18/7/21 Opening Day finally arrives for baseball in Telford as the Giants share the spoils with Long Eaton Storm!

The long-awaited return of baseball to Telford may have happened last year with the formation of the Giants, however, it never felt quite right for those involved until now as the Meadow Recreation Ground in Coalbrookdale played host to its first Telford fixture this past Sunday. An enthralling 10-10 result, after extra innings, was a fitting end to an excellent day of British baseball. The game featured lead changes, home runs, doubles, and plenty of action in what proved to be an exciting, albeit very hot, afternoon of baseball.
To honour the special occasion BBC Shropshire’s Mark Elliot threw out the game’s ceremonial first pitch, Mark has kindly provided the club with generous radio exposure over the past year and was a fitting guest. Although courtesy of a centre fielder #89 Will Waters’ run-scoring double the Giants took an early 2-0 lead, the hosts found themselves 9-2 down after just 4 innings. The team battled back to 9-10 by the sixth inning following shortstop #24 Arnas Stasiunas’ two-run home run and two hits in both the fifth and sixth innings from pitcher #17 Harry Pickup and second baseman #7 Jackal Luk. Then in the seventh, with the Giants down to their final out, Stasiunas raced home on an errant pitch to tie the game at 10 apiece.
#41 Charlie Mayhew ensured the Storm would not score in the seventh and eighth innings by pitching two clean innings and striking out three, at which point both teams agreed a tie was a fair result.
The Ironbridge field has been a difficult, tiring and costly exercise for those involved so to see it operational was a great relief for all at the club. It will be an excellent facility for our league side, our women’s team and our development squad for both fixtures and training. The next home fixture is scheduled for the 1st of August and will be against the Birmingham Metalheads, first pitch 12:00, it would be an excellent afternoon for any locals at a loose end!