Both teams of Taunton Baseball Club returned to action after a break due to the BBF Summer Cup.

On July 7, the Muskets welcomed the unbeatable Cornish Claycutters, while the Pistols went to Bristol to face the Brunels at Somerdale.

Once again it was mixed fortunes for both teams.

Despite their best efforts, the Pistols were defeated by the Brunels, who won 20-11 and 17-8.

While it was much better news for the Muskets, who split their double-header, losing the first game 15-4, but winning the next 16-15 to inflict a first defeat on the Claycutters.

The BBF Summer Cup had players from Taunton Baseball Club teaming with members from the South West and Wales Baseball League (SWWBL) to compete with teams nationwide.

After losing the first game, SWWBL won the following two to reach the finals for the consecutive season.

Yet, they suffered a second straight upset, losing 14-7 to the London Mets in the final match.

Despite the defeat, Russell Chorley from Taunton Baseball Club won the MVP for the first game of the weekend, and the rest contributed to a successful baseball weekend.

Getting back to the league, the Muskets hosted the undefeated league leaders Cornish Claycutters at Taunton Green.

The first game didn't favour the Muskets due to poor fielding, while the Claycutters utilised some strong plays.

Claycutters clinched victory by restricting Muskets to only four runs.

However, the second game, which had a higher score, ended in a suspenseful win for Muskets 16-15.

The crowd was treated to three home runs; Musket Andres Bianco hit one while Claycutters had two from Aiden Seaton and Cruz Choure.

Claycutters led with 11-5 before Muskets retaliated scoring 11 runs over the last two innings.

Fumihito Yasuhara replaced the injured Al Troake on the mound and successfully limited Claycutters' advances, setting up an intense final inning.

The split resulted in Claycutters' first defeat of the season, leaving the Wessex Division closely contested for the remaining regular season.

(Image: Taunton Baseball Club)

In Bristol, the Pistols took on Bristol Brunels.

The first game saw Bristol take a 10-0 upper hand initially while shutting out Pistols in the first two innings.

Pistols came back scoring 10 runs over the next two innings but couldn't hold down Bristol, ending in a 20-11 defeat.

In the second game, Pistols performed better, scoring in every inning.

Unfortunately, their downfall was failure in run prevention, which led to Bristol securing another win 17-8.

The Tricky MVP award was received by Fumihito Yasuhara from Muskets, while Stuart Cook and Steve Coles from Pistols shared the honour.

Yasuhara hit three strikeouts and scored four runs.

Cook and Coles each got two RBI with the latter stealing two bases and scoring two runs against the Brunels.

Next weekend, the Muskets travel to Cornwall to face Claycutters hoping to close the league gap.

The Pistols will host the Weston Jets at Taunton Green.