Author: AspiDimitrov

by AspiDimitrov

HERTS BASEBALL CLUB ANNOUNCES ALL-STAR WEEK SCHEDULE

One of the great weeks on the baseball calendar is Major League Baseball’s All-Star Week.  Herts Baseball Club also tries to recreate this great tradition here in the United Kingdom by running events alongside those which take place on the other side of the Atlantic. 

 

Herts Baseball Club has just announced the events schedule for All-Star Week.

 

Saturday, 12 July 2008

Members of the Herts AAA, AA and A adult teams will head South for this year’s International London Tournament held in Croydon over two days.  Most hotel rooms in that part of London have already been booked as Herts Baseball Club members intend to make an all-out invasion of Croydon.  For the first time in its history, the club has entered two teams in what is arguably the biggest adult baseball event in this country.   The tournament game schedule will be confirmed a few days before the event.  In the evening, following the first day of games, the Tournament will stage the annual Home Run Derby.

 

Sunday, 13 July 2008

Day 2 of the International London Tournament including the deciding games to determine the winners and the losers.

 

Monday, 14 July 2008

(TV) 01:00am 2008 MLB Home-Run Derby (Watch it live on MLB.COM)

MLB .COM is currently running some promotional campaigns which offer the opportunity to watch one week of MLB TV free of charge.

 

Tuesday, 15 July 2008

(TV) 01:05am MLB 2008 All-Star Game, American League vs National league (Watch it live on Channel Five)

 

Wednesday, 16 July 2008

5:45pm, Herts Raptors will be joined by Milwaukee Brewers Coach, Sam Dempster for a special training session at Grovehill Ballpark.  This session is also open to Herts Hawks, Herts Falcons and potential new member of the club.  If you are not a member and you would like to give baseball a go please contact us for details how to take part in this special training session baseball@hertsbaseball.com

 

Thursday, 17 July 2008

4:00pm, Herts Baseball Little League Players will be joined by Milwaukee Brewers Coach, Sam Dempster for a training session at Grovehill Ballpark. 

 

5:45pm, Herts Falcons will be joined by Milwaukee Brewers Coach, Sam Dempster for a special training session at Grovehill Ballpark.  

 

Saturday, 19 July 2008

9:30 – 10:30 – Herts Baseball Little League Clinic run by Great Britain Baseball National Team Coaches

 

10:30 – 1:00 – Herts Baseball Little League (Yankees @ Red Sox, Blue Jays @ Cubs, Cubs @ Yankees, Red Sox @ Blue Jays)

 

1:30pm – GB Juniors National Team vs GB Seniors Trialists

Great opportunity for baseball fans in and around Hertfordshire to take a look at some of the best young baseball players in Great Britain.

 

Sunday, 20 July 2008

11:00pm, AA League: Herts Hawks vs Brentwood Stags, Grovehill Ballpark

 

3:00pm,  Single-A League: Herts Raptors vs Bracknell Blazers, Grovehill Ballpark

by AspiDimitrov

BRITAIN’S GOT TALENT? GB BASEBALL HOLDS TRIAL EXHIBITION GAME IN HERTFORDSHIRE

Great Britain Senior National Baseball Team at the Viladecans Baseball Stadium, Barcelona, September 2007

 

Herts Baseball Club is pleased to announce that the Great Britain National Baseball Programme has chosen Hertfordshire to host a special GB trial opportunity on Saturday, 19 July 2008, which will consist of two games between the GB Junior National Baseball Team (as they enter the final and crucial stage of their preparation for the 2008 European Championships qualifier) and a team consisting of current and would-be members of the GB Senior National Baseball Team. This is the first ever GB Baseball trial to be staged in Hertfordshire and is a wonderful opportunity for baseball fans in and around the county to come and see some of Great Britain’s current and future baseball stars in action.

One or two players from the GB team which famously won the Silver Medal at the 2007 European Championships in Barcelona last year will join other current GB team members taking part in this event. Brian Essery (currently of the London Mets) is scheduled to play, and it is expected that Ian Young (ex-Windsor Bears) will also be able to attend.  Essery is a former professional pitcher and he was GB's #1 starter during the 2007 European Championships, while Young made the EC All-Tourney team as a First Baseman.  Young was also the tourney's leading hitter in the 2005 EC. Essery, Young, and other current members of the GB Senior National Baseball Team will be joined by UK-based National League and AAA League players for whom this event is serving as a trial opportunity.

Around 20 trialists are expected to take part in these exhibition games and they come from 9 British Baseball League teams.  Among them will be two Herts players who will be hoping to impress the GB staff and receive an official call-up to the GB squad. They are 23 year old Andy Cornish from Hemel Hempstead, who is the Joint 2007 Home Run Champion, and outfielder, Dan Kerry from St. Albans, who is the current Herts Home Run leader. Both have been central to the success of the Herts Falcons team that currently leads the British AAA league with an amazing 15-3 record.
 
Their invitation to participate in the trial is a tremendous boost for the club and proof that the opportunity is there for youth and adult Herts players to progress and possibly play for their country. The future stars of Herts Baseball Club who are currently playing in the Herts Little League will be on hand to witness this for themselves.
 
The day’s activities will start with a clinic for the Herts Little League to be run by, GB Programme Coaches, followed by the scheduled Little League games.

 Event Schedule:

9:30 – 10:30 – Herts Baseball Little League Clinic run by Great Britain National Baseball Programme Coaches

10:30 – 1:00 – Herts Baseball Little League (Yankees @ Red Sox, Blue Jays @ Cubs, Cubs @ Yankees, Red Sox @ Blue Jays)
 
1:30pm – GB Junior National Baseball Team vs GB Seniors Trialists (Game 1)
 
3:30pm – GB Junior National Baseball Team vs GB Seniors Trialists (Game 2)
 
This event is open to the general public and we invite all baseball fans to attendwhat is a very rare opportunity to see some of Great Britain’s Baseball stars right here in Hertfordshire. Admission is free and traditional baseball snacks and drinks will be available to buy at the Ballpark (all profits from these sales will go towards the club’s project to develop a second baseball diamond at Grovehill Ballpark).  
 Directions to Grovehill Ballpark 


If you require additional details please contact us: baseball@hertsbaseball.com
 Herts Baseball Club welcomes new players (from complete beginners to professionals) for both the adult league teams and the Little League, so if you are interested in giving baseball a try please contact us.

by AspiDimitrov

FALCONS AND KINGS SHARE THRONE, SPLIT SHOWDOWN

The forecasts were dead-on: relentless and scattered showers.  Nevertheless, both Herts and Oxford were determined to test one another's defence and power.  As the respective leaders in AAA Divisions A and B, these rivals weren't about to let a little rain get in the way of their much-anticipated showdown.  In addition to moving the teams a little closer to their 'magic number' (the countdown in games to when a squad clinches its playoff berth), this was also a preview of the likely strengths and weaknesses these two teams might encounter should they face-off again in the Final 4.

Game One got off to a shaky start for the home team.  After rushing to get things underway in the nasty weather, everyone huddled under the gazebos and waited for the umpire to muscle his way through the M-25 gridlock.  Despite unofficial protests from the visiting team, soon things were underway and an early four-run Oxford lead silenced their grumblings.

Starter Nic Goetz struggled to find his command in the 1st, surrendering a leadoff single followed by a monster two-run blast from switch-hitter Jorge Machado.  The next batter was hit by a pitch and two Falcons errors allowed a further two runs to cross home plate.  With one out and the Kings threatening to cause more damage, Goetz forced a double play to stop the bleeding and end the inning.

From that point forward Goetz was masterful, issuing only two walks in the game.  Although they chalked up ten hits, Oxford stranded seven runners on base and managed only three more earned runs in the 7th.  In that final inning – after three singles and a pop out – the Kings were threatening to capsize the Falcons lead.  Oxford pitcher Matteo Convento was on first base representing the tying run when another player gently flied-out to the right-side of the infield.  Convento, however, had lost track of how many outs had been issued in the inning, and stood shaking his head halfway to second base as the Falcons doubled him up to seal the victory.

Game Two was the most flagrant upset of the season for the Herts first team.  A mixture of sloppy errors and multiple wild pitches by Falcons pitcher Darrin Ward set the score at 7-2 for Oxford in the 2nd inning.  It was at this point – with catcher Jason Greenberg at bat with two outs in a 0-2 count with Andy Cornish on first – that the umpire called for a rain delay.  Both teams hustled to the gazebos and waited out a 25-minute thunderstorm before retaking the field.  The Kings wisely brought out a new pitcher, Masaharu Egawa.  After two wild pitches, bringing the suspended count to 2-2 and advancing Cornish to third base, Greenberg lined a ground-rule double into left field.  The hits kept coming after that for the Falcons.  Four singles brought in six runs and Herts took the lead 8-7.

Going into the third it seemed like the Falcons were destined for a sweep… but instead they played their worst inning of baseball in the 2008 season.  Perhaps the long rain delay in the cold wind had set in and the players' muscles had tightened up.  Perhaps it was the failure to properly re-warm pitcher Ward, or restretch before heading out into the field.  Third baseman Cornish left the game with a dead leg.  Catcher Greenberg was showing signs of fatigue.  Whatever the ultimate cause, Oxford combined for 15 runs on 10 hits and 5 errors committed by the Herts defence.  This put the score at 22-8, and the Kings never looked back.  They won the game 24-10 in five innings (the first time the Falcons had suffered defeat by the slaughter-rule).

All things considered, Herts was pleased with the split.  Oxford moves to 13-5, only two games ahead of the 2nd place Southampton squad.  The Falcons find themselves with an AAA-leading record of 15-3 and only eight games left to play.  They are six games ahead of the .500 Essex Arrows and London Metros.

And, that magic number?  It stands at 7.  Any combination of seven Falcons wins or Arrows/Metros losses will vault the Herts first team into the playoffs.

Come on lucky seven.

GAME ONE

Oxford Kings at Herts Falcons
Score By Innings 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 R H E
Oxford Kings 4 0 0 0 0 0 3 7 9 3
Herts Falcons 0 2 2 1 0 3 0 8 8 5

Herts Falcons 8, Oxford Kings 7
Herts Falcons Oxford Kings
  ab r h bi   ab r h bi
Andy Cornish 3b 2 1 2 0 Masa 2b 4 1 1 0
Jason Greenberg c 4 2 1 0 Jorge ss 4 1 2 2
Dan Kerry cf 4 2 2 1 Jarek c 3 1 0 0
Kimiyoshi Saionji 2b 3 1 1 1 Paul 1b-p 3 1 1 0
Darrin Ward 1b 3 1 1 0 Santo cf-1b 4 1 0 0
Marty Cullen dh 3 0 0 0 Adam 3b 3 1 1 2
Lee Manning ss 1 0 0 0 Aaron rf-sf 4 0 2 3
Aspi Dimitrov rf 3 0 0 0 Tom lf 4 0 2 0
Jim Hyde lf 3 1 1 0
Nick Goetz p 0 0 0 0
TEAM TOTALS 26 8 8 2 TEAM TOTALS 29 6 9 7

E: Andy Cornish(2), Lee Manning(2), Nick Goetz, Jorge, Jarek, Adam. DP: Herts Falcons
1. LOB: Herts Falcons 6, Oxford Kings 7. 2B: Jason Greenberg, Jim Hyde. HR: Jorge.
SB: Dan Kerry(2), Jim Hyde, Aspi Dimitrov, Jason Greenberg, Jarek, Adam. CS: Paul.

Herts Falcons IP H R ER BB SO
Nick Goetz W 7.00 10 7 5 2 2
Oxford Kings            
Paul L 3.00 3 4 2 2 4

HBP: by Nick Goetz (Jarek). . , by Nick Goetz (Paul). . . . . WP: Paul(2). PB: Jason
Greenberg. T: 3:00. A: 0.

GAME TWO

Oxford Kings at Herts Falcons
Score By Innings 1 2 3 4 5 R H E
Oxford Kings 4 3 15 2 0 24 19 4
Herts Falcons 2 6 0 2 0 10 11 8

Oxford Kings 24, Herts Falcons 10
Oxford Kings Herts Falcons
  ab r h bi   ab r h bi
Masa p 5 3 3 2 Andy Cornish 3b 2 1 0 0
Jorge c 5 3 3 2 (t4) Aspi Dimitrov p 0 0 0 0
Jarek 1b 4 3 3 2 Jason Greenberg c 4 2 2 1
Paul 2b 5 4 2 1 Dan Kerry cf 4 2 1 0
Santo 3b 5 3 3 4 Kimiyoshi Saionji 2b 2 2 1 2
Adam ss 5 2 3 5 Lee Manning dh-ss 3 1 1 1
Katsu lf 3 1 0 0 Marty Cullen 1b 3 2 3 2
Aaron cf 3 2 0 0 Greg Bochan lf 2 0 1 1
Tom rf 3 3 2 2 (t4) Jim Hyde lf 1 0 1 0
Nick Goetz ss-3b 3 0 1 0
Rodney Naghar rf 3 0 0 0
Darrin Ward p 1 0 0 0
TEAM TOTALS 38 24 19 18 TEAM TOTALS 28 10 11 7

E: Jorge(2), Masa, Santo, Dan Kerry(2), Jason Greenberg, Andy Cornish, Lee Manning,
Greg Bochan, Nick Goetz, Darrin Ward. DP: Oxford Kings 1. LOB: Oxford Kings 4, Herts
Falcons 5. 2B: Masa(2), Santo, Jarek, Adam, Dan Kerry, Jason Greenberg, Marty Cullen.
HR: Adam, Jorge. SB: Jorge(2), Jarek(2), Masa(2), Santo, Paul, Kimiyoshi Saionji, Jim
Hyde, Aspi Dimitrov.

Oxford Kings IP H R ER BB SO
Masa W 5.00 11 10 3 2 5
Jarek 0.00 0 0 0 0 0
Herts Falcons            
Darrin Ward L 3.00 17 22 12 3 1
Aspi Dimitrov 2.00 2 2 2 2 1

WP: Masa(3), Darrin Ward(5). PB: Jorge. T: 3:00. A: 35.

by AspiDimitrov

HERTS LITTLE LEAGUERS BRING PLAYBALL WORLD SERIES TROPHY BACK TO HERTFORDSHIRE

 

Hertfordshire’s Baseball Little League may have started less than a month ago, but it already has a trophy in its trophy cabinet. 

 

A strong contingent from Hertfordshire invaded Coventry early on Saturday morning for the 10th MLB PlayBall World Series involving 12 teams from around the country.  The Herts Little League was represented in this prestigious national event by two All-Star Teams.  The Herts Red Sox, which included some of the older Little League players, were drawn in a tough group with the Nottingham Pirates and the Sunderland Giants.  The Herts Indians included younger players from  the Herts Little  League and they faced the Windsor Astros and the Gloucester Orioles in Group C.

 

Despite being much younger than their opponents the Herts Indians booked their place in the elite AAA bracket with two magnificent wins.  The Herts Red Sox lost against the Nottingham Pirates in the final inning which was heartbreaking, but they quickly picked themselves up to take a win against the Sundarland Giants to secure  a place in the AA second-tier bracket of the World Series.

 

The competition moved into the afternoon with the semi-finals and the finals to decide the winners in the respective brackets.  The Herts Indians finished 4th in the AAA Finals which is an incredible achievement. 

 

The Herts Red Sox really turned it on in this final stage and swept through the Horsham Padres and then the Horsham Angels, who included two members of the Great Britain Juveniles  National Team.   With these two wins the Herts Red Sox clinched the PlayBall World Series AA Winners’ Trophy.  The Herts Little League was not prepared for this and now has to search for a trophy cabinet and hopes that there will be many more trophies to come.  One thing is for sure – the future of baseball in Hertfordshire is looking bright judging by this outstanding performance by the club's next generation of baseball players.

 

Stay tuned to the Herts Baseball Newswire over the next few days for video and photos from the event.

 

by AspiDimitrov

VIDEO OF THE WEEK FROM THE WORLD OF BASEBALL

Once again many thanks to those who have submitted their candidates for Video of the Week.  The following are the videos which made the cut.

AMAZING FOUL BALL CATCH BY…THE BALL GIRL

Submitted by Paul Hawes

 

 

Did this really happen?  Think about it.  When you have made up your mind see the answer by clicking here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0qR9rKJlLp8

 

LITTLE LEAGUERS – INTRODUCTION TO THE GAME OF BASEBALL

Submitted by Ilya Dimitrov

 

by AspiDimitrov

HERTS LITTLE LEAGUE ALL-STARS TAKE ON THE REST OF BRITAIN

 

This Saturday the Herts Little League takes a break from league action as two Hertfordshire All-Star teams travel to Coventry for the British PlayBall World Series.  This event brings together the best baseball youth teams from around the country every year.  Teams as far away as Exeter and Sunderland will all be heading to Coventry.  It is organised by BSUK in association with MLB and sponsored by Frubes. 

 

This is the first opportunity for the Herts players to play against teams outside the county and it will be very interesting to see whether they will manage to compete against some well established youth baseball clubs such as the Horsham Little League which was created 3 years ahead of the Herts Little League.

 

The two Herts teams have been allocated names of MLB franchises – the Herts Red Sox and the Herts Indians.  In the group stages the Herts Red Sox have been drawn together with the Nottingham Pirates and the Sunderland Giants, while the Herts Indians will face the Windsor Astros and the Gloucester Orioles.

 

After the group stage the teams then move to the semi-finals and then the finals, but a top finish in the group will be critical if the teams are to challenge for the World Series title.

 

The event will also include the Pitch, Hit & Run contest as well as the Home Run Derby.

 

This year’s venue for the PlayBall World Series will beWoodlands School, Broad Lane, Coventry, CV5 7FF.  For more details write to baseball@hertsbaseball.com

by AspiDimitrov

SIDEWINDERS BREAK HAWKS HEARTS IN LATE INNINGS

Sidewinders at Herts Hawks
Score By Innings 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
Sidewinders 1 0 1 3 3 0 3 3 1 15 18 5
Herts Hawks 2 7 0 0 3 0 0 0 0 12 14 3

Sidewinders 15, Herts Hawks 12
Sidewinders Herts Hawks
  ab r h bi   ab r h bi
Player 8 cf-2b 4 1 1 0 Kimiyoshi Saionji 2b 5 3 2 2
(b6) Sub 5 2b 2 1 2 1 Tim Elkins rf-lf 6 1 0 0
Player 5 3b 1 0 1 1 John Oliver 1b-p 3 3 2 2
(t3) Sub 2 3b 5 0 1 1 Louis Hare p-1b 4 2 3 0
Player 7 lf 5 2 1 0 Carlos Casal 3b 4 1 3 5
Player 3 1b 5 3 3 1 Dave Westfallen c 4 0 1 1
Player 1 p 2 1 1 1 Rod Ariss ss 5 0 1 1
(b4) Sub 1 ss 3 2 3 5 Dave Hamilton cf 4 1 1 0
Player 4 2b 2 0 0 0 Paul Auchterlounie lf 4 1 1 0
(t5) Sub 3 2b-cf 3 1 2 1 (t8) Hunter Devine rf-lf 1 0 0 0
Player 6 ss-p 5 1 2 1
Player 9 rf 3 1 1 2
(b5) Sub 4 rf 2 0 0 0
Player 2 c 2 2 0 0
TEAM TOTALS 44 15 18 14 TEAM TOTALS 40 12 14 11

E: Player 5(3), Player 8, Sub 1, Kimiyoshi Saionji, Louis Hare, Paul Auchterlounie.
LOB: Sidewinders 6, Herts Hawks 8. 2B: Sub 1(2), Player 3(2), Player 8, Player 1,
Player 6, Kimiyoshi Saionji, Carlos Casal, John Oliver. HR: Sub 1, Player 9. SB: Sub
1, Player 8, Sub 4, Kimiyoshi Saionji(4), Carlos Casal(3), Louis Hare(3), Dave
Hamilton(2), Rod Ariss, Tim Elkins, Paul Auchterlounie. CS: Player 5, Louis Hare,
Paul Auchterlounie. SF: Dave Westfallen.

Sidewinders IP H R ER BB SO
Player 6 W 6.00 3 3 3 4 3
Player 1 3.00 11 9 5 1 2
Herts Hawks            
Louis Hare 6.00 9 8 6 3 6
John Oliver L 3.00 9 7 5 1 2

HBP: by Player 6 (Louis Hare). . . . . WP: Player 6. PB: Dave Westfallen(4). T: 3:00.
A: 41.
Sidewinders – Top of the 1st:
Player 8 ground rule doubled, stole 3rd, batted forward to home.
Player 5 singled, caught trying to steal 2nd, 1 RBI.
Player 7 struck out looking.
Player 3 flied out.
1 run, 2 hits, 0 errors, 0 LOB.
Herts Hawks – Bottom of the 1st:
Kimiyoshi Saionji singled, stole 2nd, batted forward to home.
Tim Elkins grounded out.
John Oliver singled, batted forward to home, 1 RBI.
Louis Hare singled, batted forward to 2nd, stole 3rd.
Carlos Casal singled, stole 2nd.
Dave Westfallen sacrifice flied, 1 RBI.
Rod Ariss struck out looking.
2 runs, 4 hits, 0 errors, 2 LOB.
Sidewinders – Top of the 2nd:
Player 1 grounded out.
Player 4 struck out swinging.
Player 6 popped out.
0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 0 LOB.
Herts Hawks – Bottom of the 2nd:
Dave Hamilton reached on error, stole 2nd, batted forward to home.
Paul Auchterlounie singled, stole 2nd, batted forward to home.
Kimiyoshi Saionji ground rule doubled, stole 3rd, batted forward to home, 2 RBI.
Tim Elkins reached on error, stole 2nd, batted forward to 3rd, advanced to home on
error.
John Oliver doubled, advanced to 3rd on error, batted forward to home, 1 RBI.
Louis Hare reached on error, stole 2nd, batted forward to home.
Carlos Casal singled, stole 2nd, batted forward to home, 2 RBI.
Dave Westfallen grounded out.
Rod Ariss singled, stole 2nd, batted forward to 3rd, 1 RBI.
Dave Hamilton singled, batted forward to 2nd.
Paul Auchterlounie grounded out.
Kimiyoshi Saionji struck out swinging.
7 runs, 6 hits, 3 errors, 2 LOB.
Sidewinders – Top of the 3rd:
Player 9 struck out swinging.
Player 2 walked, advanced to 2nd on error, batted forward to home.
Player 8 grounded out.
Sub 2 singled, 1 RBI.
Player 7 grounded out.
1 run, 1 hit, 1 error, 1 LOB.
Herts Hawks – Bottom of the 3rd:
Tim Elkins grounded out.
John Oliver walked, batted forward to 2nd, forced out at 3rd.
Louis Hare singled, batted forward to 2nd.
Carlos Casal grounded out.
0 runs, 1 hit, 0 errors, 1 LOB.
Sidewinders – Top of the 4th:
Player 3 ground rule doubled, batted forward to home.
Player 1 ground rule doubled, batted forward to home, 1 RBI.
Player 4 struck out swinging.
Player 6 flied out.
Player 9 hit 2-run home run, 2 RBI.
Player 2 walked.
Player 8 lined out.
3 runs, 3 hits, 0 errors, 1 LOB.
Herts Hawks – Bottom of the 4th:
Dave Westfallen struck out swinging.
Rod Ariss struck out swinging.
Dave Hamilton grounded out.
0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 0 LOB.
Sidewinders – Top of the 5th:
Sub 2 popped out.
Player 7 walked, batted forward to home.
Player 3 grounded out.
Sub 1 ground rule doubled, stole 3rd, batted forward to home, 1 RBI.
Sub 3 singled, advanced to 2nd on error, batted forward to home, 1 RBI.
Player 6 singled, advanced to 2nd on throw, advanced to 3rd on passed ball, 1 RBI.
Player 9 struck out looking.
3 runs, 3 hits, 1 error, 1 LOB.
Herts Hawks – Bottom of the 5th:
Paul Auchterlounie reached on error, caught trying to steal 2nd.
Kimiyoshi Saionji walked, stole 2nd, advanced to 3rd on wild pitch, batted forward to
home.
Tim Elkins lined out.
John Oliver walked, batted forward to home.
Louis Hare hit by pitch, batted forward to home.
Carlos Casal doubled, advanced to 3rd on throw, 3 RBI.
Dave Westfallen flied out.
3 runs, 1 hit, 1 error, 1 LOB.
Sidewinders – Top of the 6th:
Player 2 grounded out.
Player 8 grounded out.
Sub 2 struck out swinging.
0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 0 LOB.
Herts Hawks – Bottom of the 6th:
Rod Ariss grounded out.
Dave Hamilton grounded out.
Paul Auchterlounie grounded out.
0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 0 LOB.
Sidewinders – Top of the 7th:
Player 7 struck out looking.
Player 3 singled, batted forward to home.
Sub 1 hit 2-run home run, 2 RBI.
Sub 3 singled, batted forward to 3rd, tagged out going to home.
Player 6 ground rule doubled, advanced to 3rd on passed ball, advanced to home on
error.
Sub 4 reached on error, stole 2nd.
Player 2 flied out.
3 runs, 4 hits, 1 error, 1 LOB.
Herts Hawks – Bottom of the 7th:
Kimiyoshi Saionji flied out.
Tim Elkins grounded out.
John Oliver struck out looking.
0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 0 LOB.
Sidewinders – Top of the 8th:
Sub 5 singled, batted forward to home.
Sub 2 struck out swinging.
Player 7 singled, batted forward to home.
Player 3 ground rule doubled, batted forward to home, 1 RBI.
Sub 1 ground rule doubled, 2 RBI.
Sub 3 flied out.
Player 6 lined out.
3 runs, 4 hits, 0 errors, 1 LOB.
Herts Hawks – Bottom of the 8th:
Louis Hare singled, stole 2nd, caught trying to steal 3rd.
Carlos Casal walked, stole 2nd, picked off.
Dave Westfallen singled, forced out at 2nd.
Rod Ariss reached on fielder's choice.
0 runs, 2 hits, 0 errors, 1 LOB.
Sidewinders – Top of the 9th:
Sub 4 grounded out.
Player 2 walked, advanced to 2nd on passed ball, advanced to 3rd on passed ball,
batted forward to home.
Sub 5 singled, forced out at 2nd, 1 RBI.
Sub 2 popped out.
Player 7 reached on fielder's choice.
1 run, 1 hit, 0 errors, 1 LOB.
Herts Hawks – Bottom of the 9th:
Dave Hamilton walked, stole 2nd, tagged out going to 3rd.
Hunter Devine grounded out.
Kimiyoshi Saionji reached on error, stole 2nd, tagged out going to 3rd.
Tim Elkins reached on fielder's choice.
0 runs, 0 hits, 1 error, 1 LOB.
by AspiDimitrov

YANKEES END CUBS UNBEATEN RUN, BLUE JAYS BACK IN THE TITLE CHASE

 

In the crunch game of the day the first and second-placed teams in the Herts Little League clashed on a sunny day at Grovehill Ballpark.  Just when the Herts Cubs were beginning to look untouchable with a 4-0 record, the Yankees delivered a decisive blow winning 4-2.  Yankees starter and member of the Great Britain Juveniles National Team, Marty Cullen Jr, pitched 3 solid innings and that was all that the Yankees needed as their bats came through at the right time to put 4 runs on the board.

 

On Field One the Blue Jays were looking for their first win against the Red Sox.  The Jays made some critical acquisitions prior to the game drafting the Owens brothers, acquiring Trent Dyer from the Sox and they were further strengthened by the return of Jack and Sean Bender and of course the return of Blue Jays Coach Bob Bender.  Zachary Longboy started on the mound for them and shut down the Red Sox in the first two innings.  Entering the final inning the Blue Jays came alive notching 2 runs on the scoreboard.  Would this be enough for them to claim their first victory?  Longboy was still going strong on the mound, but in the bottom of the last inning he had to face the meat of the Red Sox order.  With one out and runners on 1st and 2nd, Mikito Ariga delivered a bases-clearing shot deep into left-centerfield tying the ballgame at 2-2.  Up stepped leftie slugger, Charlie Mayhew, with a line drive to bring Mikito in and end the game. 

 

This was the third heartbreaking one-run loss for the Jays this season, but they did not give up.  Coach Bob Bender lifted the team quickly for their second game of the day.  The Yankees seemed to still be celebrating their earlier win against the Cubs and the Blue jays took full advantage.  Four quick runs in the first inning was all they needed.  A solid defensive performance restricted the Yankees to one run only in the game, so the Blue Jays had their first win of the season. 

 

LINK TO SCOREBOARD AND CURRENT STANDINGS

 

Week 3 Player Transactions:

 

HERTS BLUE JAYS

Drafted Jack Owens (new members)

Drafted Charlie Owens (new members)

Acquired Trent Dyer from the Red Sox

Acquired Lawrence Phipps from the Red Sox

 

HERTS RED SOX

Traded Trent Dyer to the Blue Jays

Traded Lawrence Phipps to the Blue Jays

 

HERTS YANKEES

No transaction in week 3

 

HERTS CUBS

No transaction in week 3

 

by AspiDimitrov

SWITCH-HITTER VS SWITCH PITCHER

A very unusual situation challenging the baseball rulebook occured last week in a Single-A game between the Cyclones and the Statton Island Yankees. 

A switch-hitter looks to gain an advantage by hitting on the left side vs a rightie pitcher and on the right side vs a leftie pitcher, but in this case the batter faced a “switch-pitcher” which is unheard of.  So who has priority over which side they bat/pitch from?  The Pitcher or the Batter?

This video was sent in by a Little League parent.

NOTE: If the embedded video does not work properly please use this link to view the video: http://www.redlasso.com/ClipPlayer.aspx?id=073860f8-cdc3-4778-92cb-ad2d20ac545d