[ 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.
Category: Adult Leagues
CLUB ADOPTS NEW NAME FOR SECOND TEAM
Since its founding in 1996, the Herts Baseball Club has been growing steadily. It is the only baseball club in Hertfordshire and has always aimed to promote the game of baseball and to provide the residents of Hertfordshire (as well as the surrounding counties and North West London) the opportunity to play this great game in friendly surroundings and to be members of a well managed sports organisation which welcomes everyone regardless of age, gender, nationality and race, etc.
Due to increasing membership, in 2005 the club formed a second team which is now competing in Division 1 of the British Baseball League alongside the first team of the Herts Baseball Club. Since its formation, the second team has been competing under the name Herts Falcons 2.
On 3 June 2007, the members of the club agreed that it is time for the second team to be given its own name to recognize the fact that it is now a fully fledged member of the British Baseball League.
After several rounds of voting, the members of the Herts Falcons Baseball Club have made a decision and the team will now be known as the Herts Hawks.
In conjunction with this, the Club is also happy to unveil the new logos which will be adopted by the Herts Falcons and the Herts Hawks.
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.
HAWKS SWEEP MAVERICKS
Hawks vs. Guildford Mavericks: 9-7 / 15-2[ BOX SCORE 1 ][ BOX SCORE 2 ]After two consecutive rain-out weekends, Herts Hawks managed to get back to winning ways with two crucial wins in their double-header against the Guildford Mavericks.[ view the gameday gallery ]The visitors arrived to Grovehill Field encouraged by a magnificent win against the Shropshire Panthers in their last outing. Game 1 proved to be a very tense affair but after the teams traded blows in the opening innings, Hawks managed to grab a slender but vital lead of 8-6 after 5 innings. Venezuelan powerhouse, Carlos Casal, 2006 MVP, Peter Kikel, nutrition-junkie, Rodney Naghar, notorious puller, Tim Elkins and hard-hitting Steve Nippress were just some of the Falcons who delivered key hits. Falcons rookie, Jonathon Lewys, also came through in a big way with his first ever hit for the club and his first catch in the outfield. Hawks starter, Peter Kikel, was once again impressive on the mound and he handed the ball to New York native, Larry Martillo, to close the game for the last two innings of the game. Martillo showed incredible poise and concentration to destroy any hopes which the Mavericks may have had of making a come back. The Herts Falcons won the game with a final score of 9-7.With a win in the bag, Hawks came out with even more confidence for the second game. In the bottom of the 3rd inning, Jake Kikel brought back memories of the 2006 Relegation play-off between the two teams when he stepped up to the plate with the bases loaded. With an almost identical double Kikel cleared the bases driving in 3 runs in the same way as he did in that unforgettable playoff game last year. This opened a 7-run lead for the home team. A very solid defensive performance meant that the Mavericks scored only 2 runs in that game. The Hertfordshire team won convincingly 15-2.A real confidence boost for the Falcons who all of a sudden find themselves tied in second place in their subdivision of British Baseball’s First Division. Over the two games the Falcons made only 2 errors in the field and if they can consistently put in such defensive performances, then they may have a say at the top end of the league standings despite being written off by everyone at the start of season.Game 2 was temporarily halted because of a high-speed police chase involving a young individual on a bike over the fields adjacent to Grovehill field, which provided even more excitement for the two teams and the baseball enthusiasts who came to watch the game.
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).
CATASTROPHIC COLAPSE IN 6TH INNING
Hawks @ Shropshire Panthers 7-17[ BOX SCORE ]Hawks made a promising start of the season away at the Shropshire Panthers with a battling performance for five and a half innings going neck and neck against a team that was playing in the prestigious Premier League last season. Going into the bottom of the 6th inning the game was tied 7-7 when disaster struck. A total defensive collapse resulting in 9 runs after 5 hits and 4 errors. The final score was 17-7 to the Panthers.Hawks have to take the many positives from that game and try again next Sunday, 6 May, when they welcome the Bracknell Blazers 2 for their first home game of the season at Grovehill Field, Hemel Hempstead.Before the start of the game both teams held a minute silence as a tribute to Shropshire Panthers’ catcher, Matt Folka, who lost his battle with cancer earlier this month. The game attracted a large crowd with interest from the local press and local photographers.
BRITISH BASEBALL IS BACK – 2007 OPENING DAY PREVIEW
Division One Opening Day Fixtures:
HERTS FALCONS1 vs Guildford Mavericks
HERTS FALCONS2 @
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
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.
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
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.