Rome Legion at Sheffield Mountain Hares (14th to 16th April, 2059)
Team Profile: Rome Legion
Banners: EAA Conference Champions (2041), European Champions (2055, 2056)
Playoff appearances: 4
Last season: 15th
Current record: 6-3
The Rome Legion are undoubtedly one of Europe’s most successful teams, but they had their lowest placing in history last year (granted, there are more teams now than there used to be!) and will be hoping for improvement this year. They’ve started the season well, and head to Kingfisher Park near the top of the division at this early stage in the season.
Game 1
SP: Mototomo Motoyanagi
Ilyas Muraguri had his first standout performance for the Hares in their 8-6 defeat of the Rome Legion. He went 2 for 4 with 2 home runs, driving in 5 runs for Sheffield as the fans chanted ‘What’s the story Muraguri?’ to the tune of that Oasis song from the 1990s. Jason Portman also came up big in the bottom of the eighth, giving the Hares the 5-4 lead with a lovely single, from which point the Hares looked in control. The Hares had been 4-0 until the 7th inning, when the comeback began, thanks in no small part to Muraguri’s first home run. Motoyanagi struggled giving up 4 runs in 5 innings, but the bullpen kept things relatively under control for the rest of the game, Octav Draghichi deserves particular mention for giving up no runs, and only 1 hit in 2 innings.
Player of the gameL Ilyas Muraguri
Game 2
SP: Yushua bin Saqr
The Sheffield Mountain Hares and Rome Legion put on a pitchers' duel at Kingfisher park, as the Hares came out on top 2-1. Yushua bin Saqr’s curveball was on point and had the Legion lineup swinging like monkeys for his 6.2 innings, in which he gave up just 1 run. Rey Ochoa capably took things home, collecting his 2nd save of the season. A Mitch Cooper home run and Jason Portman sacrifice fly were enough to win the game for Sheffield, who improve to 6-5.
Player of the game: Yushua bin Saqr
Game 3
SP: Isaac Saville
Game 3 went to extra innings at Kingfisher Park as the Legion avoided a sweep thanks to a thrilling 5-3 win in 10 innings. It was American catcher Pete Danielson who broke the deadlock, which had stood at 3-3 since the 5th inning, as he stroked a 2-run single in the top of the 10th which the Hares were unable to answer. It was a game of many decent performances, rather than one outstanding one, but Isaac Saville was player of the game thanks to his solid 6 inning start, in which he gave up 3 runs while notching up 7 strikeouts.
Player of the game: Isaac Saville
