British baseball fans are on the edge of their seats in anticipation of the National Baseball Championships (NBC) this weekend. Year-after-year the NBC never seems to disappoint. By Sunday evening we will know the identity of the champions in the four British baseball leagues. But before that we will be going through the emotions and excitement of 14 baseball games with enormous implications riding on every single one of them.
After Saturday’s playoff games, we now know the names of the 12 teams which will be heading to Grovehill Ballpark in Hemel Hempstead in the hope of making history.
NATIONAL BASEBALL LEAGUE (NBL)
The London Mets and the Bracknell Blazers already booked their places by virtue of taking the top two spots in the regular season standings. Richmond and Southampton joined them in the NBC after their playoff wins against Croydon and Mildenhall, respectively. For more on last week’s NBL playoffs read Simon Fitzjohn’s playoff roundup.
Bracknell Blazers will open the NBC on Saturday at 9:30am against the Richmond Flames on the new diamond at Grovehill Ballpark, followed by the Mets and Mustangs at 12:00pm.
AAA-LEAGUE
The last team to book their place in the AAA NBC were the Herts Eagles after their 14-3 playoff win against the Bracknell Inferno. Darrin Ward pitched a complete game for the win. He was supported by a solid Herts offence which included a 3-run home run by Mahendra Prasad, his second of the year. The Eagles may be seen as the underdogs in the AAA Championship, but they will have the advantage of playing at their home field and in front of the loyal Herts baseball fans.
The other teams in the AAA race are the Liverpool Trojans and the Oxford Kings who finished top of the AAA (North) and AAA (South) divisions, respectively. The Menwith Hill Patriots earned a place in the NBC, but due to their team’s obligations at the airbase, they have withdrawn from the Championships. The Bracknell Inferno will take their place in the AAA NBC as both the Manchester A’s and Halton Jaguars were unable to take the slot due to insufficient time to organise their trip.
AA-LEAGUE
After two weeks of exciting playoff action, we are down to the two best British teams in the AA League. One of them is Leicester after they produced yet another epic one-run win against the Birmingham Maple Leafs. Shannon Henry picked up the win and Richard Hu came in to close the game for the save and a 10-9 win. In the AA Final they will meet the Richmond Knights, who extended their incredible winning streak to 19 after a 11-4 win against the Poole Piranhas.
A-LEAGUE
MK Bucks are through to the A-League Final after a 7-0 win against the Humber Pilots. Pitchers Tom Lloyd and Tom McVay combined for a 2-hit shutout. Starter Lloyd threw 6 innings, recording 9 strikeouts and retiring 8 batters in a row at one point. McVay came in for the last three innings to close the game and he also contributed with the bat going 2-4 with a double, triple and 3 RBI. Last week we reported on Bucks slugger, Barnes, having to miss out on the NBC due to an assignment in Afghanistan. We can now confirm that Barnes will be available for the NBC having been granted extended leave to take part in this weekend’s title decider. The Bucks will meet the Guildford Mavericks after they ended the Chelmsford Clippers incredible postseason. There were no upsets this time as the Mavericks won convincingly 25-7.
A CELEBRATION OF BRITISH BASEBALL
The NBC is a unique opportunity for fans of baseball and those who are new to the sport to get close to the action and witness the crowning of the 2010 Champions. Of course it would not be a true baseball celebration without good food. A variety of food and drinks will be on offer including BBQ Beef and Pulled-Pork Sandwiches (pictured right), Gourmet Sausages, Homemade Coleslaw, Old Fashioned Lemonade and more. A commemorative NBC programme will be available. First 200 fans will receive the programme free of charge, so get there early.
SCHEDULE
NATIONAL BASEBALL LEAGUE
Saturday, 4 September 2010
|
09:30 |
Diamond 1 |
Game 1 |
Richmond Flames |
@ |
Bracknell Blazers |
7 innings |
|
12:00 |
Diamond 1 |
Game 2 |
Southampton |
@ |
London Mets |
7 innings |
|
14:30 |
Diamond 1 |
Game 3 |
Game 1 Winner |
@ |
Game 2 Winner |
7 innings |
|
17:00 |
Diamond 1 |
Game 4 |
Game 1 Loser |
@ |
Game 2 Loser |
7 innings |
Sunday, 5 September 2010
|
09:30 |
Diamond 1 |
Game 5 |
Game 4 Winner |
@ |
Game 3 Loser |
7 innings |
|
15:30 |
Diamond 1 |
Final |
Game 5 Winner |
@ |
Game 3 Winner |
7 innings |
AAA League
Saturday, 4 September 2010
|
09:30 |
Diamond 2 |
Game 1 |
Herts Eagles |
@ |
Liverpool Trojans |
7 innings |
|
12:00 |
Diamond 2 |
Game 2 |
Bracknell Inferno |
@ |
Oxford Kings |
7 innings |
|
14:30 |
Diamond 2 |
Game 3 |
Game 1 Winner |
@ |
Game 2 Winner |
7 innings |
|
17:00 |
Diamond 2 |
Game 4 |
Game 1 Loser |
@ |
Game 2 Loser |
7 innings |
Sunday, 5 September 2010
|
09:30 |
Diamond 2 |
Game 5 |
Game 4 Winner |
@ |
Game 3 Loser |
7 innings |
|
15:30 |
Diamond 2 |
Final |
Game 5 Winner |
@ |
Game 3 Winner |
7 innings |
AA League
Sunday, 5 September 2010
|
12:00 |
Diamond 1 |
Final |
Leicester Blue Sox |
@ |
Richmond Knights |
9 innings |
Single-A League
Sunday, 5 September 2010
|
12:00 |
Diamond 2 |
Final |
MK Bucks |
@ |
Guildford Mavericks |
9 innings |
Note: Start times may be pushed back if earlier games overrun. The BBF reserves the right to make alterations to the schedule if there is a change in circumstances (e.g. rain delay etc.).
VENUE DETAILS
The event will be held at Herts Baseball Club, Grovehill Park, Washington Avenue, Hemel Hempstead
Hertfordshire HP2 6NH (click for map and directions).