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It's not my intention to post game-by-game reports, but I just couldn't resist reporting on this one, in light of Opening Day's events.

Monarchs Blank Legends 6-0; Martin Throws 1-Hitter

Braeland City (BP) – After being shut out yesterday by the Brunswick Legends, the Monarchs were only too happy to return the favour. In the process of blanking their rivals 6-0, Braeland City’s SP Nathaniel Martin came within one hit of throwing a no-hitter. Facing 33 batters in the game, only Legends RF Danny Filmer reached base via a hit, a lead-off double in the fourth inning. Brunswick did get close to scoring on a number of occasions, but Martin was able to get out of trouble each time.

In the first, Danny Filmer reached base on an error and advanced to third when LF Mark Elston grounded out to the shortstop. But the threat ended when 2B Will Henry flew out to center.

In the third inning, 1B Pete Good drew a 2-out walk, but was promptly thrown out by C Julian Curnow when Good tried to steal 2B.

After hitting this fourth inning double, Danny Filmer reached third when Will Henry grounded out to second base. CF Jamie Thurgood reached base on a 4-pitch walk, but the threat was snuffed out when C Daniel Darcy grounded out to second to end the inning.

SS Seung-yeop Park led off the fifth, reaching first base after being hit by a pitch. Park eventually reached third after an error allowed SP Matthew Monroe on base and Pete Good hit into a fielder’s choice at second. But Martin got Danny Filmer to pop up to 3B Louie Hetherington to end the inning.

Brunswick’s final chance to score came in the ninth, when Mark Elston led off with a walk. Elston reached 3B on consecutive ground outs by Will Henry and Jamie Thurgood. But once again, Martin was able to keep the Legends off the board when he got Daniel Darcy to ground out (1-3), ending the game.

For the Monarchs, the runs came a little easier than yesterday. They scored their first run in franchise history in the third inning. RF Callum Wolton led off with a walk and reached second on a sac bunt by Martin. CF Cameron Grindal drove him in on a line drive single.

In the bottom on the fourth, Julian Curnow led off with a double and reached 3B on a ground out by José Gonzáles. A single by SS Yeom Kim brought Curnow home for Braeland City’s second run.

The Monarchs made it 4-0 in the sixth when José Gonzáles doubled in 1B Tim Ambrose from first and RF Mark Burns, who entered the game replacing an injured Callum Wolton, subsequently drove in José Gonzáles.

Three consecutive singles by Louie Hetherington, Julian Curnow and Tim Ambrose in the seventh added another run.

The final run came in the eighth, when Louie Hetherington drew a bases-loaded walk with two out.

But the day belonged to Nathaniel Martin. Martin’s sterling performance included three strikeouts, all of which occurred in the seventh inning, when he got Daniel Darcy, Seung-yeop Park and 3B Ron Skewes to all strike out swinging.

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WP – Braeland City N. Martin: 9.0IP, 1H, 0ER, 3BB, 3K, 0HR, 124PI, 77PS, 0.00ERA.
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LP – Brunswick M. Monroe: 7.0IP, 10H, 5R, 5ER, 2BB, 2K, 0HR, 96PI, 60PS, 6.43ERA

The rest of the day's action: