Category: Falcons

by AspiDimitrov

HERTS DERBY – THE TWO MANAGERS – Q&A

Hertfalcons.co.uk managed to get a quick Q&A with the two managers before the weekend clash between the Falcons and the Hawks.

 

Q: Your prediction for the score of the two games?

 

Bruce Dullea A:

We'll win both games, 9-6 & 10-8.

 

Paul Auchterlounie A:

Whilst I hate to make predictions, I think that Falcons will win game 1, with a score of 11-5. Hawks will bounce back and take game 2, 9-6.

 

Q: Key player from your team?

 

Bruce Dullea A:

Yuji has made our infield defense very strong.  He's a key.

 

Paul Auchterlounie A:

I have many players who could be deemed as key players – those in the infield and the outfield, batting 1-9. If I had to pick 1 it would, I think, have to be Larry Martillo. The strong batting lineup of Falcons needs to be quieted, and I feel that Larry has the experience and guile to bewitch them at the plate, provided the ump knows where the strike zone is.

 

Q: Most feared player from the opponents' team?

 

Bruce Dullea A:

We don't fear anyone, but respect all of the Hawks players.  Larry gave us trouble in the Kyle Hunlock Series and is a leader on and off the field for the Hawks. 

 

Paul Auchterlounie A:

Sometimes, stats don't mean ****. However, currently leading the Falcons is one of their Japanese import players, Kimiyoshi Saionji. He can hit to either field, is quick around the bases and pulls off great plays with the glove. Others to watch for are Andy Cornish (who can be a little suspect with fly balls at the fence!) and the left side of the infield – it'll need a very sharply hit ball to get through there.

 

Q: If you could have one MLB player play for your team this weekend who would it be?

 

Bruce Dullea A:

Barry Zito

 

Paul Auchterlounie A:

I was going to go for Ryan Howard, reigning National League MVP. He's on a hot hitting streak right now, can go either way and with the short (by MLB standards) fence the balls will just keep on flying. However, Falcons would probably kill the game and just pitch round him to get to the next batter. So with the intention of quieting the Falcons lineup, I've decided to go for a pitcher – Jake Peavy. 2nd in the majors in ERA and leads the majors in strikeouts he should be a good matchup for the predominantly right handed lineup of the Falcons. He'll set the table nicely for Martillo to come in and finish off!!

 

Q: A short message which you want to give to your opponents.

 

Bruce Dullea A:

(Note: Bruce will come back a little later on this particular point.  He is probably referring to Sun Tzu's “The Art of War” for inspiration)

 

Paul Auchterlounie A:“There are only 5 things that you can do in baseball – run, throw, catch, hit and hit with power. It's a pity the Falcons can't do any of them”. Leo Durocher.  (Ok, so I adlibbed a bit with the quote.)

by AspiDimitrov

PA’L CARAJO

Hertfalcons.co.uk have received a large number of enquiries about the meaning of the video message in Spanish from Hawks slugger, Carlos Casal.  We have managed to make contact with the Venezuelan RBI Machine who took time to clarify this matter.


The expression “Pa’l carajo” is largely used in South America and CaribbeanIslands to express anger (To hell) or surprise (What the hell?) towards something or someone. The contraction (Grammar) Pa’l is a composition of “Para” = To and “El” = The, and “Carajo” can be used, in popular language, as Faraway, Hell or Splendid.Latin American baseball players use this expression when they send or are going to send the ball faraway (Long home run); or to give the opponent a very hard time in the game.

by AspiDimitrov

FIRST EVER HERTFORDSHIRE DERBY IN BRITISH BASEBALL LEAGUE HISTORY

 

Baseball history will be made this week when the Hertfordshire Baseball Club hosts the first ever Herts Baseball derby.  The Herts Falcons will clash against the Herts Hawks at Grovehill Field, Hemel Hempstead. 

 

Both teams have been building up to this game ever since the 2007 League schedule was published.  The Falcons come into the game as the odds-on favourites to win both games.  Over the last few weeks Falcons players have gone on record to say that they will administer an embarrassing beating which the Hawks will remember for years to come.  The war of words escalated to such an extent that the club’s internet Forum has been overloaded with page after page of pre-game exchanges.

 

The Hawks have kept quite in the pre-game build up, probably fearing the worst, but no matter how much the odds are stacked against them, in baseball miracles do happen and a miracle is what the Herts Hawks will need if they are to stand any chance of even staying close to the Falcons.

 

The two teams have met 6 times in the past but only in non-league exhibition games as part of the “Kyle Hunlock” Series last September.  The Falcons won those Series 4-2 and off-the-record they would probably claim that they handed the two wins out of pity for the Hawks and to extend the season by a week or two.

 

The Hertfordshire Baseball Club invites all baseball and non-baseball fans to come along and witness baseball history being made this Sunday and maybe to enjoy a picnic in the pleasant surroundings of our home field.  Game 1 starts at 12:00.  For directions to our field please click here (http://www.hertsfalcons.co.uk/field ).

 

by AspiDimitrov

“HERTS DERBY WEEK” SCHEDULE OF EVENTS

Wednesday, 6 June, 6:00pm, Wednesday Night Practice – last preparations before the big game.  This and future Wednesday Night sessions are open to non-members who may be interested in joining the club or to give baseball a go.

 

Friday, 8 June, 6:30pm, Slugfest Night – all members of the Herts Baseball Club will have a night at the Northwick Park Batting Cages (Free of Charge) with food and drinks. Directions:http://www.northwickpark.com/directions.html

 

Sunday, 10 June, Judgement Day – Herts Hawks @ Herts Falcons

10:00am, Herts Falcons Pre-Game Batting Practice

10:45am, Herts Hawks Pre-Game Batting Practice

11:30am, Photocall: 2007 Team photos

11:40am, Herts Falcons Pre-Game Infield/Outfield Practice

11:50am, Herts Hawks Pre-Game Infield/Outfield Practice

12:00pm, Ceremonial First Pitch – thrown out by family members present.

12:05pm, GAME 1

~2:30pm, GAME 2

~5:00pm, Post Game Celebrations (To be confirmed) – possible options drinks with barbecue and/or pizza delivery etc, and/or a softball game involving friends and family members

by AspiDimitrov

FALCONS TAKE A QUICK & LAZY WIN FROM BRACKNELL

[ BOX SCORE ][ GALLERY ]A solid complete game by Louis Hare led to an uneventful win against the Bracknell Blazers. Hare had all the run support he needed in the top of the first inning, and the Blazers were unable to avoid the 10-run slaughter rule for the third time this season, and their fourth loss overall.The Falcons remain atop their Division 1 bracket. They've scored 84 runs in the season's six games, and have allowed a mere 19 across home plate.

by AspiDimitrov

FIRST TEAM SPLITS WITH SHROPSHIRE AFTER SHREWSBURY ‘SOJOURN’

Falcons vs. Shropshire Panthers: 3-10 / 11-4[ BOX SCORE 1 ][ BOX SCORE 2 ]The Falcons set out for Telford on Saturday afternoon in the team vehicles with a sense of optimism and arrogance for the next-day's double-header.An extensive training session at the Whitehouse Hotel and Fitness Centre™ the Falcons met to talk strategy in the reserved hotel lounge. Dreams of championship titles and undefeated seasons were openly declared.Despite the suprious words of injured bench-warmer Lee Manning, most teammates thought a sweep of the Panthers was inevitable. Manager Bruce Dullea retired to his suite with a bottle of red wine and a worn volume of Machivalli's greatest speeches.Some dreams have short life spans.The Shropshire Panthers leapt out of the gates Sunday scoring four runs off the stuned, and quickly-sobered Falcons. Catcher Greenberg strungled with control and allowed two runs on bad snap throws to hop past third-baseman Nicolas Goetz. Pitcher Dullea showed open frustration with the plate umpire. When asked about the strike zone, Dullea said, “It's like my forkball: nasty with LOTS of movement.” Game One left stranded most Falcons baserunners.In the break between games while the Panthers lunched, the Falcons took extra batting practice and warmed their second starter Louis Hare from the mound. Determined to turn things around, the Falcons started Game Two with three runs in the first inning. Herts improved their game both on the diamond and at the plate.

by AspiDimitrov

FALCONS ROUT RIVERDOGS IN DOUBLE-HEADER SLUGFEST

RICHMOND RUSTLES UP 3 RUNS AGAINST HERTS' 41Falcons vs. Richmond Riverdogs: 16-2 / 25-1[ BOX SCORE 1 ][ BOX SCORE 2 ]The Riverdogs had a dog-time trying to best a merciless Falcons defense on Sunday, as starting pitchers Bruce Dullea and Louis Hare each threw five-inning slaughter-rule complete-games. For the second week in a row Falcons have forced their opponents to eek out each run. Dullea and Hare each had 7 strikeouts and allowed only two walks combined. Catcher Jason Greenberg kept the Dogs from advancing, cutting down two runners at second and another at third. Falcons pitching has surrendered only one earned run in the season.Falcons offense was unrelenting. Center-fielder Andy Cornish led the charge with two home runs and 5 RBIs. Second-baseman Kimiyoshi Saionji went 5-for-8 with 5 RBIs. Short-stop Yuji Endo snatched four steals and Greenberg contributed 6 doubles and 4 RBIs going 7-for-9 on the day. Altogether the Falcons batted .493 with 20 extra base knocks.Relief right-fielder Robert Crouch made his Falcons debut by batting 1-for-1 with a 2-run scoring double in the final inning before being tagged out at home on some ridiculous base coaching by injured bench-warmer Lee Manning.Next week sends Falcons to face the 2nd-place Milton Keynes Hurricanes (1-1).

by AspiDimitrov

BRITISH BASEBALL IS BACK – 2007 OPENING DAY PREVIEW

Division One Opening Day Fixtures:

 

Sunday 29 April 2007

HERTS FALCONS1 vs Guildford Mavericks

2pm, Grovehill Field, Hemel Hempstead

 

Sunday 29 April 2007

HERTS FALCONS2 @ Shropshire Panthers

2pm, Shropshire

 

After six long winter months baseball is back.  The new season comes with many changes on and off the field for the Hertfordshire Falcons.  Both Falcons1 and Falcons2 have new managers, Bruce Dullea and Paul Auchterlounie, respectively.  The roster has been strengthened with the addition of promising new players as well as the return of Falcons legend, Stuart Boast, and slugger Andy Cornish who confirmed his return with a walk-off grand slam in spring training against the Birmingham Maple Leafs.  The Falcons will also have their first ever female player, Chantal Gerrard. 

 

Both teams face difficult Opening Day opponents.  Falcons1 host the Guildford Mavericks while Falcons2 make the long trip to Shropshire where they will face the Shropshire Panthers who last year played in the Premier League and will be hoping to bounce straight back this season. 

 

The British Baseball Federation has made considerable changes to the 2007 League structure and for the first time in the history of the Hertfordshire Falcons, both Falcons1 and Falcons2 will be competing in the same Division.  As a result the two teams will meet each other in a competitive league game for the very first time on 10 June 2007. 

 

Both teams will be hoping to improve on their records from last year in what is expected to be a very competitive Division One race this year.

by AspiDimitrov

FALCONS RELEGATED AFTER DRAMATIC EXTRA INNING PLAYOFF LOSS

Burgess Hill Colts capped a successful season in the BBF Leagues with promotion to the Premier Division, the top division in British baseball outside of the National League. The Colts, who finished second in Division 1 South, beat Herts Falcons 13-12 in a breath-taking extra-innings playoff on Sunday, Sept 10. Burgess Hill will take the place of the Falcons’, who finished one off the bottom in Premier Division South.

 

The result will sweeten the end of the Colts’ season after they reached the final of the Division 1 Final 4 on Sept 3 but fell to Northampton in the last inning. This time it was Burgess Hill who stole the victory late on, coming from 10-6 down after six innings to tie it and go ahead 12-10 in the top of the ninth before Herts forced extra innings with two tying runs in the bottom of the inning. The Falcons had already mounted an early-innings fight-back to take an 8-5 lead after the fifth inning. In the bottom of the ninth they loaded the bases twice to bring the score to 12-12 with a couple of RBI singles but could not bring home the winning run.

 

In the top of the tenth, the Colts’ Gary Still singled in Steve Cull to go ahead again 13-12. With the pressure on, Herts’ Aspi Dimitrov got agressive, leading off with a single and stealing second, then third base, but his path home was cut short as the three batters following him struck out at the mercy of young Colt Gary Davison, who struck out a total of 16 across his complete-game showing.

 

The defeat and return to Division 1 baseball halts the rapid progress the Herts Falcons have made over the past couple of years. Dimitrov said, “It is a major setback for our club but we are determined to work our way back and come back stronger next year.”

 

The Colts, meanwhile, are enjoying a speedy climb in the manner which Herts have exhibited previously. When Herts won promotion to the Premier Division in 2004, not long after joining the BBF Leagues, Burgess Hill were only just putting together a senior team from their successful junior programme.

 

report courtesy of www.baseballsoftballuk.com

 

by AspiDimitrov

PLAYOFF FEVER HITS HERTFORDSHIRE

It is Playoff-time again in the British Baseball Premier League as the Herts Falcons host the Burgess Hill Colts in a massive one-game playoff to decide which team will play in the Premier League in 2007.

 

Burgess Hill earned their place in the playoffs by finishing as Runners-up in Division One South. They now have the chance to sink the Herts Falcons back into Division One just 2 years after the Hertfordshire club won promotion to the Premier League.

 

The Falcons know all about the Colts’ danger man, Great Britain National Team pitcher, Gary Davison, as he has already faced the Herts Falcons’ second team in Division One this season. In his three games against Herts Falcons 2 he had an ERA of 0.00 as well as 2 homeruns, 8 RBI, .750 batting average, 1.750 slugging %.

 

The Herts Falcons have their own Mr October in Jim Denison. He was voted as the Falcons’ Most Valuable Player in 2005 and represents a home run threat every time he steps into the batter’s box. All eyes will be on his duel with Gary Davison. Last year Jim Denison was the Premier League Home Run leader with 7 homers. This year he is yet to hit the ball out of the park so the law of averages suggests that he is due a big hit in this deciding play-off game and that would be perfect timing for the Falcons.

 

Davison and Denison are the big guns for the two clubs, but, as is often the case, it could be someone completely unexpected who could make all the difference and swing the game in their team’s favour.

 

Tha game takes place at 2:30pm on Sunday, 10 September 2006, at the home field of the Herts Falcons in Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire. For directions click on the link below:

 

DIRECTIONS: www.hertsfalcons.co.uk/field/field.html

 

The 2006 Playoffs continue on the following Sunday, 17 September 2006, once again in Hertfordshire as the Guildford Mavericks take on Herts Falcons2, this time in the Division One playoffs.