No complacency vs Dolphins

The B team make their final road trip of the 2014 season to Dublin to meet the West Clare Dolphins. Although they are at opposite ends of the league table, coach Jose Santos will be missing some key players this weekend and will not want to take anything for granted.

It is expected that Santos will lean towards development of some key rookies, such as Klevier Sanchez and Stuart Fraser in this first meeting of the Belfast and West Clare sides. Last season the Northstars swept the series against the Dolphins, with two of the victories coming with mercy rule victories.

In the first game, Colin Woods would have an offensive outburst with 4 hits and 5 RBI; a 12 run second inning would simply give the Dolphins too much to do and the game would be called after four, 21-2 the final.

The second game saw no less of an onslaught, with Woods taking the hill and throwing an impressive performance (5.0 IP, 3 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 1 BB, 5 K). Woods would also combine with Mark Smith at the plate for 9 hits, 9 runs and 9 RBI. The score would be 24-2 after five, an 11 run fifth inning for Santos’ team.

The third game in the series would be slightly more reserved in terms of the scoreline, but it would give the coach a chance to shuffle the lineup and he would be rewarded in doing so. Hitting second, Damien McGivern would have three hits on the day (driving in two), as would Santos himself; that would be more than enough for Mark Smith as he would lead the Belfast defence with a fourteen strikeout outing whilst only allowing two runs and walking one.

Nothing will be assumed this weekend as the B team look to gather steam heading to the final games of the season in Belfast on the 31st.