Author: Rob Jones

31 May 202531 May 2025 by Rob Jones

Baseball on the radio

It’s another big year for Herts baseball club. 2025 has seen the adult section expand to seven teams — including a return to the NBL with the Toucans, and the arrival of the Harriers in Double-A.

It will also see the return of our fund-raising Lou Gehrig Day on June 8th at Grovehill Ballpark.

To talk about all of that – and to add another big moment into the mix — we invited the BBC to come on down to Grovehill to try our sport.

Specifically, we invited Luke Ashmead, Miles Blumson and George Litchfield of BBC 3 Counties Sport. They are on a mission to try out new sports this year so this was the perfect opportunity.

You can listen to the first bit of broadcast gold at this link, which will take you to BBC Sounds. Herts appears at 15:00 minutes into the programme, and again at 50:00 minutes past for the finale. This went out on Friday May 30th – you can listen again at any time.

*Miles (in his Cubs jersey) pitching in*

How did the presenters do??

Pete Hogg of the Herts Hawks and Rob Jones of the Herts Raptors took them through some basics of throwing and catching, before they got to try pitching and hitting. And they showed enthusiasm, talent and even potential!

Luke Ashmead was honest about the fact that he had played baseball before — at Herts! He joined the club for a training session when he was a younger man. But it was great to see that he had clearly remembered the lessons he was given, and he excelled with the bat.

*Luke (centre, wielding bat) with Herts in 2013*

Thanks to Luke, Miles and George for visiting us and being good sports, and for helping spread the word about baseball.

If you want to follow in their footsteps, there is a Contact Us link on the front page of this very website. Message us now and you too could soon be hitting and pitching!

12 May 202512 May 2025 by Rob Jones

Weekend roundup: Sharing a split

We are all playing to win, right? But if that can’t be guaranteed, surely the next thing we all want is a close game, a competitive game.

The Herts Raptors’ last four games have been decided by a total of 5 runs. My maths tells me that’s an average margin of 1.25 runs per game. That’s close. That’s competitive.

They managed to have one of the nail-biters end in their favour yesterday, as they took an 8-6 victory over the Richmond Dukes at Grovehill.

The main factor in that was a tremendous performance on the pitching mound by Abdul El-Hamri, who scattered 7 hits over 5 innings, and struck out 8. He kept the ball down in the zone more consistently than on previous showings, and with devastating effect.

The Raptors only took the lead for the first time in the bottom of the fourth, showing spirit to rally after falling behind 5-1 early on. Michael Foyo drove in 2, and Dave Roberts picked up 2 hits. El-Hamri closed it out with a scoreless final inning – a groundout, a strikeout, and a flyout.

Game 2 of the double-header saw another cagey start, before Richmond capitalised on some walks to take a 5-1 lead again. But the Raptors rallied again to take the lead, with a 5-run inning keyed by a triple from catcher Nic Hine.

The Dukes retook the lead and as a very hot day in Hemel Hempstead drew to a close, Herts needed 2 to tie and 3 to win. They managed to push across Joe Spiers but couldn’t get the one more, and Richmond took the 8-7 win.

There was similar last gasp drama over at Basing Hill, where the Herts Eagles in Single-A were facing the Finchley Capybaras (who had got the better of the Raptors in those two tight games last week).

The Eagles were out of the gate quickly in the first, keeping the top half scoreless with a double play by Bex Williams, then racking up 5 runs with hits from Jacob Coyne and Chakradari Baiya. Frequent base-stealing, and good outfield work by Andres Hoyos, all added up to a quality team performance.

Finchley fought back, briefly taking the lead and tying it in the final inning. But Herts were able to secure the victory, with Danny Chan taking the pitching win.

Game 2 was a tougher experience, as some new pitchers experimented. But the Eagles had taken a split, and won their second game of the year.

In Double-A, the Herts Hawks fought off a rally by the Essex Archers to win Game 2 by a score of 15-14 and secure a share of their double-header. Ben Peters got the pitching win, striking out 7 across 3 1/3 innings – and backed himself up with 4 RBIs and 3 stolen bases. Giuseppe Basilea also went 2-3 and scored 2.

Game 1 was also a squeaker, with Herts leading until the middle of the fourth – with Riley Manning and Sebastian Greenberg among those chipping in – and Essex then rallying ahead. With 2 out in the bottom of the sixth, Ben Peters drove in 2. But the Archers managed to close the door to hang on for victory.

On a weekend of splits, the Herts Ravens notched up another win against Formosa Islanders. Darrin Ward pitched a complete game in the 12-8 win, with Sony Lama driving in 4 runs. They are now 2-6 on the season. The Herts Harriers had a tough trip to the league-leading Cambridge Lancers, where they were swept.

Herts Ravens take their first win of the year

28 April 202528 April 2025 by Rob Jones

Up and running

“Opening Day” in the BBF leagues in 2025 has been more of a marathon than a sprint. But all 7 of the Herts adult teams are now on the track, and are up and running.

The last of them to taste action were the Herts Hawks in Double-A, this past weekend. They were quick out of the blocks with a sweep of their double-header against the Oxford Kings. Lee Manning got the 5-4 win in extras in Game 1, after Ken Pike scattered 5 hits and struck out 4 in his 6+ innings.

Young GB star Ben Peters got the W in a more comfortable 11-5 win in Game 2. He was backed up by 3 RBIs from another bright talent, Seb Greenberg – who had scored the winning run in the first game. The Hawks have a blend of youth and experience which could deliver big things.

Perhaps the biggest drama of the weekend was the Herts Harriers, also in Double-A, getting their second win of the year with an astonishing comeback against Latin Boys. Going into the final half inning of Game 2 they were down 16-6. After getting roughed up in Game 1, you might expect heads to drop. But a string of walks, and hits from Mike Cresswell and Natasha Romoff, set the stage for Lee Dunn to drive a walk-off single and set off cheers and even screaming among the fans.

*Lee Dunn is all smiles after his walkoff*

The Herts Ravens got their first win of the season, taking Game 2 of their double-header at home to the Formosa Islanders. The Ravens had endured a baptism of fire in Double-A after moving up, taking on last year’s defeated finalists Richmond Dragons on back to back weekends. Now on a more level playing field, the Ravens battled in 2 games against the Formosa Islanders. Veteran Darrin Ward got the pitching W, while Sonam Lama keyed the offense, with 3 RBIs.

Herts Toucans, who have marked Herts’ return to the NBL after a year away, continued their solid season with a sweep away at the Croydon Pirates. Josh Marriott hit a home run in Game 2, to follow his triple in Game 1. The Toucans had kicked off their season – on actual Opening Day, three weeks ago – with a win over the Sheffield Bruins and currently stand 3-3. Masa Hasiguchi has 31 strikeouts in 17 innings pitched, and leads the league in both categories.

The last of our teams in action this past weekend were the Herts Raptors in Single-A. They travelled to Milton Keynes to face the Bucks, last year’s defeated finalists. The Raptors made a great showing against such a tough opponent, with 12-7 and 9-6 defeats. Abdul El Hamri gave a gutsy performance on the mound in the second game as he learns his pitching craft, striking out four — and he also got on base 4 times to help his own cause, and drove in 2 runs.

The Raptors had got their win in the bag a couple of weeks ago, taking their first game against the Herts Eagles. But in a happy bit of symmetry for the club, the Eagles then got their first win in the second half of the Herts derby double-header, 18-13. Boran Sahin was their star on that day, and the Eagles get to taste action again next week as they go to Milton Keynes.

Like the Eagles, the Herts Cardinals in Triple-A have also had a slow start to their 2025 schedule. They’ve had just the one fixture, a double-header against last year’s semi-finalists the London Metros. They suffered narrow defeats – including a 14-13 walkoff in Game 2. The Cardinals’ season doesn’t crank into real action until mid-May.

25 September 202425 September 2024 by Rob Jones

Old rivals see off Ravens in nailbiter

Somehow it always felt as if this match-up was inevitable. For two seasons, the Herts Ravens and the Milton Keynes Bucks have traded blows in Single-A, battling for supremacy in their division. They have broadly split their regular season series.

This year, the Ravens locked up the division in a way which meant they skipped all the postseason play-ins and qualifiers, and sat back to wait. Meanwhile, MK went through round after round with their mix of big hitting, solid fielding, and wily strategy – and it just felt as if the face-off against Herts was meant to be.

The Ravens’ ace Nic Goetz got the start in this semi-final at Farnham Park and was, predictably, dealing. The first five batters all sat down, through a mix of strikeouts, groundouts and flyouts. A single did put a runner on in the second, but another strikeout fixed that pretty quickly.

But it was the Bucks who got on the scoreboard first, with a two-out rally in the third inning. A couple of singles and a throwing error and they had scored two, with the Ravens getting one back in reply in their half.

It was in the bottom of the fourth when the Herts bats really sprang to life to seize the lead. Right fielder Dan Taylor got aboard to get it started, and Henry Bell got his second hit of the day. Third base stalwart Greg Bochan drove in two with a triple to centre field. Then lefty slugger Zak Beller promptly managed to one-up him with an inside the park home run.

It was a maximum 5-run inning and a real statement from the Ravens. But these two teams are evenly matched and it was never going to be the last word.

The one moment of controversy and confusion arose in the top of the fifth, and it was a clear setback for Herts. With an MK runner on base, who had reached through an error, a ball was hit down the third base line. The feeling of everyone was that it had gone foul, but it was ruled fair. Once the ball was recovered, the batter was safe and the runner had scored. The Bucks capitalised on the moment, and soon they’d tied the game.

More hits for Gilberto Medina, Taylor, Bell, and a run from Andrew Slater created from a walk and steals, helped Herts get their nose back in front. Goetz had struck out 5 and walked none in another epic performance.

But somehow momentum seemed to be swinging against them. MK took a 9-8 lead and the Ravens were held scoreless for the first time since the second inning.

They would get one more chance in the bottom of the seventh and final inning, and came supremely close.

Dan Taylor got on base again. With two outs, Nic Goetz — who by now had thrown 149 pitches, 100 of them for strikes — helped keep the game alive with a single to bring Taylor home. Matt Lewis pinch-ran and stole a base, and the man who had been the Ravens’ leadoff sparkplug all year, Hunter Devine, singled.

So with the tying runs on base, Greg Bochan drove one high out to right field. A running, shoe-string catch from the Milton Keynes outfielder was all that kept Herts from levelling the score. Maybe those fates who brought these two teams together had decided it was MK who should progress, by a score of 11-9.

*The two teams relaxing together after the game*

All the heroes for the Ravens in 2024 remained heroes – including the co-manager and chief scorer Matt Bell; fan extraordinaire Debra who provided cookies and vocal support; and team mascot Tess.

Everyone was gutted by the result, but delighted by the 15-3 season. Several Ravens were on the BBF leaderboards – Zak Beller for home runs, Hunter Devine for stolen bases, and Nic Goetz for ERA.

The team can be proud of its achievements again, and looks forward to more adventures in 2025.

11 September 202411 September 2024 by Rob Jones

Cardinals go down swinging

“One swing of the bat” has always seemed like a misleading phrase, as nothing in baseball is ever that simple. It’s a bit like saying only the last metre of an Olympic sprint final matters. But that one home run swing felt really crucial in the Herts Cardinals’ first playoff game on Saturday (September 8th).

After a 15-9 season, the Cardinals had reached the postseason. They walked over the Long Eaton Storm to secure a qualifier at Finsbury Park against the Essex Saxons.

By the bottom of the third, Herts were down 1-0. A strikeout and flyout meant they had two out. But there were two men on base. And when catcher Conner Brown connected on a pitch, it was a booming no-doubter towards centre field.

Brown’s home run put the Cards 3-1 up and they didn’t look back. He racked up a fourth RBI in the bottom of the fifth when his groundout brought in Tyler Cote who had reached with one of his two hits. Mike Cresswell drove in the fifth run in the next inning.

And that was enough to back up Cote’s impressive outing on the pitching mound. He yielded only one hit, walked four and struck out nine for the complete game victory.

*The Cardinals in action at Finsbury Park (pic. Mike Cresswell)*

A tidy morning of work for the Cardinals. But in the playoff schedule, that put them straight back into action in the afternoon in a quarter final facing the London Metros.

The first inning was pretty clean for both teams, then Herts threatened in the top of the second. Conner Brown scored the first run, driven in by Bob Laflamme. But the Metros were able to limit the damage to just that singleton, and they scored a pair of two-out runs in reply in their half to take the lead.

Tyler Dale was pitching a gem for the Cardinals, and scattered six hits while striking out three. But London were able to stretch their lead in the third inning to 5-1 and were staying strong. Cardinals bats made good contact but line drives and fly balls always found a fielder.

Going into the seventh and final inning, Herts needed a rally and Vytas Macenas started it off with a single. A hit by pitch got a second man on. But by the time Macenas came round to score there were two out, and a final flyout sealed the Metros’ win.

This has been another another tremendous season for the Cardinals, and a playoff win is a further step forwards. They will return reinvigorated in 2025.

*MK facing London at Grovehill (pic: Rob Jones)*

Over at Grovehill on Saturday, Herts were hosting a round of Single-A playoff games for the British Baseball Federation (BBF). The games were all close, with Milton Keynes Bucks 2, Bracknell Phoenix, and Guildford Millers running out as winners.

The Sunday was due to see Double-A playoffs at the field, but overnight rain and a fresh downpour in the morning threatened to derail things badly. Teams were coming from all over the country, with Bootle Trojans the first to arrive before 8:30.

Rather than see the visitors waste their long trips, the Herts ground crew performed miracles to mop, rake, dry and mark the diamonds ready for baseball. Some sponges and kitty litter also played a part, as did visiting players. The club is immensely grateful to all of them!

Wragby, Richmond, Leeds and London were the winners. The playoffs continue this weekend and beyond.

Cardinals in 2024 action (photo: Herman Ng)

26 August 202425 September 2024 by Rob Jones

Cards start their playoff run; Ravens wait in the wings

The Herts Ravens and the Herts Cardinals now know what September holds for them as they enter the British Baseball Federation (BBF) post-season.

In the Triple-A league, the Cardinals’ 15-9 record put them in the first round of wildcard playoffs. They claimed victory over the Long Eaton Storm on Sunday September 1st because their opponents could not muster a full team and had to forfeit.

The next hurdle is the Essex Saxons, who they face on Saturday September 7th at Finsbury Park. First pitch is at 11am. The two teams split their season series, so look evenly matched.

If they win that, the Cardinals leap straight back into action at 2 o’clock that afternoon at the same venue, facing the London Metros. We are cheering them on all the way!

The Herts Ravens of Single-A ended their regular season with two narrow defeats by the MK Bucks, their closest challenger in their division all year. The two teams split their series of games over the season but the Ravens had locked up the division and take the number 2 seed nationally based on their 15-3 record.

Last year, they had to clock up the miles to play back-to-back playoff games, the last of them in Cardiff.

But in 2024, the Ravens’ seeding means they go straight into the final weekend. On Saturday September 21st they will be the home team in semi-final 1 at Farnham Park. They would be the home team for the final there the next day if they win through, so we are already anticipating some walk-off drama!

Elsewhere in Single-A, the Herts Buzzards closed their regular season with victory in a high-scoring hit-fest against the Essex Redbacks. The teams shared out 30 hits between them, and the Buzzards ended with a 14-13 win and a pitching victory for Declan Carlean.

The Herts Eagles ended with a tough visit to Finsbury Park. They played well, but an injury and admin issues led to an unsatisfactory final day.

*Essex Arrows secure the NBL pennant (pic: Henry Bell)*

There is plenty of activity at Grovehill Ballpark throughout September for anyone wanting to get their baseball fix. Our excellent facilities and fields allow us to host games for a range of other teams – and volunteers are always welcome to help us put on the events!

There were a final round of NBL games there on September 1st, as they wrapped up their regular season and decided playoff placings. Essex Arrows secured the league title. On September 7/8th there are quarter finals for the Single-A and Double-A leagues, and then a further fixture on the 15th.

Our youth players have also returned to action, after the separate summer camps which ran during July and August (which, we are delighted to say, attracted some new talent to the club).

There is training at both Basing Hill and Grovehill on August 31st, with activity combined at Basing Hill the following week. This is all building up to the Youth Baseball National Championships (YNBCs) at Farnham Park. The U-10s and U-12s are there on September 14th, with the U-15s and U-18s following up on September 21st.

*Herts has a long pedigree at YNBCs – this is from 2014*

28 May 202428 May 2024 by Rob Jones

Ravens sweep up in Essex

The Herts Ravens continued their unbeaten start to the season, when they visited the Essex Redbacks in Chelmsford on Sunday (26th May). But it was not all plain sailing.

Herts opened up Game 1 with a single and a steal from Hunter Devine, who was then driven in by a double from Zak Beller. So far, so normal. Beller came around to score, too.

The Ravens ace pitcher, Nic Goetz, was on the mound. He racked up three strikeouts in the first two frames. Again, pretty normal. But Essex also got three hits and a walk in the early innings – pretty unusual. And the Herts bats just weren’t able to get good contact against the Redbacks’ starter Ben Brett.

After four innings, the Ravens led 2-1, and it was time for a manager’s pep talk. The team’s defense had helped keep things that tight – with Greg Bochan at third base making a series of strong throws to narrowly get runners at first.

Now, at last, Herts strung together some hits. Sony Lama drove a triple out to right field – by far the best hit of the day. Zak Beller followed up with a single, and went 3-for-4 on the day. Andrew Slater singled, too, and 3 runs crossed to pad the lead.

Goetz gave up one more walk but also rediscovered the legendary zip on his fastball. He also fielded his position brilliantly and helped prevent any sort of Essex rally. He had gritted through for the win, with the final score 6-1.

Game 2 saw patient at-bats and strong hits from the visitors from the very start, and the first maximum 5-run inning of the day. Slater brought his famous curveball to work, and a groundout, a strikeout and a pop-out expertly taken by catcher, Devine, quickly ended a scoreless first.

Slater was supremely efficient, with the record showing he threw 30 pitches – 21 for strikes. And he was backed up by the Ravens offense. New recruits Lewis Auchterlounie and Matt Lewis worked walks and scored runs, as they blended well with the veterans of the team.

And again the defense stood firm. Zak Beller took an impressive catch when a bloop hit threatened to fall in the dead zone behind shortstop and second. And Henry Bell – who closed out the game with an 8-pitch clean inning – ended it all with a smooth-as-silk snaring of a sharp comebacker, and a throw to first. This one ended 20-0.

Essex were genial hosts on a day which swung from hot sunshine to heavy showers, and the game was played in a good spirit, peppered with one-liners from the umpire. On Sunday the Ravens head to Milton Keynes for the first time this year to face a team which pushed them all the way to the division title last season.

12 September 202312 September 2023 by Rob Jones

End of the road for Ravens and Cardinals

The Herts Ravens (A) and Cardinals (AAA) fought to the last in playoff games which capped their excellent seasons. But ultimately they fell one step short of the finals they had been chasing. Both teams can be proud of their year, and of the games they played at its climax.

The Ravens had to navigate a wildcard game on Saturday, 9th September, after an unexpected BBF ruling removed their tied regular season game and replaced it with a loss. But when they faced the Cambridge Royals at home they overpowered them with an 18-1 win.

That meant a long road trip to Cardiff the next day to face the Merlins. That stacked the odds against them, and the absence of their star slugger Zak Beller and ace pitcher Nic Goetz — who took the win on Saturday – offered further challenges.

But Herts opened up strongly against the winners of the South West and Wales league. Sony Lama drove a hit to centre, stole a couple of bases, and came home on a passed ball. Greg Bochan drove in Eric Ferng and the visitors took a 2-0 lead.

Then when Cardiff’s leadoff man hit a fly ball to the outfield it ended in another big blow to Herts. It deflected off Lama’s glove as he chased into foul ground for the play, and opened a cut above his eye which required stitches at the local hospital. He has recovered well, but losing his arm and his bat from the lineup did not help the Ravens cause.

Andrew Slater’s deceptive curve kept the Merlins batters off balance and the first few innings were tight and low scoring. Norman Peng and Eddie Wang made good defensive plays.

After three, Cardiff had managed to edge ahead 3-2. But then they were able to surge ahead. Essentially, their batters figured out a solution before the Ravens were able to solve the Cardiff starter Eiki Ito, who issued 7 walks but also struck out 10.

After Cardiff jumped to an 8-2 lead, Herts’ defense dug deep to put a zero on the scoreboard. But in the end they could not hold off the home side. Oscar Landin and Jamie Cunningham continued the damage they had done all season and the Merlins won it 12-2 in six innings.

The Herts Cardinals also faced a long road trip, heading to Bournemouth to face the Bears. And they too started strong. They led 2-1 after four innings thanks to an Erik Gustafson RBI hit and a Will Davis home run. Tyler Cote was solid on the mound.

Bournemouth rallied in the bottom of the fifth to retake the lead, but the Cardinals bounced right back. Vytas Macenas cleared the loaded bases for 3 RBIs and the lead. The Bears had the final word, though, with two home runs helping them to a 9-5 lead which they would preserve to take the victory.

Cardinals manager Brian Dearing said it had been a fun and tough fight, with amazing efforts top to bottom from the team.

The playoff finals for the BBF’s A, AA and AAA leagues take place this Sunday at Farnham Park. Herts players can turn their attention to the post-season Hunlock Series which brings together all levels of the club in a fun tournament in October to wrap up the year.

Thanks to Iestyn Dallimore for the excellent photos of the Merlins-Ravens game. Google him and you will find many more!

15 August 202315 August 2023 by Rob Jones

Eagles celebrate big moment; Ravens, Cards get crucial wins

A win is a win, but some wins are bigger than others. For the Herts Eagles, the victory at the Essex Redbacks on Sunday was special. It was, they said, “epic”. For this was their first win this season, which has been a tough year in which a team made up of largely rookie players battled numbers, availability, and the baseball gods.

The first game of the double-header had ended in a 5-5 tie which was, in itself, a great step forward. Joseph Coulson struck out 7 in a complete game effort, and made a highlight reel catch in foul ground. The Eagles outhit the Redbacks, too.

But even better was to come in Game 2. Jake Spicer turned in a solid pitching performance, and he was backed with an offense which struck early and often. Neil Chilton and Pavan Sunkara delivered key hits in the first inning, Sammy English ran wild on the bases in the second, and the Eagles jumped out to a 7-0 lead.

Defense, as always, was crucial too. A double play at first base, and a great catch down the left field line by Atena Barani, helped protect the lead. And when Spicer tired in the final inning, Chilton stepped in for the save. He secured the final out with a fielders’ choice at home plate, and Eagles took the game 9-6.

Manager Reece Crawley – who said he was “on cloud 9” after the win – had a long list of shout-outs to every member his squad for giving everything. “I couldn’t be prouder of the hard work and dedication of a team that never gave up”, he said.

There was credit for George Llewellyn Thomas – for keeping the spirits high when energy was low — and to coach Sydney McCall – for helping everyone stay focused, and to move when they had to and stay when they needed to!

A team wins together, and the Eagles were able to celebrate together after a well-deserved victory.

The Herts Ravens took their win streak up to 15 games in their Single-A doubleheader at Grovehill against the Herts Raptors. The Ravens are leading their division, but the post-season rules mean every game is a must-win to be sure of a place and to secure seeding.

Eddie Wang took the win in Game 1, his sixth of the year. He didn’t perhaps have his best stuff and the Raptors offered stiff resistance, working walks and mustering 6 hits – Max Kuszewski with two of them. But Wang battled out of trouble and he was helped by the crucial batting power of Ravens’ lefty slugger Zak Beller. He went 4-for-4 with two doubles and a triple, and drove in 7. It ended 19-8.

Game 2 saw ace Nic Goetz deliver the goods again, striking out 7 to take the win. But again Raptors fought hard, with Jamie Wise and Natasha Romoff among the hits. For the Ravens, Jack Page got two hits to drive the offense. Sonam Lama also racked up his sixth walk and fifth run of the day, and helped nail down the 13-6 win.

On Grovehill’s other diamond, the Herts Hawks of the Double-A league were facing the MK Bucks, who are challenging for the playoffs.

While wins eluded the Hawks in both games, there were some outstanding performances. Jack O’Brien was excellent on the mound, striking out 7 and dominating the opposition in much of the first game. Kobby Darteh drove in a pair and both he and Seth Muirden — recently promoted from the junior leagues – put in huge and successful efforts to adapt to the senior leagues.

Game 2 saw tremendous defence from Harry McMenamin and from Max Farmborough, who put in an excellent shift at shortstop, out of his usual positions. He ended one inning with an impressive double play, making the catch and gunning out an aggressive runner trying to score. Manager Ken Pike felt his team were starting to show their mettle as they tightened their defense and got the bats going – “the Hawks may be newly promoted but they are starting to show that the step up, while it’s a challenge, is setting great groundwork to re-establishing a credible Herts Hemel Hempstead double A presence.”

The Cardinals faced Bournemouth Bears at Basing Hill in Triple-A, and needed to get a result if they were to stay in the playoff hunt. The Bears took the win 7-2 in Game 1, despite a solid outing by Tyler Cote and three hits by Osvaldo Badia.

But the big win came in Game 2. Early exchanges were tight, but then the Cardinals went ahead for good. RBIs by Badia, Cote and Mike Cresswell gave the home side a 5-3 lead. They extended it in the fourth, courtesy of Naohiko Kumagai and Hiroki Fujimoto, who both enjoyed multi-hit games.

Brian Dearing took the 9-3 victory on the mound, surrendering just 3 runs in five innings of work. Stephen Wong recorded the save and the Cardinals stay in the postseason race.

The Ducks were swept by Sidewinders in their doubleheader in Double-A, while the Herts Falcons went out with a bang as they were finally eliminated from playoff contention in the NBL. They pushed the London Capitals all the way, even going to extras in Game 2. But they came away empty handed, and because rained out games against Sheffield can’t be rescheduled they are out of the race.

There was a welcome treat for Falcons fans – and British baseball fans more generally – as the games were streamed online. Viewers checked in from around the world to see the drama, and to see how well the Falcons closed their first season back in the top flight.

1 August 20232 August 2023 by Rob Jones

Around the Herts diamonds July 29/30

The Herts Ravens extended their winning streak in Single-A to 11 games, with a dominant sweep of their double-header against the Herts Eagles.

Eddie Wang took the pitching win in Game 1, striking out 3 in a complete game effort. He was only denied a shutout in the final stages. The offense gave him consistent backing, with Matt Jackson going 2-for-3 and Hang Li driving in 3 runs.

Game 2 saw ace Nic Goetz deliver the goods for the Ravens. 10 strikeouts to just one walk shows how in control he stayed. Pavan Sunkar and Michael Green were responsible for the the home side’s 2 hits. The games ended 15-1 and 19-0.

The Herts Raptors were looking to stay in the race for the division when they hosted the Essex Redbacks at Grovehill. They led after three innings, keyed by an Adam Scales double. But the visitors managed to impose themselves late, and a Herts rally fell just short It ended 14-8. Game 2 was rained out.

There was praise for the Raptors’ Danny Preston and Jamie Berlofsky for stepping into unfamiliar roles – as pitcher and catcher respectively – and putting in outstanding performances. Jack Burkett was also said to have put in “one hell of a shift” in the outfield.

The Herts Hawks travelled to the Essex Archers in the Double-A league. They out-hit their hosts in Game 1 – with spark-plug Harry McMenamin going 3-for-4 with two doubles, and Declan Carlean going 2-for-4. Ken Pike struck out four, but Essex were always able to keep their nose in front and won 9-4. The Archers were able to repeat the feat in Game 2, taking a 13-4 win with their pitchers combining for 8 Ks.

Harry McMenamin had made an impact on Saturday, too, when he made a guest appearance for the Herts Ducks in Double-A. They were at home to the London Musketeers and endured a tough day, but coaches were impressed with McMenamin’s “heart and hustle”. The Ducks lost 29-3 and 18-2, with the bright spots from Game 2 two strong innings from Prime Mencias, and RBIs for Jake Spicer and Bradley Charalambous.

The Herts Cardinals were having a good day in their Triple-A matchup against the Kent Buccaneers. They won Game 1 by a score of 15-5 behind the pitching of Brian Dearing and Osvaldo Badia’s home run and 5 RBIs. But rain washed out Game 2, so that will have to be picked up at a later date.

In the NBL, the Herts Falcons were resting, but other results did go their way. Both the East London Latin Boys and the Sheffield Bruins lost their games, and Herts remain fifth in the standings, hoping for a chance at the last playoff berth.