Author: Rob Jones

by Rob Jones

BBC presenters agree to face Herts youth stars

It was perhaps a foolhardy moment for two of the stalwarts of sports broadcasting in Hertfordshire. Or was it the moment an epic confrontation was set in train?

Geoff Doyle and Luke Ashmead of BBC 3 Counties Radio were just wrapping up their interview with Herts’ own Lee and Riley Manning – when the visiting father and son duo pulled out their trump card.

“I want to get you down to face our juniors”, says Lee, quickly but casually. “Yeah, yeah” came the swift reply.

Geoff and Luke manfully said they would show no mercy. But Riley piped up with what was described as “fighting talk” in response.

“We’d absolutely love to do that”, insisted the BBC men. Now we just need to set a date.

Lee Manning, Herts’ youth commissioner for 2019, had chatted with them both about the year ahead, the Herts Falcons’ foray into European competition, and the opportunities offered by the MLB London Series between the New York Yankees and Boston Red Sox.

You can hear the whole thing here:

Of course, Geoff Doyle and Luke Ashmead are no strangers to Grovehill Ballpark. They came down in 2013 for a training session on a beautiful summer evening, and got to compete against one another at hitting.

When Lee and Riley dropped in to the studios this year, it was clear that the presenters remembered it well!

Luke quickly reminded Geoff that their previous experience of Herts baseball had included “me beating you in a batting competition”.

“I thought you might bring that one up”, he admitted after a brief pause. That’s how long baseball lives with you, and how much satisfaction it gives you when you get things right!

“It was such fun”, they agreed, saying anyone could try out the sport without any need to know the rules or the details.

You can listen to the original 2013 session here:

Stay tuned and we will keep you updated on when Geoff and Luke will be making their appearance at Grovehill to test their skills against our young stars.

You know they wouldn’t back out of it. Would they….?

 

 

by Rob Jones

Herts into 2019: With Youth on our Side

Herts youth players have begun training for a 2019 season which could be the biggest ever for the club – and for British baseball as a whole. And as an extra bonus if they sign up before the end of the month, our youth stars will get their Herts baseball cap for free!

Herts Under-11s in celebration at Farnham Park

A lot of the focus so far for Herts in 2019 has been on the adult side of the club, where two new teams have been announced at the new field in North-West London. The Falcons of the NBL are also the centre of a promotional and fund-raising drive, as they are playing in European competition in June for the first time in the club’s history.

But we shouldn’t forget that the Herts Under-11 coach pitch side also reached a national final too last year! The All-Stars won two games at Farnham Park, including a stunning walkoff victory over London Sports, to get to the final.

Once there, they performed admirably against the Brighton Fireballs, and held their heads high in defeat. Herts also fielded under-13, under-15 and under-17 sides at the Youth National Baseball Championships, showing both strength and depth.

The youth sides are vital to the future of Herts and — with that in mind — the club is now pushing hard to get boys and girls signed up for the year ahead.

To help club managers plan for the season, we are keen to get kids involved now. Anyone who signs up for 2019 before the 28th of February will get a Herts cap thrown in for free. So get on to it quickly!

Herts in action at the 2018 YNBCs

To maximise our offering for our youngest players, Herts has decided to shuffle our budget and make sure we can secure high quality coaches for the youth teams. This has meant an increase in the membership fees of between £6 and £36 — although some remain unchanged.

The club continues to subsidise youth fees, so membership remains tremendous value for money – especially compared with other youth baseball programmes around the country which have higher fees.

Many players had already registered for 2019, including both returning players from last year and brand new recruits. The Herts computer magicians have reset the system so those families can now decide whether to accept the revised fees.

They can then simply register again with their existing clubhouse user name and password. That means that all players can take advantage of the free cap offer, even if they had already signed up.

The 2018 Herts Futures Tournament for youth teams

Youth players have already been taking part in our first indoor training sessions at Berkhamsted Leisure Centre and will progress to outdoor sessions.

During the year, coaches have plans for competitive games against other British clubs. In past years, these have included teams from Brighton, Leicester, Guildford and London.

Herts offers playing opportunities for boys and girls from ages 4 to 18. Youth baseball will also be available at the new expansion operation at Basing Hill Ballpark in Northwest London.

 

by Rob Jones

An injection of Youngblood

“Yeah! That’s an RBI, that’s an RBI! Well done!” The athletic man in the Grovehill dugout applauded enthusiastically as a hit drove in another run for Herts. He looked right at home.

But his more usual place was on the sideline of a basketball court, not a baseball diamond. For this was Robert Youngblood, the Head Coach of the Hemel Storm of Britain’s National League Division 1.

In 2018, the Storm surpassed themselves by winning the National Cup, a knockout tournament not unlike the FA cup or… well…like nothing which exists in baseball.

They also progressed deep into their league playoffs in Division One in the Spring. They beat Solent Kestrels and Reading Rockets and staged a comeback in the final against Worthing Thunder before just coming up short.

In June, Coach Youngblood came down to Herts baseball club at Grovehill for a bit of cross-sports co-operation. The Herts youth teams were playing BBF Super League games against Brighton and London Sports. And – like any good ball club – we like to get a celebrity to throw out the opening pitch.

After chatting with the players as they warmed up, Youngblood took to his starring role with the ease of a veteran performer. Taking the mound, he waved to the crowds, and warmed up a little with a couple of trial pitches.

This was clearly a guy who took success seriously. There would be no dolly-drops here, no eephus pitch. This was going to be a heater in the zone. It smacked the glove. Personal pride had been satisfied.

Youngblood joined the Hemel Storm in the summer of 2017 and has helped to step the team up a gear.

He’d had a successful career as a player in the British and European basketball leagues – playing for Milton Keynes Lions, London Towers and Leicester Riders, as well as spells in the German Bundesliga.

He ended his career in the top ten of several key statistical categories – including points, rebounds and blocks.

As a coach, he led Essex Leopards to playoffs and trophies, and was on the staff of the London Lions of the BBL before heading to Hemel.

Way, way back when, as a kid in Florida, he had played baseball. It’s common for US kids to play all sports before opting for their best. So his visit to Grovehill clearly stirred memories.

Youngblood had been a catcher as a kid. It went fine for a while, but he had trouble with the mask. It never quite fit correctly, he couldn’t see so well. So he would wear it hitched up a little….

You can see where this is going can’t you?

One day his luck ran out and he took a foul ball right in the noggin. His catching career ended there.

“I played outfield from then on” he said, “to keep a safe distance. But I wasn’t such a good outfielder…”

Coach Youngblood certainly put his all into training with the Herts Under-8s and Under-11s once the Under 15s had got their games under way.

He talked dedication, and the fun of Florida and Disneyworld. He talked playing as a team, and enjoying what you do.

He pitched to some batters, took his hacks at the plate, and ran the bases. And he did it all with his Reese’s Pieces in his pocket. The mark of a true pro.

by Rob Jones

Human highlight reels: Herts 2018 MVPs

The 2018 season saw Herts baseball club take another step forward, and it is time to celebrate some of those who powered us on.

Adult and youth players have been voting for their Most Valuable Player (MVP) of 2018, and the contests have been close as always. We can now **drum roll** unveil the results.

The Herts Falcons of the National Baseball League (NBL) were a cherry on top of the club’s year, making a stunning run through the playoffs to reach the final series at Farnham Park against the London Mets.

The Falcons players chose slugger (and outfielder/pitcher) Walter Bates as their MVP, acknowledging the impact he has made since joining the team.

Walter’s highlights for the year included going for 6-for-7 with three triples against the London Capitals in June, and winning a home run derby against a former Marlins organisation player, Chris Squires, at a summer exhibition event.

He also helped support the club online, spreading the word about Herts and British baseball generally – and was the first to sign up for 2019 once registration opened.

Walter Bates after beating Chris Squires in a home run contest

The Herts Double-A side, the Hawks, had another impressive year which saw them end with a 18-4 record in their second year after promotion.

Team stalwart Jon Lewys was once again instrumental in their success and his team-mates rewarded him with the MVP award.

He led the team in hits, and also played stellar defense both in the outfield and at second base. Hawks Manager Michael Cresswell said he was great to have on the team, consistently putting in great performances and fully deserving the award.

There was a fitting — even poetic – result to the voting among Herts Raptors players. They chose Paul Auchterlounie as their MVP. Paul is one of the club’s longest serving members, and at the end of the 2018 season he retired from playing for good.

After joining the Raptors to act as a mentoring catcher to young pitchers, he became a reliable go-to starting pitcher himself, and a consistent bat. He still did a bit of catching, and still helped out young players (especially to guide them away from their appalling choices of music).

Paul Auchterlounie in action

The 2018 season of British baseball suffered at many levels from some organisational problems. That affected the Herts youth teams as much as anyone, interrupting the flow of games. But they still put in a great year of performances.

Joshua Badenhorst was voted the MVP for the Under-15 team, recognising a year in which he was not only an ace pitcher and catcher but also a valuable utility player. He pitched a great game against London Sports in the UK Little League qualifier, and went 4-for-5 with the bat as an added bonus.

He has impressed with his positive attitude and team leadership – with opposing coaches even offering their praise. Josh was also valuable behind the scenes for the club, going the extra mile to help to set up and clear away the field at games.

The Under-13s perhaps suffered more than most due to issues with their game schedule, and a fluctuating line-up. But the MVP award went to Nathan Mudd. Coach Dana Myzer agreed he had deserved the accolade, praising him for his heart, and determination.

The U-11s get a team talk at Farnham Park

The Under-11 players voted Leon Gutowski their MVP. The team capped their year with an impressive run at the Youth National Baseball Championships at Farnham Park in September.

Leon played a key role as they won both of their pool games – including a dramatic walk-off against a powerful London Sports side – to reach the final. They were the first Herts youth team to achieve that feat since 2013.

The contest for a Play of the Year — which is voted on by all players from across the club – produced a very close result. Anthony Lavender’s spectacular diving catch for the Hawks against the London Marauders was locked in a tough battle with Alex Deacon’s double play in the NBL final.

Deacon’s moment of brilliance came out on top, and he takes the prize. In Game 1 of the final against the London Mets, he made an improbable catch at second base on a ball which looked certain to get over his head. Smartly, he threw to second base to double off the runner.

Spectators couldn’t stop talking about the defensive play of the game — which was seen by a wider audience because of the BBF streaming the game on YouTube. Now it has won Alex Deacon the coveted Herts Play of the Year, too.

Alex Deacon flashes leather in the NBL final

 

 

by Rob Jones

Another view: the best seats in the house?

The imminent arrival of MLB into the UK with the London Series next June has sparked plentiful debate about how to get the best tickets – and where those tickets will be. Herts’ new contributing writer Rachel Steinberg – a veteran of many games – offers a view on the best views:

From behind home plate at AT&T Park (photo: Nick Jio via Unsplash)

If you’re new to watching Major League Baseball, viewing the recently-released seating chart for the upcoming London Series might have felt more like looking into a kaleidoscope than at a sporting pitch.

Though the details of prices left a lot of us wondering if we were going to be able to attend at all, here are some things to consider when you look at what you were able to buy from Ticketmaster this week.

Home plate

Good for: being in the thick of the action, pitching, batting, umpiring

If you’re captivated by the grace of a curveball as it paints the outside corner of the strike zone or thrilled by the thwack of a 95-mile-per-hour fastball as it hits the catcher’s mitt, you’ll want to sit near home plate.

You’ll be able to criticise the umpire’s strike zone with more accuracy than your friend sitting in centre field, watch as batters adjust their technique for different types of pitches, and be front and centre when the winning run slides in.

Find yourself on the seating chart for the London Series

Field level infield

 Good for: defence, catching foul balls, heckling

Have you ever seen a textbook double (or triple) play and marvelled at the precision? Have you gasped as a shortstop’s quick leap prevented an RBI? If so, sitting along the first or third base lines might be your top choice.

These sections will also put you in the likeliest seats for catching a foul ball, but please, please don’t be the guy who interferes with an out. No one wants to be the next Steve Bartman. If a player is running toward you to catch a foul, give him space to make the out before staking a claim for a souvenir. He might even steal your nachos.

Hot tip: Increase your chances of snagging a foul by bringing your glove – or your kid.

Fans of a particular team will often choose to sit near their team’s dugout. For this series, the ‘visiting’ Yankees will be along the third base line and the ‘home team’ Red Sox will be on the first base side.

Baseball is less regimented than football when it comes to seating, so feel free to don your pinstripes or rock that Beantown ball cap on either side of the stadium—just be prepared for some gentle ribbing by opposing fans no matter where you sit.

The upper-level infield

Good for: perspective

It’s no wonder the press boxes are higher up in the stadium—the bird’s-eye view allows for a holistic understanding of the whole game. If sitting at home plate is a close-up, sitting up here is a pan shot that allows you to see what’s going on everywhere.  From here, you can appreciate the big picture, from the infamous infield shift to baserunning strategy.

Good to know: historically, the Yankees haven’t worn names on the back of their jerseys and the Red Sox don’t have names on their home uniforms. If you’re hoping to keep track of players on these teams, you may want to familiarise yourself with their numbers and positions!

The outfield

Good for: dramatic catches, pitching, home runs

Sure, you’re far from the infield action, but there is a lot to be said for seats in the outfield. If you’ve ever seen Kevin ‘Superman’ Pillar dive for a pop fly or Mike Trout scale a wall to steal a home run, you know what I mean. Plus, you might get lucky and catch a home run ball (for your best chances, pick a seat on the lower level in left field).

The outfield is also a great place to watch pitching, particularly if you can snag seats above one of the bullpens where you’re likely to see multiple relief pitchers warming up their stuff.

Seats by the bullpen at Angel Stadium (photo: Rachel Steinberg)

Though the configuration of the London Series bullpens is unclear from the seating chart, sitting near the pen often means being able to watch baseball players watch baseball, as off-duty relievers will still sit and watch the on-field action.

Fun fact: keep an eye out for a relief pitcher carrying what looks like a toddler’s backpack. While he could be a huge Frozen fan, chances are he is the team’s newest rookie reliever. In MLB tradition, that means carrying around the bullpen’s snacks in humiliatingly juvenile rucksack.

That bullpen rucksack (photo: Rachel Steinberg)

Boxes and suites

Good for: impressing your friends or clients, easy access to food and beer

If you’ve managed to find your way into a corporate box or the VIP hospitality section, you probably don’t need me to tell you the advantages of sitting in these seats. Please enjoy your complimentary beer, ‘American-themed food options’ and proximity to ‘MLB legends’.

Also, please adopt me.

The cheapest seats in the house

Good for: fun company, bragging rights

You won’t find serious suits trying to impress their clients in these seats, just fans and fans-to-be looking to have a great day out at the ballpark.

If sitting here is anything like the cheapest seats at Fenway Park and Yankee Stadium, where I’ve experienced some of the most boisterous fans in baseball, it will be a fun place to take in the games.

Let’s face it: for the price of some of the tickets to this series, many have argued you might as well fly to New York or Boston to catch a game. So why buy tickets for the London Series?

Bragging rights. Perhaps more than any other sport, baseball places an enormous emphasis on its own history. There will only be one first-ever MLB series in London, and whether you ended up paying £30 or £385, you will be one of the lucky few able to say you were there to witness it.

**

Rachel Steinberg is a former Little League Umpire and freelance writer. So far, she has visited 11 MLB stadiums, 4 MiLB stadiums and two stadiums in the Dominican Professional Baseball League. She hopes to add the London Stadium to this list very soon….

by Rob Jones

“Every moment is precious…”

The end of the British baseball season is always a melancholy moment, writes Rob Jones.

I wouldn’t say that it is “sad”, as such. You shouldn’t be sad when something finite ends — that is what gives it its quality. I’m not sad when Christmas ends — if it went on and on, it would not be special.

So I am not sad when the baseball year ends. But it is a melancholy moment. A pensive moment, a time for reflection.

Rob at bat against Tonbridge (pic: Liam McAvoy)

On a positive note I should start by saying that my team, the Herts Raptors, achieved a .500 record in the Single-A league this year, which is the baseball baseline for “doing OK”. So we can tick that box.

We had a great bunch of guys, and I always enjoyed getting together to play. The 2018 manager, Matt Jackson, led us all with dedication and the right attitude.

Stunning walkoff

Overall, the club had some real high points in the year. The Herts Falcons reached the NBL final for the first time in six years with some superb playoff wins.

The Under-11s reached the final of their age group at the Youth National Baseball Championships, the first Herts youth side to reach a final since 2013. And they did it with a stunning walkoff victory, which was an added bonus for the kids.

But for me, as for many people involved in British baseball in 2018, it was an odd season. Frustrating. Disappointing. Deflating.

First of all, I have to link all of this into my old man shtick – my body feels each season more keenly, and you always think to yourself “how many more years can I keep doing this?”

I grant you that I am probably being melodramatic. 46 is twice the age of some of our players, but I’m hardly ready for my slippers in the retirement home yet. We had guys come on board late in the season who are, in fact, older than I am.

However, I try to play as many games as I can each year, and at what point does that end? At what point do you become just a substitute, or occasional participant?

Passion

One of my fellow travellers in the Old Guys brigade, Paul Auchterlounie, hung up his playing gear at the end of 2018 to concentrate on umpiring. I wish him all the best – and he’ll be excellent – but that is kind of melancholy, too.

Paul was with the club before I arrived, and has always played with absolute passion to do his best. At times, in those early years, he could become extremely frustrated by his own flaws – and I fully understood that!

Paul Auchterlounie looking on the bright side of life

But he also approached baseball as a sport, something which should be fun. What’s more, I’ve seen him make some amazing plays in the outfield. He reached the AA playoffs as a Hawks catcher.

And when he joined the Raptors in recent years to act as a mentoring catcher to young pitchers, he in fact ended up as one of our most reliable and effective starters on the mound!

The club will miss him on the field but will, I’m sure, see him often in his new role.

The loss of a veteran makes it feel more real that, at some point, you have to move on. That nagging concern was exacerbated this year by the confusion surrounding the organisation of the game nationally.

If every moment on the diamond is increasingly precious, you don’t want to lose opportunities because of forfeits, or scheduling mistakes.

Washout

The set-up of the leagues in 2018 meant chances of post-season play for the Raptors were exceptionally slim. And during most of the summer, teams had little idea of what the results or standings were. The “race for the post-season” was a blindfolded race.

It is perhaps a fitting metaphor that attempts to stage the Single-A final have so far failed, and the teams which made it through the confusion have not had the chance to play. It’s nobody’s fault, as such, since the weather has intervened repeatedly. But I can’t help but think that a damp squib season has had an appropriate conclusion with a washout.

British baseball has a tremendous opportunity in 2019 to spread the word about the game and attract more players, particularly young players. MLB has finally followed American football’s NFL, and basketball’s NBA, in playing regular season games in London. The choice of the Red Sox and Yankees shows that this is a serious attempt to break the market.

We need to capitalise on this moment. To do that, we will all need to do better.

Waiting for the dust to settle… (pic: Liam McAvoy)

One incident from 2018 hopefully ties together my old man melancholy with a more positive note.

On the opening day of the season, one of our new winter recruits Liam Roberts – a promising speedster with a love of baseball, and lots to contribute to the club – played his first league game.

He led off with a walk. Then went to steal second base.

But a freak accident on the slide left him with a broken arm. He had surgery in the course of the year, and is thankfully recovering, but was advised not to try baseball again.

It brings home how lucky I have been to get to play this game for so many years. Every moment is an upside.

I’m here fretting to you all about how much longer I can steal bases, and make dazzling plays at shortstop, when I should perhaps be focussing only on those high points I have already experienced.

The off-season will give me a chance to mull all that over. Whilst oiling the glove, cleaning the cleats, and buying my London Series tickets.

And dreaming of great things. Because no matter what the body can or can’t do, it doesn’t stop me dreaming.

—————–

POSTSCRIPT: It is only fair to add that the delayed Single-A final has now taken place. It was hosted at a sun-drenched Grovehill Ballpark, and the Long Eaton Storm and the London Musketeers played out a tremendous game.

Storm won 16-14, but I am going to take a positive message from it for all clubs.

Let’s see this as a parting of those clouds which I complained about above. Let’s see this sunshine as a good omen of what’s to come in 2019.

I have written elsewhere on these pages about how the last act of the drama is the one which leaves the most powerful imprint. And this was definitely a good final act. Forward together.

 

 

 

 

by Rob Jones

Falcons fall at the last; Mets take NBL title

There had been a sprinkling of fairy dust on the Herts Falcons’ postseason run. But there wasn’t quite enough magic to overcome the London Mets in the final at Farnham Park.

This was to be a best-of-three series, with the defending champion Mets looking to lock up a repeat title.

Herts started their manager Cris Hiche on the mound on Saturday’s Game 1. He was credited with the win in both of the Falcons playoff victories the previous weekend, beating the Southampton Mustangs and the London Capitals.

This was to be a tough game right from the off. The London Mets’ bats were hot early, driving in 4 runs in the first and 6 runs in the second.

Rich Minford, the starter for London, was in dominant form and Herts just couldn’t solve him. The defending champions were able to pile on, and prevent the Falcons from scoring.

Late in the game, Cris Hiche blooded some of the young talent the club is developing. One of them, Alex Deacon, provided the defensive highlight of the day with a running catch at second base, and a sharp turn of a double play.

Herts were able to load the bases late on, with relief pitcher Aaron Witter among those getting on. Young Giuseppe Basilea hit a hard ground ball. But the Mets were equal to it, and got out of the inning.

It ended 16-1.

Wade Lynch pitches in Game 2

In Game 2 on Sunday, Herts hoped to use the Mets aggressive batting against them. Veteran Wade Lynch started on the mound, using an array of off-speed pitches.

It worked well in the early exchanges, London getting two runners on but failing to score. For Herts, Conner Brown got aboard with a single but couldn’t advance.

It was scoreless after one. The Mets weren’t held for long, though. They made good contact and found holes to score 6 in the second inning. They would keep adding throughout the ballgame.

Mets starter Michael Hoyes was able to hold the Falcons to just the one hit through three innings. But Herts were finally able to break through in the fourth.

Walter Bates led off with a single, and stole second. He was moved to third with a single by Conner Brown – who had come in to pitch in relief — and then brought home on a ground-out by Hiche. But a caught stealing and another ground-out meant the threat was blunted, and the Mets still led 10-1.

Rich Minford throws out Moise Vasquez

Again, the young talent shone. Tyler Badenhorst got the best Herts hit of the day, a booming double into left field which bounced over the fence off the warning track in the fifth.

Shortstop Carlos Casal Jr had made a smart and brilliantly executed play in the top of the fifth to save a run. Fielding a sharply hit ground ball with a runner trying to score from third, he threw home for Phil Clark to apply the tag.

But despite these highlight moments, the Falcons couldn’t put enough together to keep the game alive. A strikeout with two runners on ended the fifth, and gave the Mets an 11-1 victory by the mercy rule.

The Falcons offered their congratulations to London. Manager Cris Hiche said: “it was a tough weekend but all the credit goes to a very good Mets squad.”

He added: “They outplayed us in all aspects of the game and we didn’t come out sharp enough. This is a start of a process for the Falcons and we’ll be back stronger next year!”.

With such great  improvement through 2018, and a crop of young talent which can only get better, that certainly seems a real prospect.

 

 

by Rob Jones

Hawks’ wings clipped by Latin Boys

The Herts Hawks travelled to face the East London Latin Boys on Sunday (19th August) to fight for a place in the national final of British baseball’s Double-A league.

The fixture renewed a rivalry which had brought some tight and dramatic games over the past two years. In 2018, the Hawks were the only team to beat the Latin Boys, who had won their division and claimed the number 2 seed for the playoffs.

Veteran pitcher Darrin Ward was on the mound again, after his complete game win over Bournemouth last week. That game ended 10-9 to the Hawks thanks to a ninth-inning rally and a walk-off. Things would be different this time.

Ward surrendered an early 1-0 lead, but pitched well to keep it tight until the middle of the fourth inning.  Then a Herts fielding error proved costly, and Latin Boys jumped out to a 4-0 lead.

The home side’s starting pitcher Jeffrey Aguilar was dominating the Herts lineup. Only Ward and second baseman Jon Lewys were able to get notable hits.

Latin Boys starter Jeffrey Aguilar

 Latin Boys had another big inning and took a 10-1 lead into the seventh. There was to be no dramatic comeback from Herts this time and it ended 11-1.

 Hawks manager Michael Cresswell tipped his hat to the home side, saying they deserved their place in the final. Herts had gone one better than last year, and will return to action in the Spring with their eyes on a title.

In their team statement, the Hawks said that while the result was not what they wanted, there were still smiles all around. “Sometimes it’s just not our day, but we still love the game of baseball.”

 

Hunter Devine and Jon Lewys (all photos: Jamie Lang)

Latin Boys face Bristol Badgers in the Double-A final at Farnham Park near Slough, the home of British baseball, next Sunday (26th August)

The Herts Raptors had finished their season in Single-A, but played one more game this past weekend against the Guildford Millers. It was a fixture which was rained off early in the year, but it had been impossible to reschedule it.

Raptors jumped out to a big 20-run lead after 3 innings, and were within a squeak of a mercy rule victory after 5. They led by 14 runs. But Guildford kept plugging away and fighting back.

Home runs from Herts veteran Arnie Longboy and rookie David Grindstaff had powered the offense, and after seven innings they still led by 9. However, it would end with the impressively Single-A score of 36-35. And Guildford were the winners.

It was a fun finale to the year.

The Herts Falcons have one more regular season game to play, a make-up game against the London Mets at Finsbury Park. Then they, too, hope to be heading to playoffs.

The exact permutations for the NBL have not been decided yet, but follow hertsbaseball on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram and we will keep you updated.

by Rob Jones

Last gasp drama brings playoff win for Hawks

The Herts Hawks built an early 5-1 lead in their playoff game at home to the Bournemouth Bears on Sunday (August 12th) – but the ultimate victory was anything but routine.

This was the Hawks’ second year in the Double-A league after storming to the Single-A title in 2016. Bournemouth were new boys to the league, and had never faced Herts.

Ward pitching, with Cresswell waiting in the wings

Darrin Ward was on the pitching mound on a cloudy and cool day at Grovehill, which was interrupted by showers. He went along steadily for five innings as the Hawks scored 5 runs to back him up.

But Bournemouth’s starter was also showing his mettle, and in the fifth the visitors battled back to get their bats going too. They pushed across some runs, and took advantage of a brief mental lapse from the Hawks to score again. It was now 5-4.

Herts responded with a 1-2-3 inning in the top of the sixth, and centre fielder Kimi Saionji led off the bottom half with a double to left field. Right fielder Hunter Devine followed him onto the bases, and then manager Michael Cresswell.

But, frustratingly, they would leave them loaded. Bournemouth induced two pop-outs and a K from the meat of the order.

And in the top of the seventh, with two outs, the Bears finally tied the game at 5-apiece.

The Hawks’ defence had been playing smartly, always retiring the lead runner, and making good throws. Greg Bochan was a rock at third, Louis Hare at short. But Herts had to score to get back on the front foot.

In the bottom of the eighth, Saionji again got it started with a single. Then Devine drove a triple deep into the right field corner to bring him home and retake the lead. He came across to score on a pass ball.

Jon Lewys tried to tack on one more, racing from second on a drive to right by Ward. But the Bears were quick enough and accurate enough and cut him down at the plate.

So Herts were defending a 7-5 lead going into the ninth. A chance to close it out. Bournemouth’s first hit boomed to the fence in left field. Another runner got on. Herts got one out.

Then things threatened to really turn sour. Bournemouth found the gaps. Herts fielders bobbled the ball. The Bears sniffed an opening and not only levelled but took the lead, 9-7. What is more, Herts catcher Bryn Coughlan hurt his knee as he scrambled to catch a foul pop-up.

There was a delay while medical help was sought, and he was helped from the field. When it was over, Herts faced the challenge of saving the game.

Greg Bochan led off with a single. Then substitute Antony Lavender – who had been called suddenly into action – made an immediate mark with a double to right field.

Kimi Saionji brought home the first of the runners, then Devine struck again.

The game was tied. Saionji was on third.

At the plate stood first baseman, Michael Cresswell, first year manager of the Hawks. He wasn’t going to pass up this moment.

Cresswell slapped a pitch down the third base line, and — leaping onto the plate to score– Saionji ended the game. It was 10-9 to the Hawks.

Kimi scores the winner

Bournemouth Bears had been superb, and battled hard. They played with a smile and a cheer and graciously checked in on the injured Herts catcher.

But the day belonged to Herts. Ward took the complete game win, Cresswell the walkoff. But the entire team had contributed.

The Hawks travel to face the East London Latin Boys next, and will take heart from being the only team to beat them in the regular season.

by Rob Jones

Former Marlins man makes his mark in Herts

A lot of quality baseball players have shown off their skills in a Herts cap over the years. But we still felt lucky to be able to welcome former AA pitcher Chris Squires to the club during this past weekend to share his knowledge with our players of all ages.

Chris was drafted by the Miami Marlins (then the Florida Marlins, of course) in 2010 after a college career at Indiana University which saw him finish as the Hoosiers’ all time saves leader with 20. In his final campaign, he notched up 10.71 strikeouts per 9 innings.

With the Marlins organisation, Chris pitched as a reliever in A, Advanced A and AA. He had an ERA of 3.73, and struck out more than 100 batters before moving on to play in Independent Leagues, and now plays in Europe.

His first event with Herts was at the club’s field in north west London, where we have been running weekly sessions this summer. On Friday evening, he ran through drills to improve our players’ throwing, fielding and hitting.

The core message was clear: “You have to practice a lot. Practice as much as you think you need to, then do some more.”

Chris added: “I am really picky about the detail. Think about what you are trying to achieve with every drill that you do, what are you trying to improve. Focus on that.”

On Saturday, there was a full day of work for Chris Squires at Grovehill, firstly with some of our youngest players. Around 20 boys and girls from not only Herts but also the London Mets, London Sports and the Leicester Blue Sox took part.

After a warm-up, there was throwing. Chris emphasised a strong core, and fast arm speed. In crucial fielding drills, there was attention on a good fielding position, and also on attacking a ground ball.

“Major leaguers still work on all their fundamentals”, he told our youngsters.  “Sure, they find it easier because they have already put in the years, but they still have to work on all their basics.”

He happily fielded an endless series of questions from both the kids and from their parents. These ranged from technical aspects of how to achieve more power, to whether or not he is married, and whether he got a signing bonus when he was drafted.

In this session — and in another with our Under 15s and Under 17s later in the day — there were plenty of questions about his time in the minor leagues.

US baseball players are drafted by Major League organisations either from their High Schools or from College. Then they play in the club’s range of Minor League teams to work on their skills and develop as athletes.

These leagues are ranked from A, through Advanced A, to AA and AAA (pronounced as Double-A and Triple-A) before moving on to the Big League Club if they make it all the way.

Chris pitched for teams including the Jupiter Hammerheads, the Jamestown Jammers and the Jacksonville Suns.

Did he face guys who are now top stars, came a question? Yes, he pitched to Cristian Yelich in what’s called “live batting practice”, but not Marcell Ozuna (Gold Glovers and All-Stars who also came up with the Marlins).

What was his favourite stadium to play in? At the Pensacola Blue Wahoos, in the Florida panhandle, where the ocean is just beyond the outfield fence (“I was in the bullpen”, he explained, where the relievers wait to be needed. “So we spent a lot of time looking at the ocean!”)

Did you ever get injured? “Not playing baseball. Punching a water cooler. My coach was NOT happy!”

“It didn’t last as long as I’d have liked, but it happens”, Chris said of his time in an MLB setup. “You have to find your next opportunity”

Over lunch, there was a little Home Run Derby action in which our professional pitcher (“Yeah, I’ve hit a few grand slams”) took on Walter Bates, a slugger from our own Herts Falcons, and veteran Darrin Ward, currently doing his thing with the Herts Hawks in Double-A.

As the kids filled the outfield to catch and collect balls, our three power hitters put on a display. After three hotly contested rounds, Walter Bates came out the winner, and can say that he beat a former Minor League player in a hitting contest (whisper it quietly that our guy is a lefty, aiming at a short fence in right field).

Walter Bates, happy to have won the Home Run Derby

Chris Squires was back into it with a youth group in the afternoon, featuring Herts kids as well as those from Brighton and the London Mets. “We are going to step it up a bit now”, he warned them, “because as you get older you start to work more on your strength. It gets more intense but you have to push on through.”

But he also warned against just focussing on power: “As a pitcher, don’t throw to the radar gun. You are pitching to get the batter out.”

Chris went through pitcher’s fielding practice with this group, before taking some one-on-one sessions on Sunday at Grovehill.

He returns now to his day job — at the Dornbirn Indians baseball team in Austria. There he is a player and coach, and a coordinator and coach for the youth programmes.

The Herts Falcons manager, Cris Hiche, spent a season at Dornbirn in 2016, and was instrumental in getting our guest coach along for this very successful weekend. Our thanks to him for all his work.

The final word goes to Chris Squires, in answer to a question from one of our kids about why he chose to play baseball.

“Baseball is a sport where you are not just improving for yourself, everything you do helps the team. If you improve as a defender, that helps every pitcher you play with. If you improve as a hitter, that helps all your fielders. It’s not just about you.”

“And I have always loved baseball.”

That’s all good with us.