Bucs comeback cut short

Ultimately it was the trusty Belfast weather that had the last word on Wednesday night, stopping the Belfast Buccaneers just as things were getting interesting.

Sporting a brand new battery of pitcher Christopher Barr and Irish fastpitch softball international catcher Marian Neill, the Bucs and Belfast Northstars faced off on an already gloomy Wednesday night at Hydebank and despite an early deficit, the expansion Bucs would circle the frigates and begin their comeback.

With two outs gone in the second, the Northstars (led by Melvin Woods who, by his own standards, was battling control issues) had jumped out to an 8-1 lead. With Sean Shackley taking over for Barr, the Buccaneers scrapped four runs back to take the score to 8-5.

In an effort to halt the comeback, the Stars would add another brace of runs in the fifth; Shackley taking matters into his own hands and driving in Chris Stange made it 10-6. Showing excellent plate discipline, Melvin Woods would see the bases loaded but after striking out Neill and Van Houten, minimal damage was done after another run plated for the Bucs when Billy Thompson was walked.

Unfortunately, with the game starting to heat up, the conditions became too dark too early for play to safely continue and, to put the final nail in the game, the heavens opened just as the final handshakes were being exchanged.

A critical win for the Belfast Northstars, but there was plenty for the Buccaneers to take heart from moving forward…