A day of two very different halves for the Northants Centurions as the Gold squad hosted the
Birmingham Bats for a Central conference doubleheader in Division 4. Game One brought
another narrow defeat — the kind that has become a recurring theme in 2026 — but the side
refused to let it define the afternoon, coming back with a stunning one-run victory in Game
Two to split the series and head into the week on a high. Over in Division 5, the Maroon
squad had the weekend off, with their next assignment coming next Sunday away at Essex
Redbacks.

Division 4 — Northants Centurions vs Birmingham Bats
The Birmingham Bats arrived at Northants as one of the division's early frontrunners, and
they brought plenty of energy with them. The Gold squad, building on the form they showed
in their opening doubleheader wins against Leicester 2sox two weeks ago, were looking to
prove they could compete at the top of the Central conference — and by the end of the day,
they had done exactly that.

Game One
NHC 7 – BIB 10 LOSS

Game One was a frustrating one for the Centurions, though the pitching staff deserve credit
for keeping Northants in it for as long as they did. The arms on the mound worked hard
throughout, limiting the damage where they could and giving the offence a chance to answer
back — and at 7 runs on the board, the bats were certainly doing their part. Ultimately it was
a case of the Bats finding their range at the critical moments, pushing their lead to three and
holding on for the final out. Allowing 10 runs in a game will always make for a tough day, but
this was a competitive, scrappy performance from a pitching unit that refused to let it turn
into a blowout. The response in Game Two, though, was emphatic.

Game Two
NHC 22 – BIB 21 WIN
If Game One showed the challenge, Game Two showed what this team is capable of. In one
of the most dramatic games of the season so far, the Centurions put up 22 runs to edge out
the Bats by a single run in a genuine nail-biter. Twenty-two to twenty-one — baseball at its
most relentlessly entertaining. The offence came alive, the runs kept coming, and when the
final out was recorded, it was Northants celebrating on their home diamond. It is the kind of
win that can shift a team's momentum, and the Gold squad will be hoping it does exactly
that. Yulyn Helm (13 RBI on the season) and Ross Barnes (11 RBI) have been doing serious
damage at the plate all year, and the production continued today.

★ MVP — Simon Shaw

Today's MVP award goes to Simon Shaw, and it's hard to argue
with the choice. Simon has been one of the standout performers in Division 4 all season —
his .643 batting average puts him among the very best in the division — and he brought
that quality to bear again today. A deserved recognition for a player who has been
consistently excellent for the Gold squad in 2026.

Division 5 — Northants Maroon
The Maroon squad were not in action this Sunday. They return to the diamond on Sunday,
24 May, travelling to take on the Essex Redbacks in a Division 5 East doubleheader — a
fixture they'll be well motivated for after splitting their previous series with Essex in April.
Alfie Mackenzie-Watson continues to feature among the ERA leaders in Division 5, so
there's plenty to look forward to when the Centurions 2 are back out there.

Standings Snapshot

Division 4 — Central Conference
The Central conference is shaping up to be a competitive affair. Based on today's results
and their earlier wins against Leicester 2sox, the Gold squad have shown they can win
games at this level — splitting today's doubleheader with the Bats keeps them very much in
the mix. Birmingham Bats and Milton Keynes Bucks 2 have both been strong in the early
weeks. The Centurions will need to keep picking up wins to push toward the top of the
conference — and after today's Game Two, there's every reason to believe they can.

Division 5 — East Conference
In Division 5, the Herts Raptors currently lead the East conference with a perfect 2–0 record.
Northants Centurions 2 have work to do in the standings, and a trip to Essex Redbacks next
Sunday is the perfect opportunity to start climbing. With Alfie Mackenzie-Watson holding one
of the better ERAs in the division, the Maroon squad have a genuine weapon on the mound.

There is a lot to take from today. A defeat is a defeat and the Gold squad will want to put
Game One right — but they didn't let the afternoon slip away. Coming back to win Game
Two by a single run, in a match where both sides combined for 43 runs, is the mark of a side
with character. The Maroon squad will be refreshed and ready for their return next week.
Both Centurions teams have more to give in 2026, and there are exciting weeks ahead.

Come on Northants — let's keep building.