Category: Adult Leagues

by AspiDimitrov

LIFT OFF! FALCONS SOAR INTO NATIONAL LEAGUE

First they swept the AAA in their first year back up.  Then, in a dramatic 6-3 nail-biter, they swiped the championship trophy from their cross-division rivals.  Now, the Herts Falcons dream season has soared to greater heights still.

 

Official word came down from the British Baseball Federation this week that the Herts Falcons have a place in the 2009 National Baseball League, the top level of play in the United Kingdom.  Ending weeks of rumours and speculation, the Herts Executive Board has voted unanimously to accept the invitation and will begin an intense winter-season training scheme and recruitment drive in preparation for the competitive play to come.

The BBF's top division is by invite only, and the Falcons are the only squad moving up this year.  They will be one of just five squads in the 2009 Southern National League and will meet their London, Richmond, Bracknell and Croydon rivals at home and away, with all games officiated by the top UK umpires from the ABUA-GB.

 

Once unimaginable, accepting a bid to the NBL crystallises the Falcons as a top-tier squad… no small achievement for a team that’s had a roller-coaster ride through the lower BBF divisions since its inception in 1996, and suffered relegation to the AA as recently as 2006.  Without a doubt, the promotion catapults the Herts Baseball Club to national prominence.  Together with their ambitious Field Development Project and burgeoning Little League, the success of the Falcons the past two years – AA league leaders in 2007, and AAA champions in 2008 – has given Herts members a first team they can be proud of.

 

 

MOVE TO FOUR TEAMS, FOUR LEAGUES

 

As the Falcons promote to the NBL, a gap is left in their franchise at the AAA level.  A new, fourth team has been created to compete at that level.  The Herts Eagles will face the same on-field threats as last season’s Falcons, such as the talented London Metros, crafty Essex Arrows, and the fierce AAA runners-up, the Oxford Kings.  The Herts Hawks (AA) and Raptors (A) will remain in their respective leagues. 

 

Herts Baseball Club now sports four teams in four levels of adult play in the UK and, with its Little League programme in the mix, makes the most complete baseball franchise nationwide.  A player can join Tee Ball at age 5, and progress all the way through the Herts ranks to the National Baseball League.

 

 

NEWLY TAPPED CLUB COACHES PREPARE TO TRAIN

 

Competing in the NBL is no small feat, and the club managers have outlined an aggressive training programme for the 2009 season.  Known in-house as simply “The Programme,” the revamped strategy emphasises roster flexibility and individual player development.  “Our big objective is player improvement,” says Falcons Manager Jason Greenberg.  “As individuals learn more about the game and focus their on-field skills, they’ll advance through our system from one squad to the next.  That process will start during spring training, but will continue all season long.  We really want to encourage our guys to better themselves as competitors and athletes.”

 

Greenberg and fellow-manager Andrew Slater have named three coaches to manage the club’s on-field development.  Conditioning Coach Dan Kerry, Hitting Coach Andy Cornish, and Pitching Coach Darrin Ward are already knee-deep in a detailed training scheme, which utilises drills and repetition of fundamentals to boost each and every Herts player’s stamina, agility and accuracy.  Together with newly appointed club statistician, Greg Bochan, the coaches will chart individual progress throughout the spring and into the season, helping the managers to make informed roster decisions and regular promotions.

 

The off-season regimen begins this month, as the club will make use of indoor facilities to condition, work on hitting and pitching mechanics and just play some five-on-five basketball.  After a short break for the holidays, they regroup for an intense conditioning, hitting and pitching programme that leads straight into on-field spring training at Grovehill and the exciting all-club trials.  “Last year’s spring training was really the most exciting part of the year.  We had nearly the entire club out at the field every week running, throwing, hitting… pushing themselves and their teammates to keep up… and just working hard to prove themselves on the diamond.  This year – with four teams and the lingering National League debut to contend with – well, it’s going to kick butt.  I can’t wait.”

 

 

VIGOROUS RECRUITMENT DRIVE

 

It is hoped that the move to the NBL will bring an instant boost to the club’s membership.  With only five organisations competing at the top level, talented players in Hertfordshire and across the southeast UK will be hunting for a spot on the roster, and Herts plans to roll out the welcome mat.

 

“We are a family more than a club,” says President Aspi Dimitrov.  “With the expansion to four teams, we have opened up a whole new roster and additional playing time for everyone!  The hope is to attract new players of all abilities: the season veterans who like the atmosphere and professionalism at Herts… the recreational types who just enjoy being with the boys on Sunday… and, most importantly, gents (and ladies!) who are completely new to the game and just want to give it a go.  We have room for everybody… and hope everybody brings along a friend or two when they come on out to the ballpark.”

 

With the help of Sponsorship Director Nic Goetz, Herts will stage a massive recruitment drive in the winter and spring months.  They are hoping to sign around 20 to 25 new members in the coming weeks and no stone will be left unturned.  Keep an eye out for Herts Baseball coasters in the local pubs, banners in the Hemel Hempstead town centre, and a nationwide media blitz.

 

 

FALCONS FLYING TOO HIGH?

 

The National League invitation may not have taken Herts by complete surprise (speculation after the Final 4 brought rumours and debate), but the decision still warranted careful deliberation by the club’s Executive Committee.  “There was a lot of concern throughout our club,” confessed Greenberg.  “Some guys were all for the move… but others were worried we wouldn’t be able to compete at that level.  Nobody wants to be next year’s whipping posts on a national stage.  But, the more we considered the idea, the more we weighed the pros and cons, the more of a no-brainer it turned out to be.  After all, how often do you get invited to compete at the top level – the national level – in anything, let alone the sport that you live and breathe all summer long?!  This is a dream come true.”

 

There is no relegation from the National League, so even should the Falcons finish the 2009 season with a losing record they will retain their spot, regroup, and work to improve for 2010.  “Baseball is a cyclical sport – sometimes you’re winning, sometimes you’re rebuilding.  That’s just part of the game.”  Next year may prove a rebuilding year for Herts, as they retool and come to grips with a higher state of play and an expanded club roster.  But, then again, 2008 was supposed to be a rebuilding year, and the Falcons swept through to their first-ever championship trophy.

 

One thing is for sure: the Herts Baseball Club is riding high with this latest achievement and not even the fear of top-tier adversity is enough to dampen their pride or their spirits.  Whether they win or lose in this first year up, they plan to bring a dogged determination to the diamond every Sunday morning… and go home each night with their heads held high.  It’s the closest thing Britain has to professional baseball, and the Falcons have certainly earned their wings.

Welcome to the big leagues, boys.

by AspiDimitrov

HERTS EAGLES TO PLAY IN AAA, FILL OUT FRANCHISE

The fastest growing baseball organisation in the United Kingdom is showing no signs of slowing down.

With the promotion of the Herts flagship team to the BBF National League, a vacancy has been created at the AAA level.  To stop the gap, Herts are unleashing the Eagles in 2009 as the final step in the transition to a four-team, four-tier franchise that will compete at every level of play in adult British baseball.

In keeping with tradition, the club’s Executive Committee voted to keep the Falcons as the top squad in the organisation.  The Falcons name dates back to 1996 when the team was based in Bushey, Hertfordshire.  The Eagles is the fourth title to join the Herts flock, and is a continuation of the club’s ‘bird of prey’ theme.

A fourth team manager will be sought to lead the Eagles into battle in 2009.  Moreover, Herts is undertaking a massive recruitment drive in the winter and spring months to pad out all four of its team rosters.  Posters, leaflets, advertisements in the local press and a web and media-based marketing campaign will invite local men and women of all ages and talents to join the family.  Grovehill should be teeming in February with rookies and seasoned veterans alike hoping to find their spot in the Herts franchise.

With the formation of this new squad, a player could enter the Herts programme at age 5 in the Tee Ball league, progress straight through Little League, join the Herts Raptors in single-A ball, and continue to promote until they are playing against the best teams in the country at the National League level.  This expansion means Herts is the most complete baseball organisation nation-wide, and highlights the club’s determination to share the game of baseball and help players to improve at every stage of their development.

by AspiDimitrov

HERTS SECURES PLANNING PERMISSION FOR GROVEHILL BALLPARK


Herts Baseball Club has secured planning permission from Dacorum Borough Council for its Grovehill Ballpark Project.  This means that the Club has managed to overcome a crucial hurdle in its path to successfully completing the project to create two baseball fields that would be among the best facilities in the UK.

With the pro bono assistance of Emma Burrow, of Property Lande Architecture, a local architect firm, the Club submitted its planning application in early September.  Whether it is a large shopping complex, residential buildings or a sports venue such as Grovehill Ballpark, obtaining a planning permission can be a big challenge.  Club President, Aspi Dimitrov, recalls the early weeks of the application process: “This was the first time that our club has been involved in applying for a planning permission and the Club’s Executive Board expected to have a daunting task of convincing local residents, private and public organisations and officials of the obvious benefits of the Grovehill Ballpark project for the community.”

“But we were very pleasantly surprised by the astonishing support which was received from pretty much everyone that we contacted as part of the consultation process.  From governing bodies such as BaseballSoftballUK and the British Baseball Federation, to local and national organisations and agencies such as Sport England, Dacorum Borough Council, Dacorum Sports Network, Herts Sports Partnership, the Police, the Mayor Cllr Mrs. Carol Green, our local MP, Mike Penning, not forgetting the hundreds of individuals who signed the paper and online petitions supporting the project including Head Coach, Stephan Rapaglia, and players of the European Championships silver medal-winning Great Britain Team, as well as players of baseball clubs from around the country.  The support was astounding.”

Dimitrov added:  “Over the years the members of our club knew that we are creating something very special and that we are building a good name and reputation, but we never realised that our work and activities have been noticed and are recognized by so many people, and that the name Herts Baseball would open so many doors.”

“Despite this great support we were aware that a planning application is a complicated legal process, and the presence of Emma Burrow has been vital.  Her guidance from day one has been pivotal.”- said Dimitrov.

On Thursday evening Dacorum Borough Council’s Planning Committee met to consider and announce their final decision.  The Executive Board of Herts Baseball Club received the all important telephone call just after 8pm, confirming that the application has been successful.

This clears the way for the first stage of the project to be completed in 2009.  The members of the club have raised around £16,000 over the last seven months, including the £10,000 Awards for All grant and around £6,000 raised in club fundraising events and initiatives.  It means that the club has secured the funds required for the first stage of the project and are now continuing the fundraising effort for the second stage which involves improving the turf quality of Grovehill Ballpark.

Dimitrov added: “When the planning application was prepared it included several additional elements and now that it has been approved, this opens the door for future improvement of the Ballpark.  For example the application included the full fence enclosure of the two diamonds, not just the backstops and the outfield parts of the fence, which will go a long way towards deterring vandalism and providing a better and more secure environment for our Little League teams.  We now have the freedom to plan and raise funds for stage 3, stage 4 etc. in the future, knowing that we have clearance, from a legal perspective.”

[more about the Grovehill Ballpark Project]

by AspiDimitrov

2009 SEASON STARTS TODAY FOR HERTS BASEBALL CLUB

     

 

For many clubs around the country AGMs are usually held in January or February just a few weeks before the start of the season, but in the last two years Herts has decided to bring it forward by three months in order for the elected officers to commence their work and to better utilize the off-season period.  On Sunday, members of Herts Baseball Club gathered at the SportsSpace Centre in Hemel Hempstead for their 12th Annual General Meeting.   The 2008 Executive Board had an opportunity to report on the club’s progress and achievements in the last 12 months, which undoubtedly has been the club’s best season ever, on and off the field.

 

Herts successfully implemented the expansion into a club with three adult and four youth teams.  Its AAA team, the Falcons became the 2008 British AAA National Champion.  The Little League teams have already won a trophy and have performed very well against the best youth teams in the country.  The Club is an organiser of large events at national and regional level, from the Herts Little League and the Herts Spring League to the Herts Futures Tournament.

 

There are many more objectives which the club has set for 2009 including the completion of the Grovehill Ballpark project; further growth of the Herts Little League, adopting better coaching techniques, establishing stronger relationship with local schools.  The Club must also transfer the successful structure at AAA level to the other teams in the adult programme.

 

Over the years the Club has been very fortunate to have very hard-working, dedicated and creative people elected as club officers and on Sunday the members elected another very strong team of Club officers for 2009.  It is a very strong combination of old and new officers which ensures that continuity is maintained while injecting new energy into the organisation. 

 

2009 HBC OFFICERS

 

BOARD

Aspi Dimitrov, Secretary / President

Paul Auchterlounie, Treasurer

Jason Greenberg, First Team Manager

(vacant), Second Team Manager

Andrew Slater, Third Team Manager

Marty Cullen, Little League Commissioner

 

NON-BOARD

Jason Greenberg, Webmaster

Jo Smith, Fundraising Manager

Nic Goetz, Sponsorship Manager

Greg Bochan, Statistics Officer

 

The Second Team Manager position was left vacant.  The Club will be communicating with potential candidates in order to fill this position.

by AspiDimitrov

FALCONS REIGN ON KINGS PARADE, CROWNED AAA CHAMPS



After amodest toast to their charmed ascendancy through the League, the Hertsfirst-team quickly rested and refocused for a Sunday morning clash with theirAAA Oxford rivals.  The Falcons arrivedat Croydon’s Diamond One a full hour-and-a-half before their opponents and the umpiringcrew, fueled only by their sheer determination to finish what they’d begun.

 

The weatherhad not improved despite Club President Aspi Dimitrov’s claim that this was “abetter rain.”  The mist was unrelentingand left the field water-logged and – according to BBF officials –unplayable.  Nevertheless, the Falconsstretched and warmed their arms no less than three times before the mainstagewas relocated to the better-maintained second field, and the game commenced 90minutes behind schedule.

 

Withseveral runner-up games already cancelled due to weather, Herts was eager toget proceedings underway and avoid an unnecessary postponement.  They were present, they were warmed and theywere fired up.  The growing crowd wasequally impatient; the excitement of an inevitable climax hung in the air.

 

Flashbackto July 6 2008: Oxford Kings travel to a rain-soaked Grovehill for a crucialcross-division matchup. Capitalizing as the away team, Oxford jumps out to a four-run lead in thetop of the 1st (unbelievably, in both games of this double-header).

 

It was nosurprise then that Kings Manager Santo Bains chose to again be the away teamwhen he won the coin toss prior to Sunday’s final… a gamble that Oxford would soon regret.

 

Darrin “TheColonel” Ward took the mound seeking revenge – having suffered his only loss ofthe season to Oxfordtwo months prior – and immediately shut down the Kings’ impressiveoffense.  Leadoff batter Masaharu Egawa struckout looking before Jorge Pinto Machado reached first on a hard-hit grounder tothe right side.  Despite the admonitionsof first baseman Marty Cullen, Machado attempted to steal on the next pitch andwas cut down easily by Catcher Jason Greenberg’s cannon.  That play brought Oxford’s running game to a screeching halt;it was their only attempt at a stolen base, and Greenberg was 3-3 in throwdowns over the weekend.  Anotherstrikeout ended the inning, and the Falcons had neutralized Bains’ plans for adominant top-of-the-first.

 

With noscore and two outs in the bottom of the 2nd, and Kimiyoshi Saionjion third base, rightfielder Aspi Dimitrov connected on a 1-and-2 count for aline drive up the middle, bringing home the first run of the game.  Herts had taken a lead they would neverrelinquish.  In the top of the 3rdwith the bases loaded and one out, Ward’s legendary changeup forced Oxford intoan infield fly and a foul-pop to catcher Greenberg ending the threat.

 

The windbeneath their wings, the Falcons quickly tacked on three more runs in thebottom of the inning on two hits and two Kings’ errors.  Despite a string of four hits by Oxfordscoring two runs in the fourth (including a to-the-fence double from Machado),the Falcons brought their lead to 6-2 with precision defense, a triple fromClub President Dimitrov and timely strikeouts from the crafty Ward.  Machado wasn’t finished; he crushed a hangingbreaking ball over the right field wall for the game’s final run (the Kings’third)… but no amount of muscle could combat Herts dogged determination.  Outfielder and lightening-bolt Jim Hyde wasejected in the bottom-of-the-6th for attempting to score on a groundball to the left side.  Although photoevidence shows him under the tag, the umpire punched him out and Hyde,incensed, pounded his helmet into the batters circle.  It was that kind of never-die grit that keptHerts on top despite the game’s mounting pressure.

 

With theFalcons leading 6-3 in the top of the seventh, a strikeout, a fly-out and apop-out brought the AAA season to an end. The natural finalists – first in their respective League brackets – haddone battle in the inclement English weather, in front of the BBF’s top umpiresand officials and to the delight of their many supporting fans.  The Herts Falcons were crowned National Champions,taking the trophy from their scrappy opponents in what proved the tightest,hardest-fought contest of the 2008 Final 4. It was a showdown for the annals, and will be hotly remembered in theseason to come when Herts and Oxfordnext face-off on the diamond.

 

2008 saw animprobable rise to the top for the Herts Baseball Club.  Weathering demotion, re-promotion and nowcoronation, the Falcons’ successes have made for a glory season of resurgenceand optimism.  They garnered the bestwin-loss record in the AAA, bested every opponent they faced, and allowed thefewest runs of any team in the League.  AsBBF President Rob Rance presented the championship trophy, he offeredencouraging words of support to Hertfordshire’s ballclub, saying “Herts is agreat programme – a class act – the kind of Club that the BBF needs to helpthis country develop the game. Congratulations to the Falcons on a fine season.”



BOX SCORE

Oxford Kings at Herts Falcons
Score By Innings 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 R H E
Oxford Kings 0 0 0 2 0 1 0 3 11 2
Herts Falcons 0 1 3 2 0 0 0 6 9 5

Herts Falcons 6, Oxford Kings 3
Herts Falcons Oxford Kings
  ab r h bi   ab r h bi
Jim Hyde lf 2 2 1 0 Player 1 p 4 0 1 0
(t7) Greg Bochan rf 0 0 0 0 Player 2 c 5 1 3 3
Andy Cornish 3b 4 1 1 0 Player 3 1b 4 0 0 0
Jason Greenberg c 4 1 1 1 Player 4 2b 3 0 1 0
Kimiyoshi Saionji 2b 2 1 1 2 Player 5 3b 3 0 1 0
Dan Kerry cf 3 0 1 0 Player 6 ss 4 0 1 0
Marty Cullen 1b 3 0 0 0 Player 7 lf 4 0 1 0
Aspi Dimitrov rf-lf 3 1 2 1 Player 8 cf 4 1 1 0
Nick Goetz ss 3 0 1 0 Player 9 rf 4 1 2 0
Darrin Ward p 3 0 1 1
TEAM TOTALS 27 6 9 5 TEAM TOTALS 35 3 11 3

E: Nick Goetz(3), Marty Cullen, Darrin Ward, Player 1, Player 4. DP: Oxford Kings 1.
LOB: Herts Falcons 7, Oxford Kings 15. 2B: Player 2, Player 9. 3B: Aspi Dimitrov. HR:
Player 2. SB: Jim Hyde(2), Dan Kerry. CS: Player 2.

Herts Falcons IP H R ER BB SO
Darrin Ward W 7.00 11 3 3 3 5
Oxford Kings            
Player 1 L 6.00 9 6 3 2 5

HBP: by Darrin Ward (Player 3). . , by Player 1 (Jim Hyde). . . , by Player 1 (Jim
Hyde). . PB: Player 2. T: 2:28. A: 151.
Oxford Kings – Top of the 1st:
Player 1 struck out looking.
Player 2 reached on error, caught trying to steal 2nd.
Player 3 hit by pitch.
Player 4 struck out swinging.
0 runs, 0 hits, 1 error, 1 LOB.
Herts Falcons – Bottom of the 1st:
Jim Hyde singled, forced out at 2nd.
Andy Cornish hit into double play.
Jason Greenberg struck out swinging.
0 runs, 1 hit, 0 errors, 0 LOB.
Oxford Kings – Top of the 2nd:
Player 5 walked, forced out at 2nd.
Player 6 reached on fielder's choice, batted forward to 2nd.
Player 7 singled.
Player 8 struck out looking.
Player 9 grounded out.
0 runs, 1 hit, 0 errors, 2 LOB.
Herts Falcons – Bottom of the 2nd:
Kimiyoshi Saionji walked, batted forward to home.
Dan Kerry struck out looking.
Marty Cullen grounded out.
Aspi Dimitrov singled, 1 RBI.
Nick Goetz struck out looking.
1 run, 1 hit, 0 errors, 1 LOB.
Oxford Kings – Top of the 3rd:
Player 1 walked, batted forward to 2nd, forced out at 3rd.
Player 2 singled, batted forward to 3rd.
Player 3 reached on fielder's choice, batted forward to 2nd.
Player 4 singled.
Player 5 out by infield fly rule.
Player 6 popped out.
0 runs, 2 hits, 0 errors, 3 LOB.
Herts Falcons – Bottom of the 3rd:
Darrin Ward grounded out.
Jim Hyde hit by pitch, advanced to 3rd on error, advanced to home on passed ball.
Andy Cornish reached on error, advanced to 2nd on error, advanced to 3rd on passed
ball, batted forward to home.
Jason Greenberg reached on error, advanced to 2nd on passed ball, batted forward to
home.
Kimiyoshi Saionji singled, advanced to 2nd on throw, batted forward to 3rd, tagged
out going to home, 2 RBI.
Dan Kerry singled, stole 2nd.
Marty Cullen flied out.
3 runs, 2 hits, 2 errors, 1 LOB.
Oxford Kings – Top of the 4th:
Player 7 flied out.
Player 8 singled, batted forward to home.
Player 9 singled, batted forward to home.
Player 1 singled, batted forward to 3rd.
Player 2 doubled, 2 RBI.
Player 3 grounded out.
Player 4 walked.
Player 5 flied out.
2 runs, 4 hits, 0 errors, 3 LOB.
Herts Falcons – Bottom of the 4th:
Aspi Dimitrov tripled, batted forward to home.
Nick Goetz struck out swinging.
Darrin Ward singled, forced out at 2nd, 1 RBI.
Jim Hyde reached on fielder's choice, batted forward to home.
Andy Cornish singled, batted forward to 3rd.
Jason Greenberg singled, batted forward to 2nd, 1 RBI.
Kimiyoshi Saionji walked.
Dan Kerry popped out.
2 runs, 4 hits, 0 errors, 3 LOB.
Oxford Kings – Top of the 5th:
Player 6 singled, forced out at 2nd.
Player 7 struck out looking.
Player 8 reached on error, batted forward to 3rd.
Player 9 doubled.
Player 1 grounded out.
0 runs, 2 hits, 1 error, 2 LOB.
Herts Falcons – Bottom of the 5th:
Marty Cullen grounded out.
Aspi Dimitrov struck out looking.
Nick Goetz singled.
Darrin Ward grounded out.
0 runs, 1 hit, 0 errors, 1 LOB.
Oxford Kings – Top of the 6th:
Player 2 hit solo home run, 1 RBI.
Player 3 grounded out.
Player 4 popped out.
Player 5 singled, advanced to 3rd on error.
Player 6 reached on error, advanced to 2nd on error.
Player 7 reached on error.
Player 8 grounded out.
1 run, 2 hits, 2 errors, 3 LOB.
Herts Falcons – Bottom of the 6th:
Jim Hyde hit by pitch, stole 2nd, stole 3rd, tagged out going to home.
Hyde ejected for tossing helmet after being called out at home. It must be noted
that Hyde did not say a single word to the umpire and this may have just been due to
frustration. Hyde wouldn't have been ejected if this had happened in an MLB game.
Andy Cornish popped out.
Jason Greenberg reached on fielder's choice.
Kimiyoshi Saionji popped out.
0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 1 LOB.
Oxford Kings – Top of the 7th:
Player 9 struck out swinging.
Player 1 reached on error, advanced to 2nd on error.
Player 2 flied out.
Player 3 popped out.
Falcons are AAA Champions…Falcons are AAA Chapmions…Go crazy folks…go crazy
0 runs, 0 hits, 1 error, 1 LOB.
by AspiDimitrov

HERTS QUALIFY, PILOTS SHOT DOWN OVER CROYDON

The diamond was drenched in déjà vu.  Only one year ago the Herts first-team were onthis same field… facing the same opposition.

 

In the 2007 National Championships, the Falcons metthe Humber Pilots in the AA Final. Relegated from the Premier League the season before, Herts weredetermined to cap their walk-over winning season with a trophy and trip backinto the AAA.  But sloppy first-inningdefense and ineffective pitching allowed Humbera 5-0 lead, and they never looked back. The Falcons suffered an 8-5 loss and hung their heads in defeat.  Although they secured re-promotion to theAAA, the lack of a national title was the sole blemish on an otherwise perfect(and perfectly effortless) season.

 

Here we go again. Humber – also promoted to the AAA in the Northern bracket – made thelong trek due south from Hullto face their pushover opponents from the previous year.  Heavy storm clouds loomed over the same,rain-soaked field… and the Pilots came expecting a repeat victory.

 

Mayday! Mayday!

 

These were not the same Falcons.  Herts charged into 2008 with a full head ofsteam.  New leadership brought a wholenew approach.  With a focus on improvedtraining methods and a unifying philosophy, these Falcons sported adetermination and team commitment unrivalled in years past.  The emergence of additional talent – newfoundand home grown – meant that Herts brought improved speed, pitching, defense andpower to an already successful lineup. The Pilots were in for a dogfight.

 

In a complete reversal of their last encounter, theFalcons won the coin toss, took the home side dugout and readied themselves fora tooth-and-nail showdown.  The Pilotsseemed to take an early advantage when 2007 Best Pitcher Nic Goetz got off to aherky-jerky start walking the first two batters and beaning the third.  But the threat was quickly silenced.  Catcher Jason Greenberg gunned down awould-be base-stealer for the first out of the game, and a line-drive doubleplay by third baseman Darrin Ward brought the inning to the end.  Herts wasted no time in embracing theirmomentum.  In the bottom of the 1st,speedy leadoff batter Jim Hyde walked, stole second and was brought home on adouble from slugger Andy Cornish.  Twomore hits, two walks, a hit batter and a suicide squeeze brought in anadditional four runs for the Falcons who, in a reversal of fortunes of their2007 championship game, had an early 5-0 lead… and a confidence that evenMother Nature couldn’t quash.

 

Goetz quickly found his focus and dominated the Humber offense.  Ina foreshortened five-inning game the Pilots were held to one run on only twohits.  Meanwhile, the Falcons batserupted for six runs in the 2nd, six more in the 3rd, andfour runs in the 4th.  Theblowout seemed to end before it had even begun as the Falcons brought theirwinged rivals down to earth in a 21-1 qualifying win.

 

The game was not without controversy.  The two-man ump crew of Petter Nordwall andDarrin Muller hand their hands full with the frustrated Humberside.  Shortly after shortstop C. Radgewas ejected for colourfully objecting to a close play at second base, oneinning later replacement shortstop S. Radgewas thrown out for intentionally tripping speedster Hyde on the base-path.  Indeed, this marked the first father-sonejections in recorded BBF championship history.

 

On the positive side, Herts busted out the bigbats.  Cornish connected for two doublesand a monster-run for 4 RBI.  MartyCullen and Darrin Ward also doubled, and Ward smacked a two-run blast of hisown.  Second-baseman Kimiyoshi Saionjiwent 4-for-4 with 4 RBI including a three-run dinger.  The Falcons flew around the base-pathsstealing 8-of-8 and hustling out two triples from Jim “T-Devil” Hyde and Dan“Hollywood” Kerry.

 

As the Falcons packed up their rain-soaked gear withthe knowledge that Oxfordhad bested their division rival London Metros, the inevitable question loomed…“Can we win it all…?”



BOX SCORE

Humber Pilots at Herts Falcons
Score By Innings 1 2 3 4 5 R H E
Humber Pilots 0 0 1 0 0 1 2 4
Herts Falcons 5 6 6 4 0 21 19 2

Herts Falcons 21, Humber Pilots 1
Herts Falcons Humber Pilots
  ab r h bi   ab r h bi
Jim Hyde lf 4 2 3 1 M Radge cf 2 0 0 0
Andy Cornish ss 4 3 3 4 S Radge 2b 2 0 1 0
Jason Greenberg c 4 3 1 0 C Radge ss 0 0 0 0
Kimiyoshi Saionji 2b 4 4 4 4 A Maltby c 1 0 0 1
Darrin Ward 3b 2 3 2 3 B Webb p 2 0 0 0
(t4) Peter Kikel 3b 1 0 0 0 M Gilbert 3b 2 0 0 0
Dan Kerry cf 2 3 2 1 S Mayhew lf 2 0 0 0
(t4) Tim Elkins cf 0 1 0 0 K McThitas 1b 2 0 1 0
Marty Cullen 1b 3 2 2 2 P Senn rf 2 1 0 0
Greg Bochan rf 2 0 1 1
(b3) Rodney Naghar rf 2 0 1 1
Lee Manning dh 3 0 0 0
Nick Goetz p 0 0 0 0
Aspi Dimitrov p 0 0 0 0
TEAM TOTALS 31 21 19 17 TEAM TOTALS 15 1 2 1

E: Andy Cornish, Darrin Ward, M Gilbert(2), C Radge, M Radge. LOB: Humber Pilots 4,
Herts Falcons 6. 2B: Andy Cornish(2), Darrin Ward, Marty Cullen. 3B: Jim Hyde, Dan
Kerry. HR: Kimiyoshi Saionji, Andy Cornish, Darrin Ward. SB: Andy Cornish(2), Jim
Hyde(2), Jason Greenberg(2), Kimiyoshi Saionji, Dan Kerry. CS: M Radge, S Mayhew. SB:
Marty Cullen.

Herts Falcons IP H R ER BB SO
Nick Goetz W 4.00 2 1 1 4 1
Aspi Dimitrov 1.00 0 0 0 0 1
Humber Pilots            
B Webb L 4.00 19 21 16 5 3

HBP: by Nick Goetz (C Radge), by B Webb (Dan Kerry). . . , by B Webb (Lee Manning). .
Balk: B Webb. T: 2:00. A: 151.
Humber Pilots – Top of the 1st:
M Radge walked, caught trying to steal 2nd.
S Radge walked, batted forward to 2nd, tagged out going to 3rd.
C Radge hit by pitch.
A Maltby lined out.
0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 1 LOB.
Herts Falcons – Bottom of the 1st:
Jim Hyde singled, stole 2nd, batted forward to home.
Andy Cornish doubled, stole 3rd, batted forward to home, 1 RBI.
Jason Greenberg grounded out.
Kimiyoshi Saionji singled, stole 2nd, batted forward to home, 1 RBI.
Darrin Ward walked, batted forward to 3rd, advanced to home on error.
Dan Kerry hit by pitch, batted forward to 2nd, advanced to 3rd on error, batted
forward to home.
Marty Cullen sacrifice bunted, 1 RBI.
Greg Bochan singled, 1 RBI.
Lee Manning grounded out.
5 runs, 4 hits, 1 error, 1 LOB.
Humber Pilots – Top of the 2nd:
B Webb grounded out.
M Gilbert struck out looking.
S Mayhew reached on error, caught trying to steal 2nd.
0 runs, 0 hits, 1 error, 0 LOB.
Herts Falcons – Bottom of the 2nd:
Jim Hyde walked, stole 2nd, batted forward to home.
Andy Cornish hit 2-run home run, 2 RBI.
Jason Greenberg reached on error, stole 2nd, batted forward to home.
Kimiyoshi Saionji singled, batted forward to home, 1 RBI.
Darrin Ward doubled, batted forward to home, 1 RBI.
Dan Kerry singled, stole 2nd, advanced to 3rd on balk, batted forward to home, 1 RBI.
Marty Cullen singled, batted forward to 3rd, 1 RBI.
Greg Bochan flied out.
Lee Manning flied out.
Jim Hyde singled, advanced to 2nd on error, picked off.
6 runs, 6 hits, 2 errors, 1 LOB.
Humber Pilots – Top of the 3rd:
K McThitas singled, forced out at 2nd.
P Senn reached on fielder's choice, batted forward to home.
M Radge popped out.
S Radge singled, batted forward to 3rd.
C Radge walked, batted forward to 2nd.
A Maltby walked, 1 RBI.
B Webb grounded out.
1 run, 2 hits, 0 errors, 3 LOB.
Herts Falcons – Bottom of the 3rd:
Andy Cornish doubled, batted forward to 3rd, stole home.
Jason Greenberg singled, stole 2nd, batted forward to home.
Kimiyoshi Saionji singled, batted forward to home.
Darrin Ward hit 2-run home run, 2 RBI.
Dan Kerry tripled, advanced to home on error.
Marty Cullen reached on error, batted forward to home.
Rodney Naghar struck out swinging.
Lee Manning popped out.
Jim Hyde tripled, 1 RBI.
Andy Cornish grounded out.
6 runs, 6 hits, 1 error, 1 LOB.
Humber Pilots – Top of the 4th:
M Gilbert reached on error, forced out at 2nd.
S Mayhew lined out.
K McThitas grounded out.
0 runs, 0 hits, 1 error, 0 LOB.
Herts Falcons – Bottom of the 4th:
Jason Greenberg walked, batted forward to home.
Kimiyoshi Saionji hit 2-run home run, 2 RBI.
Peter Kikel struck out looking.
Tim Elkins walked, batted forward to home.
Marty Cullen doubled, batted forward to home.
Rodney Naghar singled, batted forward to 3rd, 1 RBI.
Lee Manning hit by pitch, batted forward to 2nd.
Jim Hyde struck out looking.
Andy Cornish walked, 1 RBI.
Jason Greenberg grounded out.
4 runs, 3 hits, 0 errors, 3 LOB.
Humber Pilots – Top of the 5th:
P Senn grounded out.
M Radge grounded out.
S Radge struck out swinging.
0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 0 LOB.

by AspiDimitrov

BBC RADIO TO COVER FALCONS’ PROGRESS AT FINAL 4

The British Baseball National Championships Final 4 is just hours away.  Players and fans of the Herts Falcons are preparing to head down to Croydon on Saturday morning.  Bats, balls, helmets and everything else has been packed.  Judging by the weather forecast there will not be a need for sunscreen.  Hotel rooms have been booked, and the team is all set to go.

Fans of Herts Baseball Club who will not be able to travel to Croydon, can keep up-to-date with events on Saturday on BBC 3 Counties Radio.  Presenter Luke Ashmead will have news of the Falcons during his afternoon show.  If the Falcons win their Semi-Final game on Sunday BBC may even try a satellite linkup with the Falcons at around 2:50pm.

RELATED LINKS: BBC 3 Counties Radio Home Page

by AspiDimitrov

BBF AAA NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP – EARLY START FOR FALCONS ON SUNDAY

The British Baseball Federation have made a change to the Sunday schedule at this weekend's Final 4.  The Herts Falcons game has been moved forward to the earlier 10am start.

Here is the official BBF press release:

The 2008 National Baseball Championships take place on September 6-7 at Roundshaw Playing Fields in Croydon. Twelve teams have made the finals, competing for the title of National Baseball Champions, as well as the champions of the AAA and AA Divisions.

The twelve finalists are:

National Baseball League
London Mets
Manchester Eagles
Menwith Hill Patriots
Richmond Flames

AAA-Division
Herts Falcons
Humber Pilots
London Metros
Oxford Kings

AA-Division
Birmingham Maple Leafs
Bournemouth Sharks
Manchester A’s
Sidewinders

SCHEDULE

In each bracket teams will play a single qualifying game to determine the two teams going to the finals. At NBL level the final will be contested over a three-game series. For AAA and AA a single game final will take place. Games will be played on two diamonds.

Spectators are welcome and entry and car parking is free. Food and drinks will be available.

Saturday 6 September

Diamond 1

10.00 AA Qualifier 1 – Bournemouth Sharks vs Birmingham Maple Leafs
12.00 AAA Qualifier 1 – Humber Pilots vs Herts Falcons
14.00 NBL Qualifier 1 – London Mets vs Menwith Hill Patriots
16.00 NBL Final Series Game 1

Diamond 2

10.00 AA Qualifier 2 – Manchester A's vs Sidewinders
12.00 AAA Qualifier 2 – Oxford Kings vs London Metros
14.00 NBL Qualifier 2 – Manchester Eagles vs Richmond Flames
16.00 AA 3rd/4th Place Game

Sunday 7 September

Diamond 1

10.00 AAA Final
12.00 NBL Final Series Game 2
14.00 NBL Final Series Game 3

Diamond 2

10.00 AAA 3rd/4th Place Game
12.00 NBL 3rd/4th Place Game
14.00 AA Final

All games are over seven innings with the standard ten run “slaughter” rule applied from the fifth inning onwards. The team in each bracket with best regular season record plays its qualifier game on Diamond 1. Start times may be pushed back if earlier games overrun, however no game will start earlier than its scheduled time.

The previously billed A-Division championship has been cancelled due to unavailability of one of the teams due to play. A-Division regular season games continue in September, although the winner of each of the two groups – Croydon Pirates III and The Old Timers – has already been determined.

by AspiDimitrov

2008 CHAMPIONS DECIDED THIS WEEKEND, WILL FALCONS LIFT THE AAA TROPHY?

 

Last weekend’s baseball action was wiped out by the rain.  Hertfordshire’ top team, the Falcons, travelled South to the magnificent Pavilion Field in Brighton only to find a flooded home plate and base areas.   Both Herts and their hosts, the Burgess Hill Red Hats, tried frantically to remove the standing water – and they succeeded – but unfortunately it had already caused sufficient damage to make the ground too soft and unstable, which raised the risk of injuries.  With the Falcons having clinched a Final 4 place and the Red hats already out of contention, the games would not affect the standings and the officials chose to postpone the game in view of the hazardous ground conditions.

 

The hosts from Burgess Hill were very generous in allowing the Falcons to use Pavilion Field to have a practice session in preparation for the Final 4 so it was not a completely wasted afternoon although travelling from Hertfordshire to Brighton for a training session was not ideal.

 

We are now officially into the 2008 postseason with Britain’s top baseball teams battling it out for silverware on 6 and 7 September.  The winners of all four British Baseball Leagues will be decided in one action-packed weekend.  Here is the line-up in the respective Leagues:

 

British National league Finalists: London Mets, Richmond Flames, Manchester Eagles, Menwith Hill Patriots

British AAA Finalists: Herts Falcons, Oxford Kings, Humber Pilots, London Metros

British AA Finalists: Manchester A’s, Bournemouth Sharks, Enfield Sidewinders, Birmingham Maple Leafs

British A Finalists: Croydon Pirates III, Old Timers

 

A full Falcons squad will be heading to Roundshaw Playing Fields in Croydon and every member of the team is fully fit.  The Falcons will be supported by their loyal fans who have followed the team up and down the country all season long.

 

For the Falcons it all starts on Saturday at 12:00pm on the Main Diamond in Croydon when they meet their old rivals the Humber Pilots, winners of the AAA Northern Division (13-9).  The two teams met last year once again in the Final 4 but at AA level.  12 months later both teams have made the successful adjustment to the much higher standards of the AAA League.  The Falcons will be looking to settle old scores after losing 8-5 last time around.  If the Falcons overcome the Pilots they will go to the Final on Sunday at 2pm and once again it is likely to be played on the Main Diamond.  Their opponents will be the winner of the other semi-final between the Oxford Kings and the London Metros.

 

In the other Divisions there will be two ex-Herts players who have managed to reach the Final 4.  Both of them are leftie pitchers.  Paul Raybould will be wearing the Old Timers jersey in the Single-A Final against the Croydon Pirates III.  In the AA Division, Bruce “the Big Unit” Dullea, now of the Enfield Sidewinders, will be looking to go one better than he did with the Falcons in 2007 and win the trophy.