If you happen to be anywhere around Hemel Hempstead this Sunday, you wouldn’t want to miss the baseball gala at Grovehill Ballpark. This is the Opening Day of the 2012 National Baseball League (NBL) season as the Herts Falcons face the Bracknell Blazers, but there will be so much more as part of this special day.
EVERYONE PLAYS
The show begins with a softball tournament for the whole family. The teams will feature members of the Herts youth teams, but very importantly it will see their parents, other family members and friends join in the fun similar to the MLB All-Star Celebrity and Legends Softball Game. The club is also inviting supporters and friends of the club to get involved in this game by simply coming down to the ballpark wearing sporty clothing. For more details and to sign up for the softball tournament contact the club.
HSL CONTINUES
At the same time on the adjacent diamond the Herts Spring League (HSL) continues with 6 more teams in action starting from 10am and finishing at 7pm.
THE MAIN EVENT
The softball tournament will be followed by Awards presentations to the Herts youth team players and then the Opening Game of the 2012 NBL season, national anthem and all. Can the Herts Falcons get off to a winning start? Everyone connected with the club is optimistic that this year the team would be able to compete in the title race and, who knows, perhaps the NBL trophy will return to Hertfordshire. It has been 43 years since the Watford Sun Rockets lifted the NBL trophy beating the Liverpool Trojans 8-7 in extra innings in the 1969 NBL Final.
HOT DOGS
The baseball season cannot start without hot dogs at the ballpark. Fans and players will be able to enjoy not just hot dogs, but all sorts of other snacks including freshly made Krispy Kreme donuts, hot and cold beverages and more.
WEATHER
Will the sunny warm weather stay with us for the weekend’s event? If the event has to be postponed due to rain, this will be announced on hertsbaseball.com, and to all followers of Herts Baseball on twitter and facebook. Click here to follow us on Twitter or to like us on Facebookand you will receive a weather alert if the event is cancelled.
THE DAY’S SCHEDULE
- · 9:45am Softball Tournament participants (young and old, male and female) report to ballpark
- · 10:00am Softball Tournament begins
- · 10:00am Herts Hawks vs London Mets U17 (HSL-AAA)
- · 12:00pm Herts Little League Awards Presentation
- · 1:00pm Milton Keynes Bucks vs Cambridge Royals (HSL-AAA)
- · 1:20pm The National Anthem
- · 1:22pm Ceremonial First Pitch
- · 1:30pm Herts Falcons vs Bracknell Blazers (NBL 2012 Opening Game)
- · 4:00pm Herts Falcons vs Bracknell Blazers (Game 2)
- · 4:00pm Essex RedBacks vs Sidewinders (HSL-AAA)
VENUE