in the sixth, but by then the Mariners had scored 14 to put the game out of reach, and it ended as a 14-4 win for Plymouth.

“Plymouth played a stronger team this time out,” said player-manager Jess Cooper, “and that’s reflected in the scores, but so many positives for us. The fact they felt they had to put up two of their best pitchers against us shows the high regard in which they hold us.”

The Riptides face the unbeaten Exeter Spitfires in Exeter on June 22, before their next home game (at Great Torrington School) against the Newton Abbott Brewers on July 6.

To join or sponsor the team, email Jess Cooper at torringtonriptides@gmail.com