Statement of Intent
After running the Belfast Sliders so close last week at Strandtown, the Angels travelled to North Down to take on the new kids on the Softball Ulster block, the expansion Bangor Mariners.
Not wishing to fall too far behind in the SU standings at this early stage, Jay Slevin, Jonny Craven et al came out swinging early and often, jumping out to a 10-0 lead after the first inning.
The Mariners had little answer for a relentless Angel offence that included the newest to don the scarlet; Gareth Horne and his tomahawk swing settling in nicely into the heart of the batting order and Amy Simpson's seemingly boundless enthusiasm translating into base hits and runs batted in.
Horne's power was seen in the second with his three run home run to further pull the Angels away to 15-0. Not to be outdone, Craven would add a 2-out, 2-run home run of his own later to make the difference nineteen runs.
In credit to the Mariners, they began to start making contact off the Belfast pitcher but the Halos defence was as locked in as the offence. Having settled into the smaller diamond, the infield simply would not let anything through.
Inspired by the defensive effort, Sean Shackley would send another ball deep into the outfield for a three run home run as Belfast would run out to a 32-0 lead which would see the game called after four innings. The Angels improved to 1-1 on the year and will try to move above .500 next Monday (9.5) against one half of the Belfast Softball Club, the Aces, at Henry Jones' field.
