The British Baseball Federation has confirmed that the 2011 National Baseball Championships (NBC) will be held on the weekend of 10-11 September at Grovehill Playing Fields in Hemel Hempstead.
The British Baseball Federation has confirmed the dates and venue of the 2011 National Baseball Championships (NBC), where the National League, AAA, AA and Single-A season titles will be awarded.
The NBC will be held on the weekend of 10-11 September at Grovehill Playing Fields in Hemel Hempstead, home to the Herts Baseball Club. However, it will be the Great Britain Baseball programme that is hosting the event in a bid to raise funds for the national teams. Herts has generously donated the use of their two purpose-built baseball diamonds, which makes a significant contribution to Team GB’s fundraising efforts over the NBC weekend. Grovehill Playing Fields was the site of the 2010 Championships.
Also supporting the British Baseball Federation with preparations for the NBC is BaseballSoftballUK, the national development agency for both sports.
FINALS SCHEDULE
Richmond Flames are the defending champions in the National Baseball League
On Saturday 10 September, the National Baseball League (NBL) and AAA will stage 9-inning semifinal games in a single-elimination format to determine which two teams shall advance to the final.
The next day — Sunday 11 September — they will be joined by the top two teams from the AA and Single-A divisions, and all four leagues will play their championship showdowns.
The NBL final will take place at 3pm GMT on Diamond One, while the AAA final plays out on the adjacent field from 2pm. The AA and Single-A finals will begin earlier in the day at 10.30am.
SHOWCASE EVENT
Spectators from all across Britain are expected to attend the National Baseball Championships, and there is no charge for admission to any of the games.
Professional caterers will be barbecuing burgers, hot dogs and more on both days with all proceeds going directly to Great Britain Baseball. There will be a mobile bar on site with cold draught beer on tap, and Team GB will sell ice-cold sports drinks courtesy of their official drinks sponsor, Gatorade.
Also attending is GB Baseball travel partner Virgin Atlantic, who are in discussions with the BBF to offer a special airfare scheme to the British public in support of the national baseball team.
FUNDRAISING FOR TEAM GBTeam GB will be selling a selection of merchandise and equipment to help raise money for next year’s international competitions, such as the European Championships and the World Baseball Classic qualifiers.
On sale will be a range of brand-new maple bats from official team sponsors X Bat and Mattingly, as well as XProTeX and Cutters batting gloves, EvoShield protective wear for batters, Phiten titanium bracelets and necklaces, Mattingly equipment bags, Big League Chew bubble gum and official Great Britain Baseball team wear such as t-shirts and baseball caps.
Supporters will be able to purchase equipment and apparel by cash, cheque or credit and debit card payments.
In addition to merchandise, the national teams programme will also conduct a raffle with exciting prizes. Team GB would be grateful for additional contributions to the raffle from the British baseball community; please contact General Manager Jason Greenberg if you have raffle prizes to donate.
PLAYOFF SCHEDULE
Prior to the Championships weekend, all four leagues will stage playoff games on Saturday and Sunday, 3 – 4 September.
In the National League, only the winners of each divisional pool will automatically qualify for the NBC, and the 3rd through 6th place teams (regardless of their ultimate pool standing) will battle through 9-inning playoffs to determine the remaining semi-finalists.
In the AAA, the 1st and 2nd place teams from the North divisions will advance directly to the NBC. Joining them will be the 1st place South team, but the 2nd and 3rd place southern squads will have an all-or-nothing 9-inning playoff.
The AA and Single-A divisions will play a single-elimination bracket of 9-inning playoff games.
(This press release was first published on britishbaseball.org)