Category: Club News

14 September 202424 September 2024 by Greg Bochan

Players have started registering for the 2024 Hunlock Series

The 2024 BBF season has had its climax but, whether your team made it to the Playoffs or not, arguably the best part of the season is still to come.

Every year, after the end of the BBF season and just when the MLB postseason is about to start, players from Herts and other British baseball clubs – as well as overseas players – compete over several weeks in a tournament in memory of Herts Baseball Club’s number 36, the late Kyle Hunlock.

SERIES FORMAT

This is the 18th year of the Hunlock Series. In its inaugural year in 2006 two teams were involved, the Falcons and the Hawks. The format of the competition has evolved since then. The club has over 170 registered adult players this year and a considerable number of new players are expected to register to play in the Series. As players sign up over the next few weeks we will know how many teams will enter the Series this year.

SCHEDULE

It will be played over three Sundays on 29 September, 6 and 13 October.

VENUES

Games will be played at two ballparks – weeks 2 and 3 at Grovehill Ballpark in Hemel Hempstead, and the opening week at Basing Hill Ballpark in London (both pictured above).

WHO CAN PLAY?

Any players aged 14 and over on 31 December 2024 are eligible to play in the Hunlock Series.

THE DRAFT

As in previous years, the teams will be selected by the team managers during the Hunlock Series Draft. Who will be the first round picks? How will Single-A league players and newcomers perform alongside NBL and Triple-A players?

Over the years we have seen how decisions made during the Draft can shape the outcome of the Series before a pitch has been thrown. The managers will have to make carefully calculated decisions if they are to put together a team which can compete for the Hunlock Series title, otherwise they could face a tough few weeks.

With all of the club’s managers and coaching staff observing these games, players who have been pushing for promotion to a higher league team will have the perfect opportunity during the Hunlock Series to make a claim to play on the bigger stage in 2025.

NEW PLAYERS

The club has also received enquiries from many potential new members over the last few weeks and this event is the ideal opportunity for them to come and play and help them decide whether to join the club for the 2025 season.

HOW TO REGISTER

All Hunlock Series players will be drafted into teams. To be eligible for the Draft you will need to update your availability for ALL the Hunlock Series dates in the online Clubhouse by 7pm Monday, 23 September. If you miss the deadline or the first one or two weeks of games, don’t worry. You will still be eligible to play but will have to be assigned as a free agent after the Draft.

If you already have a Clubhouse account you can update availability for the Hunlock Series dates by logging on with your existing username and password. Click here to go to the Clubhouse.

If you do not have a Clubhouse account but wish to play in the Hunlock Series, please register here and select “Play Hunlock Series” in the membership category list. After registering you can log on and mark your availability.

ENTRY FEE

2024 Herts club members do not have to pay an entry fee as the Hunlock Series is part of their membership package. If you don’t have a Hunlock Series team shirt, you can buy one before your first game. The team shirt is expected to be priced at around £10.

New players or players from other clubs can play by paying the £24 entry fee which includes a free Hunlock Series shirt of the team which has drafted them.

ENQUIRIES FROM NEW PLAYERS

For more details about playing in the Hunlock Series, contact us.

12 June 202412 June 2024 by Herts Baseball News Editor

Youth summer camps come to Herts for 2024

In a year which has seen MLB return to the UK with a bang, Herts Baseball Club is thrilled to announce a new offering for our players – and for kids across British baseball.

The club will run a Summer Youth Baseball Training program at Grovehill Ballpark in Hemel Hempstead designed to cater to young players of all ages and skill levels. Sessions will take place from 23rd July to 15th August, every Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday.

The program will be divided into two levels, Beginner and Experienced, to ensure the best and safest development of all of those taking part. Please ask your coaches if you have questions about which level suits you best.

The cost is just £15 per week (the fourth week has two sessions rather than three), or £50 for all 11 sessions. We feel this is excellent value, considering the expert leadership provided by Coach Stephen and his team. It is important to us to make sure baseball is available to as many families as possible.

Experienced Players

Skill Level: Players with over 1 year of baseball experience.
Age Group: 11-16 years old
Time: 10:00 AM – 1:00 PM (3 hours per session)
Training Content:
- Advanced skill development
- Pitcher and catcher training
- Hitting drills and techniques
- Physical conditioning

Beginner Players

Skill Level: Players with less than 1 year of baseball experience, or under 10 years old.
Age Group: less experienced players or under 10 years old
Time: 1:00 PM – 3:00 PM (2 hours per session)
Training Content:
- Basic skill development
- Introduction to catch and throw
- Fundamental hitting drills
- Body coordination training

Registration

Participants will need to be registered with the British Baseball Federation (BBF), the sport’s UK governing body. To do this, you must sign up through the Sport80 website. All our existing players will already have done this, but please ensure you sign up if you are new to the season.

To register for the Herts Summer Baseball Training program, please fill in the online registration form. Ensure you select the appropriate skill level group for your child. If you have any questions, please consult your coach. Payment will be taken through the club’s Direct Debit process.

Training Content Breakdown

Individual Skill Development

Throwing: Techniques to improve accuracy and strength
Catching: Proper catching techniques and positioning
Fielding: Infield and outfield drills to enhance agility and reaction time

Pitcher and Catcher Training

Pitchers: Mechanics, control, and various pitching techniques
Catchers: Stance, receiving, blocking, and throw-down drills

Hitting Training

Beginners: Basic batting stance, swing mechanics, and tee work
Experienced: Advanced hitting strategies, live pitching, and situational hitting

Physical Conditioning/ Body coordination training

Strength Training: Age-appropriate exercises to build muscle and endurance
Agility Drills: Enhance speed and coordination
Flexibility Exercises: Stretching routines to prevent injuries
Body Coordination Drills

We look forward to seeing you at the Herts Baseball Club Summer Camp — and helping our young players enhance their skills and enjoy the game of baseball!

Herts rallies support for MND on Lou Gehrig Day

10 June 202426 July 2024 by Herts Baseball News Editor

Herts raises over £1,400 for MND on Lou Gehrig Day

Last week, Hertfordshire residents and businesses joined members of the baseball community in support of Motor Neurone Disease research for a charity event at a sunny Grovehill Ballpark in Hemel Hempstead.

The fundraising event for the Motor Neurone Disease Association on Sunday 2 June attracted people from across Hertfordshire and beyond. They enjoyed hotdogs, home-baked cakes, and other food and drinks donated by volunteers and local businesses in a tremendous display of community spirit and support for a vital cause. The most intrepid took part in ice-bucket challenges.

*(L-R) Pete Hogg, Hetty Smith, Mike Cresswell*

Of course, this is a baseball club – so we had sporting challenges too. People of all ages and abilities joined in with a friendly softball match and other fun baseball games. Two of Herts’ British Baseball Federation (BBF) AA-league teams, the Hawks and the Ducks, battled it out in league games in front of a record number of spectators. Fittingly, they won one game each!

The event raised over £1,460 for the MND Association charity. It will be split between the national branch to fund medical research and the local branch to provide care and equipment for people in Hertfordshire living with MND.

June 2nd is a significant date for Major League Baseball (MLB), as America’s top professional league marks Lou Gehrig Day each year in honour of the former Yankees star player, and the degenerative disease that bears his name.

MLB featured Herts Baseball Club on their global website in the lead up to the event and donated an array of prizes, including team hats, jerseys, and tickets to the London Series games between the New York Mets and Philadelphia Phillies at the London Stadium, which were eagerly won by attendees. Other great prizes included a bat, donated by Baseball Outlet, batting cage time donated by The 108 in Brent Cross, and a softball signed by the Great Britain Women’s World Cup team, donated by BSUK.

The event took on an additional layer of significance as the day drew to a close, with the breaking news that another sporting legend, former Rugby League player Rob Burrow, passed away from Motor Neurone Disease.

Event organiser for Herts Baseball Club, Pete Hogg, who also ran the inaugural Rob Burrow Marathon for MNDA in 2023, remarked: “The generosity and enthusiasm of our volunteer team and everyone who chipped in with prizes and donations made the day a roaring success. I can’t thank them all enough. We are thrilled with the turnout and that everyone had an amazing fun day.”

“Rob Burrow and Lou Gehrig are both sporting icons who share the same tragic fate at the hands of Motor Neurone Disease, but will be remembered for generations to come as inspirational figures in their respective sports. The funds raised today will make a real difference in the fight against it.”

The ceremonial first pitch was thrown by Hetty Smith from the MND Association’s Hertfordshire branch, who was the guest of honour at the event. Speaking on behalf of the MND Association, she shared her gratitude: “The Hertfordshire Branch are immensely grateful to Pete Hogg for organising this event. Without the support of people like Pete and his friends, family, and colleagues, we would not be able to fund equipment for people living with this horrendous disease in Hertfordshire. Half of the funds raised will go to the National Office towards research funding which is hugely important. Events like this are also a very important way of raising awareness.”

Herts Club President Michael Cresswell added: “We are grateful to the residents of Hertfordshire and beyond for their incredible support. Whether they attended, donated, or volunteered, their contributions have made a meaningful impact in our collective fight against Motor Neurone Disease. Herts Baseball Club plans to make Lou Gehrig Day an annual event and we hope to inspire other international clubs, players, and fans to get involved and make next year even bigger.”

The successful fundraiser not only generated significant funds for MND research but also showcased the growing enthusiasm for baseball in the UK. As the sport continues to gain momentum, events like this highlight its potential to bring people together for a greater good.

To support Herts Baseball Club’s fundraising efforts please visit https://givestar.io/gs/lou-gehrig-day-at-herts-baseball-club.

Herts Baseball Club Takes A Swing At Motor Neurone Disease

15 May 202428 May 2024 by Herts Baseball News Editor

UPDATED: Herts Baseball Takes A Swing At Motor Neurone Disease

On Sunday June 2nd, Herts Baseball Club will be transforming Grovehill ballpark in Hemel Hempstead into a hub of solidarity and support in the global fight against Motor Neurone Disease (MND), often referred to as ‘Lou Gehrig’s Disease’.

This full day of activities, revolving around baseball, will allow individuals of all ages and skill levels to come together in support of MND research and awareness.

From thrilling baseball games to beginner-friendly batting and pitching sessions, a bake sale, and a barbecue there’s something for everyone at this event.

There will also be a charity raffle where you can win great prizes which have been generously donated:

— London Series merchandise from MLB Europe

— time in the batting cages at The 108 London

— a Louisville Slugger bat from Baseball Outlet

— a signed ball from the GB Softball Women’s World Cup

Look out for tickets on sale at all our training sessions, as well as on the day.

June 2nd holds special significance in the baseball community as Lou Gehrig Day, honouring the legacy of the former New York Yankees star player whose life was tragically cut short by ALS, a form of MND. By commemorating this day, Herts Baseball Club aims to channel the spirit of solidarity and determination to make a tangible difference in the lives of those affected by the condition.

*The London Series has raised the profile of baseball*

Pete Hogg, Herts baseball player and event organiser from St Albans, shares: “Motor Neurone Disease is a devastating condition that can affect anyone, quickly robbing them of their ability to move, speak, and even breathe on their own. Through Lou Gehrig Day, the baseball community can play a vital role in funding medical research and supporting those living with the condition”.

“At Herts Baseball Club, we aim to play our part and inspire other British and international baseball teams, players, and fans to unite in the global fight against ALS and other forms of Motor Neurone Disease. We invite anyone curious about the sport, willing to support the cause, or just looking for a fun day out, to come down to Grovehill Ballpark and join us for a day of summer fun.”

*Will the bake sale include tasty treats like this?*

As baseball continues to gain momentum in the UK, events like this fundraiser contribute not only to MND research but also to the growing community of baseball enthusiasts.

There has been increased television and online coverage, boosted by the successes of Team GB, and landmark events like the regular London Series. This year, it brings the New York Mets and the Philadelphia Phillies together at the London Stadium. The sport is capturing the hearts and minds of people across the country.

Events on the day will open to the public from 11am, with a representative from the MND Association charity throwing the ceremonial first pitch as the Herts Hawks face the Herts Ducks at 12:00.

We are expecting plenty of volunteers for the iconic Ice Bucket Challenge – using ice kindly donated by Ice Cool Ice UK, based in Hemel Hempstead.

The raffle will be drawn at 2:30, with the Hawks and Ducks squaring off again at 3pm.

Herts Baseball Club has five teams that play in the British adult baseball leagues and one of the largest youth baseball programmes in the UK.

Club President, Michael Cresswell, commented: “We invite the residents of Hertfordshire and beyond to join us in spreading the word about this important event. Whether you attend, donate online, or volunteer your time and resources, your contribution will make a meaningful impact in the fight against Motor Neurone Disease.”

Please visit our fundraising page at Lou Gehrig Day 2024 at Herts Baseball Club | givestar (NB. donations are very welcome, but do not constitute a purchase of anything unless explicitly agreed in advance)

12 April 202412 April 2024 by Herts Baseball News Editor

Cresswell takes over as President

Herts Baseball Club is delighted to announce the appointment of long-time player, coach and cheerleader Mike Cresswell as our new President.

He adds a wealth of experience and enthusiasm to the Executive Board as the club moves into 2024 and beyond.

Mike joined Herts as an 18 year old equipped with, as he puts it, “a plastic glove and a keen interest in the sport”. In the years since, he has developed not only as a baseball player but as a crucial figure in the club.

He played for the Raptors in Single-A, moving onto become their co-manager. In that role, he helped lead them to a famous playoff victory over the defending champions Tonbridge in 2016. Mike moved on to Double-A with the Hawks, Triple-A with the Londoners and then — inevitably — the Falcons of the NBL. In 2024, he’s a Cardinal.

But his contributions have gone way beyond that. Mike has run midweek training sessions at Grovehill for some time now, helping to bring on new recruits and get them ready for competitive baseball. And he has always been there to cheer on other Herts teams at every opportunity.

Applying for the vacant President’s role, Mike Cresswell offered passion, loyalty, and ideas for the way forward. The hope is to lay the foundations for a women’s baseball team, and to build from the ground up with teams full of good chemistry.

The new Herts President said: “This is a club that I hold very close to my heart. To give back, to not only Herts but the baseball community as a whole, is an opportunity that I welcome with both arms.”

“I look forward to this role, and watching Herts grow and build as part of the British Baseball landscape.”

The Herts adults teams are in action for the first time this weekend in the BBF leagues. The Ducks go first, travelling to Norwich on Saturday. Everyone else follows on the Sunday.

The youth players are at Farnham Park on Saturday to take part in the first BBF Super League event of 2024.

29 January 20245 February 2024 by Herts Baseball News Editor

Going under cover

The phrases “if you build it” and “people will come” have a magic resonance in the world of baseball.

And so they must have drifted through the minds of two Herts baseball club veterans when they saw their vision of an indoor baseball and softball venue open at Brent Cross this past week. The 108 London is a first in the UK, and the biggest such centre in Europe.

Its creators, Mike Wakelam and Max Trautman, have been part of Herts for more years than we’d like to say. Their wisdom and enthusiasm – not to mention a little bit of skill – have left a lasting mark on the club. Together they oversaw the youth programme for a long time. Rifle through our photo archive on Flickr and they feature often.

Mike and Max overseeing a youth session in 2017

Now they have made a mark on the wider world of British baseball. The 108 is a purpose-built indoor venue with a neat, full-size infield. It had its gala opening this past week, with the backing of MLB, Barnet Council, and the developers of the Brent Cross Town project.

There are batting cages with computer technology which allows you to check your progress in detail. There are bullpens for pitchers and catchers to hone their craft. And there is a bar and barbecue, with games on TV screens.

Herts players have already been taking advantage of the facilities, with regular training sessions on a Thursday evening. Members of the Herts Cardinals, Herts Ravens — as well as the Herts Raptors who are based in Hemel Hempstead – are among those who have been there to work out.

Baseball Softball UK (BSUK), the development agency for the sports, has already made extensive use of the manicured indoor green fields. In England in January, going under cover is the best way to play. They hosted a two-day clinic for coaches this weekend, with World Series winner and current Miami Marlins coach Jon Jay among those sharing their expertise. And yes, Herts coaches were there.

Mike Wakelam told the BBC why he wanted to create the space: “I’ve been passionate about baseball and softball since I was a child, and I wanted somewhere people could enjoy the game and help it grow. The barbecue and bar is part of that, because you want the game to grow socially, and let people have a hit and have a drink with friends!”

MLB Europe described the barbecue offerings at The 108 as “mouth-watering”. Batflips and Nerds, the premier British baseball podcast and website, called the whole facility “absolutely incredible”. Barnet’s council member for sports, Ammar Naqvi, said it provided an exciting, fun place for local residents to meet and new ways for people to get active.

Herts — which has its Basing Hill field close by – very much shares the aim of growing the game of baseball wherever we can.

Players are continuing sessions at The 108 in the coming weeks, and do get in touch with us if you want to know more. We are hopeful that the club can organise training there, too, so stay tuned for that. In the meantime, a number of indoor sessions have been arranged at other venues:

Youth: Saturday 17th February and 9th March, 1-3pm, JFK Catholic School, Hemel Hempstead

Adults: Sunday 18th February and 10th March, 12-2pm, JFK Catholic School, Hemel Hempstead

Adults: Sunday 4th February, 12-2pm, Ark Elvin Academy, Wembley

We look forward to seeing you all soon to play baseball (under cover, it’s cold outside!). And before you know it the sunshine and the season will be here.

2 December 20234 December 2023 by Herts Baseball News Editor

2023 Season Review

The following article was featured in Herts Baseball Club’s 2023 Annual Report distributed to club members ahead of its annual general meeting held on 26 November 2023.

It has been another record year for our club growing by 16% and we now have 248 adult and youth members. This has enabled us to have one or more teams at each of the four adult league tiers and in all four youth league age divisions. Substantial investment has gone into upgrading both ballparks and facilities and we are in a strong position to go further in the coming years after adding new revenue streams which increase our healthy cash reserves. MLB and other strategic partners have recognised us as an organisation they can work with and we hosted two MLB events – one in Hemel Hempstead and one in London. There are exciting opportunities on the horizon.

This would not be possible without the hard work, care and dedication of board and non-board staff, and the wider membership. We have been receiving very positive feedback from club members, parents and fans and I would like to join them in thanking you, the members, for your incredible contribution.

Adult Baseball

In 2022 we saw the unusual scenario of having one team in the Triple-A League and our other four teams all in Single-A. This year, the number of teams increased from five to seven and the allocation of teams was more balanced – one team in the NBL, one in Triple-A, two in Double-A and three in Single-A. From previous years we know that moving up the leagues is not an easy step to take. It became even more difficult when, after submitting the league entries in January, the Hawks lost five or six players from their strong 2022 roster and a similar number of new experienced players who were expected to strengthen the Ducks, withdrew their club registration shortly after registering due to change of circumstances. That had a significant effect on the competitiveness of those two teams in Double-A.

Despite this being an expansion season, the Cardinals, Raptors and Ravens achieved a considerable improvement with a combined record of 42 wins and 30 losses (.583) compared to 29 wins and 49 losses (.372) in 2022.

Cardinals and Ravens qualified for the Triple-A and Single-A postseason, respectively, reaching the semi-final stage which is an outstanding feat.

Falcons and the NBL Pilot Project

After a one year absence, the Herts Falcons were back in Britain’s top league. In addition to the return of a number of former Falcons players, we saw a large number of talented young players with international experience with the various Great Britain national teams.

There were games when the team showed that they can compete against the best NBL teams, but at the end we have to give credit to our opponents and accept that the Falcons did not do enough to stay in the playoff race.

But there is no doubt about the enormous potential of this group of young players not only to close the gap on the leading NBL teams but to overtake them in the coming years.

There was a recognition of this when Falcons third baseman, Jack Warrington, was selected as the only British player among the top 90 young European prospects to take part in the MLB Development Tournament during the MLB London Series in front of the MLB scouts.

The return of the Falcons to the NBL was in conjunction with the club’s Pilot Project which had the aim to increase the number of fans and provide a more immersive game day experience.

Despite operating on a limited budget, we sold a total of 284 tickets for the four NBL home games. The total included a number of complimentary tickets given to local primary schools and an organisation which supports people in Dacorum facing homelessness or social exclusion.

The department made a small profit. It would have been interesting to see what the results would have been if the team’s win-loss percentage was higher and had avoided some of the blow-out losses.

The project achieved most of the goals which were set, including:

Falcons’ return to the NBL
Grow the club’s fan base
Increase attendances at home NBL games
Increase publicity and media coverage
Raise the club’s profile
Inspire more children and adults to play baseball and join Herts

Youth Baseball

The Herts youth baseball programme grew again this year setting another record high.

The club was represented in all four age brackets of the national youth baseball championships picking up a silver at U19 level and two bronze medals for the U16s and U11s.

There is still a gap between our youth teams and the leading youth programme, but that gap is getting smaller every year.

The coaching staff deserve a lot of praise for raising the standard further and providing more playing opportunities, some of which were added extras on top of the membership packages.

Coach Lee Manning once again ran the midweek youth baseball sessions in Hemel Hempstead and coach Stephen Wong added ten summer holiday sessions and four April half-term sessions. The Basing Hill branch also added twelve midweek evening sessions to the calendar.

U13 players also had the opportunity to work with coach Monte Brooks from The Master’s University, California who have seen a number of their players play in MLB.

Like any organisation, there will be hurdles that we need to overcome. This year, a large number of U11 players in Hemel Hempstead made the transition to U13 leaving a lower number of players in that U11 group. That made it difficult for U11 coaches to run regular season games. Although the size of our programme is at a record high, we are still slightly short of the level needed to run local league play in every age group on our own. Disproportionate fluctuations in numbers from one year to the next can leave one or more age groups vulnerable so we need to keep pushing for growth to reach the scale which will ensure stable regular season game schedule.

This year it was very satisfying to see the work of the youth baseball staff in the previous three years show results with many Herts youth players starting their transition to adult league baseball with the Hawks and in the Hunlock Series.

I must give a special mention to the parents. They see that the club is looking to build something special and provide children with lifelong memories and they have become very involved supporting all aspects on and off the field, from coaching and umpiring to concessions and field maintenance.

Financials

The club continues to be in a healthy financial position. We were able to avoid any major increases in membership fees this year. However, we are operating in difficult economic conditions with high inflation. We need to do our best to keep baseball affordable while continuing our prudent management of the club’s finances. There will be some cost pressures which we will not be able to avoid and club members also will have to adapt to the new membership fee structure which the BBF is about to announce for 2024.

Ballparks

In 2022 the club was awarded £2,851 match-funding from the BSUK Facilities Fund to be invested in improvements at Grovehill Ballpark with a total cost of £5,851. The first stage of the work involving the installation of mound clay blocks for both pitching mounds at Grovehill was completed in 2022. The main part of the project involved verti-draining, overseeding, top dressing and other procedures to improve the playing surface on both diamonds. It was scheduled for Spring 2023.

Our contractors struggled to time the project due to heavy flooding in the Spring followed by a very dry spell which made the ground too hard for the spikes to penetrate the soil. As a result, it was implemented in September 2023 and grooves of newly grown grass could be seen during the Hunlock Series games in October (see photo above).

We had wonderful support from Dacorum Borough Council who assigned two additional rooms to us.

They also re-painted all our rooms and installed new female and male toilets and washing facilities.

The club also acquired a new paint-based line-marking machine for Grovehill.

We completed the second phase of the Basing Hill Ballpark project with the installation of the infield perimeter fence.

Thanks to the Brent Cross Town Community Fund £2,632 award we were able to fund the purchase of a baseball pitching machine for Basing Hill which means that now both ballparks have one.

It is important that we increase awareness about ballpark and facilities operational and maintenance procedures and train the designated team supervisors so that we can ensure that our ballparks are kept at the highest standard year after year.

Media and IT

Our media operations continue to be among the best in British baseball, with the club and its members featured by various media organisations and publications.

The number of followers of our various media channels continues to grow at a good rate.

We saw an increase in quality and volume of video content on our YouTube channel which members and other followers enjoyed this year.

As always, our IT Director, Greg Bochan, was hard at work keeping the club’s IT infrastructure running, integrating all of its separate components to work smoothly with each other and enabling us to do things which would be impossible without this technology.

Events

Our club’s reputation for having some of the best ballparks in the UK and being able to host high profile events is paying off as we had the honour of hosting two MLB events around the MLB London Series. The first was the MLBPAA Youth Clinic featuring World Series winners, David Eckstein and Jake Arrieta, running a clinic with 60 kids from British baseball clubs around the UK.

The second was the MLB First Pitch event at Grovehill for around 200 pupils from local primary schools.

There was no Herts Futures Tournament in 2020 and 2021 but it is starting to regain momentum with the number of teams increasing from eight in 2022 to twelve this year.

The season would not be complete without the Hunlock Series. It also gave us an opportunity for all our adult teams to remember club member Dan Gipple who passed away this year.

British Baseball

Momentum is continuing to gather for baseball in the UK. The Great Britain National Team overcame the odds at the World Baseball Classic and secured a place in the next edition in 2026 without having to go through the qualifying stage.

British coach Liam Carroll was appointed as the manager of the Boston Red Sox’s Single-A affiliate.

The MLB London Series was back. In 2024 we will welcome the New York Mets and Philadelphia Phillies.

2024

I expect to have a number of personal commitments coming up as we go into 2024. Although I will still be able to perform office-based roles such as Treasurer and Secretary, this will affect my ability to cover some of my other roles such as events and facilities manager. I am also mindful of the fact that I have been a board member of the club since 2004 and it may be appropriate for club members and the board to have the opportunity, periodically, to consider whether they wish to appoint different persons in the roles which I am covering at present. The last time I stepped down from my roles was in 2015 and perhaps now is a good time to do that again.

If no candidates are appointed at the upcoming AGM and if the board decides not to co-opt others to these roles, I would be very happy to be co-opted again to roles which I am able to perform in 2024, if the board decides that this is in the club’s best interest. Whatever the decision of club members and the board, I will of course be very keen to ensure the best possible transition and hand-over of roles which are assigned to others in 2024.

We have grown from having one adult team with 19 members playing on one diamond in 2004 to an organisation with around 250 adult and youth players today and three diamonds – two in Hemel Hempstead and one in NW London.

These are exciting times for our club and its members and there is enormous potential and opportunities to continue growing and developing the club as we strive to get to the next level.

Aspi Dimitrov

President

27 November 202330 November 2023 by Herts Baseball News Editor

Dennis Grogan (1971-2023)

Our club is very sad to hear the news that former Herts Falcons player, Dennis Grogan, has passed away.

He spent only one season with Herts but it didn’t take him long to become an integral member of the club and he had the respect of everyone. He contributed on and off the field but what we will miss most is his friendship and company.

The thoughts of everyone at Herts Baseball Club are with his family.

26 November 20236 December 2023 by Herts Baseball News Editor

2023 MVP vote results are in

The Most Valuable Players (MVP) of the seven Herts adult league teams have been announced. The players of each team voted to determine their team’s MVP so the results reflect who the players consider to have been the most influential members this year.

Herts Falcons (NBL)

The 2023 Herts Falcons MVP is player-manager, Cris Hiche. With a batting average of .397, slugging average of .638 and 3 home runs, Hiche was a consistent contributor to the team’s offence. Defensively, he produced a series of web gems including a Play of the Year candidate in the game away at the Capitals which was streamed live (see video above).

Herts Cardinals (Triple-A)

For a second consecutive year, the Herts Cardinals chose Tyler Cote as the team’s Most Valuable Player. He was the team’s “go-to” pitcher including in the Playoff Semi-Final. He had the team’s best ERA (.366) and led the pitching staff in strikeouts (36) and wins (3) tied with three other pitchers. Offensively, he led in RBIs (21), stolen bases (18) and had the third best batting average (.400).

Herts Hawks (Double-A)

Harry McMenamin is the Herts Hawks MVP. This was his third season playing in the BBF senior leagues and he has been voted as the Hawks MVP in each of these three seasons. His batting average was .552, slugging average was .845 which is almost identical to his numbers last year, despite the fact that his team is playing in a higher league tier this season. His contribution was in all aspects of the game, as a pitcher, with the glove in the infield and with his speed, stealing 27 bases.

Herts Ducks (Double-A)

The Herts Ducks MVP is Taysir Barakat. His teammates recognised his contribution on and off the field in a diffiuclt first season for the Ducks in the Double-A League when the team needed a lot of lifting. He had a batting average of .349, led in stolen bases (14) and his team relied on his pitching with the most innnings pitched (24).

Herts Ravens (Single-A)

Zak Beller won the MVP vote among the Herts Ravens. He was a key player in a very successful season for the team going all the way to the Playoff semi-final. He led the team in home runs (4) and RBIs (40), was third in batting average (.686) and stolen bases (38). We should mention that pitcher and infielder Nic Goetz was a close second in the MVP vote. He had another exceptional season with an ERA of 2.45, 8 wins , no losses and 61 strikeouts. He also led the team with a .778 batting average.

Herts Raptors (Single-A)

Among the seven Herts senior league teams, the Herts Raptors recorded the biggest improvement in their winning average from .038 in 2022 to .348 this season. The players determined that pitcher Lee Dunn played a vital part in this and voted him as the Raptors 2023 MVP. He had the best ERA and the lowest opponent batting average. He also led the team with 3 home runs. This is only his first season with the club so we look forard to seeing what 2024 will bring for him and the Raptors.

Herts Eagles (Single-A)

The Herts Eagles MVP is George Llewelyn Thomas. He may not have been at the top of the offensive and defensive categories, but the fact that his teammates voted for him speaks volumes about the role he played in the team, bringing everyone together and leading by example. The team made enormous progress over the course of the season and they are already preparing for 2024.

Apart from being 2023 Ravens MVP, Zak Beller also won the Play of the Year with his 3 home runs in a game. Close behind him in the vote were Lee Dunn for his 2-home-run-game and Ben Sporleder for his fearless catch in centerfield smashing into the outfield wall.

There was a tie in the Nob-Out Award category between Tyler Cote and Lewis Auchterlounie for the most spectacular mishap of the season. Tyler Cote caused a delay in the start of the game away at Bristol when he lost his wedding rind requiring an urgent search party where both the home and away players had to comb the field on their knees. The ring was found successfully.

Lewis Auchterlounie shares the Nob-Out Award with Tyler Cote. He was one of the fans who came down to watch the Herts Falcons NBL game and decided to enter the 200m fan race during the 5th inning stretch. The prize for the winner was a hot dog so there was a lot on the line. One furlong into the race Lewis went down after pulling a hamstring.

With 2023 award-winners confirmed, attention is turning to preparations for the 2024 season. What will the new year bring? How many Herts teams will we see and which leagues will they play in? Which players will be challenging to move up the leagues and will a Herts team bring a national championship trophy home?

11 November 202321 November 2023 by Herts Baseball News Editor

Herts publishes AGM details

AGM NOTICE

In accordance with the Club’s Constitution, this is a notice of the upcoming 27th Annual General Meeting of Herts Baseball Club. The AGM will take place as follows:

DATE
Sunday, 26 November 2023

TIME
10:30am (AGM expected to end at around 12:30pm-1:00pm)

VENUE
This year’s AGM will be held online via Zoom. Club members will receive an email with details how to join the Zoom call.

JUNIOR MEMBERS
Under the Club’s Constitution, members under the age of 14 on 31 December 2023 are classified as Junior Members and do not have voting rights at General Meetings. Regardless of this, if you are under the age of 14, you and your parents are very much invited to attend the AGM, especially as so many of the parents of our youth members are involved as players, coaches, volunteers and members of staff.

POTENTIAL NEW MEMBERS
Although only 2023 club members have the right to vote at this AGM, the meeting is very much open to potential new members who are considering joining the club in 2024. This is a good opportunity for new players, volunteers and members of staff to learn more about the club and meet its members. If you fall into this category and wish to attend the AGM, please contact the club.

OBSERVERS
The meeting is also open to relevant observers who are not members of the Club. If you fall into this category and wish to attend the AGM please contact the club.

AGM PACK
Ahead of the meeting, the AGM Information Pack will be sent out to 2023 members. It will include information such as the AGM agenda, 2023 annual report, election details and more.

ELECTION OF 2024 BOARD MEMBERS
In accordance with the Constitution, a number of Board positions will be up for election at the upcoming AGM either as part of the annual retirement of one-third of the Board positions or because they are vacant.

The club is now inviting nominations for the following board positions:
BOARD POSITIONS (appointment term in brackets)

President (term ends 31.10.2025)
Treasurer (term ends 31.10.2024)
Secretary (term ends 31.10.2025)
Communications Director (term ends 31.10.2026)
IT Director (term ends 31.10.2026)
Facilities Manager – Grovehill (term ends 31.10.2025)
Facilities Manager – Basing Hill (term ends 31.10.2026)
Manager (Double-A)² Ducks (term ends 31.10.2026)
Manager (Single-A)² Raptors (term ends 31.10.2026)
Manager (Single-A)² Eagles (term ends 31.10.2025)
Director of Youth Baseball (term ends 31.10.2026)
Head of U15-Hemel (term ends 31.10.2024)
Head of U13-Hemel (term ends 31.10.2026)
Head of U11-Hemel (term ends 31.10.2025)
Head of U15-London (term ends 31.10.2024)
Head of U13-London (term ends 31.10.2024)
Head of U11-London (term ends 31.10.2026
Head of Softball (term ends 31.10.2026)

Notes:

² The leagues which Herts teams will enter in 2024 will not be known until after the AGM. The Club may also decide to add or remove teams from the BBF leagues depending on the number of players registering for 2024. If the club enters fewer teams than expected, one or more of these board positions may be removed after the AGM.

Current Board members are eligible to stand for re-election. All members are invited to consider any of the Board positions and put their names forward for one or several of them.

Being a board Member is an excellent opportunity to be involved in shaping the future of Herts Baseball Club. If you are considering applying for any of the positions, but are unsure about it, you can get in touch with current or past board members who can give you more information about what the role involves and what to expect, if elected. If you require more information about any of the above board positions please contact the club.

HOW TO CONFIRM YOUR CANDIDACY
If you decide to run for any of these board positions please confirm your candidacy by posting a message in the Herts Baseball Online Forum. If you have difficulties accessing the forum with your username and password please contact the club.

NOMINATION PROCESS
The Secretary may receive nominations for officers not less than 3 (three) days before the date of the meeting. Nominations shall require two votes (nominated and seconded). Nominations can only be accepted from persons eligible to vote at the AGM. To nominate or to second a candidate, post in the Herts Baseball online Forum.

CANDIDATE’S STATEMENT

It is not compulsory and over the years we have not insisted that board candidates provide a candidate’s statement but, if you are running for election and would like to provide a candidate’s statement with no more than 500 words, please submit it to the club by 22:00 Wednesday, 22 November 2023, and it will be added to the AGM Pack.

BOARD AND STAFF MEMBER REBATE
Ahead of the Board elections, a reminder that, in consideration of the time and effort which Board members give in performing their Board roles and which effectively means that they are unable to enjoy the full benefit of their membership, they will be entitled to a membership fee rebate. The Board reviews the rebate system from time to time. Here is an example of how it is likely to be applied during the upcoming season:

members of the Board are expected to be entitled to a rebate of around 50% or more of the respective membership fee payable by them during the year.
if one Board role is held by two or more individuals, such individuals can share the rebate between them as the burden of performing the role is shared between them.

CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENTS
In accordance with article 14.3 of the Club’s Constitution “Additions to, or alterations of the constitution shall be submitted to the Secretary not less than 10 (ten) days before the date of the meeting. No resolution involving an amendment to the constitution may be proposed or amended from the floor of a meeting.” If any members wish to propose a constitutional amendment please send it by contacting the club by 23:59 on 16 November 2023, at the latest. You can find a copy of the Constitution on the club’s website (click to view).