Category: Adult Leagues

by Rob Jones

Raptors outdone by Marauders

Jake Caress was one of the most productive batters for the Raptors

The way the game ended spoke volumes about the sort of luck the Herts Raptors had all day.

In the seventh inning, Herts had scored 6 of the 7 runs they needed to keep the game alive. There was one man out, and the bases were loaded, when Gilberto Medina hit a laser shot down the third base line.

But rather than driving in the crucial runs, the ball was spectacularly snared by a leaping third baseman. Ken Pike, the runner moving off from second, was helplessly stranded and was tagged out to complete the double play and end the game.  Marauders had won by the mercy rule on a score of 20-9.

The incident also demonstrated the importance of London’s defence throughout the game. They had made the play on every bobbling ground ball, they had caught every fly ball, and they had made the most of their scoring opportunities early in the game.

Starting on the mound, Ken Pike had struggled to make his strike zone match up with the umpire’s.  As a result, the home side had taken seven walks by the end of the day. And when the Marauders did get bat on ball, the Herts fielders were unable to make the plays — in all, there were 15 errors, including 5 wild pitches. The visitors were also on the wrong end of some close calls, and the home side quickly took a 10-run lead.

Frustration soon set in for the Raptors on a baking hot day, and it was not made any better by the bats being consistently stifled by Thomas Flack’s pitching. A tall pitcher, benefitting from a high strike zone — the result was an unusual amount of balls popping up into the blue north London sky.

Pike did manage a couple of hits, and Glen Downer got on board, but it was the fourth inning before the visiting Raptors managed to get a man across the plate.  Jake Caress — who was the most consistent performer with the bat — drove in his father, Mark.  Three runs scored in all, but there was a mountain to climb, as the Marauders already had 20 runs on the board.

Zack Longboy came in to relieve in the fourth inning and he was able to quiet the London offense. He racked up five strikeouts over three innings, and put zeroes on the board.  Longboy Sr — team manager Arnie — helped out with a diving catch at second base to rob the Marauders of a surefire hit. Now Herts’ powerful bats had to do their job.

Jose Morillo came in for Arnie Longboy and immediately sparked the offense in the top of the seventh, with the Raptors needing 7 runs to avoid the mercy rule. He hit a single, stole a base, then scampered to third on a passed ball. Glen Downer’s double brought him home. Ben Marques added an RBI single.

Gilberto Medina's bullet with the bases loaded almost extended the game beyond the seventh inning

The Marauders’ relief pitcher, Saadaab Janab was struggling with his control, and Herts were patiently waiting him out, ticking round the runs. Two came in on bases-loaded walks. The stage was set for a dramatic finale.

And the drama came. Although not the way Herts had hoped. Instead, it came with that last flash of leather from the home team, and the tag which killed the rally. Suddenly, when it seemed unlikely, the game had got close.

The manager was reassured by the way his side had made a fight of it. Arnie Longboy said “This game was huge for us, so it was disappointing that we did not get the bats going. But it was really good to rally at the end, and everyone contributed.”

The Raptors now have another — slightly unwelcome — week off, but the derby game against the Herts Eagles in June could be the perfect moment to level their season record at 2-2.

by Herts Baseball News Editor

Hawks lose to Latin Tigers in a close game

Ralph Bartholomew - in the zone

The onset of the sunny weather provided an excellent backdrop for the clash between the Latin Tigers and the Herts Hawks.

The weather was perfect, the fielding was not. In an error-strewn game (8 errors for each team), the Hawks and Tigers took to Roundshaw Playing Field’s second diamond, which was as predictable as the English weather.

With Nic Goetz on the mound, the Hawks had all that was required for success on the day, and he did not disappoint – 7 strikeouts and 1 Earned Run over 8 innings. However, the Tiger’s pitching was also on form – the two pitchers combined for a total of 10 strikeouts, which was in line with the major weakness of the Hawks on the day – the hitting. After taking a 2-0 lead, the Hawks fell behind 4-2 in the second, and trailed throughout the game. The Tigers did not overwhelm, but were able to add a run to their lead in each of the 4th, 5th, 6th and 7th inning. Herts kept close, and came back with 3 runs in the top of the 8th to make the score 8-7 for the Tigers. Still, the Tiger pitching and fielding kept the top of the 9th to a 1-2-3 inning which gave them the win. The usually prolific Elkins, Naghar and Bartholomew were kept hitless, while no Hawks batter recorded more than 1 hit.

Click to view box scores and play-by-play

Although the Hawks did not have their full squad available, they were able to rely on the services of Joseph Osborne-Brade, and were in no way depleted. Stand-in manager Kal Dimitrov commented after the game “If we had hit better and played better defence, we would have won”. After collecting his cliché award for the week, he also added “Barring the disappointment from the loss, the errors and the lack of hits, the guys enjoyed it, more or less.” Hawks are looking forward to their upcoming game on June 3, in particular because the co-managers Cornish and Bochan would be back at the helm. They will welcome the Essex RedBacks II to Grovehill Ballpark in Herts for a doubleheader which was rained out earlier in the year. First pitch 12:00pm.

 

by Herts Baseball News Editor

Black Sox snatch Michels from Falcons

Jake Michels was wearing the Herts jersey last Sunday. This weekend he will be wearing the pinstripes of the New York Black Sox (photo of Michels with Herts jersey by British Baseball Magazine, click on image for more)

The New York Black Sox have acquired Herts Falcons right handed pitcher and third baseman, Jake Michels. He was one of the big additions to the Herts roster this winter adding power to the batting lineup as well as a very solid glove at third base and a reliable arm as part of the Falcons pitching rotation.

No one knows how far the Falcons will go this season, but Michels has certainly played a vital role in the season so far contributing in the team’s very successful start . He leaves with the Falcons sitting on top of the NBL standings with 8 wins and 2 losses.

Michels joins the New York Black Sox who play in the Hudson Valley National Adult Baseball Association (HVNABA) which is the same league he played in prior to his move to Herts this winter. He previously played for the Athletics but now he will be wearing the Black Sox jersey.

Fans of Herts and British baseball will be following Jake Michels’ progress in his efforts to be selected by the Great Britain National Team in what is expected to be one of the most exciting years for GB Baseball in recent history.

 

by Rob Jones

If you build it, Herts will come

In the United States, there are baseball diamonds in most parks and at most schools. In the UK, you find them in the strangest of places. Such as the Essex Redbacks new field in Billericay. Yes, it’s next to a football club, so that’s not so strange.

But it is in fact in a farmers field, bordered on two sides by rapeseed crops growing so high you fully expect the ghost of Shoeless Joe Jackson to emerge from them at any moment. The recent weather and its farming heritage combined to make the surface look pretty lumpy and threatening, but once the game got started there were absolutely no complaints about it. It’s great that Essex, just like Herts, have been able to expand their facilities and provide more chances to play ball.

I blame rust

I can’t blame the surface for any of the fielding mistakes I made, certainly. The most glaring bonehead play was dropping a routine pop-up in foul ground having called off Theo, who had been playing a blinder. I can’t find any reason for that one. More generally I will blame rust, and a lack of baseball this year.

Rob Jones at bat
Rob Jones, poised at the plate. He doesn't actually look TOO skinny in this picture...

Definitely I am going to blame rust for me missing out on a sliding catch in the outfield. I had started in right field, and had a pretty quiet time. Essex got very few big hits, and those that did make it to the outfield headed for left and centre. But finally a batter shanked a ball into the air in my direction, and it was time for action…

I think it was always going to be a tough one, falling in the in-between zone that separates infield and outfield. But at first I thought it was carrying pretty well. Then, maybe held up by the wind, maybe by its spin, I realised it was dropping very short and I was nowhere near it. At least that left me in no doubt that I had to run hard. So I did, and slid at the last moment in a way which has produced catches in the past. Not this time, though – it got away.

Huffed from a pea-shooter

It wasn’t my only “nearly spectacular” moment of the game. Having moved over to third base, I attempted a goalkeeping dive towards a line drive which came through at a good height. I think I was just a bit too slow on that one, because it felt like I got close. I did finally manage to get something to show for my diving around — in the eighth inning, I think, I slid to my left to snare a sharp ground ball. It was one of those where you aren’t sure the ball is in the glove until you look but, when it is, you feel pretty satisfied.

From a position on my backside, I alertly looked to second to force out the runner who had been on first base. Somewhat bathetically I capped off this moment of athleticism by giving Duncan a throw which bounced three times before rolling the last distance like a pea huffed out of a pea-shooter. But the runner was out, so I am looking on the bright side.

The big pluses

My batting showed perhaps a slow improvement on last week. It all started off with another walk, predictably enough. But after that there was sometimes too much enthusiasm to hit. The umpire had a pretty big strike zone, so I felt it would be risky to count on getting the calls you want  – and I also came up with men on base quite a lot, when a walk is of more limited use.

I popped it up twice — once to the catcher and once to the pitcher — which might suggest I was swinging at high stuff. But I got a couple of  hits, and scored a couple of runs. My best contact was a fly ball out to centre. I got on base, but since it was clearly dropped by the outfielder I really have to admit that I reached on an error.

There were many things I should have done better, but once again I felt good for having been in the game. Even if I was not crucial – Adrian’s home run and Theo’s pitching were the big pluses — I felt that I had helped the team win. I won’t be able blame rust for much longer! There is a good spirit in the Eagles, relaxed but competitive, with constant ribbing and a good chatter to keep guys focused. And that makes it fun to show up. The aches and pains — even my fingers ached, for heaven’s sake — did little to encourage me back, but I am definitely looking forward to the next game.

by Rob Jones

Back to the ballpark

It was a cold, grey and wet Monday morning as I took the children to school. It was like many other days for the past month (not all of them were Mondays, though a disproportionate number felt like a Monday!)  But I was sure that just hours before, I had been playing baseball at a sun-dappled Grovehill ballpark. Was that just a hallucination? A mirage?

Maybe not… The evidence is there to back up the mental images. There is the uniform, smeared with red dust, piled in front of the washing machine. There are my aching legs and arms. And there is the typical collection of bumps and grazes. Yes, it was real. Finally, for the first time in 2012, I had played baseball.

After a cancellation and a couple of washouts, this was –in effect — Opening Day for the Raptors. The resurrected south coast franchise, Hove Tuesday, was coming to visit Hemel Hempstead. And Arnie Longboy’s men were ready to meet them. So prepared were they, that most of the players had chosen their own songs to boom out of the PA as they walked up to bat. This was Major League, baby.

Rob Jones archive
Rob Jones pops one up in his younger days

I started my tenth season of baseball positioned out in left field, amid the daisies and buttercups which still festooned the playing field.  It started pretty quietly, but in due course an arcing fly ball came my way. The alert centre fielder shouted me back, but part-way through my retreat I slowed, thinking I had gone far enough. I had not. When I headed backwards again it was too late and the ball went past my despairing glove.

A frustrating start, then, and I hope that my weeks of inactivity don’t do too much damage to my rusty “skills”.  Not long afterwards I was able to securely catch another hit to the outfield which, as a line drive, was probably much harder to judge. But there you go — this game doesn’t always make sense.

I hadn’t got as far as choosing an At Bat Anthem for 2012.  When Arnie suggested it I thought jokingly about “He’s Not There”, or “The Invisible Man”, since I had never showed up to training or pre-season. But instead I left it, so against Hove I came up to bat listening to someone else’s random selection of heavy rock.

And I made my traditional start by getting a walk. In fact, my batting season started by receiving eleven straight balls — adding up to two walks and a 3-0 count. After the pitcher finally grooved a strike, I then made an error by swinging at the next offering, which would probably have been ball four high and away. I had put myself in a hole which I duly finished digging by striking out. Respect to the pitcher for his recovery, but as I said earlier, baseball doesn’t always make sense — and neither did my batting line of two patient walks, and then a flailing strikeout.

This was an odd game. The Raptors started badly, giving up a stack of runs. But they immediately got them back, with both starting pitchers giving up a lot of walks. Raptors were ahead after the first, but bit by bit Hove took control. The Herts bats were unusually quiet, and there were some unwise choices on the base paths. Perhaps the weeks washed out by rain had affected other players too, and I fully expect the machine to click into gear as the season gets going.

I had to leave before it was over, but it had been an enjoyable start. There were some good points, both for me and for the team. There is a lot of will to win, a lot of creativity in how to achieve it, and I think this will be a very interesting year.

by Herts Baseball News Editor

Clark 2-run blast takes Falcons back to the top of the NBL

Phil Clark launches a home run in the sixth inning to give Herts the lead (photo by British Baseball Magazine more available on their website. Click image to view more)

The Herts Falcons are back on top of the NBL after sweeping the Croydon Pirates. Game one was a blow out win but game two required some outstanding pitching and late-inning heroics form Herts to secure the win.

The team returned home to their ballpark in Hertfordshire after spending the previous 6 weeks on the road. They jumped on top of the Pirates quickly taking a 16-0 lead after just 3 innings. Two-time League MVP, Ryan Bird, was on fire going 3-4 with two doubles and a triple (2 RBI). Robbie Unsell, Jake Michels and Kevin Niedringhaus also had a multiple-hit game. New signing Jeff House made his debut on the mound pitching a complete game allowing only 2 runs on 3 hits, striking out 8 in the process.

Click to view Game 1 box scores and play-by-play

After such convincing victory for the home team it was hard to imagine what Croydon could do to avoid defeat in the second game, but the Pirates once again proved that they are a very stubborn opponent.

They took a 2-0 lead in the first inning. All of the runs were unearned after Herts uncharacteristically committed 3 errors. Jose Sosa took the mound for the Pirates. Despite tying the game at 2-2 the Herts bats were kept very quite. Sosa has always been a fighter and he enhanced his reputation further with today’s performance. Thankfully for the Falcons, starter Louis Hare was pitching a gem. He went the distance pitching a complete game allowing only 5 hits, 1 walk and no earned runs.

Dave Tretheway representing the go-ahead run is greated at home plate (photo by British Baseball Magazine more available on their website. Click image to view more)

Another 3 errors allowed the Pirates to regain the lead. It was 3-2 now and the Falcons needed a spark to get back in the game as time was starting to run out. Jake Michels provided that spark driving in Robbie Unsell with a double to tie the game 3-3 in the bottom of the fifth. It came down to the bottom of the sixth. With Tretheway reaching base on four balls, up stepped left-handed batter Phil Clark to launch a 2-run bomb over the right field fence and put the Falcons in the lead for the first time. Another 3 runs scored in the inning after a 1-run single by Unsell and a second double by Jake Michels driving in 2 more runs. Louis Hare completed the game with three-up-three-down final inning. He allowed only one Croydon player to get on base in the critical last three innings of the game.

Click to view Game2 box scores and play-by-play

After the final pitch Herts Falcons Manager, Lee Manning, commented on the games: “Dominant hitting won us the first game with a strong outing from Jeff House. Game 2 was challenging as Croydon played very good baseball. We were chasing the game from the start and if it wasn’t for Phil’s bat we could have ended up on the losing end like we did against Lakenheath last week” He added that “Louis also pitched great not allowing any earned runs”.

The two wins put the Falcons half a game ahead of the chasing pack in the NBL race which is proving to be the most exciting for years. In their 4 seasons as an NBL team the Falcons have been top of the table only once. That was back in 2009 and lasted for 1 week only. Will the team manage to sustain the current impressive run all the way to the end? One thing is certain – the rest of the league is starting to notice that something is happening at Herts.

Next game for the Falcons is a home encounter versus the surging Essex Arrows next Saturday, 27 May.  First pitch 12:00pm.

CORRECTION: The report from last week’s NBL game between the Herts Falcons and the Lakenhetah Diamondbacks incorrectly stated that the losing pitcher was Mike Osborn.  Osborn started the game but was later relieved with a “no decision” situation and the game going to extra innings.

 

by Herts Baseball News Editor

Hawks prevail in a Mammoth clash at the top of the table

Jon Lewys's power could be critical as we get closer to the postseason. He went 3-4 RBI

The Herts Hawks came up against the unbeaten AA League leaders the London Mammoths with a chance to overtake them. To do this they needed to win both games of this doubleheader.

Nic Goetz started game one on the back of his complete game shutout against Kent seven days ago. He started in similar fashion allowing only 1 run in the first 3 innings. The Herts offence was also on form and they quickly put up 5 runs on the scoreboard. The Mammoths closed the gap temporarily but the Hawks kept responding with runs of their own.

In the sixth inning the visitors tied the game 8-8 after 4 hits and 3 errors, but the Hawks responded once again in the bottom of the inning when Tim Elkins drove in Seth Lipstock and Andy Cornish with a vital 2-out single. There were no more complications in the final inning as Nic Goetz completed the game with a three-up-three-down-inning.

Nick Russell was unhittable against the London Mammoths

Click to view Game1 box scores and play-by-play

Nick Russell started on the mound in game 2 and produced one of the most dominant pitching performances of the season. He shut out the Mammoths over 6 and 2/3 innings allowing only 2 hits. He needed just one more out for a complete game shutout but a single for London scored 2 runs to confirm a final score of 7-2.

Jonathan Lewys had a good day with the bat. He went 3-4 with an RBI. Ilya Dimitrov submitted his candidacy for Play of the Year with a spectacular diving catch in centerfield.

Click to view Game2 box scores and play-by-play

Hawks Co-Manager, Andy Cornish was pleased with the results, but was keen to keep his team’s feet firmly on the ground. He said: “today we have shown what qualities we have, and what we don’t have. Our pitching once again proved that we can win close games with the correct pitch choice and location and the battery was again a huge positive. At the moment, we are top of the league, and the squad should be very proud, but I, and the squad, should appreciate we have a very long way to go yet.” He added: “In our league any team can beat any team, and we need to work on our communication to improve our chances. We cannot win a title by making mistakes. I expect the squad to work hard to remove those. I am very happy with how we played today, but we are under no illusions as there is still a lot of work to be done”.

 

by Rob Jones

Scheepers stars as Eagles beat Redbacks

Herts Eagles 18-16 Essex Redbacks III

So far this year, whoever wins the first inning of an Eagles game has gone on to claim the victory. The early exchanges have decisively set the tone. But, in a windswept field in Essex, that was about to change.

Theo Scheepers was on the mound as the Eagles visited Essex Redbacks III looking to bounce back from a defeat by the Old Timers, and to even their record for the season.  Senna Ashida had driven in the only run in the top of the first, but when Essex came in to bat, the normally solid Scheepers had trouble finding the zone. Without the home side ever recording a big hit, they ran up a clear lead. After one inning, it was 4-1, then 7-2 after three.

But the Redbacks had not been allowed  to pull away. The Eagles struck back in the fourth inning, scoring 6 to swing the game back their way and take the lead. There were runs for Oz Kemal and Craig Le Roux, and the second of three hits for Theo Scheepers, who had also found his rhythm on the mound.

Adrian Smithers comes home after his home run

The biggest hit of the day came from catcher, Adrian Smithers, who opened up the fifth inning with a booming home run over the left field fence. After trotting round the bases, he was met with applause and high fives from a jubilant team. As well as being solid behind the plate all day, his bat was a threat every time he came up.

The measure of the match was perhaps shown in the fact that the Redbacks hit a home run of their own immediately afterwards, with the lead off man clouting a pitch over the same stretch of fence. The lead seemed to change hands constantly as the two sides traded blows. There were some miscues but some good plays too.

And it was Duncan Hoyle’s Eagles who stepped up their defence to cling on to the lead decisively. The manager helped his own cause, turning a neat double play from his post at second base. Hoyle took a grounder and stepped on the bag before lobbing a throw to retire the batter at first. Joseph Osborne added to his three runs scored by saving runs, with a running outfield catch on a line drive which could have been dangerous. And Oz Kemal — who started the game out of position at first base to cover for missing starters — recovered from tough throws to get runners out at vital times.

Leading 15-14 going into the eighth, Herts desperately wanted to pad their lead. But although runners got aboard, some bad luck on the base paths meant that Smithers was the only man to cross home plate. 16-14 now, and then Essex nibbled one back. 16-15. Then in the ninth the Eagles were able to produce more goods. Hoyle was driven in by Tak Ashida, who finally secured a deserved hit with a double, before he too came in to score a run.

Herts were left with a 3-run lead to protect in the bottom of the ninth to secure the win. Tak Ashida — after what had been, for him, a quiet game — was suddenly the centre of the action. First a pop-up came his way. Then a sharp grounder, which he hauled in to get the second out. One run had come in on a ground-rule double, but would it be enough for the Redbacks?

At this point, the story returns fittingly to Theo Scheepers. He struck out the final man with his bat on his shoulders, and completed a tremendous win for the Herts team. He had pitched all nine innings, fielded his position flawlessly, scored 3 runs, and clubbed three hits. It was a great win for the Eagles, and one which takes them back to 2-2 for the season. Manager Duncan Hoyle said: “I think that was the most enjoyable game I have ever played in. Theo definitely earned a beer. And it was a great team effort.”

by Herts Baseball News Editor

Brother House joins the Falcons ahead of clash with Pirates

photo by British Baseball Magazine more available on their website. Click image to view

The Herts Falcons continue to strengthen their NBL roster with the addition of right-handed pitcher Jeff House.

Jeff House is the brother of Dave House who joined the Falcons in March. Most of Jeff House’s baseball experience has been attained in baseball leagues in America. He has played one season in British baseball making 16 plate appearances for the Flames in 2011. His NBL career batting average stands at .273.

He is expected to make his Herts Falcons debut as the probable starter in game one of this Sunday’s double-header against the Croydon Pirates at Grovehill Ballpark. First pitch 12:00.

 

by Herts Baseball News Editor

Setback for Raptors as they lose to Hove

Hove Tuesday are playing in the British baseball league for the first time this year but teams who consider them as rookies would be making a big mistake. Apart from a very shaky first inning they shut down the Herts Raptors offence very effectively allowing only 2 runs and 2 hits in the subsequent 6 innings to claim a deserved 21-10 win.

The game started with 6 Raptors and 6 Tuesday batters reaching base on balls or on a hit-by-pitch, and that was just in the first inning. Herts starter Ken Pike reached a heavy pitch count and was relieved after two-thirds of that opening inning as 7 batters came in to score. Zack Longboy came in and stabilised the situation for the home team. The Raptors bounced back in the bottom of that inning with 8 runs of their own. They were back in the game, but Hove regained their composure and produced an impressive defensive display. Amit Odedra (1-3 RBI) and Gilberto Medina (1-3 2B) tried to get a Herts rally going with hits in the later innings but that just wasn’t enough to keep up with the visitors who were adding runs to their tally inning-after-inning.

A hidden-ball tag out by the Raptors at third base cleared the benches as both teams spilled out onto the field, but there were no physical scuffles, just a few verbal exchanges. Both sides quickly calmed down and focused on baseball again.

Click to view box scores and play-by-play

The Raptors are looking to improve on the team’s record over the last two seasons and see if they can get in the race for the postseason. Raptors Manager, Arnie Longboy, will be looking for ways to get the team back on track. “We had a hard fought battle, but the rain from the last several weeks not only muddied our playing fields but also seems to have softened our hard hitting bats” said Longboy. “Nevetheless hats off the Hove pitchers who had a rocky start but immediately settled in after the first inning. Some of the bright spots continue to be the contribution of our younger players both at the plate as well as pitching. Brodie Caress managed a scoreless inning against Hove whilst Zack Longboy got one of the 4 hits on the Raptors side. But we’re all working hard to get our timing back and look to a more positive result for our next game against the Marauders.”