Stockton Grizzlies - Long Eaton Storm
Grizzlies Away Run Continues for Game 6!
Stockton Grizzlies- 5 Long Eaton Storm- 15
Match report brought to you by Rugby Taekwondo Academy.
On Sunday 8th of June the Grizzlies travelled to Long Eaton Storm for the sixth game in the West Midlands Baseball League.
The Grizzlies had a challenging start at the plate, going three up, three down in the first inning, indicating a slow offensive opening.
However, the team quickly regrouped and responded with a strong defensive showing. Texas native Ryan Mushinski made an impactful debut on the mound, leading the Grizzlies' defense. His solid pitching helped keep Long Eaton off the scoreboard.
The inning concluded on a high note with a fly ball catch by left fielder Fin Jackson, closing out the inning and maintaining a scoreless tie.
The Grizzlies once again faced a formidable defensive effort from Long Eaton. Despite the challenge, Humphrey Willshire showcased excellent discipline at the plate, managing to get on base with a patient at-bat. However, the Grizzlies continued to struggle offensively and were unable to bring him home, as their bats had yet to find rhythm.
Defensively, the Grizzlies continued to impress with another solid inning in the field. Pitcher Ryan Mushinski delivered a strong performance, surrendering only one hit and keeping Long Eaton scoreless.
After two innings, both teams remained locked in a tight contest with no runs yet on the scoreboard.
The Grizzlies continued to struggle offensively in the third inning, with their bats still yet to find momentum. Luke Johnson showed good awareness at the plate, drawing a walk to get on base. Unfortunately, the team was unable to capitalize, and the inning ended without a run on the board.
On the defensive side, Long Eaton began to demonstrate increased discipline at the plate, working their way through the lineup with patience. The Storm earned four walks in the inning, which proved costly for the Grizzlies. Capitalizing on these opportunities, Long Eaton managed to bring in six runs.
Despite the tough inning, pitcher Ryan Mushinski recorded his first strikeout of the game. Notable defensive efforts included a high flyball catch by catcher Luke Johnson and a strong play in right field by Rob Cummings, who secured the final out.
The Grizzlies began to show signs of life at the plate in the fourth inning. Their offense started to find some rhythm, with Ed Bird reaching base thanks to a defensive error by Storm. Humphrey Wilshire followed up with the first official hit of the day, advancing to first base. Although Ed Bird was forced out at second, Wilshire’s smart base running paid off—he eventually stole home, putting the Grizzlies on the board with their first run.
Momentum continued briefly, with Albie Waterton drawing a walk and Harrison Lowe reaching base on another Storm error. Despite the promising sequence, the inning closed with just one run added for the Grizzlies.
On the defensive side, Storm capitalized on a tiring pitcher, once again batting through their lineup. They extended their lead with a series of well-timed hits and walks. However, Ryan Mushinski showed resilience, teaming up with shortstop Harrison Lowe to tag out a runner for the first out of the inning. He followed this up with another strikeout—an impressive showing in his first appearance on a UK mound. The inning came to a close with a solid pop up catch at first base by Ed Bird.
End of Inning 4:Grizzlies – 1 | Storm – 10
The Grizzlies came out with renewed energy in the fifth inning. Rob Cumming reached base on a fielding error by Storm, setting the tone for a stronger offensive effort. Leadoff hitter Liam Griggs followed with a clean single, putting runners in scoring position. Ed Bird then delivered a clutch 2-RBI single, driving in both Cumming and Griggs and adding two much-needed runs to the scoreboard. It was a well-executed rally against a consistently strong Storm defense.
Defensively, the Grizzlies also showed improvement. Catcher Luke Johnson kicked off the bottom of the inning with a spectacular catch up the third base line, setting a confident tone in the field. A change on the mound brought Lu Choy in for Ryan Mushinski. Lu showed solid composure in his outing, working to minimize the Storm’s offensive push.
Despite the Grizzlies’ defensive efforts, Storm continued to apply pressure at the plate and managed to bring in three additional runs. The inning was capped with a classic defensive play—second baseman Humphrey Wilshire fielded a grounder cleanly and fired to first baseman Liam Griggs for the final out.
End of Inning 5:Grizzlies – 3 | Storm – 13
The Grizzlies continued to push for runs in the top of the sixth. Harrison Lowe led off the inning with a walk to first base, showing patience at the plate. He was then brought home by Fin Jackson, who executed a sacrifice groundout to drive in the run—adding the Grizzlies' fourth score of the game. Despite the positive start, the inning was quickly closed out, with Luke Johnson and Rob Cumming being retired in succession.
In the bottom half, the Grizzlies made another strategic pitching change, handing the ball to Northumberland native Humphrey Wilshire for his debut on the mound. It was a moment to remember.
The first out came from a well-read pop-up at second base, confidently caught by Liam Griggs. Although Storm managed to notch their first hit off Wilshire shortly after, the Grizzlies defense stepped up. On a sharp play, Wilshire fielded a grounder and fired home, where catcher Luke Johnson applied a textbook tag to deny a run. The inning was capped off without any runs conceded, marking a stellar first appearance on the mound for Wilshire.
End of Inning 6:Grizzlies – 4 | Storm – 13
With time running out, the Grizzlies knew they needed to add runs to keep hopes alive. They managed to push one more run across the plate in the top of the inning. Lu Choy reached first on a well-earned walk and was driven home by a sharp RBI single from Albie Waterton. The Grizzlies showed continued patience at the plate, with Humphrey Wilshire also drawing a walk, but the inning came to a close with Harrison Lowe grounding out—leaving runners stranded and the Grizzlies trailing.
Heading into the bottom of the inning, the Grizzlies needed a quick defensive stand. However, the Storm were relentless. Their first two batters reached base, and the third delivered a ground rule double that brought in additional runs. With the score widening and time expiring, the umpire officially called the game.
Final Score: Grizzlies – 5 | Storm – 15
Despite the loss, the Grizzlies showed resilience and flashes of promise both at the plate and on the mound.
It was a hard-fought game for the Grizzlies, who showed determination and resilience throughout the matchup. While the result didn’t go their way, there were plenty of positives to take from the performance—especially for players stepping into new roles and gaining valuable experience on the field.
A big thank you to Long Eaton Storm for hosting and providing a great day of baseball.
The team now heads into a well-earned bye week, taking time to rest and enjoy Father’s Day with family and friends. The Grizzlies will return to action on Sunday 22nd of June for their second-to-last away game of the season, facing off against the Wolverhampton Wolves.
