The 2009 Kyle Hunlock Series is underway after Thursday night's Live Online Draft. Herts announcer Marty Cullen hosted a live internet broadcast in which the three Series managers selected their squads. The evening was full of drama and surprise picks, and Friday has even seen the Series' first free agent acquisitions.
The RED ROOSTERS, managed by returning skipper Hunter Devine ('08 Hunlock champion), include:
ASPI DIMITROV
ILYA DIMITROV
PAUL CURTIS
BEN ALWAY
JASON GREENBERG
PETAR KIKEL
CHRIS MARTIN
JOHN OLIVER
ROB CROUCH
DAVID BAIRD
KIMIYOSHI SAIONJI
ROB JONES
DAVID HAMILTON
LIAM GREEN
ROD NAGHAR
MIKE VASQUEZ
Manager Andy Cornish leads the BLUE DOGS, and on Thursday night he selected:
JONATHON LEWYS
PAUL AUCHTERLOUNIE
IWAN EVANS
KAL DIMITROV
PERRIE SHERMAN
JAKE AMAN SHAH
KENNET PIKE
PHIL CROOKS
JAMIE MUNN
NICK READ
RILEY FISHER
JEFF WITTER
NICK RUSSELL
TIM ELKINS
JON GAMBLE
NICOLAS GOETZ
Finally, rookie manager Matt Johnston has assembled the following squad of BLACK WIDOWS:
ADAM PEPIN HALL
CHRIS BARNES
MARK HOFFMANN
AMIT ODEDRA
GREG BOCHAN
MARTY CULLEN
ANDREW SLATER
HUMBERTO GONCALVES
ARNOLD LONGBOY
LUIS GONCALVES
STEVE NIPPRESS
ATSUHIKO ARIGA
MARC MARTINEZ
TOM GREEN
CARLOS CASAL
MARCUS CAPPER
Today, shortly after the dust settled on last night's draft activity, the Black Widows picked up free agent Japanese superstar Atsuhiko Ariga. Atsu is known for his mighty bat and composure in clutch situations. He has a solid infield glove – especially when playing on the right side of the infield – and has baseball in his blood; his son, Mikito Ariga, was starting pitcher in the Herts Little League's phenomenal and heart-breaking 1-0 loss to the London Mets at the Youth National Baseball Championship just one week ago.
Also today, Manager Cornish picked up free agent Louis Hare. Hare is well known as a crafty pitcher, short stop and unstoppable slugger on the '09 Herts Eagles where he batted .339 and boasted 4-2 record on the mound with a 4.717 ERA. Hare will undoubtedly strengthen the Blue Dog's pitching rotation and add pop to the lineup. Hare's availability is still unknown, which means Cornish has gone out on a bit of a limb to sign him. In the process, the Blue Dogs have spent their only trade waiver and will now have to watch in silence if additional free agents make themselves available for the Series. (There has been no word from Eagles skipper Dave Westfallen, Falcons pitchers Darrin Ward or Dan Kerry, or Taiwanese sensation Lin Yuchih.)
The Series begins on Sunday 20 September 11am at Grovehill Ballpark in Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire.
To read more about the Kyle Hunlock Series, or for full results or standings, visit:
http://www.hertsbaseball.com/hunlock/