The wait is over. Player registration for the 2018 season has commenced.
SOFTBALL
In 2017 Herts Baseball Club launched its softball programme which has enabled the club to offer playing opportunities to a much wider audience and to women in particular. Slowpitch Softball is the more recreational version of the game, which is equally appealing to male and female players. Softball is a social and enjoyable game that’s easy to learn and play, even for people who are not “athletes” or don’t have much experience of team sports. The fact that men and women play together in the same team and on an equal level gives the sport a social buzz.
The first Spring Training session for the softball players is at 10am on Sunday, 18 February. The first few sessions will be held indoors at the modern sports facilities of John F Kennedy School in Hemel Hempstead. All equipment will be provided so anyone aged 14 and over can come and enjoy the day, meet new friends and try a new sport. For more details about the Herts Softball Programme click here. If you are interested to come and try softball at any of the upcoming open sessions contact us and we will provide you with full details and add you to our mailing list.
ADULT BASEBALL LEAGUES
Last season three Herts teams entered the BBF senior baseball leagues. The next two weeks will be critical to see how many players will register to play for Herts in 2018 and on the basis of this the club will decide how many teams to enter before the 16 January league entry deadline. The club was close to entering four teams last season. How many will they enter this year?
KEY DATES – ADULT TEAMS
4 February – Adult team players report for first Spring Training indoor session
4 March – Adult teams return to Grovehill Ballpark for the first time in 2018
17 March – Start of the 2018 Herts Spring League (subject to confirmation of the BBF League Opening Day)*
8 April* – BBF League Opening Day (subject to confirmation)
May – Start of Midweek Evening Baseball
August-September* – BBF Postseason Playoffs and National Championships
September-October – Hunlock Series
* – these are preliminary dates. The BBF will be making its official announcements in due course.
YOUTH BASEBALL LEAGUES
The British Baseball Federation launched the Super League in 2017. It enhanced the youth baseball regular season and it is expected to be even more exciting in 2018. Many of our youth players will be moving up to the next age group to face a different challenge in 2018. They will be joined by the new players who are joining the club every week. The Herts youth teams welcome boys and girls aged between 4 and 16 from complete beginners to experienced players.
KEY DATES – YOUTH TEAMS
4 February – U17, U15, U13 and U11 players report for first Spring Training indoor session
March – First session at Grovehill Ballpark for the youth teams
April – U8 players report for their first session
April – U17, U15, U13, U12, U8 Season Opening Day
June – Little League UK Qualifiers (U17, U15, U13, U11)
July-August – Little League Europe Qualifier (Poland or Italy) and World Series (USA) (subject to qualification)
September – National Youth Baseball Championships (U17, U15, U13, U11)
September – Herts Futures Tournament (U17, U15, U13, U11, U8)
HOW TO REGISTER FOR THE 2018 HERTS BASEBALL AND SOFTBALL SEASON
Herts Baseball Club has commenced the 2018 registration process for adult and youth members. 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 members by completing this form.