Category: Club News

by Herts Baseball News Editor

Coach Monte Brooks to work with Herts players while keeping one eye on MLB Draft this week

This Thursday evening, 6 June, Herts Baseball Club will be hosting an open session with special guest coach Monte Brooks.

Brooks has just completed his 23rd season as head coach of The Master’s University baseball team in the USA, having led the Mustangs to the NAIA postseason in five of the last seven seasons. He earned the 700th win of his Master’s career earlier this year and is the program’s all-time leader in wins with a record of 715-483. He has led the Mustangs to four NAIA World Series appearances (2000, 2013, 2016, 2017) and three regular-season GSAC titles.

As a player, Brooks was drafted by the San Diego Padres in 1987 with whom he spent four seasons in the minor leagues and later coached in the Padres organisation before his appointment with Master’s University.

He will be visiting London this week and Herts players will be able to work with him at this session. His area of expertise is working with hitters and infielders so a fantastic opportunity for players aged 14 and over from the various Herts major and minor league teams as well as those considering joining the club.

During his visit to London, coach Brooks will be forgiven if, from time to time, he checks on the MLB Draft which starts this week as three players from his Master’s University team will be hoping to hear their names called out by an MLB team.

This Thursday’s open session will take place from 6pm to 8pm at the club’s Basing Hill Ballpark in northwest London. It is open to all current Herts members as well as new players who are interested to take part in this session with a view to joining the club. If you are not a current club member and wish to take part in this session, please contact us.

by Rob Jones

Sponsor unveiled for Falcons Euro push

Herts Baseball Club is proud to announce the arrival of Regin Products as a sponsor for this season, in a partnership which offers crucial help to the Falcons as they travel to Europe.

Our National Baseball League (NBL) team will soon be playing in the European Federations Cup in Bulgaria,  for the first time in their twenty year history. They will face teams from Sweden, Poland, Lithuania, Romania and Bulgaria over a week of action in Blagoevgrad.

Baseball diamond at Blagoevgrad

One of the missions of the Herts club this year has been to help support the players and coaches on this trip, as baseball receives no funding for international competition. So we are delighted that Regin Products have come on board to help the Falcons make this possible with their generous support.

Regin is a family-run company with 30 years of experience supplying products to heating and plumbing engineers. The firm is based in Cambridgeshire, but has a wide network of stockists.

The firm’s watchwords are pride in its quality and its service, and we share those values at Herts. Our players are always ambassadors for the club, and we are proud that they will be representing not only Herts but British baseball when they play in Bulgaria.

The Falcons qualified for this tournament with their post-season heroics in 2018, in which they dramatically beat the Southampton Mustangs and the London Capitals to reach the NBL final. The London Mets got the better of them in the final series, and the Mets are also playing in Europe this summer, in Moscow.

Another crucial contribution to the Falcons’ efforts in Europe will come from the newly launched Herts Baseball Lottery. This is open to anyone over the age of 16, whether or not they are a member of the club.

Everyone who enters will have the chance to win the monthly jackpot, while the net proceeds will be put towards the trip to Blagoevgrad. In the future, the money raised from the Lottery will go towards major club projects and help recruit more players to the sport of baseball.

Over its history, Herts has developed Grovehill ballpark to become one of the country’s top venues, and it has expanded in 2019 into northwest London.

Falcons players and other members of the club have already been making their contributions this season to raise money for the European Federations Cup..

Herts players have been coaching youth teams, and the club has been matching their fees and paying them into the Herts Euro Fund.

One of our coaches, Marianna Casal – a European softball champion and a participant in the first official women’s baseball game in the UK – took part in a National Geographic television programme about baseball. She has pledged 50% of her fee to the Euro Fund.

Members of the club have also been using the online shopping portal, easyfundraising. This scheme offers donations to the charity of your choice – such as Herts – when you buy goods from a wide range of retailers, including Amazon, John Lewis and Sainsbury’s. It can also be used when you buy your holiday from Thomas Cook or Tui, or your car insurance from RAC and ComparetheMarket.

 

 

by Herts Baseball News Editor

Announcing the Herts Baseball Lottery

Over its 23-year history, Herts Baseball Club has been running various fundraising activities and projects which have helped this non-profit organisation to invest in new and better facilities and to increase the number of people playing baseball.

The club is now expanding its fundraising activities further with the launch of the Herts Baseball Lottery.

You don’t have to be a club member to play. Anyone over the age of 16 can buy a ticket and play for a chance to win the Jackpot every month and, at the same time, raise funds for club projects.

The net proceeds from every monthly Lottery draw between June and December 2019 will be used to help fund the Herts Falcons’ European Cup campaign.

Herts Falcons’ heroics in the National Baseball League Playoffs last September meant that next month they will play in the European Federations Cup for the first time in the club’s history. They have been drawn in a group with teams from Sweden, Poland, Romania, Lithuania and Bulgaria. The games will be played between 10 and 15 June 2019 in Blagoevgrad, Bulgaria.

For full details how to play go to the Herts Baseball Lottery webpages.

by Rob Jones

Herts youth operation adds Roberts, seeks more coaches

As Herts baseball club prepares for a big year, it has added another new face to the coaching staff.

Andy Roberts has joined the board as the Head of Under-13 baseball, and will coach a promising side into the season ahead. Herts is still looking for more paid coaches to complete its youth set-up.

Roberts — primarily a catcher — joined the Herts club during the 2018 season, and played for the Falcons in the NBL. He was on their roster at Farnham Park as they took on the London Mets for the title.

This year he is also likely to be helping out the newly formed Herts Londoners in the Triple-A division.

Andy Roberts already has a rich history playing baseball. Growing up in Arizona, he has played in regional teams, city leagues and rec leagues and was set to play college ball before an injury setback. His first experience of coaching kids came with Under-7 coach pitch.

“This year, I really want to instil the fundamentals of baseball”, he says. “Not just on how to hit the ball and field the ball, but about what do with the ball when you get it. And start showing how it’s a game of chess that everyone can contribute to”.

“I believe the U-13 kids are at that crucial age where they really decide how passionate they want to be about this sport. So teaching them these fundamentals – and how to improve on them – will help keep the excitement going and help them aim for higher goals.”

Roberts hopes to set the Herts youth on a path to the NBL team of the future – a goal shared by the Falcons coaches. They have already been monitoring the indoor practice sessions.

“I want the kids to have fun”, says Andy, “but I also want them to learn why so many people love this game”.

Herts is now looking to add the final pieces of its coaching puzzle, and has more paid roles available in the youth set-up. The club is keen to recruit managers for the Under-8 teeball programme; the Under-11 player pitch side; and the Under-15s.

The Herts budget has been modified this year to allow for the recruitment of quality coaches to move the programme forward. Anyone who is interested should contact the club.

Lee Manning, the youth commissioner, says: “It’s a brilliant opportunity for someone to really make their mark on the teams, and help us take the next step up. We want to offer a quality 2019 is a big year for Herts baseball, and the kids are definitely part of that.”

Herts will be fielding a range of youth teams during 2019, from Under-8s to Under-18s. The aim is to offer baseball training and competitive games for as wide a range of boys and girls as possible.

In past years, Herts teams have taken on sides from as far afield as Brighton, Essex, Guildford and Leicester.

Evan at Farnham Park

Last season, the Herts Under-11 coach pitch side reached the final of their category at the Youth National Baseball Championships at Farnham Park.

One of the veterans of that team, Evan Strong-Anderson, has been chosen for the Team UK coach pitch Under-10 side for the 2019 season. This project draws players from a range of British youth sides to take part in a SuperCup in Prague at the end of May.

Around 30 players took part in selection events in Milton Keynes in recent weeks, and Evan was chosen in the final 12. He has worked hard to develop his natural skills, and shows great potential.

Herts was pleased to see a number of our youth players were involved in the Team UK academy sessions, taking advantage of a scheme which is a great addition to British baseball.

The team’s general manager Matt Crawshaw said the overall quality had been extremely high. He is hopeful this year’s crop of talent can build on trophy wins in 2017 and 2018.

Team UK will take part in a series of fixtures on the Bank Holiday Mondays in April and May before heading to the Czech Republic.

by Rob Jones

Herts into 2019: With Youth on our Side

Herts youth players have begun training for a 2019 season which could be the biggest ever for the club – and for British baseball as a whole. And as an extra bonus if they sign up before the end of the month, our youth stars will get their Herts baseball cap for free!

Herts Under-11s in celebration at Farnham Park

A lot of the focus so far for Herts in 2019 has been on the adult side of the club, where two new teams have been announced at the new field in North-West London. The Falcons of the NBL are also the centre of a promotional and fund-raising drive, as they are playing in European competition in June for the first time in the club’s history.

But we shouldn’t forget that the Herts Under-11 coach pitch side also reached a national final too last year! The All-Stars won two games at Farnham Park, including a stunning walkoff victory over London Sports, to get to the final.

Once there, they performed admirably against the Brighton Fireballs, and held their heads high in defeat. Herts also fielded under-13, under-15 and under-17 sides at the Youth National Baseball Championships, showing both strength and depth.

The youth sides are vital to the future of Herts and — with that in mind — the club is now pushing hard to get boys and girls signed up for the year ahead.

To help club managers plan for the season, we are keen to get kids involved now. Anyone who signs up for 2019 before the 28th of February will get a Herts cap thrown in for free. So get on to it quickly!

Herts in action at the 2018 YNBCs

To maximise our offering for our youngest players, Herts has decided to shuffle our budget and make sure we can secure high quality coaches for the youth teams. This has meant an increase in the membership fees of between £6 and £36 — although some remain unchanged.

The club continues to subsidise youth fees, so membership remains tremendous value for money – especially compared with other youth baseball programmes around the country which have higher fees.

Many players had already registered for 2019, including both returning players from last year and brand new recruits. The Herts computer magicians have reset the system so those families can now decide whether to accept the revised fees.

They can then simply register again with their existing clubhouse user name and password. That means that all players can take advantage of the free cap offer, even if they had already signed up.

The 2018 Herts Futures Tournament for youth teams

Youth players have already been taking part in our first indoor training sessions at Berkhamsted Leisure Centre and will progress to outdoor sessions.

During the year, coaches have plans for competitive games against other British clubs. In past years, these have included teams from Brighton, Leicester, Guildford and London.

Herts offers playing opportunities for boys and girls from ages 4 to 18. Youth baseball will also be available at the new expansion operation at Basing Hill Ballpark in Northwest London.

 

by Herts Baseball News Editor

Herts invites candidates for Manager of its first league team in NW London

Three months remain until the Opening Day of the 2019 BBF baseball league season and the various components for the unveiling of the first NW London-based Herts team are coming together. The Club is now actively looking for a manager of that BBF league team as well as a manager of the Herts youth team in North West London.

There are a total of six positions which the club is looking to fill at the moment and they also include Manager of the Herts Buzzards softball team and Herts U11 baseball Team Manager both of which are based at the club’s ballpark in Hemel Hempstead.

Below is a full list of the vacancies and the links contain additional information about each role.  If you require more details or are interested to put your name forward for any of these roles, please contact us.

Team Manager, Senior BBF Leagues (NW London) (click for details)

Team Manager, Youth Baseball Leagues (NW London) (click for details)

Team Manager, U11 Baseball League (Hemel Hempstead) (click for details)

Team Manager, Softball (Hemel Hempstead) (click for details)

Head Coach, Midweek Evening Baseball (NW London) (click for details)

Game Day and Venue Manager – HSL (click for details)

by Rob Jones

An injection of Youngblood

“Yeah! That’s an RBI, that’s an RBI! Well done!” The athletic man in the Grovehill dugout applauded enthusiastically as a hit drove in another run for Herts. He looked right at home.

But his more usual place was on the sideline of a basketball court, not a baseball diamond. For this was Robert Youngblood, the Head Coach of the Hemel Storm of Britain’s National League Division 1.

In 2018, the Storm surpassed themselves by winning the National Cup, a knockout tournament not unlike the FA cup or… well…like nothing which exists in baseball.

They also progressed deep into their league playoffs in Division One in the Spring. They beat Solent Kestrels and Reading Rockets and staged a comeback in the final against Worthing Thunder before just coming up short.

In June, Coach Youngblood came down to Herts baseball club at Grovehill for a bit of cross-sports co-operation. The Herts youth teams were playing BBF Super League games against Brighton and London Sports. And – like any good ball club – we like to get a celebrity to throw out the opening pitch.

After chatting with the players as they warmed up, Youngblood took to his starring role with the ease of a veteran performer. Taking the mound, he waved to the crowds, and warmed up a little with a couple of trial pitches.

This was clearly a guy who took success seriously. There would be no dolly-drops here, no eephus pitch. This was going to be a heater in the zone. It smacked the glove. Personal pride had been satisfied.

Youngblood joined the Hemel Storm in the summer of 2017 and has helped to step the team up a gear.

He’d had a successful career as a player in the British and European basketball leagues – playing for Milton Keynes Lions, London Towers and Leicester Riders, as well as spells in the German Bundesliga.

He ended his career in the top ten of several key statistical categories – including points, rebounds and blocks.

As a coach, he led Essex Leopards to playoffs and trophies, and was on the staff of the London Lions of the BBL before heading to Hemel.

Way, way back when, as a kid in Florida, he had played baseball. It’s common for US kids to play all sports before opting for their best. So his visit to Grovehill clearly stirred memories.

Youngblood had been a catcher as a kid. It went fine for a while, but he had trouble with the mask. It never quite fit correctly, he couldn’t see so well. So he would wear it hitched up a little….

You can see where this is going can’t you?

One day his luck ran out and he took a foul ball right in the noggin. His catching career ended there.

“I played outfield from then on” he said, “to keep a safe distance. But I wasn’t such a good outfielder…”

Coach Youngblood certainly put his all into training with the Herts Under-8s and Under-11s once the Under 15s had got their games under way.

He talked dedication, and the fun of Florida and Disneyworld. He talked playing as a team, and enjoying what you do.

He pitched to some batters, took his hacks at the plate, and ran the bases. And he did it all with his Reese’s Pieces in his pocket. The mark of a true pro.

by Herts Baseball News Editor

MLB dress code for Herts Baseball Club AGM

Herts Baseball Club has confirmed that its 22nd Annual General Meeting will take place on Sunday, 13 January 2019. To celebrate the 2019 MLB London Series the AGM will have an MLB-themed dress code as members and other attendees are invited to wear MLB jerseys and caps of their choice.

In 2018 the club continued its growth and success on and off the field. The AGM will provide a deeper understanding of the club’s present position, and will set out the plans for 2019 and beyond. Members will receive the AGM Information Pack in due course and that will give a better idea of what to expect at the meeting.

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 a third of the Board positions or because they are vacant.

The club is now inviting nominations for the following Board positions:

• Treasurer
• Secretary
• Shop Manager
• Facilities Manager
• Head of U17 Baseball
• Head of U15 Baseball
• Head of U13 Baseball
• Head of U11 Baseball
• Head of U8 Baseball

Note: The leagues which Herts teams will enter in 2019 will not be known until after the AGM. The Club may also enter additional teams in the BBF leagues.

Those who are interested to put their name forward or second a nomination can contact the club for more details.

Although only 2018 club members have the right to vote at the AGM, the meeting is very much open to former members and those who are considering joining the club in 2019 as players, members of staff, volunteers and fans. This is a good opportunity for newcomers to learn more about the club and meet its members. The meeting is also open to observers who are not members of the Club. Non-members who plan to attend would need to advise the club in advance as spaces are limited. If you are not a current member and wish to attend the AGM please contact the club.

The AGM will be held just a few minutes away from Grovehill Ballpark, at JFK Catholic School, which Herts baseball teams use as their indoor winter training.

Date: Sunday, 13 January 2019

Time: 2:15pm (expected to end at around 5:45pm)

Venue: John F Kennedy Catholic School, Hollybush Lane, Hemel Hempstead HP1 2PH (Map)

Directions: The meeting will take place in Conference Room B24 which is in the Admin Building which is adjacent to the Sports Hall building (with the cedar-cladding). You can use the car park next to the cedar-clad building. If there are no car park spaces, you can also park at the main car park.

Food and Drink: Refreshments and hot food will be served during the AGM

by Rob Jones

Human highlight reels: Herts 2018 MVPs

The 2018 season saw Herts baseball club take another step forward, and it is time to celebrate some of those who powered us on.

Adult and youth players have been voting for their Most Valuable Player (MVP) of 2018, and the contests have been close as always. We can now **drum roll** unveil the results.

The Herts Falcons of the National Baseball League (NBL) were a cherry on top of the club’s year, making a stunning run through the playoffs to reach the final series at Farnham Park against the London Mets.

The Falcons players chose slugger (and outfielder/pitcher) Walter Bates as their MVP, acknowledging the impact he has made since joining the team.

Walter’s highlights for the year included going for 6-for-7 with three triples against the London Capitals in June, and winning a home run derby against a former Marlins organisation player, Chris Squires, at a summer exhibition event.

He also helped support the club online, spreading the word about Herts and British baseball generally – and was the first to sign up for 2019 once registration opened.

Walter Bates after beating Chris Squires in a home run contest

The Herts Double-A side, the Hawks, had another impressive year which saw them end with a 18-4 record in their second year after promotion.

Team stalwart Jon Lewys was once again instrumental in their success and his team-mates rewarded him with the MVP award.

He led the team in hits, and also played stellar defense both in the outfield and at second base. Hawks Manager Michael Cresswell said he was great to have on the team, consistently putting in great performances and fully deserving the award.

There was a fitting — even poetic – result to the voting among Herts Raptors players. They chose Paul Auchterlounie as their MVP. Paul is one of the club’s longest serving members, and at the end of the 2018 season he retired from playing for good.

After joining the Raptors to act as a mentoring catcher to young pitchers, he became a reliable go-to starting pitcher himself, and a consistent bat. He still did a bit of catching, and still helped out young players (especially to guide them away from their appalling choices of music).

Paul Auchterlounie in action

The 2018 season of British baseball suffered at many levels from some organisational problems. That affected the Herts youth teams as much as anyone, interrupting the flow of games. But they still put in a great year of performances.

Joshua Badenhorst was voted the MVP for the Under-15 team, recognising a year in which he was not only an ace pitcher and catcher but also a valuable utility player. He pitched a great game against London Sports in the UK Little League qualifier, and went 4-for-5 with the bat as an added bonus.

He has impressed with his positive attitude and team leadership – with opposing coaches even offering their praise. Josh was also valuable behind the scenes for the club, going the extra mile to help to set up and clear away the field at games.

The Under-13s perhaps suffered more than most due to issues with their game schedule, and a fluctuating line-up. But the MVP award went to Nathan Mudd. Coach Dana Myzer agreed he had deserved the accolade, praising him for his heart, and determination.

The U-11s get a team talk at Farnham Park

The Under-11 players voted Leon Gutowski their MVP. The team capped their year with an impressive run at the Youth National Baseball Championships at Farnham Park in September.

Leon played a key role as they won both of their pool games – including a dramatic walk-off against a powerful London Sports side – to reach the final. They were the first Herts youth team to achieve that feat since 2013.

The contest for a Play of the Year — which is voted on by all players from across the club – produced a very close result. Anthony Lavender’s spectacular diving catch for the Hawks against the London Marauders was locked in a tough battle with Alex Deacon’s double play in the NBL final.

Deacon’s moment of brilliance came out on top, and he takes the prize. In Game 1 of the final against the London Mets, he made an improbable catch at second base on a ball which looked certain to get over his head. Smartly, he threw to second base to double off the runner.

Spectators couldn’t stop talking about the defensive play of the game — which was seen by a wider audience because of the BBF streaming the game on YouTube. Now it has won Alex Deacon the coveted Herts Play of the Year, too.

Alex Deacon flashes leather in the NBL final

 

 

by Rob Jones

Another view: the best seats in the house?

The imminent arrival of MLB into the UK with the London Series next June has sparked plentiful debate about how to get the best tickets – and where those tickets will be. Herts’ new contributing writer Rachel Steinberg – a veteran of many games – offers a view on the best views:

From behind home plate at AT&T Park (photo: Nick Jio via Unsplash)

If you’re new to watching Major League Baseball, viewing the recently-released seating chart for the upcoming London Series might have felt more like looking into a kaleidoscope than at a sporting pitch.

Though the details of prices left a lot of us wondering if we were going to be able to attend at all, here are some things to consider when you look at what you were able to buy from Ticketmaster this week.

Home plate

Good for: being in the thick of the action, pitching, batting, umpiring

If you’re captivated by the grace of a curveball as it paints the outside corner of the strike zone or thrilled by the thwack of a 95-mile-per-hour fastball as it hits the catcher’s mitt, you’ll want to sit near home plate.

You’ll be able to criticise the umpire’s strike zone with more accuracy than your friend sitting in centre field, watch as batters adjust their technique for different types of pitches, and be front and centre when the winning run slides in.

Find yourself on the seating chart for the London Series

Field level infield

 Good for: defence, catching foul balls, heckling

Have you ever seen a textbook double (or triple) play and marvelled at the precision? Have you gasped as a shortstop’s quick leap prevented an RBI? If so, sitting along the first or third base lines might be your top choice.

These sections will also put you in the likeliest seats for catching a foul ball, but please, please don’t be the guy who interferes with an out. No one wants to be the next Steve Bartman. If a player is running toward you to catch a foul, give him space to make the out before staking a claim for a souvenir. He might even steal your nachos.

Hot tip: Increase your chances of snagging a foul by bringing your glove – or your kid.

Fans of a particular team will often choose to sit near their team’s dugout. For this series, the ‘visiting’ Yankees will be along the third base line and the ‘home team’ Red Sox will be on the first base side.

Baseball is less regimented than football when it comes to seating, so feel free to don your pinstripes or rock that Beantown ball cap on either side of the stadium—just be prepared for some gentle ribbing by opposing fans no matter where you sit.

The upper-level infield

Good for: perspective

It’s no wonder the press boxes are higher up in the stadium—the bird’s-eye view allows for a holistic understanding of the whole game. If sitting at home plate is a close-up, sitting up here is a pan shot that allows you to see what’s going on everywhere.  From here, you can appreciate the big picture, from the infamous infield shift to baserunning strategy.

Good to know: historically, the Yankees haven’t worn names on the back of their jerseys and the Red Sox don’t have names on their home uniforms. If you’re hoping to keep track of players on these teams, you may want to familiarise yourself with their numbers and positions!

The outfield

Good for: dramatic catches, pitching, home runs

Sure, you’re far from the infield action, but there is a lot to be said for seats in the outfield. If you’ve ever seen Kevin ‘Superman’ Pillar dive for a pop fly or Mike Trout scale a wall to steal a home run, you know what I mean. Plus, you might get lucky and catch a home run ball (for your best chances, pick a seat on the lower level in left field).

The outfield is also a great place to watch pitching, particularly if you can snag seats above one of the bullpens where you’re likely to see multiple relief pitchers warming up their stuff.

Seats by the bullpen at Angel Stadium (photo: Rachel Steinberg)

Though the configuration of the London Series bullpens is unclear from the seating chart, sitting near the pen often means being able to watch baseball players watch baseball, as off-duty relievers will still sit and watch the on-field action.

Fun fact: keep an eye out for a relief pitcher carrying what looks like a toddler’s backpack. While he could be a huge Frozen fan, chances are he is the team’s newest rookie reliever. In MLB tradition, that means carrying around the bullpen’s snacks in humiliatingly juvenile rucksack.

That bullpen rucksack (photo: Rachel Steinberg)

Boxes and suites

Good for: impressing your friends or clients, easy access to food and beer

If you’ve managed to find your way into a corporate box or the VIP hospitality section, you probably don’t need me to tell you the advantages of sitting in these seats. Please enjoy your complimentary beer, ‘American-themed food options’ and proximity to ‘MLB legends’.

Also, please adopt me.

The cheapest seats in the house

Good for: fun company, bragging rights

You won’t find serious suits trying to impress their clients in these seats, just fans and fans-to-be looking to have a great day out at the ballpark.

If sitting here is anything like the cheapest seats at Fenway Park and Yankee Stadium, where I’ve experienced some of the most boisterous fans in baseball, it will be a fun place to take in the games.

Let’s face it: for the price of some of the tickets to this series, many have argued you might as well fly to New York or Boston to catch a game. So why buy tickets for the London Series?

Bragging rights. Perhaps more than any other sport, baseball places an enormous emphasis on its own history. There will only be one first-ever MLB series in London, and whether you ended up paying £30 or £385, you will be one of the lucky few able to say you were there to witness it.

**

Rachel Steinberg is a former Little League Umpire and freelance writer. So far, she has visited 11 MLB stadiums, 4 MiLB stadiums and two stadiums in the Dominican Professional Baseball League. She hopes to add the London Stadium to this list very soon….