Author: AspiDimitrov

by AspiDimitrov

HBC RADIO DEBUTS LIVE INTERNET BROADCAST FOR HUNLOCK DRAFT

 

This Thursday, Herts Baseball Club is set to make British baseball history with its first internet radio broadcast.

 

As the live leadup to its annual postseason Kyle Hunlock Series, the Herts media team will be juggling music, commentary, on-air interviews and live draft results via its streaming internet broadcast. To listen-in is free of charge, and Herts hopes hundreds of UK, US, European and Asian baseball enthusiasts will make time for this historic event. No doubt…the drafted players – members of the HBC franchise – will expect their family and friends to tune in to hear the latest on the Hunlock Series rosters.

 

The Kyle Hunlock Series is held in honour of a fallen friend of the Herts community – Kyle Hunlock. This young man was taken from us far too soon in a work-related accident in the States. Kyle was a much loved member of Herts Baseball, and will be greatly missed by his fellow teammates and the Herts community. This annual event is a way of offering remembrance to Kyle's strength of heart and character, while celebrating our fellow teammates… the Herts family.

 

Part of the fun of the 2008 Hunlock Series is our live, online draft. Moreover, rostered players can be traded and free agents can be picked up on waivers. Much can happen during and after the draft – stay involved with the live feed to catch all the action.

 

HBC/Secure Members can follow the draft picks online at http://www.hertsbaseball.com/secure/draft.php.

 

Donʼt miss a pick – set your browser to auto-refresh.

 

Friends of Herts Baseball can listen in to Thursday's live broadcast by tuning any stream-friendly audio player to the HBC Radio feed. Just select OPEN STREAM or OPEN URL from your audio app's File Menu… and paste this hyperlink: http://hbcradio.internetradio.org.uk:11934/

 

The broadcast will begin at 8pm, Thursday 18 September 2008. The draft will likely commence at 9pm, with post-draft analysis concluding at 11pm.

 

Callers can connect with radio host Jason Greenberg via Skype. Just chat to Jason via Skype name hbc-radio. You can get online, send text messages and even be pulled into the live online broadcast via your desktop or laptop computer. (Hook up headphones first and test your microphone so youʼre all ready to go for audio-chat.)

 

Setting up Skype on your computer takes just a few minutes.  Simply go to Skype and follow the instructions to download it and set up your account.

 

Use these media links to connect to the live broadcast:

Windows Media Player

WinAmp

iTunes

Real Player

 

Official Kyle Hunlock Series website

by AspiDimitrov

RED SOX-YANKEES-CUBS DEADLOCK. HERTS LITTLE LEAGUE EXTENDED TO DETERMINE CHAMPIONS.

 

On a sun-drenched afternoon the players and fans of the Herts Baseball Little League came down to Grovehill Ballpark for the final League day of the season to determine the 2008 Champions.  At the end of the day, three teams were still locked in a stalemate at the top of the standings, which meant that everyone will be coming back for one more final day to decide the Winners. 

 

Before the Final Day games, the Herts Cubs were in the lead and they knew that they had their destiny in their own hands.  They needed one win to make sure that no one jumps above them.  Two wins, and they are the Champions.  Even if they were to lose the first game of the day, a win against the Yankees in the second game would still guarantee them the title.  The Yankees were one game back on the Cubs and needed to make up that deficit over the two games of the day.  The Red Sox were playing catch-up with two games back on the leaders.  They needed to win both their games and hope that the Yankees lose to the Blue Jays and beat the Cubs, which at the start of the day seemed like a very, very unlikely scenario.

 

With all the attention on the three teams at the top of the table, the last-placed Blue Jays caused a major upset by beating the Yankees 4-3.  Fearing that they may have blown their chances of becoming Champions, anxious Yankee players and coaches headed towards Field 1 hoping for a Red Sox win against the Cubs.  Their hopes were realized.  The Red Sox produced their best performance of the season shutting down the Cubs 5-0. 

 

The Cubs may have lost but they knew that a win against the Yankees in the final game of the season and the trophy is theirs.  This proved to be one of the most nail-biting games of the year.  The Yankees took a 5-2 lead going into the final inning, but the Cubs were not giving up.  Despite the Yankees recording two quick outs, the Cubs managed to load the bases.  Up stepped the league’s home run leader, Lewis Paterson (3 HR), to face GB National team pitcher Marty Cullen Jr  in a power-versus-power duel.  With the count full at 3 balls and 2 strikes, Paterson kept fighting, fouling off some tough pitches.  In the eighth pitch of the at bat, Cullen threw a hard inside fastball.  Great pitch but it glanced off Paterson’s leg.  An epic at bat which made the score 5-3 and the bases were still loaded.  Cullen Jr may have been shaken up by this, but with the tying run on second base he kept his composure striking out the next batter to secure the win for the Yankees.

 

The unthinkable had happened.  The Herts Cubs needed to win only one of their two games to become Champions but lost both.  The Red Sox on the other hand have put together a 5-game winning streak just at the right time and the outcome of all the other games was exactly what they were hoping for.  Not even J.K. Rawlings could have written a better script. 

 

In sports such as football a tie in the league table is usually resolved on the basis of goal difference.  In baseball, however, the tradition is that if teams have the same win-loss record at the end of the season they play an extra tie-break game.  The Herts Baseball Little League will follow the true baseball tradition and so the season has been extended and extra games will be played.

 

With the Herts Cubs having a better head-to-head and run difference record than the Yankees and the Red Sox, they have secured their place in the Championship deciding game.  To determine their opponent, the Yankees and the Red Sox will battle it out next week. 

 

This is the schedule for the “final” Final day of the season next Saturday, 20 September.

 

FIRST SET OF GAMES

Red Sox @ Yankees (to determine the second Championship Game Finalist)

Cubs @ Blue Jays (exhibition game)

(3-inning games)

 

SECOND SET OF GAMES

Yankees or Red Sox @ Cubs (Herts Little League Championship Game)

Blue Jays @ Yankees or Red Sox (3rd/4th Place Final)

(4-inning games)

 

Link to Photos from the Final Regular Season Day

Link to the League Standings and Results

by AspiDimitrov

HUNLOCK SERIES ’08 STARTS SUNDAY 21 SEPTEMBER

The third annual Kyle Hunlock Series will get underway in just ten days.  This special, intra-club event is named for fallen Falcon #36 and is a great opportunity for all HBC members to enjoy some friendly (yet competitive) postseason baseball at Grovehill.


LIVE ONLINE DRAFT
Unlike years' past, the 2008 Hunlock Series will set aside the established regular season rosters.  Instead, three new managers will draft three new teams from all available Herts players.  The Red Roosters, Blue Dogs and Black Widows will be comprised of Raptors, Hawks and Falcons.  During the live online draft next week (Thursday 18 September, 8pm) the managers must make shrewd selections when stacking their bench with pitchers, catchers, position players and sluggers.

A Draft Prospectus with relevant hyperlinks will be posted a few days before the event.  Plan to get online next Thursday around 7.45pm and tune-in to the Herts Baseball Internet Radio station.  You will be able to listen to live commentary from the League Commissioner, hear live interviews with the Team Managers and potential superstars, and follow each draft pick as it happens… including your own!


2008 MANAGERS
Three special members have been selected to manage the 2008 Kyle Hunlock Series.  These individuals have gone that extra mile this year for Herts Baseball, making an extra commitment to helping the Club and its teams to improve (on and off the diamond).

Red Roosters – Hunter Devine
Blue Dogs – Tim Elkins
Black Widows – Marty Cullen


SERIES SCHEDULE
Thu. 18 Sept, 8pm      LIVE ONLINE DRAFT
Sun. 21 Sept, 10am    ROUND 1 GAMES (7-innings)
Sun. 28 Sept, 10am    ROUND 2 GAMES (7-innings)
Thu. 02 Oct, 8pm        LIVE ONLINE RE-DRAFT
Sun. 05 Oct, 10am      HUNLOCK CHAMPIONSHIP GAME (9-innings)

The series format is straightforward.  Three teams will face each other twice, with two finalists advancing to the Championship Game.  The Thursday before the Championship, the third-place team will be re-drafted (or dealt out) by the finalist managers.  Therefore all Club members will have a chance to compete in the Final and the finalist managers have more options in fielding a competitive line-up.


OFFICIAL HUNLOCK SERIES HOMEPAGE
http://www.hertsbaseball.com/hunlock/

In the coming days this site will be updated with draft details, team rosters, game results and Series standings.  You will already find the Series schedule and rules, including game rules and draft/trade regulations.

by AspiDimitrov

FALCONS REIGN ON KINGS PARADE, CROWNED AAA CHAMPS



After amodest toast to their charmed ascendancy through the League, the Hertsfirst-team quickly rested and refocused for a Sunday morning clash with theirAAA Oxford rivals.  The Falcons arrivedat Croydon’s Diamond One a full hour-and-a-half before their opponents and the umpiringcrew, fueled only by their sheer determination to finish what they’d begun.

 

The weatherhad not improved despite Club President Aspi Dimitrov’s claim that this was “abetter rain.”  The mist was unrelentingand left the field water-logged and – according to BBF officials –unplayable.  Nevertheless, the Falconsstretched and warmed their arms no less than three times before the mainstagewas relocated to the better-maintained second field, and the game commenced 90minutes behind schedule.

 

Withseveral runner-up games already cancelled due to weather, Herts was eager toget proceedings underway and avoid an unnecessary postponement.  They were present, they were warmed and theywere fired up.  The growing crowd wasequally impatient; the excitement of an inevitable climax hung in the air.

 

Flashbackto July 6 2008: Oxford Kings travel to a rain-soaked Grovehill for a crucialcross-division matchup. Capitalizing as the away team, Oxford jumps out to a four-run lead in thetop of the 1st (unbelievably, in both games of this double-header).

 

It was nosurprise then that Kings Manager Santo Bains chose to again be the away teamwhen he won the coin toss prior to Sunday’s final… a gamble that Oxford would soon regret.

 

Darrin “TheColonel” Ward took the mound seeking revenge – having suffered his only loss ofthe season to Oxfordtwo months prior – and immediately shut down the Kings’ impressiveoffense.  Leadoff batter Masaharu Egawa struckout looking before Jorge Pinto Machado reached first on a hard-hit grounder tothe right side.  Despite the admonitionsof first baseman Marty Cullen, Machado attempted to steal on the next pitch andwas cut down easily by Catcher Jason Greenberg’s cannon.  That play brought Oxford’s running game to a screeching halt;it was their only attempt at a stolen base, and Greenberg was 3-3 in throwdowns over the weekend.  Anotherstrikeout ended the inning, and the Falcons had neutralized Bains’ plans for adominant top-of-the-first.

 

With noscore and two outs in the bottom of the 2nd, and Kimiyoshi Saionjion third base, rightfielder Aspi Dimitrov connected on a 1-and-2 count for aline drive up the middle, bringing home the first run of the game.  Herts had taken a lead they would neverrelinquish.  In the top of the 3rdwith the bases loaded and one out, Ward’s legendary changeup forced Oxford intoan infield fly and a foul-pop to catcher Greenberg ending the threat.

 

The windbeneath their wings, the Falcons quickly tacked on three more runs in thebottom of the inning on two hits and two Kings’ errors.  Despite a string of four hits by Oxfordscoring two runs in the fourth (including a to-the-fence double from Machado),the Falcons brought their lead to 6-2 with precision defense, a triple fromClub President Dimitrov and timely strikeouts from the crafty Ward.  Machado wasn’t finished; he crushed a hangingbreaking ball over the right field wall for the game’s final run (the Kings’third)… but no amount of muscle could combat Herts dogged determination.  Outfielder and lightening-bolt Jim Hyde wasejected in the bottom-of-the-6th for attempting to score on a groundball to the left side.  Although photoevidence shows him under the tag, the umpire punched him out and Hyde,incensed, pounded his helmet into the batters circle.  It was that kind of never-die grit that keptHerts on top despite the game’s mounting pressure.

 

With theFalcons leading 6-3 in the top of the seventh, a strikeout, a fly-out and apop-out brought the AAA season to an end. The natural finalists – first in their respective League brackets – haddone battle in the inclement English weather, in front of the BBF’s top umpiresand officials and to the delight of their many supporting fans.  The Herts Falcons were crowned National Champions,taking the trophy from their scrappy opponents in what proved the tightest,hardest-fought contest of the 2008 Final 4. It was a showdown for the annals, and will be hotly remembered in theseason to come when Herts and Oxfordnext face-off on the diamond.

 

2008 saw animprobable rise to the top for the Herts Baseball Club.  Weathering demotion, re-promotion and nowcoronation, the Falcons’ successes have made for a glory season of resurgenceand optimism.  They garnered the bestwin-loss record in the AAA, bested every opponent they faced, and allowed thefewest runs of any team in the League.  AsBBF President Rob Rance presented the championship trophy, he offeredencouraging words of support to Hertfordshire’s ballclub, saying “Herts is agreat programme – a class act – the kind of Club that the BBF needs to helpthis country develop the game. Congratulations to the Falcons on a fine season.”



BOX SCORE

Oxford Kings at Herts Falcons
Score By Innings 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 R H E
Oxford Kings 0 0 0 2 0 1 0 3 11 2
Herts Falcons 0 1 3 2 0 0 0 6 9 5

Herts Falcons 6, Oxford Kings 3
Herts Falcons Oxford Kings
  ab r h bi   ab r h bi
Jim Hyde lf 2 2 1 0 Player 1 p 4 0 1 0
(t7) Greg Bochan rf 0 0 0 0 Player 2 c 5 1 3 3
Andy Cornish 3b 4 1 1 0 Player 3 1b 4 0 0 0
Jason Greenberg c 4 1 1 1 Player 4 2b 3 0 1 0
Kimiyoshi Saionji 2b 2 1 1 2 Player 5 3b 3 0 1 0
Dan Kerry cf 3 0 1 0 Player 6 ss 4 0 1 0
Marty Cullen 1b 3 0 0 0 Player 7 lf 4 0 1 0
Aspi Dimitrov rf-lf 3 1 2 1 Player 8 cf 4 1 1 0
Nick Goetz ss 3 0 1 0 Player 9 rf 4 1 2 0
Darrin Ward p 3 0 1 1
TEAM TOTALS 27 6 9 5 TEAM TOTALS 35 3 11 3

E: Nick Goetz(3), Marty Cullen, Darrin Ward, Player 1, Player 4. DP: Oxford Kings 1.
LOB: Herts Falcons 7, Oxford Kings 15. 2B: Player 2, Player 9. 3B: Aspi Dimitrov. HR:
Player 2. SB: Jim Hyde(2), Dan Kerry. CS: Player 2.

Herts Falcons IP H R ER BB SO
Darrin Ward W 7.00 11 3 3 3 5
Oxford Kings            
Player 1 L 6.00 9 6 3 2 5

HBP: by Darrin Ward (Player 3). . , by Player 1 (Jim Hyde). . . , by Player 1 (Jim
Hyde). . PB: Player 2. T: 2:28. A: 151.
Oxford Kings – Top of the 1st:
Player 1 struck out looking.
Player 2 reached on error, caught trying to steal 2nd.
Player 3 hit by pitch.
Player 4 struck out swinging.
0 runs, 0 hits, 1 error, 1 LOB.
Herts Falcons – Bottom of the 1st:
Jim Hyde singled, forced out at 2nd.
Andy Cornish hit into double play.
Jason Greenberg struck out swinging.
0 runs, 1 hit, 0 errors, 0 LOB.
Oxford Kings – Top of the 2nd:
Player 5 walked, forced out at 2nd.
Player 6 reached on fielder's choice, batted forward to 2nd.
Player 7 singled.
Player 8 struck out looking.
Player 9 grounded out.
0 runs, 1 hit, 0 errors, 2 LOB.
Herts Falcons – Bottom of the 2nd:
Kimiyoshi Saionji walked, batted forward to home.
Dan Kerry struck out looking.
Marty Cullen grounded out.
Aspi Dimitrov singled, 1 RBI.
Nick Goetz struck out looking.
1 run, 1 hit, 0 errors, 1 LOB.
Oxford Kings – Top of the 3rd:
Player 1 walked, batted forward to 2nd, forced out at 3rd.
Player 2 singled, batted forward to 3rd.
Player 3 reached on fielder's choice, batted forward to 2nd.
Player 4 singled.
Player 5 out by infield fly rule.
Player 6 popped out.
0 runs, 2 hits, 0 errors, 3 LOB.
Herts Falcons – Bottom of the 3rd:
Darrin Ward grounded out.
Jim Hyde hit by pitch, advanced to 3rd on error, advanced to home on passed ball.
Andy Cornish reached on error, advanced to 2nd on error, advanced to 3rd on passed
ball, batted forward to home.
Jason Greenberg reached on error, advanced to 2nd on passed ball, batted forward to
home.
Kimiyoshi Saionji singled, advanced to 2nd on throw, batted forward to 3rd, tagged
out going to home, 2 RBI.
Dan Kerry singled, stole 2nd.
Marty Cullen flied out.
3 runs, 2 hits, 2 errors, 1 LOB.
Oxford Kings – Top of the 4th:
Player 7 flied out.
Player 8 singled, batted forward to home.
Player 9 singled, batted forward to home.
Player 1 singled, batted forward to 3rd.
Player 2 doubled, 2 RBI.
Player 3 grounded out.
Player 4 walked.
Player 5 flied out.
2 runs, 4 hits, 0 errors, 3 LOB.
Herts Falcons – Bottom of the 4th:
Aspi Dimitrov tripled, batted forward to home.
Nick Goetz struck out swinging.
Darrin Ward singled, forced out at 2nd, 1 RBI.
Jim Hyde reached on fielder's choice, batted forward to home.
Andy Cornish singled, batted forward to 3rd.
Jason Greenberg singled, batted forward to 2nd, 1 RBI.
Kimiyoshi Saionji walked.
Dan Kerry popped out.
2 runs, 4 hits, 0 errors, 3 LOB.
Oxford Kings – Top of the 5th:
Player 6 singled, forced out at 2nd.
Player 7 struck out looking.
Player 8 reached on error, batted forward to 3rd.
Player 9 doubled.
Player 1 grounded out.
0 runs, 2 hits, 1 error, 2 LOB.
Herts Falcons – Bottom of the 5th:
Marty Cullen grounded out.
Aspi Dimitrov struck out looking.
Nick Goetz singled.
Darrin Ward grounded out.
0 runs, 1 hit, 0 errors, 1 LOB.
Oxford Kings – Top of the 6th:
Player 2 hit solo home run, 1 RBI.
Player 3 grounded out.
Player 4 popped out.
Player 5 singled, advanced to 3rd on error.
Player 6 reached on error, advanced to 2nd on error.
Player 7 reached on error.
Player 8 grounded out.
1 run, 2 hits, 2 errors, 3 LOB.
Herts Falcons – Bottom of the 6th:
Jim Hyde hit by pitch, stole 2nd, stole 3rd, tagged out going to home.
Hyde ejected for tossing helmet after being called out at home. It must be noted
that Hyde did not say a single word to the umpire and this may have just been due to
frustration. Hyde wouldn't have been ejected if this had happened in an MLB game.
Andy Cornish popped out.
Jason Greenberg reached on fielder's choice.
Kimiyoshi Saionji popped out.
0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 1 LOB.
Oxford Kings – Top of the 7th:
Player 9 struck out swinging.
Player 1 reached on error, advanced to 2nd on error.
Player 2 flied out.
Player 3 popped out.
Falcons are AAA Champions…Falcons are AAA Chapmions…Go crazy folks…go crazy
0 runs, 0 hits, 1 error, 1 LOB.
by AspiDimitrov

HERTS QUALIFY, PILOTS SHOT DOWN OVER CROYDON

The diamond was drenched in déjà vu.  Only one year ago the Herts first-team were onthis same field… facing the same opposition.

 

In the 2007 National Championships, the Falcons metthe Humber Pilots in the AA Final. Relegated from the Premier League the season before, Herts weredetermined to cap their walk-over winning season with a trophy and trip backinto the AAA.  But sloppy first-inningdefense and ineffective pitching allowed Humbera 5-0 lead, and they never looked back. The Falcons suffered an 8-5 loss and hung their heads in defeat.  Although they secured re-promotion to theAAA, the lack of a national title was the sole blemish on an otherwise perfect(and perfectly effortless) season.

 

Here we go again. Humber – also promoted to the AAA in the Northern bracket – made thelong trek due south from Hullto face their pushover opponents from the previous year.  Heavy storm clouds loomed over the same,rain-soaked field… and the Pilots came expecting a repeat victory.

 

Mayday! Mayday!

 

These were not the same Falcons.  Herts charged into 2008 with a full head ofsteam.  New leadership brought a wholenew approach.  With a focus on improvedtraining methods and a unifying philosophy, these Falcons sported adetermination and team commitment unrivalled in years past.  The emergence of additional talent – newfoundand home grown – meant that Herts brought improved speed, pitching, defense andpower to an already successful lineup. The Pilots were in for a dogfight.

 

In a complete reversal of their last encounter, theFalcons won the coin toss, took the home side dugout and readied themselves fora tooth-and-nail showdown.  The Pilotsseemed to take an early advantage when 2007 Best Pitcher Nic Goetz got off to aherky-jerky start walking the first two batters and beaning the third.  But the threat was quickly silenced.  Catcher Jason Greenberg gunned down awould-be base-stealer for the first out of the game, and a line-drive doubleplay by third baseman Darrin Ward brought the inning to the end.  Herts wasted no time in embracing theirmomentum.  In the bottom of the 1st,speedy leadoff batter Jim Hyde walked, stole second and was brought home on adouble from slugger Andy Cornish.  Twomore hits, two walks, a hit batter and a suicide squeeze brought in anadditional four runs for the Falcons who, in a reversal of fortunes of their2007 championship game, had an early 5-0 lead… and a confidence that evenMother Nature couldn’t quash.

 

Goetz quickly found his focus and dominated the Humber offense.  Ina foreshortened five-inning game the Pilots were held to one run on only twohits.  Meanwhile, the Falcons batserupted for six runs in the 2nd, six more in the 3rd, andfour runs in the 4th.  Theblowout seemed to end before it had even begun as the Falcons brought theirwinged rivals down to earth in a 21-1 qualifying win.

 

The game was not without controversy.  The two-man ump crew of Petter Nordwall andDarrin Muller hand their hands full with the frustrated Humberside.  Shortly after shortstop C. Radgewas ejected for colourfully objecting to a close play at second base, oneinning later replacement shortstop S. Radgewas thrown out for intentionally tripping speedster Hyde on the base-path.  Indeed, this marked the first father-sonejections in recorded BBF championship history.

 

On the positive side, Herts busted out the bigbats.  Cornish connected for two doublesand a monster-run for 4 RBI.  MartyCullen and Darrin Ward also doubled, and Ward smacked a two-run blast of hisown.  Second-baseman Kimiyoshi Saionjiwent 4-for-4 with 4 RBI including a three-run dinger.  The Falcons flew around the base-pathsstealing 8-of-8 and hustling out two triples from Jim “T-Devil” Hyde and Dan“Hollywood” Kerry.

 

As the Falcons packed up their rain-soaked gear withthe knowledge that Oxfordhad bested their division rival London Metros, the inevitable question loomed…“Can we win it all…?”



BOX SCORE

Humber Pilots at Herts Falcons
Score By Innings 1 2 3 4 5 R H E
Humber Pilots 0 0 1 0 0 1 2 4
Herts Falcons 5 6 6 4 0 21 19 2

Herts Falcons 21, Humber Pilots 1
Herts Falcons Humber Pilots
  ab r h bi   ab r h bi
Jim Hyde lf 4 2 3 1 M Radge cf 2 0 0 0
Andy Cornish ss 4 3 3 4 S Radge 2b 2 0 1 0
Jason Greenberg c 4 3 1 0 C Radge ss 0 0 0 0
Kimiyoshi Saionji 2b 4 4 4 4 A Maltby c 1 0 0 1
Darrin Ward 3b 2 3 2 3 B Webb p 2 0 0 0
(t4) Peter Kikel 3b 1 0 0 0 M Gilbert 3b 2 0 0 0
Dan Kerry cf 2 3 2 1 S Mayhew lf 2 0 0 0
(t4) Tim Elkins cf 0 1 0 0 K McThitas 1b 2 0 1 0
Marty Cullen 1b 3 2 2 2 P Senn rf 2 1 0 0
Greg Bochan rf 2 0 1 1
(b3) Rodney Naghar rf 2 0 1 1
Lee Manning dh 3 0 0 0
Nick Goetz p 0 0 0 0
Aspi Dimitrov p 0 0 0 0
TEAM TOTALS 31 21 19 17 TEAM TOTALS 15 1 2 1

E: Andy Cornish, Darrin Ward, M Gilbert(2), C Radge, M Radge. LOB: Humber Pilots 4,
Herts Falcons 6. 2B: Andy Cornish(2), Darrin Ward, Marty Cullen. 3B: Jim Hyde, Dan
Kerry. HR: Kimiyoshi Saionji, Andy Cornish, Darrin Ward. SB: Andy Cornish(2), Jim
Hyde(2), Jason Greenberg(2), Kimiyoshi Saionji, Dan Kerry. CS: M Radge, S Mayhew. SB:
Marty Cullen.

Herts Falcons IP H R ER BB SO
Nick Goetz W 4.00 2 1 1 4 1
Aspi Dimitrov 1.00 0 0 0 0 1
Humber Pilots            
B Webb L 4.00 19 21 16 5 3

HBP: by Nick Goetz (C Radge), by B Webb (Dan Kerry). . . , by B Webb (Lee Manning). .
Balk: B Webb. T: 2:00. A: 151.
Humber Pilots – Top of the 1st:
M Radge walked, caught trying to steal 2nd.
S Radge walked, batted forward to 2nd, tagged out going to 3rd.
C Radge hit by pitch.
A Maltby lined out.
0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 1 LOB.
Herts Falcons – Bottom of the 1st:
Jim Hyde singled, stole 2nd, batted forward to home.
Andy Cornish doubled, stole 3rd, batted forward to home, 1 RBI.
Jason Greenberg grounded out.
Kimiyoshi Saionji singled, stole 2nd, batted forward to home, 1 RBI.
Darrin Ward walked, batted forward to 3rd, advanced to home on error.
Dan Kerry hit by pitch, batted forward to 2nd, advanced to 3rd on error, batted
forward to home.
Marty Cullen sacrifice bunted, 1 RBI.
Greg Bochan singled, 1 RBI.
Lee Manning grounded out.
5 runs, 4 hits, 1 error, 1 LOB.
Humber Pilots – Top of the 2nd:
B Webb grounded out.
M Gilbert struck out looking.
S Mayhew reached on error, caught trying to steal 2nd.
0 runs, 0 hits, 1 error, 0 LOB.
Herts Falcons – Bottom of the 2nd:
Jim Hyde walked, stole 2nd, batted forward to home.
Andy Cornish hit 2-run home run, 2 RBI.
Jason Greenberg reached on error, stole 2nd, batted forward to home.
Kimiyoshi Saionji singled, batted forward to home, 1 RBI.
Darrin Ward doubled, batted forward to home, 1 RBI.
Dan Kerry singled, stole 2nd, advanced to 3rd on balk, batted forward to home, 1 RBI.
Marty Cullen singled, batted forward to 3rd, 1 RBI.
Greg Bochan flied out.
Lee Manning flied out.
Jim Hyde singled, advanced to 2nd on error, picked off.
6 runs, 6 hits, 2 errors, 1 LOB.
Humber Pilots – Top of the 3rd:
K McThitas singled, forced out at 2nd.
P Senn reached on fielder's choice, batted forward to home.
M Radge popped out.
S Radge singled, batted forward to 3rd.
C Radge walked, batted forward to 2nd.
A Maltby walked, 1 RBI.
B Webb grounded out.
1 run, 2 hits, 0 errors, 3 LOB.
Herts Falcons – Bottom of the 3rd:
Andy Cornish doubled, batted forward to 3rd, stole home.
Jason Greenberg singled, stole 2nd, batted forward to home.
Kimiyoshi Saionji singled, batted forward to home.
Darrin Ward hit 2-run home run, 2 RBI.
Dan Kerry tripled, advanced to home on error.
Marty Cullen reached on error, batted forward to home.
Rodney Naghar struck out swinging.
Lee Manning popped out.
Jim Hyde tripled, 1 RBI.
Andy Cornish grounded out.
6 runs, 6 hits, 1 error, 1 LOB.
Humber Pilots – Top of the 4th:
M Gilbert reached on error, forced out at 2nd.
S Mayhew lined out.
K McThitas grounded out.
0 runs, 0 hits, 1 error, 0 LOB.
Herts Falcons – Bottom of the 4th:
Jason Greenberg walked, batted forward to home.
Kimiyoshi Saionji hit 2-run home run, 2 RBI.
Peter Kikel struck out looking.
Tim Elkins walked, batted forward to home.
Marty Cullen doubled, batted forward to home.
Rodney Naghar singled, batted forward to 3rd, 1 RBI.
Lee Manning hit by pitch, batted forward to 2nd.
Jim Hyde struck out looking.
Andy Cornish walked, 1 RBI.
Jason Greenberg grounded out.
4 runs, 3 hits, 0 errors, 3 LOB.
Humber Pilots – Top of the 5th:
P Senn grounded out.
M Radge grounded out.
S Radge struck out swinging.
0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 0 LOB.

by AspiDimitrov

BBC RADIO TO COVER FALCONS’ PROGRESS AT FINAL 4

The British Baseball National Championships Final 4 is just hours away.  Players and fans of the Herts Falcons are preparing to head down to Croydon on Saturday morning.  Bats, balls, helmets and everything else has been packed.  Judging by the weather forecast there will not be a need for sunscreen.  Hotel rooms have been booked, and the team is all set to go.

Fans of Herts Baseball Club who will not be able to travel to Croydon, can keep up-to-date with events on Saturday on BBC 3 Counties Radio.  Presenter Luke Ashmead will have news of the Falcons during his afternoon show.  If the Falcons win their Semi-Final game on Sunday BBC may even try a satellite linkup with the Falcons at around 2:50pm.

RELATED LINKS: BBC 3 Counties Radio Home Page

by AspiDimitrov

BBF AAA NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP – EARLY START FOR FALCONS ON SUNDAY

The British Baseball Federation have made a change to the Sunday schedule at this weekend's Final 4.  The Herts Falcons game has been moved forward to the earlier 10am start.

Here is the official BBF press release:

The 2008 National Baseball Championships take place on September 6-7 at Roundshaw Playing Fields in Croydon. Twelve teams have made the finals, competing for the title of National Baseball Champions, as well as the champions of the AAA and AA Divisions.

The twelve finalists are:

National Baseball League
London Mets
Manchester Eagles
Menwith Hill Patriots
Richmond Flames

AAA-Division
Herts Falcons
Humber Pilots
London Metros
Oxford Kings

AA-Division
Birmingham Maple Leafs
Bournemouth Sharks
Manchester A’s
Sidewinders

SCHEDULE

In each bracket teams will play a single qualifying game to determine the two teams going to the finals. At NBL level the final will be contested over a three-game series. For AAA and AA a single game final will take place. Games will be played on two diamonds.

Spectators are welcome and entry and car parking is free. Food and drinks will be available.

Saturday 6 September

Diamond 1

10.00 AA Qualifier 1 – Bournemouth Sharks vs Birmingham Maple Leafs
12.00 AAA Qualifier 1 – Humber Pilots vs Herts Falcons
14.00 NBL Qualifier 1 – London Mets vs Menwith Hill Patriots
16.00 NBL Final Series Game 1

Diamond 2

10.00 AA Qualifier 2 – Manchester A's vs Sidewinders
12.00 AAA Qualifier 2 – Oxford Kings vs London Metros
14.00 NBL Qualifier 2 – Manchester Eagles vs Richmond Flames
16.00 AA 3rd/4th Place Game

Sunday 7 September

Diamond 1

10.00 AAA Final
12.00 NBL Final Series Game 2
14.00 NBL Final Series Game 3

Diamond 2

10.00 AAA 3rd/4th Place Game
12.00 NBL 3rd/4th Place Game
14.00 AA Final

All games are over seven innings with the standard ten run “slaughter” rule applied from the fifth inning onwards. The team in each bracket with best regular season record plays its qualifier game on Diamond 1. Start times may be pushed back if earlier games overrun, however no game will start earlier than its scheduled time.

The previously billed A-Division championship has been cancelled due to unavailability of one of the teams due to play. A-Division regular season games continue in September, although the winner of each of the two groups – Croydon Pirates III and The Old Timers – has already been determined.

by AspiDimitrov

2008 CHAMPIONS DECIDED THIS WEEKEND, WILL FALCONS LIFT THE AAA TROPHY?

 

Last weekend’s baseball action was wiped out by the rain.  Hertfordshire’ top team, the Falcons, travelled South to the magnificent Pavilion Field in Brighton only to find a flooded home plate and base areas.   Both Herts and their hosts, the Burgess Hill Red Hats, tried frantically to remove the standing water – and they succeeded – but unfortunately it had already caused sufficient damage to make the ground too soft and unstable, which raised the risk of injuries.  With the Falcons having clinched a Final 4 place and the Red hats already out of contention, the games would not affect the standings and the officials chose to postpone the game in view of the hazardous ground conditions.

 

The hosts from Burgess Hill were very generous in allowing the Falcons to use Pavilion Field to have a practice session in preparation for the Final 4 so it was not a completely wasted afternoon although travelling from Hertfordshire to Brighton for a training session was not ideal.

 

We are now officially into the 2008 postseason with Britain’s top baseball teams battling it out for silverware on 6 and 7 September.  The winners of all four British Baseball Leagues will be decided in one action-packed weekend.  Here is the line-up in the respective Leagues:

 

British National league Finalists: London Mets, Richmond Flames, Manchester Eagles, Menwith Hill Patriots

British AAA Finalists: Herts Falcons, Oxford Kings, Humber Pilots, London Metros

British AA Finalists: Manchester A’s, Bournemouth Sharks, Enfield Sidewinders, Birmingham Maple Leafs

British A Finalists: Croydon Pirates III, Old Timers

 

A full Falcons squad will be heading to Roundshaw Playing Fields in Croydon and every member of the team is fully fit.  The Falcons will be supported by their loyal fans who have followed the team up and down the country all season long.

 

For the Falcons it all starts on Saturday at 12:00pm on the Main Diamond in Croydon when they meet their old rivals the Humber Pilots, winners of the AAA Northern Division (13-9).  The two teams met last year once again in the Final 4 but at AA level.  12 months later both teams have made the successful adjustment to the much higher standards of the AAA League.  The Falcons will be looking to settle old scores after losing 8-5 last time around.  If the Falcons overcome the Pilots they will go to the Final on Sunday at 2pm and once again it is likely to be played on the Main Diamond.  Their opponents will be the winner of the other semi-final between the Oxford Kings and the London Metros.

 

In the other Divisions there will be two ex-Herts players who have managed to reach the Final 4.  Both of them are leftie pitchers.  Paul Raybould will be wearing the Old Timers jersey in the Single-A Final against the Croydon Pirates III.  In the AA Division, Bruce “the Big Unit” Dullea, now of the Enfield Sidewinders, will be looking to go one better than he did with the Falcons in 2007 and win the trophy.    

by AspiDimitrov

(VIDEO) BASEBALL IS TALK OF THE TOWN

 

 

This Saturday the town centre in Hemel Hempstead had an added baseball flavour.  Members of the adult and Little League teams of Herts Baseball Club alongside Little League parents invaded the Riverside Shopping Centre.  This was billed as a fundraising event for the club’s Grovehill Ballpark Project, but it was about a lot more than just raising funds.  This was an opportunity for the club to spread news of the great work it does for the local community and the fantastic opportunities it offers for youngsters and adults to play baseball by joining one of the best and coolest sports clubs in the UK.

 

 

It was impressive to see so many members of the public who were already aware of Herts Baseball Club and the game of baseball.  Those who did not know that baseball is being played right on their doorstep, took the club’s recruitment flyer and the club is very happy to report that within hours of the event, the club’s website started to receive enquiries about joining the Herts Baseball Little League and the Herts adult teams.  Herts Little League Vice President, Marty Cullen, said: “This was a very successful event and we intend to do more promotional events in the future.  We certainly hope that we will have the opportunity to say hello again to the many people who we met today, but this time in our home at Grovehill Ballpark.”

 

Many shoppers had the opportunity to take part in the Baseball Quiz to test their baseball knowledge and they certainly did well despite some hesitation earlier in the day. 

 

Amazingly, one of the Quiz contestants turned out to be a relative of New York Mets third baseman, David Wright.  It is beyond belief that one of the superstars of baseball who can be regularly seen on the front covers of the world’s major sports magazines, has a relative right here in Hemel Hempstead.  But then again, Hemel Hempstead is becoming something of a central point for baseball in the UK, so it makes sense that UK-based relatives of baseball stars would be living in Hemel Hempstead.

 

The undoubted stars of the day were the Little League boys and girls who were buzzing around from start to finish with their collection buckets.  In total they single-handedly raised £177.96 from the very generous residents of Hemel and other parts of Hertfordshire – an amazing achievement by the Little Leaguers.

 

Many members of the public also left their good luck video messages to the Herts Falcons ahead of their games in the AAA British National Championships Final 4 on 6-7 September. 

 

Herts Baseball Club wants to thank the Riverside Shopping Centre in Hemel for allowing this fundraising event to take place on their premises.

 

 

Can you believe it?  New York Mets third baseman, David Wright,

has relatives right here in Hemel Hempstead.