We are officially into the 2009 postseason of British Baseball’s youth leagues. The Wild Card round of the Playoffs for the Under-13 age group will take place on Saturday, 15 August. It will be held at Grovehill Ballpark in Hemel Hempstead, which is the home of Herts Baseball Club.
The Wild Card Playoffs will involve three teams representing the three independent baseball leagues of Bracknell, Horsham and the hosts Herts. The best players of these three regions will go head-to-head for a place in the next Round of the Playoffs.
Last time these three teams met was in September 2008 and it was once again in Hertfordshire as part of the 2008 Herts Futures Tournament. Herts came out on top against Bracknell winning 9-5 in the group stages but then went on to lose to Horsham in the Final of the tournament in a dramatic 4-3 ballgame.
This Wild Card Playoff will have a round-robin format with all three teams playing against each other. In the first game of the day at 10:30am the hosts, Herts will make their debut in the British National competitions against Bracknell. This will be followed by Bracknell vs Horsham at 12:45pm and the final game between Horsham and Herts at 3pm.
The winner will go through to the next round of the Playoffs on 22 August at Finsbury Park, where London, Brentwood and Kent will also enter the postseason playoffs to determine who will go through to the National Baseball Championship on 12-13 September.
Baseball enthusiasts can attend this Saturday’s Playoffs at Grovehill Ballpark, Hemel hempstead (click for directions). Admission is free and apart from postseason baseball fans can enjoy a hot dog and other snacks and drinks offered at the venue.