British and Irish Baseball

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Metropolitan Baseball League
Week Twenty-Seven: Saturday 21 September 1867

With the championship won, the City of London Club are now aiming to overcome the Marylebone Regents record of 21 wins in a season, which they achieved in the inaugural season two years ago. The City Club are now just one short of tying of that mark with three games to play, after coming from behind to beat the Regents. They had trailed 4-1 after allowing three runs in the fourth, but hit four in the eighth to claim their seventh win in succession.

Clapham Common have had a poor second half of the season, but they had something to celebrate today as they defeated Kensington Victoria. Kensington had led 1-0, but the Common scored three runs in the eighth to secure victory.

In the game between the Old Westminsters and Angel Islington, it was all about Westminsters pitcher Caleb Dean. His pitching was almost unhittable, getting through ten innings without allowing a run and only giving up four hits. With the bat in his hand, he produced the tenth inning hit which scored the game's only run.

Scores:
Old Westminsters 1-0 Angel Islington (10 innings)
Clapham Common 3-1 Kensington Victoria
City of London Club 5-4 Marylebone Regents

Standings:
City of London Club (C) 20-7
Angel Islington 14-13
Clapham Common 14-13
Old Westminsters 14-13
Kensington Victoria 12-15
Marylebone Regents 7-20

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Metropolitan Baseball League
Week Twenty-Eight: Saturday 28 September 1867

There was a rare defeat for the City of London Club today as the Old Westminsters moved into second place in the standings on their own by winning for the fourth week in a row. The game had been tied at 2-2 going into the eighth inning, but the Westminsters scored four times to earn an impressive victory over the champions.

Clapham Common suffered a disappointing defeat at the hands of Marylebone Regents, giving up two runs in the first inning and another in the seventh. Common could find nothing in reply and lost it 3-0.

Also failing to score were Angel Islington, who gave up runs in the sixth and seventh as they lost 2-0 to Kensington Victoria. Angel are now tied with Clapham for third place, as the teams try to finish as high as they can in the final standings.

Scores:
Kensington Victoria 2-0 Angel Islington
Marylebone Regents 3-0 Clapham Common
City of London Club 2-6 Old Westminsters

Standings:
City of London Club (C) 20-8
Old Westminsters 15-13
Angel Islington 14-14
Clapham Common 14-14
Kensington Victoria 13-15
Marylebone Regents 8-20

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Metropolitan Baseball League
Week Twenty-Nine: Saturday 5 October 1867

Half-way through the season, it looked as though today's game between Clapham Common and the City of London Club might have been crucial to the championship battle. It didn't work out that way as Clapham have struggled of late, but they did spoil the day a little for the City Club before the champions were presented with the Prince of Wales Cup for the second year in a row. Common scored the first run of the game in the eighth inning and added four more in the ninth to win it comfortably.

Old Westminsters are looking good to finish second as they have now won five games in a row. Today they recovered from losing a 3-1 lead in the seventh inning to score the winning run in the eighth against Kensington Victoria.

The day's other winners were the Marylebone Regents, who gave up two runs in the first inning to Angel Islington but soon turned it around. They tied the game with two runs of their own in the second and two more in the third, eventually winning it 5-2.

Scores:
Clapham Common 5-0 City of London Club
Angel Islington 2-5 Marylebone Regents
Kensington Victoria 3-4 Old Westminsters

Standings:
City of London Club (C) 20-9
Old Westminsters 16-13
Clapham Common 15-14
Angel Islington 14-15
Kensington Victoria 13-16
Marylebone Regents 9-20

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Metropolitan Baseball League
Week Thirty: Saturday 12 October 1867

The third season of the Metropolitan Baseball League came to an end today with a win for the champions City of London. They shut out Angel Islington 3-0 to equal the record set two years ago by the Marylebone Regents of twenty-one wins from their thirty games.

The Old Westminsters secured second place in the standings by defeating Clapham Common, despite trailing 1-0 going into the seventh inning. Two runs turned the game around and the Westminsters added another in the ninth to secure their sixth victory in a row.

The final action of the season came at Kensington, where the game concluded in fading light after fifteen innings. With the score at 1-1 in the fourteenth, the visiting Marylebone Regents scored three runs only for Kensington to reply with three to extend the game further. In the fifteenth, it was Victoria who managed to find the winning run.

Scores:
City of London Club 3-0 Angel Islington
Old Westminsters 3-1 Clapham Common
Marylebone Regents 4-5 Kensington Victoria (15 innings)

Standings:
City of London Club (C) 21-9
Old Westminsters 17-13
Clapham Common 15-15
Angel Islington 14-16
Kensington Victoria 14-16
Marylebone Regents 9-21

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1867 Season Review

For the second season in a row, the City of London Club have fulfilled the early season expectations by claiming the championship of the Metropolitan League. Similarly to last year, the City Club looked to be in a close battle in the standings midway through the season but put together a good winning run when it mattered and saw their competitors fall away.

Last year the City Club's success was built on their strong performances away from their home field, but this year it was at home that they were strongest, winning twelve and losing just three of their fifteen games. Both their pitching and hitting were strong throughout the season and on that basis it will be difficult to imagine anyone taking their crown away in 1868.

Of the other teams, the big improvers this year were the Old Westminsters, who finished second after a strong finish to the season. Clapham Common, challenging for the championship in mid-season, fell away badly and in the end could only finish third. Angel Islington also fell away after a good start, but might have the greater claim to fourth place ahead of Kensington by virtue of winning four of the six meetings between the two.

Kensington and Marylebone struggled for much of the season, with the Regents in particular having a difficult time. They lost thirteen out of their first fourteen games and despite some improvement as the season went on, finished behind the pack in last place with their championship success of two years ago now a distant memory.

League Leaders (Batting):
Batting Average: Fraser Barber (Old Westminsters) .382
Base Hits: Fraser Barber (Old Westminsters) 42
Doubles: Oliver Gander (City of London) 9
Triples: Declan Isted (Marylebone) 3 (tied record)
Home Runs: Bartholomew Stacey (Marylebone)/Wilson Todd (Clapham) 2
Runs Batted In: Trevor Filbee (Angel) 15
Runs Scored: Oliver Gander (City of London)/Thomas Hodson (Old Westminsters) 18 (new record)
Stolen Bases: Christian Le Couteur (Angel)/Jonas Myers (City of London) 11

League Leaders (Pitching):
Earned Run Average: Enoch Ellis (Clapham) 0.50
Wins: Gilbert Attwell (City of London) 16
Losses: Michael Savage (Marylebone) 15
Innings Pitched: Caleb Dean (Old Westminsters) 268
Shutouts: Joseph Nicholls (Angel) 3
Strikeouts: Joseph Nicholls (Angel) 188

League Champions: City of London Club

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1867 Award Winners

The Metropolitan League's award winning players and manager for the 1867 season have now been announced:

Best Player: Jonah Field (City of London)
Best Pitcher: Gilbert Attwell (City of London, 3rd time)
Best Newcomer: Christian Le Couteur (Angel)
Manager of the Year: Cyril Peden (City of London)

Best Hitter by Position:
Pitcher: Lyn Duncalf (Kensington, .286, 2nd time)
Catcher: Jonah Field (City of London, .357, 2nd time)
First Base: Fraser Barber (Old Westminsters, .382)
Second Base: Bailey McGaghran (Marylebone, .295)
Third Base: Oliver Gander (City of London, .260, 3rd time)
Shortstop: Christian Le Couteur (Angel, .279)
Left Field: Trevor Filbee (Angel, .308)
Centre Field: Wilson Todd (Clapham, .293, 2nd time)
Right Field: Thomas Hodson (Old Westminsters, .315)

Best Defender by Position:
Pitcher: Michael Barlow (Clapham)
Catcher: Jonah Field (City of London)
First Base: Max Armstrong (Clapham, 2nd time)
Second Base: Kevin Effard (Old Westminsters)
Third Base: Oliver Gander (City of London)
Shortstop: Christian Le Couteur (Angel)
Left Field: Brad Hobden (Marylebone, 2nd time)
Centre Field: Phil Flower (City of London)
Right Field: Archibald Farleigh (City of London, 3rd time)

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New Teams Joining the League in 1868

At the January meeting of the Metropolitan League, the two teams elected to the join the league for the upcoming season were officially welcomed into membership.

GREENWICH MERIDIAN
Ballpark: Greenwich Park; Jersey Colour: Sea Green
The club plays its games at the southern end of Greenwich Park and is named after the prime meridian for Britain which passes through Greenwich. Inspired by this, club members laid out the home field so that the home plate was right on the meridian line. Greenwich's maritime associations inspired the club colour of sea green.

ROYAL ARTILLERY BARRACKS
Ballpark: Barrack Field; Jersey Colour: Gold
Formed by the soldiers of the Royal Regiment of Artillery, the club plays its games within the grounds of the barracks. Wearing the Royal Artillery cap badge on its jerseys, the club has previously selected only players from the artillery but as members of the Metropolitan League, it may be that this policy will now be relaxed.

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The first decision which was required of the new clubs, as well as the existing six members, was to decide on the format of the league's schedule for the 1868 season. With eight clubs, continuing to play each other six times would require forty-two games in a season. This was widely seen as too many and rejected without a vote, on the grounds that it would require either a much longer season or games to be played on days other than Saturdays.

Playing four rounds of games would have left only twenty-eight games in the schedule, a reduction of two on the previous format. A proposal to play this format was defeated by six votes to two, as many clubs did not want to make the season shorter.

An amended plan was then suggested whereby the thirty game schedule be maintained by playing four rounds in this way, but adding two more games between the clubs who are closer together geographically. This was vociferously opposed by Angel Islington, who under the plan would likely be required to play more games than any other side against the champion City of London Club.

The idea of keeping the thirty game schedule was popular with the teams however and when the idea was put to a vote, it was accepted by the narrow margin of five to three.

The schedule will therefore see every team play each of the other seven four times, twice at each team's home park. There will then be one more home game for each team against its paired rival to complete the thirty weeks. The clubs are paired together as follows:

Angel Islington/City of London Club
Clapham Common/Old Westminsters
Greenwich Meridian/Royal Artillery Barracks
Kensington Victoria/Marylebone Regents

During the debate, the proposed pairings were disputed by the Old Westminsters on the grounds that their home field is geographically closest to that of Kensington. It was however pointed out that it is impossible for all eight teams to be paired with their closest neighbour and that the proposed arrangement was fairest to every club.

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LOGOS AND JERSEYS OF THE NEW LEAGUE TEAMS
Left to right: Greenwich Meridian, Royal Artillery Barracks

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1868 Season Preview

Another season of Metropolitan League baseball is about to get underway and observers are not expecting any change at the top of the standings. For two years in succession now, the City of London Club have pulled clear of the rest in the second half of the season to take the title and they are widely backed to make it three in a row this time.

The addition of new clubs to the ranks for the first time has added a new dimension to this campaign and the newcomers are expected to perform respectably in their first season in the league. Indeed, despite the widespread expectation of another title for the City Club the remaining teams are all thought to be of a reasonably similar standard.

Of the two newcomers, the Greenwich Meridian club are thought to be the stronger, possibly even to the extent of challenging for second position in the standings along with Kensington and Clapham. Royal Artillery Barracks are seen as more likely to be near to the foot of the league, alongside last season's last placed club Marylebone.

The second placed team in 1867, the Old Westminsters, are not thought likely to be able to repeat that feat. They may be in the lower half of the league this year, along with Angel Islington who may struggle to sustain the improvement they showed last time.

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Complete Team Logos and Jerseys for the 1868 Season

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Metropolitan Baseball League
Week One: Saturday 21 March 1868

The question many were asking going into the first round of games this year was how the two new teams joining the league would fare. The answer today was very different for the two clubs. Greenwich Meridian's first game in the Metropolitan League began with a run in the first inning, before they shut down the visiting Marylebone Regents to earn a victory at the first attempt.

For the Royal Artillery Barracks however, the first game went badly wrong from the start. Taking on Kensington Victoria, they allowed five runs in the first inning and continued to struggle, eventually losing by a league record margin of 10-0. Kensington's second baseman Denis Greenhalgh had a very good day, becoming the first player in the league to record five hits in a game which did not require extra innings.

Elsewhere on the opening day, the City of London Club began the defence of their title with a 4-2 win over the Old Westminsters, runs in the sixth and seventh innings putting them in command. A two-run seventh inning was key to Angel Islington's win by the same score at Clapham.

Scores:
Old Westminsters 2-4 City of London Club
Angel Islington 4-2 Clapham Common
Marylebone Regents 0-1 Greenwich Meridian
Kensington Victoria 10-0 Royal Artillery Barracks

Standings:
Angel Islington 1-0
City of London Club 1-0
Greenwich Meridian 1-0
Kensington Victoria 1-0
Clapham Common 0-1
Marylebone Regents 0-1
Old Westminsters 0-1
Royal Artillery Barracks 0-1

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Metropolitan Baseball League
Week Two: Saturday 28 March 1868

The tough start for the Royal Artillery continued today as they went down to an expected defeat against champions City of London, although it was an improvement on last week as they only allowed four runs and in the ninth inning, scored their first in the Metropolitan League.

The City Club have won both of their games but so have Angel and Kensington. Two runs in the first inning were enough to see Angel past the Marylebone Regents, while Kensington scored two in the sixth and another in the eighth to move ahead of Clapham Common for a 6-3 win.

Greenwich Meridian found it much tougher going after their win last week, as they came up short against the Old Westminsters. Pitcher Caleb Dean went the full nine innings for the Westminsters, shutting out Greenwich and only allowing seven hits. Two runs in the second and two more in the sixth made it a comfortable win.

Scores:
Marylebone Regents 1-2 Angel Islington
Royal Artillery Barracks 1-4 City of London Club
Clapham Common 3-6 Kensington Victoria
Greenwich Meridian 0-4 Old Westminsters

Standings:
Angel Islington 2-0
City of London Club 2-0
Kensington Victoria 2-0
Greenwich Meridian 1-1
Old Westminsters 1-1
Clapham Common 0-2
Marylebone Regents 0-2
Royal Artillery Barracks 0-2

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Metropolitan Baseball League
Week Three: Saturday 4 April 1868

We may be only three weeks into the new season, but every team has now suffered defeat at least once after today's action. Defending champions City of London went down to a 2-1 loss to newcomers Greenwich Meridian, who have now won both of their home games. After both teams had scored in the seventh, Greenwich won it in eleven innings.

Angel Islington's first defeat came about due to a second complete game shut-out performance in successive weeks from the Old Westminsters' Caleb Dean. Angel could only manage five hits in the game while the Westminsters put up six runs for a big win.

Kensington also lost for the first time after allowing three second inning runs at the Marylebone Regents. Although they scored two of their own in the eighth, it was not enough. The Royal Artillery Barracks are now the only team without a win as they fell 2-0 to Clapham Common and have now managed only one run in three games.

Scores:
Old Westminsters 6-0 Angel Islington
City of London Club 1-2 Greenwich Meridian (11 innings)
Kensington Victoria 2-3 Marylebone Regents
Clapham Common 2-0 Royal Artillery Barracks

Standings:
Angel Islington 2-1
City of London Club 2-1
Greenwich Meridian 2-1
Kensington Victoria 2-1
Old Westminsters 2-1
Clapham Common 1-2
Marylebone Regents 1-2
Royal Artillery Barracks 0-3

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Metropolitan Baseball League
Week Four: Saturday 11 April 1868

The City of London Club and the Old Westminsters both stayed at the top of the standings after winning their games comfortably today. The City Club scored regularly throughout the game in overcoming Angel 7-0, while a three-run fifth inning was crucial to the Westminsters victory at Kensington. Westminsters pitcher Caleb Dean continues to be untouchable and has now thrown three complete game shut-outs in a row. Today was the best of the three, as Kensington managed just two hits.

Greenwich Meridian are also tied at the top after winning the first meeting of the Metropolitan League's two new teams. They trailed 2-0 early on against the Royal Artillery Barracks, but scored three runs in the fourth and three more in the fifth to take control before holding off a late comeback.

The day's other winners were the Marylebone Regents, who trailed 3-2 after one inning against Clapham Common but scored two in the fifth to take the lead. Two more in the seventh made the win secure.

Scores:
Angel Islington 0-7 City of London Club
Marylebone Regents 6-3 Clapham Common
Royal Artillery Barracks 5-6 Greenwich Meridian
Old Westminsters 5-0 Kensington Victoria

Standings:
City of London Club 3-1
Greenwich Meridian 3-1
Old Westminsters 3-1
Angel Islington 2-2
Kensington Victoria 2-2
Marylebone Regents 2-2
Clapham Common 1-3
Royal Artillery Barracks 0-4

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Metropolitan Baseball League
Week Five: Saturday 18 April 1868

It has been a week of poor weather in London and although the majority of fields were fit for play, there was too much rain for the Old Westminsters home park at Vincent Square and their game against Clapham Common was cancelled today. Fortunately, the two teams were planned to meet there again in only three weeks' time under the new schedule format and so all being well they will play two games to catch up.

Despite one game being cancelled there was still plenty of baseball for spectators to enjoy as the other three games all went to extra innings. The City of London Club suffered a surprise loss at Kensington Victoria, despite leading 4-0 after six innings. Victoria scored three in the seventh and one in the eighth to tie it before winning in eleven innings.

There was also a late comeback from Greenwich in their game at Angel Islington, scoring in the eighth and ninth innings to tie it 2-2, only for Angel to take it in thirteen. The Royal Artillery Barracks also tied their game against Marylebone in the ninth, but their wait for a first win of the season continues as after a long battle, the Regents scored four runs in fading light to take the win in eighteen innings.

Scores:
Greenwich Meridian 2-3 Angel Islington (13 innings)
City of London Club 4-5 Kensington Victoria (11 innings)
Clapham Common v Old Westminsters postponed
Marylebone Regents 6-2 Royal Artillery Barracks (18 innings)

Standings:
Old Westminsters 3-1
Angel Islington 3-2
City of London Club 3-2
Greenwich Meridian 3-2
Kensington Victoria 3-2
Marylebone Regents 3-2
Clapham Common 1-3
Royal Artillery Barracks 0-5

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Metropolitan Baseball League
Week Six: Saturday 25 April 1868

The four teams who won their games in week six are all tied at the top of the league standings after another entertaining day of baseball in the Metropolitan League. The defending champion City of London Club were big winners over Clapham Common, scoring three times in both the sixth and seventh innings on the way to a 9-1 success.

Marylebone, who finished last a year ago, are fairing much better this time and they overcame the Old Westminsters 3-0 today, with a two-run sixth inning the key to the win. Newcomers Greenwich Meridian also won again, as they have in every game so far on their home field, with a single run in the fifth inning enough to beat Kensington.

The Royal Artillery Barracks still cannot win a game though, even though they held Angel Islington scoreless for nine innings today. The Artillery could not score either and Angel found the winning run in the tenth.

Scores:
Royal Artillery Barracks 0-1 Angel Islington (10 innings)
City of London Club 9-1 Clapham Common
Kensington Victoria 0-1 Greenwich Meridian
Old Westminsters 0-3 Marylebone Regents

Standings:
Angel Islington 4-2
City of London Club 4-2
Greenwich Meridian 4-2
Marylebone Regents 4-2
Old Westminsters 3-2
Kensington Victoria 3-3
Clapham Common 1-4
Royal Artillery Barracks 0-6

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Metropolitan Baseball League
Week Seven: Saturday 2 May 1868

With the exception of the postponed game between Clapham Common and the Old Westminsters, every team has now faced each other once this season and it is Angel Islington and City of London who lead the way.

Angel overcame Kensington Victoria today, taking the lead with two runs in the fifth inning and then adding three in the ninth to make it an easy win. The City Club twice let a one-run lead get away against Marylebone, but won it with a single run in the ninth.

Greenwich might have won all their home games but they are yet to win away from their own park as a two-run second inning set up a 3-1 victory for Clapham Common. Finally today, the Royal Artillery Barracks at last enjoyed a victory in the Metropolitan League. They saw a 1-0 lead disappear in the eighth inning against the Old Westminsters but recovered to win it in the tenth.

Scores:
Marylebone Regents 2-3 City of London Club
Greenwich Meridian 1-3 Clapham Common
Angel Islington 6-1 Kensington Victoria
Old Westminsters 1-2 Royal Artillery Barracks (10 innings)

Standings:
Angel Islington 5-2
City of London Club 5-2
Greenwich Meridian 4-3
Marylebone Regents 4-3
Old Westminsters 3-3
Kensington Victoria 3-4
Clapham Common 2-4
Royal Artillery Barracks 1-6

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Metropolitan Baseball League
Week Eight: Saturday 9 May 1868

With Clapham Common and the Old Westminsters playing two to make up their postponed game, there were five Metropolitan League games today and impressive pitching performances were the order of the day.

City of London Club now lead the way on their own at the top of the standings after runs in the final three innings beat Angel Islington 3-0, but all the talk was of City Club's pitcher Gilbert Attwell falling just short of an amazing achievement. Attwell retired the first twenty-six batters that he faced, only for a base hit from Angel substitute hitter Gareth Applin to deny him a flawless performance.

The Old Westminsters' pitcher Caleb Dean was almost as strong, as he recorded all but one out to lead his team to two victories over Clapham. The Westminsters won the first game 4-1 and the second 1-0, with Dean striking out a league record 13 Clapham hitters in game two.

The Royal Artillery Barracks have now won two in a row after beating Greenwich 3-0, taking the lead in the second inning and shutting down their fellow league newcomers. Artillery pitcher Harry Erskine got through the whole game allowing only six hits.

The day's other game was a marathon between Kensington and Marylebone, the Regents trailing 2-0 only to tie it with runs in the fifth and seventh innings. With darkness falling, the Regents then scored again in the eighteenth to secure the win.

Scores:
City of London Club 3-0 Angel Islington
Royal Artillery Barracks 3-0 Greenwich Meridian
Kensington Victoria 2-3 Marylebone Regents (18 innings)
Clapham Common 1-4 Old Westminsters (Game One)
Clapham Common 0-1 Old Westminsters (Game Two)

Standings:
City of London Club 6-2
Angel Islington 5-3
Marylebone Regents 5-3
Old Westminsters 5-3
Greenwich Meridian 4-4
Kensington Victoria 3-5
Clapham Common 2-6
Royal Artillery Barracks 2-6

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Metropolitan Baseball League
Week Nine: Saturday 16 May 1868

The Old Westminsters moved into a tie with the City of London Club by defeating the reigning league champions today. The Westminsters took the lead in the first inning and held on to it throughout, a two run eighth inning making the game safe.

Also in the tie at the top of the standings are Angel Islington after a fascinating battle against Clapham Common. Both sides had held the lead at different times before rain caused a delay in the eighth inning with the score 4-4, only for Angel to score two on the resumption to claim the win.

Elsewhere, Greenwich secured their first win away from their home field with runs in the second and the ninth against the Marylebone Regents. Finally, Royal Artillery's short winning run came to an end as they gave up two runs in the first inning at Kensington and could not recover, going on to lose it 6-1.

Scores:
Clapham Common 4-6 Angel Islington
Royal Artillery Barracks 1-6 Kensington Victoria
Greenwich Meridian 2-0 Marylebone Regents
City of London Club 1-4 Old Westminsters

Standings:
Angel Islington 6-3
City of London Club 6-3
Old Westminsters 6-3
Greenwich Meridian 5-4
Marylebone Regents 5-4
Kensington Victoria 4-5
Clapham Common 2-7
Royal Artillery Barracks 2-7

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Metropolitan Baseball League
Week Ten: Saturday 23 May 1868

Today marked the one hundredth round of games in the history of the Metropolitan League, although sadly the rain intervened and forced the postponement of the game between Angel Islington and the Marylebone Regents. The teams will make it up by playing two in early September.

In the games which beat the weather, the City of London Club moved clear on their own at the top of the standings again by outlasting the Royal Artillery in a long game. The City Club had led 3-2 going to the ninth inning, but the Artillery tied it and battled on until the fifteenth when the City Club took the win.

Greenwich Meridian's excellent start to their first season in the league continued against the Old Westminsters. Meridian trailed 2-0 after two innings, but tied it in the third and scored two more in the fourth to get the victory.

The rain also played a part at Clapham Common where Kensington led 3-0 in the fifth inning only for Common to score three to tie it up. Victoria took the lead back in the eighth but had to endure a delay for rain in the ninth before they could secure the win. Common have now lost four in a row.

Scores:
Kensington Victoria 4-3 Clapham Common
Old Westminsters 2-4 Greenwich Meridian
Angel Islington v Marylebone Regents postponed
City of London Club 4-3 Royal Artillery Barracks (15 innings)

Standings:
City of London Club 7-3
Angel Islington 6-3
Greenwich Meridian 6-4
Old Westminsters 6-4
Marylebone Regents 5-4
Kensington Victoria 5-5
Clapham Common 2-8
Royal Artillery Barracks 2-8

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Metropolitan Baseball League
Week Eleven: Saturday 30 May 1868

The City of London Club strengthened their position at the top of the standings today by battling through a tough game with Greenwich Meridian, scoring the only two runs in the seventh inning. Their closest chasers are now the Old Westminsters, one game worse off after defeating Angel Islington today. The Westminsters jumped out to a first inning lead and then added to it in the seventh and eighth for the win. Pitcher Caleb Dean, who has more complete game shut-outs than any other player, threw another as he allowed Angel only five hits and no runs.

Elsewhere, three runs in the first were just enough for Kensington Victoria to overcome Marylebone, Victoria holding on after the Regents scored two in the eighth to cut the deficit. In the game between the two sides tied for last place this morning, a three-run third inning was decisive for Clapham Common as they overcame the Royal Artillery Barracks 4-2.

Scores:
Greenwich Meridian 0-2 City of London Club
Royal Artillery Barracks 2-4 Clapham Common
Marylebone Regents 2-3 Kensington Victoria
Angel Islington 0-3 Old Westminsters

Standings:
City of London Club 8-3
Old Westminsters 7-4
Angel Islington 6-4
Greenwich Meridian 6-5
Kensington Victoria 6-5
Marylebone Regents 5-5
Clapham Common 3-8
Royal Artillery Barracks 2-9