Category: Raptors

Homer helps Hawks stay high; Falcons fall

Herts Hawks pitcher Andrew Slater set a new season high for strikeouts as his side beat the Kent Mariners 20-3 at Grovehill ballpark. Slater – also the team’s joint manager – whiffed 7 batters and walked just one in a dominant performance. He now leads the league in wins.

Andrew Slater in pitching action

The Hawks remain unbeaten in the British Baseball Federation’s Single-A league, and are looking to secure top seeding for the playoffs.

The offense was again led by Andy Cornish, who had four hits including a triple and a home run. Sonam Lama scored five runs, while Slater himself had a couple of hits. He praised the team effort: “it was a good performance all around.”

Hit 2, scored 2

The Hawks main rivals in the league are the London Musketeers, who are also unbeaten. On Sunday they were taking on the Herts Raptors on Grovehill’s second diamond. Raptors are mainly new players, but fought hard to stay with the unbeaten London side. It was still a respectable 13-6 in the middle of the fifth inning.

Paul Barton on the mound frequently battled out of tough situations as London threatened to surge ahead. He struck out three and walked only one. Matt Corran made his debut for the team, and impressed everyone when he came on to pitch in relief. He ended with a flourish, with a strikeout.

New players hit well, too. In his first start for the team, Matthew White hit 2 doubles and scored 2 runs, while Darren Priest’s first ever hit was a double. In the end, Musketeers had too much power and they piled on runs to win by 25-6 in seven innings.

Earlier in the day, the Raptors won 9-0 over the Haverhill Blackjacks by forfeit.

Raptors manager Rob Jones said: “We played really well against a tough side, and made some great plays. I am really pleased with the progress new guys have made –they will go far.”

At the top end of the club, the Herts Falcons headed to Farnham Park to take on Bracknell Blazers, and the action didn’t disappoint on a great summer day for baseball. Both teams needed the victories; Falcons to stay in 2nd place and more importantly take a big step towards a guaranteed spot in the playoffs, and Bracknell to fight for a playoff spot.

Falcons’ gremlins

The first game started well for the Falcons who scored two runs in the top of the 1st inning and looked poised to take advantage of starting pitcher Jordan Edmonds, who seemed to be looking to find his rhythm in the mound. On the other hand, the Herts starter Jose Sosa — who lately has struggled a bit in the 1st inning — started full steam.

Jordan then settled in and the defense on both teams was playing quite well with a 5-1 lead to Falcons leading into the bottom of the 4th. With 2 outs, Falcons’ gremlins appeared once again and defensive errors allowed Bracknell to extend the inning. Bracknell took advantage of it and became aggressive at the plate and bases to put more pressure to the defense and they succeeded. After the 4th it was tied 5-5.

In the next inning, Bracknell went ahead but Falcons bounced back in the top of the 6th to tie the game. Bracknell responded and again got the lead at the bottom of the 6th. Falcons couldn’t respond this time in the top of the 7th and Bracknell won 7-6 in a very close game.

Robbie Almanzar (photo: Paul Holdrick)

The 2nd game paired another two aces again with Rei Martinez and Robbie Almanzar starting for the Blazers and Falcons respectively. The game started as a pitching duel with the score 0-0 going into the 4th. Both teams knew the game would be decided by 1 or 2 runs.

However, in the bottom of the 4th Bracknell put a few timely hits together with, of course, some very costly errors by the Falcons, and the score all of a sudden was 4-0. Falcons came back in the top of the 5th with 2 runs and Bracknell added an insurance run in the bottom of the inning. Herts wouldn’t give up and scored another 2 runs in the top of the 6th leaving the score now 5-4 for Bracknell.

But in the bottom of the 6th it all went Bracknell’s way — hitting in the gaps, Falcons making more defensive errors, and Robbie running out of gas. Bracknell put up an insurmountable lead 12-4, and although Falcons scored 2 runs in the top of the 7th, it was too little too late. Final score 12-6.

Hawks swoop on Richmond

The Herts Hawks continued their march towards the playoffs with a convincing 28-10 victory away to the Richmond Squires in the Single-A league. Joint manager Andrew Slater pitched a complete game for the win, striking out four batters and walking only 2.

The first few innings were evenly matched, with Herts edging into a narrow lead. Tim Elkins scored the first run of the day. The Squires first two batters reached base and the hosts threatened to score — but a double-play on the infield prevented it.

Andy Cornish, slugger, and Andrew Slater, pitcher

 

Then the Hawks added 5 runs in the fourth inning and piled on 14 runs in the fifth to put the game beyond doubt.

Rod Naghar led the team with 5 runs batted in; Andy Cornish hit three doubles; while catcher Paul Auchterlounie scored 5 runs. The Hawks remain unbeaten on the season, with a 10-0 record, and a postseason slot is now secure. The next few games will help determine their seeding.

The Herts Raptors were also in Richmond for two Single-A games. One was scheduled, the other was a make-up of a rained out game from May.

They jumped out to a big early lead against the Dukes and still led 13-6 after 4 innings. Boruch Boudilovsky and Daniel Bennett each drove in 3 runs. Good fielding helped protect the lead, with Nick Shrimpton at shortstop and Matt Jackson at third base showing excellent defensive skills.

But Richmond staged a dramatic rally, scoring 7 runs to draw level and then 9 to surge ahead. They won 22-14.

The Raptors then faced the Richmond Squires, in the make-up game. Bennett again performed well, getting on base all three times he came up to bat, and scoring the only run. But the Herts offense had gone quiet. Nick Shrimpton had 2 hits and the only RBI.

Richmond had their veteran pitcher John Irving on the mound, and he allowed just 6 hits and 1 run. The visitors couldn’t figure him out, and in a game shortened because it was being played as a double-header, there was no time to recover.

Raptors lost 12-1 and are still searching for their first win of the season. There were no other Herts teams in action this week.

Hawks win Herts Derby. Eagles still have playoff hopes after win over Brighton.

With the Herts Falcons resting at the weekend attention turned to the other three Hertfordshire teams. Two of them, the Herts Hawks and the Herts Raptors, clashed together in an eagerly anticipated derby game. The Hawks were top of the Single-A League table after winning all eight of their league games, while the Raptors were bottom of the table, still looking for their first win. There was no upset as the league-leaders secured a comfortable 16-6 win. Raptors batters found it difficult to deal with the repertoire of pitcher Nic Goetz.  Andrew Slater and Ken Pike came in relief to shut down the underdogs despite a mini rally in the late innings which brought the Raptors to within 6 runs. Ilya Dimitrov hit his second home run of the season. This time an inside-the-parker down the left field foul line.

While the Hawks are on course to reach the playoffs, the Raptors urgently need to start winning games if they are to stay in the race. Their next game is away at the Essex Archers this Sunday, 5 July.

In the Triple-A League the Herts Eagles were looking to bring their playoff hopes back to life in their home doubleheader with third-placed Brighton Bulldogs. These series saw Grovehill Ballpark’s biggest crowd of the season as the fans from the Herts Derby made the short walk to the main diamond to join other Herts and Brighton watching this game and enjoying the barbequed food which was on offer. The aroma of barbequed meat in the air seemed to spur the Herts Eagles on as they won the first game of the series by a quite unbelievable score line of 34-10. Brodie Caress (pictured above) pitched a complete game for the win and he had fantastic run support from his team which included a home run by Will Zucker. In the second game Brighton responded winning 14-3. There was a brief glimmer of hope for the Eagles in that game after Jon Lewys hit a towering home run over the left centerfield wall. That was only one of four hits for the Eagles as Brighton pitcher Angus Cowell shut down Herts’ bats. One of the runs scored by the Bulldogs was a solo home run by Sebastian Molina who plays for Brighton in the Triple-A League and for Herts in the under-19 League which prompted a round of applause from the home fans as Molina is very much a part of the Herts baseball family.

Next Sunday, 5 July, is going to be decisive for the Herts Falcons as they travel to the surging Southampton Mustangs. The Falcons have lost their last six league games while the Mustangs have won their last two. The Falcons will need to win at least one of the two games in the series to keep their playoff hopes in their own hands.

Falcons are in the BBF Cup Semi-Final after eliminating Oxford

Good day on the mound for Robbie Almanzar (photo by Paul Holdrick)

The Herts Falcons ended a run of six consecutive league defeats with a win in the BBF Cup quarter-final tie away at the Oxford Kings. Robbie Almanzar was the winning pitcher. Manager Lee Manning was also able to give some of the club’s younger players their Falcons debut and they performed well. Both Takaya Miki and Warwick Byrne did well defensively and offensively.

Young prospects Takaya Miki (pictured above) and Warwick Byrne made their Falcons debuts

This win comes as a relief but psychologically the pressure of the lengthy losing streak in the league will still be on the back of the players’ minds until they can return to winning ways in the NBL. They will aim to do this on 5 July when they travel to the surging Southampton Mustangs who recorded a third consecutive win at the weekend and can leap over the Falcons in the NBL standings if they win both games of that doubleheader next month.

It is now eight wins out of eight games for the Herts Hawks this season. They beat the Old Timers 14-7 away from home and are sitting comfortably on top of their Single-A League Division. On paper this Sunday, 28 June, they should be able to pick up their ninth win of the season easily as they face the Herts Raptors which is one of only two teams in the league yet to record a win this season. However, this is “the Herts Derby” and local rivalries often bring out the best in the underdogs.

The Herts Eagles also have a home game this Sunday against third-placed Brighton Bulldogs. Both games start at 12pm at Grovehill Ballpark in Hemel Hempstead.

Herts Falcons losing streak continues. Hawks walk-off win.

 

Falcons are still in the NBL playoff zone, but can they stay there? (photo by Paul Holdrick)

National Baseball League, Herts Falcons 10 South London Pirates 11 (box scores)

The Herts Falcons lost two more games at on Sunday extending their losing streak to six. In the first game they battled back from being 9-6 down against the South London Pirates to take a 10-9 lead in the top of the final inning. The Pirates responded with two runs in the bottom of that inning to secure a walk-off win in dramatic fashion. New signing Ian Sales made his debut in this game. He struck out 5 batters in his 4 innings of work allowing 8 earned runs. Undoubtedly he would have liked to have been on the winning side on his debut, but he will not have to wait long to have another go as there are some big games coming up.

National Baseball League, Southampton Mustangs 6 Herts Falcons 2 (box scores)

In the second game of the day the Falcons came up against the Southampton Mustangs who, to the surprise of everyone in British baseball, had only 2 wins in 10 games before the start of the day. Those who were beginning to write them off may have to reassess their predictions. Pitcher Francisco Gonzalez was very effective pitching a complete game in which he allowed only 2 runs and 4 hits against an unusually quite Herts batting line-up. Jose Sosa was the starting pitcher for the Falcons and he once again performed well. The 6 runs conceded by the Falcons all came in the first inning but for the rest of the day Sosa completely shut down the Mustangs putting up zeros in the remaining six innings of the game.

This is the team’s longest losing streak since they lost eight consecutive games in 2011. No one could have predicted this after the team’s impressive start of the season winning 5 of their opening 6 games. “We find ourselves in a difficult period and we have to battle our way out of it. We have a tough BBF Cup quarter-final away game against the Oxford Kings coming up on Sunday and that’s the only thing that we are thinking about at the moment” said Herts Falcons manager, Lee Manning.

Single-A League, Guildford Mavericks 17 Herts Hawks 18 (box scores)

There was some good news for Herts baseball fans as the Herts Hawks scored 5 runs in the bottom of the ninth inning to win 18-17 against the Guildford Mavericks. This means that they are still unbeaten with a record of 7 wins and 0 losses. They are top of their division and in a very strong position to qualify for the Single-A League playoffs.

Single-A League, Bracknell Inferno 31 Herts Raptors 12

Herts Raptors are still searching for their first win of the season after a 32-11 defeat against the Bracknell Inferno.

Raptors continue search for first win after defeat in Guildford

The Herts Raptors came agonisingly close to their first win of the season. In a slugfest away at the Guildford Mavericks they went down by a score of 25-24. Paul Barton was very effective on the mound giving Herts a 7-1 run after 2 innings. Guildford came back thanks to a combination of good hitting and several defensive errors. Daniel Bennett (pictured right) had an outstanding game offensively and defensively. He was involved in everything including 9 catches in left field which 38% of the total outs for the whole team on the day. Similar to last week’s battle in Brighton, the Raptors fought back in the final inning driving 5 runs home, but the tying run was stranded at second base for a second consecutive week. This was their fourth loss in a row, but they are still within reach of the playoffs if they can turn these one-run losses into wins.

The other three Herts teams had no games during the Bank Holiday Weekend, but there are several crucial games coming up for the Herts Falcons in the National Baseball League. Next Sunday, 31 May, they will host the Bracknell Blazers. The doubleheader starts at 12pm at Grovehill Ballpark in Hemel Hempstead. The Falcons need to win both games if they are to maintain the pressure on the unbeaten London Mets whom they will face on 7 June away from home in the biggest game of the season so far.

In the Single-A league the Herts Hawks will travel to Tonbridge. Both teams have 100% records so far, so something has to give.

The action is also heating up in the youth leagues. A total of 10 games were played over the three days of the Bank Holiday weekend across four age groups. This included games at the club’s new West Hendon Ballpark in North West London. Herts teams in the U19, U15 and U12 age groups will go into the Little League UK Qualifier next month where the winners will progress through to the European qualifiers for a chance to play in the Little League World Series in the USA shown across the world to millions of TV viewers. It is not to late to join the Herts teams for this prestigious event. Contact us for more details about giving baseball a try.

Broken laces, and a surviving dream

Here’s a moment which sums up how the Brighton game went for me. In the fourth inning, as I jogged in to score easily after a fellow Raptor had smacked an RBI into the outfield, I helpfully scooped up his bat on my way, writes Rob Jones.

In doing so, I performed a quick stutter-step, caught my cleats in my laces, and almost fell on my face. Even scoring a run, I nearly managed to mess it up. And I broke my lace.

It was that sort of day for me, which didn’t really reflect the tremendous performance put in by the team. We narrowly lost 20-18, with the tying and go-ahead runs on base in the ninth inning. There were sterling performances in the field by rookies Paul Barton and Nick Shrimpton, and by newcomer Yue Du on the mound.

But I never quite managed to match their level on this day. There was a lot of “giving with one hand and taking with the other”. A lot of “close but no cigar”. Here’s an example.

Brighton’s number 9 hitter softly put a ground ball my way at second base quite early in the game. I waited on it, played safe and got everything behind it, but promptly managed to boot the ball anyway. I recovered enough to pick it up, but unsurprisingly rushed the throw. It was extremely annoying, particularly as I thought he would have been the last out of the inning, and we could have got out clean.

“You’re just killing yourself”

However — on the very next play the guy tried to take second on a hit and run, and the batter put a ground ball up the middle. I swiped up the ball in my glove and with a tremendously impressive smooth move I reached around and also swiped the passing runner. A moment of satisfaction and relief coursed through me.

But remember how I thought there were two down? I heard some calls to go to 1, but thought “Nah, no need”. And I looked to first where our man was gently wandering off the base as he also thought there were two down. Turns out we were both wrong. There was one down — two now, after my elegant tag — but the inning would continue and I had missed the chance for a highlight reel double play. And that batter would go on to score a run.

Later on, I made some routine plays — a force at second, a pop-up at first, and receiving some throws at first — but I managed to undo my own good work. A sliding grab as I ranged to my right at second base not only didn’t turn into an out at first, but it was worse — as I again rushed the throw it went to the fence and the runner took second. “You’re just killing yourself out there, aren’t you?” noted an observant colleague!

There are some occasions where I honestly can’t remember whether a double play might have been in order. But I don’t believe that this undermines my insistence as a coach that players should  know their play. In fact, I think it highlights the point!

When I say that Raptors should always know what they are going to do with the ball, it’s not because I think that’s easy. It’s because it’s hard, really hard. It takes two things which are difficult to develop.

Staying focused is exhausting

First, it takes an instinctive knowledge of the game which perhaps only years of drills can give you, but which we Brits must try to manufacture over a handful of sessions. (for one of my favourite examples of this, type “pujols heads up play” into YouTube and see Albert make a superb decision and take out the lead runner in the 2011 playoffs.)

Secondly, it takes great stamina and mental toughness. Professional baseball games last a good three hours – ours can last five. And staying focused ALL THE TIME is exhausting. That’s why we have to remind ourselves all the time about “what is our play?”

When I took that pop-up at first I told you about I immediately looked to second as a runner was there. He had strayed a little but nobody was on the bag so there was no play against him. On this occasion — when I had finally remembered my own maxim and thought ahead — a team-mate hadn’t. Getting all 9 amateur ball-players focused all the time is probably unrealistic, and that’s why we strive for it.

Let’s transfer this tale of fielding triumphs over to my batting. I entered the game with a .500 average — from an admittedly small sample. But that average has collapsed like the Labour vote in Scotland. A meek groundout was followed by two strikeouts — one of them on three pitches. Finally I got a walk, but my first bat on ball contact saw me pop out to the second baseman when facing a very hittable relief pitcher.

At least on this occasion, I can boast that it ended well. I got to play my part in the final rally by finally — finally — getting a ball in play.

Helpful team-mates pointed out to me as I stepped to the plate that the man who had returned to the mound was the starter who had struck me out twice earlier. And they seemed unconvinced that my checked defensive swing which knocked the ball foul down the first-base line was in any of the coaching manuals.

But — at last  — with two strikes against me, I was able to fight it off over the head of the infielders and bring in 2 vital runs. At that point I felt as if I was helping to win the World Series, or take Berlin, or scale the Burj Khalifa — definitely something way in excess of what I had actually achieved!

Really, though, that feeling came down to the team. They had battled against a disciplined, solid- fielding, hard-hitting team for nine innings and until then I felt I had done little to lead them as I am supposed to. I am my own worst critic, but your team-mates are your biggest fans, the ones you want to achieve it for.

And for all of those good moments sprinkled above — for all of those glimpses of how it can go right if you keep working at it  — I will be back out again on Sunday.

“Going through the Change” is a series of articles by our former Communications Director, Rob Jones, which began when he “changed” from outfield to infield. It continues as random observations on life as an amateur ball-player.

Raptors rally but fall in Brighton

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Nick Shrimpton, Yue Du and Paul Barton impressed in their first away game for the Raptors

It was the ninth inning. The bases were loaded.  The tying and go-ahead runs were there, as the Raptors had rallied back beyond all expectations. Brighton’s hard-throwing starting pitcher, Will Anderson, had returned to the mound to try to save the game, but had given up hits and some wild walks….

…. but that was where it ended. Let’s go back to where it started.

It had started with that same Brighton pitcher issuing a walk to the Herts centre fielder, Mike Cresswell, returning from weeks away and recovering from a wedding party the night before. A stolen base, a groundout, and a passed ball later, he had crossed home plate to score the first run of the game. Jamie Lang then got the first of a fistful of walks and was driven in by a double from rookie Paul Barton, who made it home himself on pass balls. Herts had put up three runs for a solid start.

Herts’ rehabbing legend Aspi Dimitrov started slowly on the mound for the Raptors, also walking the leadoff, but he soon got a curveball working to keep the Brighton hitters off balance. There were a couple of early miscues in the field from second baseman Rob Jones, which could have held the Redhawks in check. But the home side were able to work their way back in and the game was tied at 4-4 after two innings.

It was still tied in the middle of the fifth, 11 runs apiece. Aspi Dimitrov was gone — surrendering to fatigue and the dodgy knee, after 5 strikeouts. In came the Herts newcomer Yue Du, a Chinese import, to make her debut on the mound. She settled in to coax ground balls from the Brighton batters, but they were able to add four runs and take a clear lead for the first time in the game.

In the field, Nick Shrimpton was the stud for Herts. Despite being new to baseball this season, he snared two laser-shot line drives at shortstop, fielded several grounders, and ranged far back into the outfield to take a high pop up in the seventh inning. He also chipped in with a couple of runs, but Paul Barton was the Raptors’ best performer with the bat, adding two further singles to his first-inning double. 

Coming in as the second reliever, Barton pitched confidently and fielded his position superbly. And he helped the Raptors keep the Redhawks in touching distance and keep the game alive. After seven innings — when baseball games can be ended on the mercy rule — Brighton were 19-12 ahead. But rather than allow themselves to be finished off, the Raptors clung on.

Co-manager Kal Dimitrov had got on base consistently throughout the game and he again helped push the team forward with another walk in the ninth. His partner at the helm, Rob Jones, finally managed to bring his bat alive, fighting a fastball over the heads of the infield to drive in two more runs. In the end five runs scored.  Outfielder Joe Cort represented the crucial tying run at second base, as Clive Johnson battled hard at the plate. He fought off and fouled off a sequence of pitches. Finally Anderson was able to hurl a final fastball through the zone and secure Brighton’s victory.

On the way to Brighton Herts Raptors had to negotiate past thousands of MINIs racing as part of the London-to-Brighton MINI event.

At 20-18 it was the closest game the Raptors have had this season. An impressively big squad had made the long trip to Brighton and they turned in a fine team performance. The next in a long series of road games is this coming Sunday at Guildford, as they go in search of their first win.

Falcons breathing down Mets necks

 

A win for starting pitcher Robbie Almanzar in Game One (photo by Paul Holdrick)

The Herts Falcons picked up two wins on Sunday against the South London Pirates which keeps the pressure on the current leaders, London Mets, who are one game ahead.

The Falcons conceded 15 runs in their season-opening game against the South London Pirates to win narrowly 16-15. This time around there was no late-inning drama. Both wins were secured comfortably with final scores of 18-4 and 15-1. Jose Sosa has been outstanding on the mound this season, but manager Lee Manning decided to give his arm some rest and instead the starting pitchers were Robbie Almanzar in the first game and Mike Osborn in the second. Both were outstanding. Osborn struck out 9 Pirates over 4 innings. Almanzar also pitched 4 innings striking out 4 with allowing no earned runs. In fact the starters and relievers, Jose Sosa and Matt Gilbert, allowed only 1 earned run over the two games. The step up by the pitching staff comes at a perfect time as the team prepares for several crucial games including the big clash with the Mets.

Andy Cornish hit his first home run of the season (photo by Paul Holdrick)

Offensively the team continues to terrorize opponents with a team batting average of .356 and slugging average of .579. There was no home run from record-chasing, Maikel Azcuy, but the number of Falcons players with a home run to their name this season has increased to seven with Andy Cornish and Jose Sosa being added to the list on Sunday. Moises Vasquez came close to being the eighth home run hitter when his shot bounced off the top railing of the home run wall.

Herts fans also had an unexpected surprise on Sunday when two-time NBL Most Valuable Player, Ryan Bird (pictured right), made the trip from the USA for his first game for the Falcons since 6 April 2014. He picked up where he left batting 2-for-3 (2B, RBI).

View box scores of Game One

View box scores of Game Two

The Herts Falcons next game is at home against the Bracknell Blazers on 31 May. It is expected to be a difficult game. On Sunday the Blazers showed how dangerous they can be when they came close to beating the table-topping Mets.

In the other leagues, the Herts Eagles were involved in a closely-fought game with the Essex Redbacks. They lost the first game 6-4, but bounced back to win the second 4-2. This pushes them up one place into sixth position in the Triple-A League standings. In the Single-A League the Herts Raptors loaded the bases in the final inning against the Brighton Redhawks which put the tying run on second base and the go-ahead run on first base, but their late rally ended there with the score 18-20. They are the only Herts team in action next Sunday, 24 May, as they go on the road again searching for their first win of the season this time against the Guildford Mavericks.

Herts Hawks extend unbeaten run. Raptors’ game suspended after just 5 minutes.

Hawks catcher Paul Auchterlounie enhanced his reputation as a killer of base-stealers

While Herts teams in the top two leagues rested over the Bank Holiday weekend, the Herts Hawks continued their unbeaten start of the season in the Single-A League. Their opponents were the Richmond Dukes who were also unbeaten going into Sunday’s game. The Hawks won it convincingly 34-10. Andrew Slater was the winning pitcher for the Hawks, his third win of the season. There was some controversy in the final inning. The new rule which regulates plays at home plate has been causing confusion in Major League Baseball and it seems to have done the same in the BBF Single-A League. A Hawks runner was adjudged to have slid home illegally making contact with the pitcher who was covering the base. Judging by this incident managers and officials will be referring to their rulebooks frequently this season, but unlike their MLB counterparts they will not have video replays at their disposal.

The Herts Raptors faced another Richmond team, the Richmond Squires. They got off to a difficult start conceding four runs in the top of the first inning at which point a heavy downpour flooded Grovehill Ballpark within minutes. The officials declared the game suspended so the two teams will have to meet again later in the year to complete the game with the score 4-0 in the top of the first inning with one out. Time will tell whether or not nature’s intervention will work in favour of the Herts Raptors.

Next Sunday, 10 May, all eyes will be on the National Baseball League (NBL) game between the Herts Falcons and the reigning NBL champions, Essex Arrows. The Falcons (2-0) find themselves tied at the top of the standings with the London Mets (2-0). Essex Arrows (2-2) are third and they can overtake the Falcons if they win both games of the doubleheader. First game starts at 12pm at Town Mead Ballpark in Waltham Abbey.

The Herts Eagles are also in action. They will play at home against the Oxford Kings. Two wins in this doubleheader could see them leap from seventh to third place in the Triple-A League standings. The Herts Hawks will travel to the Forest Glade Redbacks looking to extend their unbeaten start of the season. Before that the Herts Harriers will host the London Mets in the Under-19 baseball league on Saturday.