Herts Baseball Club announced that pitcher, Darrin Ward, has just completed a transfer back to the Herts Falcons. Ward has been wearing the Herts uniform since 2008, but before the start of the 2012 season he made a surprising move to NBL rivals, the Essex Arrows.
His return is a major boost for Herts who find themselves half a game back on the reigning champion Harlow Nationals.
During his 4 years with Herts, Darrin Ward was voted Herts MVP 3 times (2008, 2009 and 2010 with the Herts Eagles), Best Pitcher twice (2009 and 2011), 3-time Batting Champion (2009, 2010, 2011). Ward is a former Great Britain National Team player. His NBL career stretches all the way back to 1992 when he played for the London Warriors. He spent 8 seasons with them (1992-1999) winning the NBL in 1992, 1993 and 1997. His return to Herts means that he is now reunited with his old London Warriors teammate Michael Osborn for the first time since the 1990s. Osborn moved to Herts at the start of the season and he was looking forward to playing with Ward again. He was disappointed when he learned of Darrin Ward’s move to Essex earlier this year, but today’s announcement means that they will be playing side-by-side again.
Darrin Ward’s career batting average in the NBL is an impressive .378, slugging average .602, with 16 home runs and 130 RBIs. As a pitcher his record is 14-17. He has made only 11 errors in 211 NBL innings prior to 2012. (stats courtesy of Project COBB)
Herts Falcons Manager, Lee Manning, was grateful to Essex for their co-operation. “I would like to thank the Essex Arrows in the manner they have handled this transfer” said Manning. The transfer was completed in time for Ward to be eligible for selection for this Sunday’s NBL game at Grovehill Ballpark against the Bracknell Blazers (11:00am) and exhibition game with the GB U19 National Team (4:00pm).