Grovehill Ballpark has been chosen to host the 2010 National Baseball Championships
The British Baseball Federation has announced that the National Senior Baseball Championships (NBC) event has been awarded to Herts Baseball Club. It will take place on the weekend of 4 and 5 September at Grovehill Ballpark in Hemel Hempstead. Major development of the venue has taken place over the last few years and this year a second baseball diamond was added to the venue. It is now the only baseball venue in the country with two diamonds and permanent outfield wall on both of them.
The NBC is the showpiece event in the British Baseball season to decide the 2010 champions in the four British Baseball Leagues. The NBL and AAA League NBCs will adopt last year’s double-elimination format with four teams battling it out over a total of six games in each League over the two days. The champions in the AA and Single-A Leagues will be determined over a three-week knockout playoff format with the two best teams in each league meeting in their respective Finals on 5 September 2010.
Some of the teams have already booked their place in the NBC, others are still fighting for automatic qualification or entry via the playoffs which will be played on Saturday 21 and Saturday 28 August at different venues around Great Britain.
The Herts Falcons (Left) and the Herts Eagles (right) have a big battle ahead of them but they must reach the NBCs
This news is fantastic for everyone connected with Herts Baseball. The key now is for the Herts teams to reach the Championships. The Herts Falcons are involved in a dramatic battle with Croydon and Mildenhall to clinch a playoff place in the NBL. Only two out of the three teams will make it.
In the AAA League the Herts Eagles have a 4-game winning streak which has taken within touching distance of the league leaders, Oxford. The two teams meet in the final game of the regular season on Sunday, 15 August. Whoever come son top will go to the NBC automatically. But first the Eagles face the London Metros this Sunday at Grivehill Ballpark.
The Hawks and Raptors may be out of the AA and Single-A races, respectively, but players in those teams may still play a part in the postseason if they are called up by the Falcons or Eagles.
Click here to view full details and schedule of the postseason Playoffs and NBCs.