News of the surprising 9-0 win by the Kent Mariners over the Daws Hill Spitfires filtered through the newswires last week. This meant that the Mariners were the only team which could leap over the Herts Hawks into sixth place which is the last unclaimed ticket to this year’s Double-A League playoffs. The schedule published at the start of the year had determined that the Herts Hawks will face the Kent Mariners on the final day of the regular season (18 August) with the winner progressing through to the first round of the playoffs. The stage was set – a baseball clash at Grovehill Ballpark with everything on the line.

However, the second-from-the-bottom Southampton Mustangs did not read the script and on Sunday produced the shock of the weekend sinking the Mariners convincingly 26-3.

This means that there will not be a do-or-die scenario this coming weekend in Hemel Hempstead, but the Hawks can start to celebrate a place in the playoffs for a second successive year.

Under the authoritarian regime of co-managers Andy Cornish and Greg Bochan, the Hawks have managed to keep up with the top teams in this league, despite losing the majority of their 2012 roster, after many of the players moved up to the club’s Triple-A expansion team, the Herts Ravens. The Hawks currently stand with a record of 7 wins and 7 losses (.500 winning percentage), but despite clinching a postseason spot, they would love to end the regular season above .500. This Sunday’s matchup with the Kent Mariners may not have the drama which everyone was expecting, but there will certainly be a lot to play for, as far as the Hawks are concerned. It will also be an opportunity for the managers to make a final assessment of the team roster and decide on the starting lineup for the first round of the playoffs which will be played on Sunday, 25 August. Some players, like Ilya Dimitrov, have just changed their flights to make sure they can land in time for the postseason games, so the preparations have began.

Next week we will be publishing further information about who the Hawks will be facing in the playoffs.

report by Kal Dimitrov

Both Sidewinders and Hawks came to play this rescheduled game with an eye on the upcoming playoffs. Sidewinders were already assured a spot, but had a chance to move ahead of the Spitfires in the table, while Hawks needed the win to pull away from the Richmond Dragons and possibly the Kent Mariners.

The first three innings were completely dominated by pitching and remained scoreless. Tadaaki of the Sidewinders was changing speeds and locating his pitches masterfully to jam hitters and induce easy plays for his defence, while Nick Russell for the Hawks had his two-seam fastball dancing around in a way that baffled the somewhat overeager Sidewinders.

The game started breaking open when batters found their timing, but there were few occasions for a big inning for either team. Sidewinders eventually managed to build a lead of 4 runs to 2 into the seventh, but Hawks came back to tie, with only the slightly lackadaisical attitude of Kal Dimitrov on third base preventing him from scoring the go-ahead run on a throw down to second by the catcher.

In the eighth, with the game tied, Sidewinders made a pitching change that proved decisive – it resulted in 5 strikeouts and a ground-out, while in the bottom of the eight they manufactured a run that proved to be the winning one.

The win takes Sidewinders above the Spitfires, while the loss ensures that Hawks can only reach sixth place in the table. Still, they have every chance of making the playoffs, as the Richmond Dragons have played all their games and Hawks have a double-header against Kent left, and even if tied, head-to-head will come into play (in their games against Richmond, Hawks won the first one 13 to 8 and lost the second one 11-9). The other possible contenders are Kent, who need to win all their four remaining games to tie with the Hawks. So, everything to play for on August 18.

report by Hunter Devine

The Herts Hawks continued their march towards the AA playoffs last Sunday with a match-up against the Southampton Mustangs II at Grovehill Ballpark.

Herts struck first, in the bottom of the 1st inning, with some heads-up base running, from shortstop Hunter Devine, who reached third base on a passed ball all the way from first, and then scored on a second passed ball a few pitches later.

This would be all the offense that both clubs could muster in the early goings, however, thanks to some strong pitching and defence.

Hawks Ace, Nick Russell, was on the mound once again and stymied the Mustangs offense all day; recording 5+ strikeouts and pitching another complete game. Russell was assaulting the strike zone with all his pitches, forcing many of the Mustangs’ hitters to fall behind early in the count and was in complete control all afternoon, also preventing their momentum by making several confident plays on bunts and weak grounders.

When the Mustang’s hitters did managed to get the bat on the ball, the Hawks defence was outstanding. Hawks co-manager, Greg ‘the motion’ Bochan, lead the way making several tremendous plays at third base; including a slick force-out at third – throw out at first double play, while the outfield, of Andy Cornish, Ross Asquith and Kal Dimitrov, also made several key outs in important situations with strong throws to prevent runners from advancing.

The Hawks struck once again with 2 outs and runners on second and third thanks to a 2RBI single from Devine, who would finish the day with 5 RBIs, a triple to the notch in left field and a double.

From here, the Hawks offense continued to pile on runs in bunches with important stolen bases from Tim Elkins, who also played a strong first base all game, and some big hits from left fielder, Ross Asquith, who hit a 2 RBI triple, DH Jim Arnott and young second basemen Callum Vangundy.

In the bottom of the 8th, with an 8-run lead, Hawks’ catcher Paul Auchterlounie sealed the victory (by way of the mercy rule) with a walk-off 2 run double.

With this victory the Herts Hawks moved one step closer to clinching their second playoff spot in as many seasons. With three games remaining, and in sole possession of the 6th and final playoff spot, the Hawks only need to win one remaining game in order to clinch a postseason berth.