Player registration for the 2015 Herts Baseball season has just commenced and the club is hoping to make it a record year after 2013 saw the largest number of Herts members in the club’s 19-year history. In 2014 the club came just short of beating that record.
Herts has already completed the league entry process for the Herts Falcons in the National Baseball League and in the coming days will be completing the process for its other adult and youth league teams.
ADULT LEAGUES
The Herts Falcons gave everything in the battle to reach the NBL playoffs last season but were eliminated two games before the end of the regular season. They will be eager to regain the team’s competitiveness which saw them come so close to clinching the NBL championship in 2012 and 2013. The team has already shown its intentions with two major acquisitions. GB third baseman Maikel Azcuy has joined the Falcons from reigning champions, Essex Arrows, and middle infielder, Pau Sancho, has completed the move from the German Bundesliga where he played for the Bonn Capitals last season.
The Eagles, Hawks and Raptors also struggled last year finishing their seasons below .500 in the Triple-A, Double-A and Single-A Leagues, respectively. At this time of year, there is an incredible buzz around the club with so many new faces joining the club – from complete beginners to accomplished ballplayers. In previous years we have seen how new arrivals can bring energy to the club and turn an underdog into a contender. We will have a first glimpse at some of those new faces this Sunday, 11 January, as current and new players report for their first Spring Training session of 2015. For more details about coming to this free open session to give baseball a try contact us.
KEY DATES – ADULT TEAMS
11 January – Adult team players report for first Spring Training session
22 February – First outdoor session for adult team players on the Astroturf
15 March – Adult teams return to Grovehill Ballpark for the first time in 2015
21 or 28 March – Start of the 2014 Herts Spring League
12 April – Opening Day (NBL)
19 April, Opening Day (Triple-A, Double-A, Single-A Leagues)
August-September – Postseason Playoffs and National Championships
September-October – Hunlock Series
YOUTH LEAGUES
In 2014 Herts teams reached the National Championships in all three age groups of the BBF youth leagues. They picked up bronze medals in the U17 and U14 age groups, while the U12s finished fourth in their first appearance on the national scene.
The Herts U17 players and coaches will feel disappointed that they couldn’t fulfil their ambition of winning the U17 National Championship for the first time in Herts baseball history as they knew they had a team which could compete. There are rumours around the league that the U17 league may be converted into an U19 league which could give the generation which missed out in 2014 another shot at the national title.
KEY DATES – YOUTH TEAMS
11 January – U19 and U17 team players report for first Spring Training session
22 February – First outdoor session for the U19 and U17 players on the Astroturf
1 March – U15, U14, U12 and U10 players report for their first Spring Training session
April – Opening Day (U19, U17, U15, U14, U12, U10)
20-21 June – Little League UK Qualifiers (U19/U17, U15, U12)
July-August – Little League Europe Qualifier (Poland or Italy) and World Series (USA) (subject to qualification)
September – National Youth Baseball Championships (U19/U17, U15/U14, U12/U10)
September – Herts Futures Tournament (U19/U17, U15/U14, U12/U10)
HOW TO REGISTER FOR THE 2015 HERTS BASEBALL SEASON
Herts Baseball Club has commenced the 2015 member registration process. For those who already have a Herts Online Club House account they will be prompted to register when they log on next time (click here to go to the Herts Online Club House and log on with your existing username and password). Those who are new to Herts and do not have an online account will be able to register as 2015 members by completing this form.