Category: Herts Spring League

by AspiDimitrov

RECORD-BREAKING YEAR FOR THE HERTS SPRING LEAGUE

Article by Rob Jones

The biggest pre-season baseball tournament in Britain is back, and this year it is even bigger and better than ever. The Herts Spring league will see a record 17 teams travel from as far afield as Leicester and Southampton to hone their skills and compete for the title. Organised by the Herts Baseball Club, it’s Britain’s very own version of the Grapefruit and Cactus Leagues currently under way in the US, and it signals that the season is just around the corner.

Herts Baseball Club President Aspi Dimitrov was delighted by the surge in interest: “Every year we have had more teams wanting to play in the HSL. It’s fantastic to have another big jump in the numbers, and I think it’s going to be a great competition.“ He added: “We are also pleased to confirm that BarrysTickets.com have continued their association with Herts Baseball Club and have just been confirmed as the Official Sponsor of the 2010 Herts Spring League. The financial contribution which they are making will be used to improve and maintain facilities at Herts Baseball Club so that all teams coming to play at Herts can benefit.”

Last year’s winners Bracknell will be returning to defend their crown, led by their star slugger Ryan Trask. In 2009, their victory in the HSL was a springboard to taking the National League title, and top teams this year will be hoping to emulate that feat. Bracknell’s opening HSL game is a mouth-watering clash with the Richmond Flames in a repeat of the 2009 National Baseball Championship Final. Ryan Bird’s Richmond Flames will be battling them hard and the host team, the Herts Falcons, will count on flame-throwing Dan Kerry (pictured) to keep the offenses in check. The big guns will be joined by teams from all levels of the British game, including the current AA Champions, the Mildenhall Bulldogs, and the reigning masters of the British Single-A League, the Leicester Blue Sox.

The action will be spread across three weekends – starting on Saturday, 27 March and ending on Sunday, 11 April – and at two excellent venues, Grovehill ballpark in Hemel Hempstead, and Ham Ground in Richmond. The clubs will be split into two groups, HSL Majors and HSL Minors, based on the team rankings going in to the new season – NBL and AAA teams will be joined by the expansion team the Essex Redbacks in the Majors; the AA and A teams will make up the Minors. The winners of two mini-leagues will then go head to head for the Championships.

The Herts Spring League adds a competitive edge to Spring training. It’s the time for managers to work out their winning formula going into the BBF league season. It is an opportunity to evaluate existing and newly recruited players – which players will earn a spot in the pitching rotation and who will be batting where in the batting order? Who will make the first team and who will have to work their way up with the minor league teams? Not forgetting, it’s a chance to size up your rivals for the year ahead. It’s the first big challenge and the first big excitement of the baseball year. Don’t miss it.

 

Visit the official HSL website for more details.

by AspiDimitrov

BBF ANNOUNCES DEAL WITH THE #1 BASEBALL BRAND IN THE WORLD

The following article was first published on www.britishbaseball.org

LONDON (11 February 2010) – The British Baseball Federation (BBF) has signed a contract which confirms Rawlings as the official ball of British Baseball. Six major baseball suppliers were invited to take part in the bidding process. All of them submitted very competitive offers and Rawlings were confirmed as the winner. The contract will run until December 2010.

Rawlings is the number one baseball brand in the world and has been setting the trend in baseball technology since its establishment in 1887. It is because of Rawlings’ dedication to baseball that the “Annual Rawlings Gold Glove Award” bears the name of Rawlings. The Rawlings Gold Glove Award has been presented to players for fielding excellence since 1957. Rawlings sponsors more than half of the current MLB Players. Among them are the world’s biggest baseball stars who are also some of the best paid athletes on the planet. This includes players like Alex Rodriguez, Albert Pujols (pictured), Derek Jeter, Jose Reyes, Chase Utley and many others.

The Rawlings ROLB model will be designated as the official ball of the National Baseball League (NBL). It features the revolutionary Extra Innings Technology™ (EIT). The patented polymer layer repels moisture, both liquid and vapour, which improves performance and makes it longer lasting compared to traditional baseball technology.

The ROLB1 model will be the official ball of British Baseball’s Minor Leagues (Triple-A, Double-AA and Single-A Leagues) and the Under-16 League. The BBF will also recommend the ROLB1 ball for its Under-13 Competitions.

“It is a tremendous boost for British Baseball to be starting this partnership with the world’s number one baseball brand. The contract represents great value for our member clubs and we look forward to working closely with Rawlings to ensure that they too benefit from this partnership,” said a BBF spokesperson. This news comes just weeks after the BBF announced impressive growth in the number of teams joining the British Baseball leagues which was followed by the news that the National Baseball League will be expanding in 2010.

“Rawlings is looking forward to working with the British Baseball Federation and the Baseball and Softball Shop to bring the latest baseball products, innovations, and technologies to the UK,” said Ralph Robert, Rawlings Director of International Sales. “The BBF is continually working to expand their organization and remain dedicated to promoting Rawlings as the leading baseball supplier in the world.”

The official ball will be supplied to British Baseball clubs by Rawlings’ distributor for the United Kingdom, The Baseball and Softball Shop Ltd. They are one of the largest suppliers of baseball and softball equipment in the UK. Apart from supplying the Rawlings balls for official BBF competitions, British baseball clubs and players can also count on the widest range of Rawlings products including fielding and batting gloves, bats, apparel and footwear, field equipment and more. The Baseball and Softball Shop will be able to offer absolutely any Rawlings product to its customers around the UK. This contract confirms them as BBF’s preferred baseball equipment supplier. Information on how to buy Rawlings products can be found on www.baseballandsoftball.co.uk

by AspiDimitrov

BASEBALL TEAMS GEAR UP FOR HERTS SPRING LEAGUE

Fans of Major League Baseball suffer over the long winter season but with Spring just around the corner everyone is getting an uplifting feeling that the start of the Grapefruit and Cactus Leagues will signal the return of baseball. British Baseball is no different and over the last three years teams in Southern England have had their very own Grapefruit League to look forward to.

Organised by Herts Baseball Club, the Herts Spring League (HSL) adds a competitive edge to Spring training. The HSL is the time for managers to work out their winning formula going into the BBF league season. It is an opportunity to evaluate existing and newly recruited players. Which players will earn a spot in the pitching rotation and who will be batting where in the batting order? Who will make the first team and who will have to work their way up with the minor league teams? Not forgetting scouting your opponents. These are just some of the questions which will have to be answered during the upcoming HSL.

This is the third year of the competition and it is expected to be the best yet. In the first year of the HSL in 2008 ten teams took part. In 2009 due to overwhelming demand, the league had to expand. 13 teams played 21 games over three weekends at three different venues – Grovehill Ballpark in Herts, Ham Ground in Richmond and the £100,000 purpose-built baseball facility in Harlow. In fact demand was so high that two other teams had to be turned away as there simply were not enough fields to stage all the games.

The 2010 HSL will be played over three weekends commencing on Saturday, 27 March and ending on Sunday, 11 April. Teams will be placed in two divisions, HSL Majors and HSL Minors, based on the teams’ ranking going into the new season. HSL Majors is expected to include BBF teams from the National and AAA Leagues, while HSL Minors is expected to include BBF teams from AA and Single-A.

Last year the HSL Champions were the Bracknell Blazers and they went on to become the 2009 British National Baseball League Champions, so the more superstitious teams in the league will have an extra incentive to win the HSL this time around.

 

DEADLINE FOR ENTRIES TO THE HSL: Monday 15 February 2010.

 

Teams are currently submitting their entries for this year’s Herts Spring League. For more details on how to enter and a copy of the 2010 HSL Pack contact Herts Baseball Club.

by AspiDimitrov

THE SNOW IS GONE. HERTS BASEBALL PLAYERS REPORT FOR SPRING TRAINING

This Sunday, the Herts adult teams reported for training for the first time in 2010.  Over the next nine weeks the players will be going through the process of regaining their physical fitness, restoring their arm strength and conditioning their bodies.  Every imaginable aspect of baseball will be covered to get the players ready for fielding, hitting, pitching, base-running and performing at their optimum level in their respective positions. 

 

After this, the teams will play their first games of the year in the Herts Spring League (HSL), which is the British equivalent of the Grapefruit and Cactus Leagues in America.  The HSL is played over three weekends starting on 27 March and ending on 11 April.  This is the last chance for the British Baseball teams to fine-tune their game plans before the 2010 British Baseball League season commences.

 

Spring Training always brings the excitement of meeting the new players who will be wearing the Herts jersey in the coming season and it was pleasing to see that around twenty five percent of the players in this first training session of the new season were newly recruited members, so even at this early stage it seems as though Herts will have strength in depth going into the 2010 season. 

 

New players are able to join Herts Baseball Club at any time.  The Club welcomes new players regardless of their baseball abilities and experience – from complete beginners to experienced ball players.  Male and female players aged 14 or above are eligible to play in the British Adult Baseball League, while boys and girls aged between 5 and 16 have the opportunity to join the Herts youth programme and play as part of the exciting Herts Baseball Little League.  For more details contact Herts Baseball Club.

 

This Sunday’s session was held at the John F Kennedy School in Hemel Hempstead and, as soon as the weather becomes suitable, the players will be returning to Grovehill Ballpark, which has undergone significant developments since the end of the 2009 season, including the resurfacing of the second diamond and the installation of the backstop (pictured above).  These projects were made possible thanks to the support of Dacorum Borough Council, the Dacorum Sports Network, BaseballSoftballUK (BSUK), as well as other supporters of the club, including its many youth and adult members.

 

Click here for more images from Grovehill Ballpark.

 

    

by AspiDimitrov

HOPE SPRINGS, HERTFORDSHIRE

from Newswire special correspondent, Rob Jones

“Spring Training”. It always has to go in those inverted commas — “Spring Training” — because the disparity between the sun-kissed Major League experience and the often rain-soaked British version is stark. An American friend of mine always goes to watch pre-season games in Florida and often sends me smug, if well-meaning, text messages from the stands. I send him back little black clouds of jealousy. But in many ways spring training is the same on both sides of the Atlantic.

Ball-players emerge from months of hibernation to revive aching limbs and slowing reflexes, ready for another summer on the diamond. It's exciting, but also frustrating as you try to pick up where you left off. Baseball is a game which really repays your time – the more you play, the better you get and, to be honest, you can only ever be so good when you’re a casual like me. Last season, I was lucky enough to win the Raptors batting title – and so far this year my hitting has been going pretty well. Chalk one up in the “plus” column.

But in the field, I am trying to convert from an outfielder to a shortstop, and realising that things happen much quicker on the infield dirt! I always try to have realistic expectations, and so I am content with steady and unspectacular progress. But you still want the spectacular! It is so galling when a player is safe at first by just a step, or when you make a good stop then get the ball trapped somewhere in your glove. And in the “minus” column I’ve already had one bungled rundown, and one truly absurd fumble of a simple pop-up. But maybe that’s what “Spring Training” (remember those commas) is for.

For a second year, we have been taking part in a spring league, the HSL, and clubs from all over the region have taken part. The games have a spirit all of their own. There is banter between the two teams, and a tolerance of unusual behaviour – on Sunday, an opposing player shouted out “’Have it!” as he connected with a line drive to centre field, and nobody did anything but laugh. But in the same game a player who had just been called out on the base paths exclaimed “Bo****ks!” and nearly squared up to the umpire. Yes, it’s an exhibition game, but why play if you don’t want to win?

The spring league actually saw some sunshine this year, and some good baseball. The team known as Herts 3 for this tournament even won its division. I think the club is very optimistic entering another big year for us. The Raptors have a big intake of rookies, but they have showed great promise in the HSL games and if they show the same mix of fun and determination as they did during “Spring Training”, there will be no problem. Here’s hoping that the “summer” weather doesn’t need those inverted commas!

by AspiDimitrov

DRAMATIC END TO 2009 HERTS SPRING LEAGUE

 

The 2009 Herts Spring League ended on Sunday with the races for the Pool 1 and Poll 2 titles coming alive.

 

At the start of the final round of matches in Pool 1 three teams were in with a chance to win it.  The Alconbury Braves knew that in order to jump above the leading Bracknell Blazers, they needed to win their final game by 3 runs.  But in that final game they faced the Southampton Mustangs who were also in with a chance to win the title if they could overcome the Braves. 

 

We were set for a clash between two title contenders and this certainly was no Spring Training game.  Both Southampton and Alconbury went out on the field visibly motivated to win.  There were even some heated clashes between individual players of the two teams when Mustangs pitcher, Ralph, was determined to get to second base and collided into the Braves’ second baseman who simply wanted to apply a routine tag on him for the third out of the inning.  The Braves showed a lot of class by not getting physically involved after what was a slightly overaggressive play by Southampton. 

 

Both teams will probably have their own different views on the incident but it was proof of the desire which both teams had to win the HSL title and that’s the way every baseball game should be played.

 

The Mustangs were holding on to the lead until Braves first baseman, Matt Walker, launched a home run over the right field wall to tie the game at 7-7.  This was also the first home run at the new-look Grovehill Ballpark in Hertfordshire and its new permanent outfield fence.

 

With HSL games being timed, the clock was ticking for both teams as a tie was no good to either of them.  In the top of 9th inning Southampton retired the Braves batters and they had just a few minutes left in the bottom of the inning to win the game.  Alconbury held on and so the game was declared a tie.  This meant that both teams had knocked each other out of the title race and the Bracknell Blazers were declared the 2009 Herts Spring League Pool 1 winners.

 

In Pool 2 the battle was just as exciting.  Braintree Rays, Richmond Dragons and the Herts 3 were all in the running.  Herts 3 were in pole position with a 100% record so far, but they stumbled against a tough MK Bucks team who won 13-5.  This meant that Herts 3 had to rely results of the games played at Connare Field in Richmond.  The Braintree Rays lost to the Kent Mariners and were no longer a threat to Herts 3.  The only remaining contender were the Richmond Dragons.  They were up against Herts 2 who were determined to help their club mates, Herts 3.  After going neck-and-neck for a few innings, Herts 2 opened up a big lead with a devastating 9 runs in the fourth inning.  Richmond were not able to catch up and so Herts 3 were declared the HSL Pool 2 Champions.

 

The second year of the Herts Spring League has proven to be better than the first year with more teams and fans taking part.  Teams are already submitting their applications to enter the 2010 HSL, which is great to see.

 

But right now it is time for all the teams to get set for the real thing as the 2009 British Baseball season is about to get under way this coming Sunday, 19 April 2009, with games taking place across the whole country.

 

Images courtesy of HP2Photographic.com

 

For full list of results, standings and more about this year's Herts Spring League visit the official HSL website.

by AspiDimitrov

HSL WEEK 3: (POOL 2) MK BUCKS @ HERTS III

Herts' loss to MK Bucks did not stop them winning Pool 2 of the Herts Spring League

MK Bucks at Herts Hawks
Score By Innings 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 R H E
MK Bucks 1 2 3 1 3 0 3 13 10 3
Herts Hawks 2 0 0 0 1 2 0 5 6 5

MK Bucks 13, Herts Hawks 5
MK Bucks Herts Hawks
  ab r h bi   ab r h bi
Player 1 p 2 0 0 1 Rob Jones ss 2 2 1 0
Player 2 c 3 2 0 0 Hunter Devine 2b 4 0 0 0
Player 3 1b 5 1 1 0 Marty Cullen p 2 1 1 1
Player 4 2b 5 3 4 2 (t5) Ade Orioye 3b-p 4 0 1 0
Player 5 3b 2 3 1 1 David Baird 1b 4 0 2 1
Player 6 ss 3 3 3 1 Jonathon Lewys rf-lf 0 0 0 0
Player 7 lf 3 1 1 0 Chris Wylie rf-3b 4 0 1 0
Player 8 cf 3 0 0 1 (b4) Tariq Gangari cf 0 0 0 0
Player 9 rf 4 0 0 0 Ken Pike cf 1 0 0 0
(b5) Steve Nippress cf 1 1 0 0
Andrew Slater lf 1 0 0 0
(b5) Jon Gamble rf 1 0 0 0
Ilya Dimitrov c 3 1 0 0
(b6) Kal Dimitrov c 0 0 0 0
TEAM TOTALS 30 13 10 6 TEAM TOTALS 27 5 6 2

E: Player 1, Player 4, Player 8, Hunter Devine(2), Rob Jones, Ilya Dimitrov, Tariq
Gangari. LOB: Herts Hawks 5, MK Bucks 10. 2B: Player 4(2), David Baird. SB: Player
4(3), Player 7(3), Player 2(2), Player 5(2), Player 6(2), Player 1(2), Player 3, Rob
Jones, Hunter Devine. SF: Player 1.

MK Bucks IP H R ER BB SO
Player 1 W 7.00 6 5 1 4 10
Herts Hawks            
Marty Cullen L 4.00 6 7 3 6 4
Ade Orioye 3.00 4 6 4 4 2

HBP: by Marty Cullen (Player 1). , by Marty Cullen (Player 7). . , by Ade Orioye
(Player 5). . . WP: Player 1(3), Marty Cullen(2), Ade Orioye(2). PB: Player 2, Ilya
Dimitrov. T: 2:55. A: 59.
MK Bucks – Top of the 1st:
Player 1 grounded out.
Player 2 walked, batted forward to 3rd, advanced to home on error.
Player 3 singled, stole 2nd, batted forward to 3rd.
Player 4 grounded out.
Player 5 grounded out.
1 run, 1 hit, 1 error, 1 LOB.
Herts Hawks – Bottom of the 1st:
Rob Jones walked, stole 2nd, advanced to 3rd on passed ball, batted forward to home.
Hunter Devine struck out swinging.
Marty Cullen singled, batted forward to 2nd, advanced to 3rd on wild pitch, advanced
to home on wild pitch, 1 RBI.
David Baird singled, advanced to 3rd on wild pitch.
Chris Wylie struck out swinging.
Ade Orioye struck out swinging.
2 runs, 2 hits, 0 errors, 1 LOB.
MK Bucks – Top of the 2nd:
Player 6 singled, stole 2nd, advanced to 3rd on error, stole home.
Player 7 walked, stole 2nd, advanced to home on error.
Player 8 reached on error, advanced to 2nd on error, batted forward to 3rd.
Player 9 struck out.
Player 1 hit by pitch, stole 2nd.
Player 2 struck out swinging.
Player 3 grounded out.
2 runs, 1 hit, 2 errors, 2 LOB.
Herts Hawks – Bottom of the 2nd:
Tariq Gangari walked, batted forward to 3rd.
Andrew Slater walked, batted forward to 2nd.
Ilya Dimitrov struck out swinging.
Rob Jones walked.
Hunter Devine flied out.
Marty Cullen grounded out.
0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 3 LOB.
MK Bucks – Top of the 3rd:
Player 4 doubled, advanced to 3rd on wild pitch, advanced to home on passed ball.
Player 5 walked, batted forward to home.
Player 6 walked, batted forward to home.
Player 7 hit by pitch, batted forward to 3rd.
Player 8 walked, batted forward to 2nd, 1 RBI.
Player 9 out by infield fly rule.
Player 1 sacrifice flied, 1 RBI.
Player 2 lined out.
3 runs, 1 hit, 0 errors, 2 LOB.
Herts Hawks – Bottom of the 3rd:
David Baird struck out swinging.
Chris Wylie singled, tagged out going to 2nd.
Ade Orioye struck out looking.
0 runs, 1 hit, 0 errors, 0 LOB.
MK Bucks – Top of the 4th:
Player 3 bunted foul on 2nd strike.
Player 4 singled, advanced to 2nd on wild pitch, batted forward to home.
Player 5 singled, stole 2nd, batted forward to 3rd, 1 RBI.
Player 6 singled, batted forward to 2nd.
Player 7 grounded out.
Player 8 walked.
Player 9 struck out swinging.
1 run, 3 hits, 0 errors, 3 LOB.
Herts Hawks – Bottom of the 4th:
Ken Pike grounded out.
Andrew Slater popped out.
Ilya Dimitrov struck out swinging.
0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 0 LOB.
MK Bucks – Top of the 5th:
Player 1 walked, stole 2nd, tagged out going to 3rd.
Player 2 walked, stole 2nd, stole 3rd, batted forward to home.
Player 3 popped out.
Player 4 singled, stole 2nd, stole 3rd, stole home, 1 RBI.
Player 5 hit by pitch, stole 2nd, advanced to 3rd on error, awarded home.
Player 6 walked, advanced to 2nd on error.
Player 7 reached on error, forced out at 2nd.
3 runs, 1 hit, 1 error, 1 LOB.
Herts Hawks – Bottom of the 5th:
Rob Jones singled, advanced to 2nd on error, batted forward to home.
Hunter Devine reached on error, forced out at 2nd.
Ade Orioye singled, tagged out going to 2nd.
David Baird doubled, advanced to 3rd on throw, 1 RBI.
Chris Wylie popped out.
1 run, 3 hits, 1 error, 1 LOB.
MK Bucks – Top of the 6th:
Player 8 grounded out.
Player 9 grounded out.
Player 1 struck out looking.
0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 0 LOB.
Herts Hawks – Bottom of the 6th:
Steve Nippress reached on error, advanced to 3rd on error, batted forward to home.
Jon Gamble struck out swinging.
Ilya Dimitrov reached on error, advanced to 2nd on error, batted forward to home.
Rob Jones grounded out.
Hunter Devine reached on dropped 3rd strike WP, stole 2nd, tagged out going to 3rd.
2 runs, 0 hits, 2 errors, 0 LOB.
MK Bucks – Top of the 7th:
Player 2 grounded out.
Player 3 reached on error, batted forward to home.
Player 4 doubled, tagged out going to 3rd, 1 RBI.
Player 5 walked, advanced to 2nd on wild pitch, batted forward to home.
Player 6 singled, batted forward to 3rd, advanced to home on wild pitch, 1 RBI.
Player 7 singled, stole 2nd, stole 3rd.
Player 8 struck out swinging.
3 runs, 3 hits, 1 error, 1 LOB.
Herts Hawks – Bottom of the 7th:
Ade Orioye struck out swinging.
David Baird flied out.
Chris Wylie grounded out.
0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 0 LOB.
by AspiDimitrov

HSL WEEK 3: (POOL 1) HERTS I @ SIDEWINDERS

Spring Training is done and now it's time for the Herts Falcons to make their National Baseball League Debut

Herts Falcons at Sidewinders
Score By Innings 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 R H E
Herts Falcons 0 4 4 1 3 0 1 13 11 4
Sidewinders 0 0 2 2 2 0 2 8 11 3

Herts Falcons 13, Sidewinders 8
Herts Falcons Sidewinders
  ab r h bi   ab r h bi
Jamie Munn cf 4 1 1 1 Player 1 p 4 1 2 1
Jason Greenberg c 4 1 0 0 Player 2 c 3 1 0 1
Lin Yuchih ss-3b 5 2 1 0 Player 3 1b 5 0 2 1
Kimiyoshi Saionji 2b-rf 4 1 1 1 Player 4 2b 5 0 0 0
Darrin Ward p 3 2 2 0 Player 5 3b 3 2 1 0
(t4) Lee Manning ss 0 0 0 1 Player 6 ss 2 1 0 0
Carlos Casal rf-2b 3 2 1 1 Player 7 lf 3 2 3 1
Aspi Dimitrov lf-p 3 1 1 3 Player 8 cf 4 1 2 0
(t5) Andy Cornish lf-ss 2 0 0 0 Player 9 rf 3 0 1 2
John Oliver 1b-lf 3 2 3 3
(t5) Marty Cullen 1b 1 0 1 0
Nick Goetz 3b-p 2 1 0 0
TEAM TOTALS 34 13 11 10 TEAM TOTALS 32 8 11 6

E: Jason Greenberg, Lin Yuchih, Nick Goetz, Kimiyoshi Saionji, Player 6(3). LOB:
Herts Falcons 9, Sidewinders 10. 2B: John Oliver(2), Kimiyoshi Saionji, Aspi
Dimitrov, Marty Cullen, Player 3. SB: Aspi Dimitrov, Jason Greenberg, Darrin Ward,
Player 2, Player 1. SF: Player 2.

Herts Falcons IP H R ER BB SO
Darrin Ward W 3.00 4 2 0 1 2
Nick Goetz 3.00 4 4 2 3 1
Aspi Dimitrov 1.00 3 2 2 2 2
Sidewinders            
Player 1 L 7.00 11 13 8 8 9

HBP: by Player 1 (Jason Greenberg). . . . WP: Nick Goetz, Aspi Dimitrov, Player 1(3).
PB: Player 2(4). T: 2:55. A: 78.
Herts Falcons – Top of the 1st:
Jamie Munn struck out looking.
Jason Greenberg grounded out.
Lin Yuchih grounded out.
0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 0 LOB.
Sidewinders – Bottom of the 1st:
Player 1 singled, stole 2nd, batted forward to 3rd.
Player 2 struck out swinging.
Player 3 grounded out.
Player 4 grounded out.
0 runs, 1 hit, 0 errors, 1 LOB.
Herts Falcons – Top of the 2nd:
Kimiyoshi Saionji reached on error, advanced to 2nd on error, batted forward to home.
Darrin Ward singled, stole 2nd, batted forward to home.
Carlos Casal walked, batted forward to home.
Aspi Dimitrov doubled, stole 3rd, batted forward to home, 3 RBI.
John Oliver doubled, advanced to 3rd on wild pitch, 1 RBI.
Nick Goetz struck out looking.
Jamie Munn grounded out.
Jason Greenberg grounded out.
4 runs, 3 hits, 1 error, 1 LOB.
Sidewinders – Bottom of the 2nd:
Player 5 struck out looking.
Player 6 walked, batted forward to 2nd.
Player 7 singled.
Player 8 flied out.
Player 9 popped out.
0 runs, 1 hit, 0 errors, 2 LOB.
Herts Falcons – Top of the 3rd:
Lin Yuchih reached on error, batted forward to 3rd, advanced to home on wild pitch.
Kimiyoshi Saionji flied out foul.
Darrin Ward singled, batted forward to 2nd, advanced to 3rd on wild pitch, batted
forward to home.
Carlos Casal walked, advanced to 2nd on wild pitch, batted forward to home.
Aspi Dimitrov struck out looking.
John Oliver doubled, batted forward to home, 2 RBI.
Nick Goetz walked, batted forward to 3rd.
Jamie Munn singled, tagged out going to 2nd, 1 RBI.
4 runs, 3 hits, 1 error, 1 LOB.
Sidewinders – Bottom of the 3rd:
Player 1 singled, advanced to 3rd on error, advanced to home on error.
Player 2 reached on error, stole 2nd, batted forward to home.
Player 3 singled, forced out at 2nd, 1 RBI.
Player 4 reached on fielder's choice, batted forward to 2nd.
Player 5 grounded out.
Player 6 grounded out.
2 runs, 2 hits, 2 errors, 1 LOB.
Herts Falcons – Top of the 4th:
Jason Greenberg hit by pitch, stole 2nd, batted forward to home.
Lin Yuchih flied out.
Kimiyoshi Saionji doubled, 1 RBI.
Darrin Ward struck out looking.
Carlos Casal struck out swinging.
1 run, 1 hit, 0 errors, 1 LOB.
Sidewinders – Bottom of the 4th:
Player 7 walked, advanced to 2nd on error, batted forward to home.
Player 8 reached on error, batted forward to home.
Player 9 walked, forced out at 2nd.
Player 1 reached on fielder's choice, advanced to 2nd on wild pitch, 1 RBI.
Player 2 sacrifice flied, 1 RBI.
Player 3 grounded out.
2 runs, 0 hits, 1 error, 1 LOB.
Herts Falcons – Top of the 5th:
Aspi Dimitrov grounded out.
John Oliver walked, advanced to 2nd on passed ball, batted forward to 3rd, advanced
to home on passed ball.
Nick Goetz walked, batted forward to 2nd, advanced to 3rd on passed ball, advanced to
home on error.
Jamie Munn walked, advanced to 2nd on passed ball, advanced to 3rd on error, batted
forward to home.
Jason Greenberg reached on error, batted forward to 3rd.
Lin Yuchih grounded out.
Kimiyoshi Saionji walked, batted forward to 2nd.
Lee Manning walked, 1 RBI.
Carlos Casal struck out swinging.
3 runs, 0 hits, 1 error, 3 LOB.
Sidewinders – Bottom of the 5th:
Player 4 struck out swinging.
Player 5 walked, batted forward to home.
Player 6 flied out.
Player 7 singled, batted forward to home.
Player 8 singled, batted forward to 2nd, advanced to 3rd on error.
Player 9 singled, advanced to 2nd on error, 2 RBI.
Player 1 flied out.
2 runs, 3 hits, 1 error, 2 LOB.
Herts Falcons – Top of the 6th:
Andy Cornish struck out looking.
Marty Cullen doubled.
Nick Goetz grounded out.
Jamie Munn struck out looking.
0 runs, 1 hit, 0 errors, 1 LOB.
Sidewinders – Bottom of the 6th:
Player 2 grounded out.
Player 3 doubled, forced out at 3rd.
Player 4 lined out.
0 runs, 1 hit, 0 errors, 0 LOB.
Herts Falcons – Top of the 7th:
Jason Greenberg grounded out.
Lin Yuchih singled, batted forward to home.
Kimiyoshi Saionji struck out looking.
John Oliver singled, batted forward to 2nd.
Carlos Casal singled, 1 RBI.
Andy Cornish flied out.
1 run, 3 hits, 0 errors, 2 LOB.
Sidewinders – Bottom of the 7th:
Player 5 singled, batted forward to home.
Player 6 walked, batted forward to 3rd, advanced to home on wild pitch.
Player 7 singled, batted forward to 2nd, advanced to 3rd on wild pitch, 1 RBI.
Player 8 singled, advanced to 2nd on wild pitch.
Player 9 struck out looking.
Player 1 intentionally walked.
Player 3 struck out looking.
Player 4 grounded out.
2 runs, 3 hits, 0 errors, 3 LOB.
by AspiDimitrov

HSL WEEK 3: (POOL 2) HERTS II @ RICHMOND DRAGONS

Herts Eagles' win against the Richmond Dragons secured the HSL Pool 2 title for the Herts Hawks

Herts Eagles at Richmond Dragons
Score By Innings 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 R H E
Herts Eagles 0 3 2 9 1 1 1 17 11 2
Richmond Dragons 2 0 3 4 2 2 0 13 10 3

Herts Eagles 17, Richmond Dragons 13
Herts Eagles Richmond Dragons
  ab r h bi   ab r h bi
Rod Ariss ss-3b-p 4 1 1 1 Player 1 p 4 4 3 0
Ilya Dimitrov cf-ss 4 1 1 1 Player 2 c 2 3 1 1
Nick Russell 3b-ss 3 2 1 1 Player 3 1b 4 2 2 2
Dave Westfallen c 3 2 1 0 Player 4 2b 4 0 0 1
(t5) Kal Dimitrov c 0 1 0 0 Player 5 3b 3 2 1 2
Mark Hoffman p-1b 4 2 2 2 Player 6 ss 2 1 0 0
Tim Elkins 1b-cf 4 2 1 2 Player 7 lf 4 0 2 3
Rodney Naghar lf-2b 3 4 3 1 Player 8 cf 2 0 0 0
Paul Curtis 2b-lf 2 0 0 1 Player 9 rf 4 1 1 0
Nick Read rf 2 2 1 3
TEAM TOTALS 29 17 11 12 TEAM TOTALS 29 13 10 9

E: Rod Ariss, Tim Elkins, Player 1, Player 2, Player 6. LOB: Richmond Dragons 8,
Herts Eagles 10. 2B: Dave Westfallen, Nick Read, Player 2. SB: Rodney Naghar(4), Ilya
Dimitrov(3), Mark Hoffman(2), Kal Dimitrov(2), Nick Russell, Nick Read, Tim Elkins,
Dave Westfallen, Rod Ariss, Player 3(4), Player 1(3), Player 9(2), Player 5, Player
2.

Herts Eagles IP H R ER BB SO
Mark Hoffman W 5.00 7 11 6 9 6
Rod Ariss 1.00 3 2 2 0 0
Richmond Dragons            
Player 1 L 6.33 11 17 11 16 5

HBP: by Player 1 (Tim Elkins), by Mark Hoffman (Player 6). . . . WP: Mark Hoffman(3).
PB: Dave Westfallen, Player 2(7). T: 2:55. A: 35.
Herts Eagles – Top of the 1st:
Rod Ariss grounded out.
Ilya Dimitrov struck out looking.
Nick Russell walked.
Dave Westfallen grounded out.
0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 1 LOB.
Richmond Dragons – Bottom of the 1st:
Player 1 singled, stole 2nd, advanced to 3rd on passed ball, advanced to home on wild
pitch.
Player 2 walked, stole 2nd, advanced to 3rd on wild pitch, batted forward to home.
Player 3 walked, advanced to 2nd on wild pitch, batted forward to 3rd.
Player 4 grounded out.
Player 5 grounded out, 1 RBI.
Player 6 walked, advanced to 2nd on wild pitch.
Player 7 grounded out.
2 runs, 1 hit, 0 errors, 2 LOB.
Herts Eagles – Top of the 2nd:
Mark Hoffman singled, stole 2nd, batted forward to home.
Tim Elkins popped out.
Rodney Naghar singled, stole 2nd, batted forward to home.
Paul Curtis struck out looking.
Nick Read doubled, stole 3rd, batted forward to home, 2 RBI.
Rod Ariss walked, stole 2nd, batted forward to 3rd.
Ilya Dimitrov reached first base, stole 2nd, 1 RBI.
Nick Russell grounded out.
3 runs, 4 hits, 0 errors, 2 LOB.
Richmond Dragons – Bottom of the 2nd:
Player 8 struck out swinging.
Player 9 grounded out.
Player 1 grounded out.
0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 0 LOB.
Herts Eagles – Top of the 3rd:
Dave Westfallen doubled, batted forward to home.
Mark Hoffman popped out.
Tim Elkins singled, stole 2nd, batted forward to 3rd, advanced to home on passed
ball, 1 RBI.
Rodney Naghar singled, advanced to 2nd on passed ball, batted forward to 3rd.
Paul Curtis walked, batted forward to 2nd.
Nick Read out by infield fly rule.
Rod Ariss popped out.
2 runs, 3 hits, 0 errors, 2 LOB.
Richmond Dragons – Bottom of the 3rd:
Player 2 walked, advanced to 2nd on error, batted forward to home.
Player 3 singled, stole 2nd, batted forward to home, 1 RBI.
Player 4 grounded out.
Player 5 singled, stole 2nd, batted forward to home, 1 RBI.
Player 6 struck out looking.
Player 7 singled, batted forward to 2nd, 1 RBI.
Player 8 walked.
Player 9 struck out swinging.
3 runs, 3 hits, 1 error, 2 LOB.
Herts Eagles – Top of the 4th:
Ilya Dimitrov walked, stole 2nd, stole 3rd, batted forward to home.
Nick Russell walked, stole 2nd, batted forward to home.
Dave Westfallen walked, batted forward to home.
Mark Hoffman walked, batted forward to home, 1 RBI.
Tim Elkins hit by pitch, batted forward to home, 1 RBI.
Rodney Naghar walked, batted forward to home, 1 RBI.
Paul Curtis walked, batted forward to 3rd, tagged out going to home, 1 RBI.
Nick Read walked, batted forward to 2nd, advanced to 3rd on passed ball, advanced to
home on error, 1 RBI.
Rod Ariss singled, advanced to 2nd on passed ball, advanced to 3rd on error, batted
forward to home, 1 RBI.
Ilya Dimitrov out by infield fly rule.
Nick Russell singled, advanced to 2nd on passed ball, advanced to home on error, 1
RBI.
Dave Westfallen reached on dropped 3rd strike w/error, advanced to 2nd on passed
ball, stole 3rd.
Mark Hoffman grounded out.
9 runs, 2 hits, 2 errors, 1 LOB.
Richmond Dragons – Bottom of the 4th:
Player 1 singled, stole 2nd, batted forward to 3rd, advanced to home on error.
Player 2 struck out.
Player 3 reached on error, stole 2nd, stole 3rd, advanced to home on wild pitch.
Player 4 struck out looking.
Player 5 walked, batted forward to 2nd, advanced to 3rd on wild pitch, batted forward
to home.
Player 6 hit by pitch, advanced to 2nd on wild pitch, batted forward to home.
Player 7 singled, batted forward to 3rd, 2 RBI.
Player 8 walked, tagged out going to 2nd.
Player 9 reached on fielder's choice.
4 runs, 2 hits, 1 error, 2 LOB.
Herts Eagles – Top of the 5th:
Tim Elkins popped out.
Rodney Naghar singled, stole 2nd, stole 3rd, advanced to home on error.
Paul Curtis grounded out.
Nick Read walked, advanced to 2nd on passed ball.
Rod Ariss flied out.
1 run, 1 hit, 1 error, 1 LOB.
Richmond Dragons – Bottom of the 5th:
Player 1 walked, advanced to 2nd on error, batted forward to home.
Player 2 walked, batted forward to home.
Player 3 singled, stole 2nd, batted forward to 3rd, 1 RBI.
Player 4 grounded out, 1 RBI.
Player 5 struck out looking.
Player 6 flied out.
2 runs, 1 hit, 0 errors, 1 LOB.
Herts Eagles – Top of the 6th:
Ilya Dimitrov struck out.
Nick Russell struck out looking.
Kal Dimitrov walked, stole 2nd, stole 3rd, batted forward to home.
Mark Hoffman singled, stole 2nd, 1 RBI.
Tim Elkins grounded out.
1 run, 1 hit, 0 errors, 1 LOB.
Richmond Dragons – Bottom of the 6th:
Player 7 grounded out.
Player 8 grounded out.
Player 9 singled, stole 2nd, batted forward to 3rd, stole home.
Player 1 singled, stole 2nd, batted forward to home.
Player 2 doubled, 1 RBI.
Player 3 grounded out.
2 runs, 3 hits, 0 errors, 1 LOB.
Herts Eagles – Top of the 7th:
Rodney Naghar walked, stole 2nd, advanced to 3rd on passed ball, advanced to home on
passed ball.
Paul Curtis walked, batted forward to 2nd, advanced to 3rd on passed ball, tagged out
going to home.
Nick Read walked, advanced to 2nd on passed ball.
Rod Ariss walked.
1 run, 0 hits, 0 errors, 2 LOB.
by AspiDimitrov

FINAL WEEK OF HSL GAMES, 6 TEAMS STILL IN THE POOL 1 AND POOL 2 WINNERS’ RACE

 

The 2009 edition of the Herts Spring League is into its final week and there is a lot to be decided in the final matchups.

 

In Pool 1 only the Bracknell Blazers and the Alconbury Braves remain unbeaten with a 2-0 and 3-0 record.  The HSL regulations state that the standings will be decided on the basis of the win-loss percentage.  If both of them win their games this Sunday they will both be tied with a win-loss percentage of 1.000.  The tie-break rules that will be applied are the head-to-head record between the two teams, but since these two teams have not met, it will come down to who has the better run differential. 

 

Before that, the Braves and the Blazers will have to win their games.  The Southampton Mustangs have a 2-1 record and they are still very much involved in the race.  They will face the Alconbury Braves in the 1pm game at Grovehill Ballpark, Hertfordshire.   If the Mustangs win, they will jump above the Braves and will be hoping that the Essex Arrows will them a favour and defeat the Bracknell Blazers in the 4pm game in Richmond.

 

The remaining two teams in Pool 1, the Sidewinders and Herts Falcons, meet at 10am.  Both teams are yet to pick up a win so they will be looking to win in order to avoid finishing dead-last.

 

In Pool 2, three teams still have a chance to finish first.  They are the Braintree Rays, the Richmond Dragons and the Herts Hawks.  The Hawks top Pool 2 with a 100% record and have the advantage of a +15 run differential which may come into play if there is a tie.  They will meet the MK Buck at their home ballpark in front of their own supporters at 4pm.  Another Herts team, the Eagles can really help them out by winning against their closest rivals, the Richmond Dragons, at Richmond’s Ham Ground at 10am.  The mobile phone of the Hawks Manager will be on waiting for news from Richmond and they will know exactly what they need to do against the MK Bucks.

 

Braintree are the dark horse in Pool 2 and if both Richmond and the Hawks failt to win their games, Braintree can take first place with a win against the Kent Mariners.

 

For full schedule of the final week of HSL action click here.

 

To see the current standings click here.