Category: Club News

by Rob Jones

A new tribute – The Kal Cup

Herts Baseball Club is very proud to announce a new event on the sporting calendar this summer — The Kal Cup.

This will be a special tournament to remember our friend and team-mate Kal Dimitrov, and to celebrate the values of friendship and fair play he brought to our sport. It will take place at our Grovehill home in Hemel Hempstead over the weekend of August 12th-13th.

Herts will enter three teams — including one of veterans who played alongside Kal — and invites all Single-A level sides to enter for a weekend of fast-moving, knockout baseball.

The format will start out as a series of single-inning games for every team — a format successfully used in Herts’ own intra-club competition in the autumn. It means that every inning is like the ninth, with all the drama and strategy that entails.

But if you lose, there’s another game coming just a few minutes later!

As teams progress to semi-finals and a final, the games will stretch to three and finally six innings. The aim is to have everybody playing as much baseball as possible over the weekend, and competing against friends old and new.

Kal Dimitrov was a key figure at Herts Baseball Club for over a decade and helped build it to the force it is today. He died suddenly during a league game in 2015, a moment which shocked the Herts baseball family but also the whole British baseball community.

He had been a player, coach, umpire, manager and mentor for several teams. In 2015, he was the joint manager of the Herts Raptors in the Single-A division.

That is why the club has chosen to focus this tournament on Single-A teams. And, indeed, on anyone taking part in baseball below the expert level! Kal’s legacy was about love for the game, and for the way it brought people together, and that is what we want to mark.

He had also been instrumental in developing the youth leagues which have now flourished at Herts. The Under-17 Red Kites will therefore enter a team in this tournament.

The Raptors will be there, the current Herts Single-A team. And so will “Kal’s Knights” — made up of former players who played with Kal over the years.

Herts would love to have teams from across the country come and help us celebrate our friend.

The club’s Communications Director, Rob Jones, said: “I have nothing but wonderful memories of Kal. His character, humour and spirit lifted every baseball occasion.”

“We want to pay a tribute to him — and I know many people across the British game want the same. A weekend of baseball will be a great chance to show what Kal was all about.”

The entry fee is £100 per team, with Herts providing balls, umpires and all the necessary facilities. There will be food, drinks and merchandise available from our expert concessions team.

Please contact us at hertsbaseball.com for more information and to enter the tournament. We can be found on Facebook and as @hertsbaseball on Twitter and Instagram.

 

by Herts Baseball News Editor

Herts Raptors manager announced

Paul Barton has been confirmed as the manager of the Herts Raptors and he also joins the club’s executive board. He co-managed the team in 2016 alongside Michael Cresswell, but this season Cresswell is looking to try out for one of the other Herts teams playing in the higher leagues. This means that Barton will take charge in the more conventional way of having only one person at the helm.

Paul Barton made his league debut for the Raptors in 2015 and his tremendous performances were recognised as he was voted Raptors’ Most Valuable Player. In 2016 he and Cresswell managed to turn the team’s fortunes around ending the regular season with a .667 winning percentage, which was even better than the Herts Eagles .500 in 2012 – an amazing achievement for the team in the Herts hierarchy which is made up of newcomers most of whom play baseball for the first time in their lives. In the playoffs the Raptors went on to eliminate the reigning Single-A national champions, Tonbridge Bobcats, at their own ground, and were knocked out at the quarter-final stage by the eventual winners, Herts Hawks.

The team had tremendous chemistry last season where players enjoyed being part of the Raptors’ journey and Barton will be looking to continue it in 2017. Will the Raptors be able to repeat or even improve on their 2016 performance? A lot will depend on the next few weeks as the rosters are put together. At this time of the year the club usually sees many new players join the club, some of whom may have never played baseball before, but go on to become key players for the Herts teams. Spring Training continues this Sunday, 19 February, with another open sessions which anyone over the age of 12 is welcome to attend. Contact the club for more details.

With the earlier announcement of Mike Wakelam also joining the Board, the number of members on the Herts Baseball Executive Board is now 11, which puts the club in a strong position ahead of the 2017 season.

by Herts Baseball News Editor

Mike Wakelam joins Herts Baseball Board

Mike Wakelam has been appointed to the Herts Baseball Club executive board. He already manages the Herts Under-13 programme and now will also carry out the role of Youth Baseball Commissioner overseeing the whole Herts youth baseball programme which offers baseball to boys and girls from 4 to 16 years of age.

Mike Wakelam was born in Australia. His baseball background goes back a long way, from playing tee-ball as a 7-year-old in Melbourne at the well known Upwey Ferntree Gully Baseball Club. As a teenager he played for various teams and travelled to the USA as a 15-year-old to progress his career at the Mickey Owens Baseball School in Springfield, Missouri. 2 years later he returned to the USA on an exchange program to play high school baseball, where he finished the season with an All-Conference honourable mention. A knee injury meant that his playing days were limited. However, this didn’t deter him from continuing his involvement in baseball in a coaching capacity. He has been coaching little league teams since the age of 16. When he was 19 he coached the Under-16 All-Star team at Upwey Ferntree Gully baseball club, and went on to coach several players privately, two of whom travelled to the US and played and trained at the Playball Baseball Academy in Ft Lauderdale, Florida.

As a big Kansas City Royals fan Mike Wakelam made sure he was able to get to Kansas for the MLB All Star game in 2012.

In 2009 Mike Wakelam happened to be at the Northwick Park baseball and softball centre when Herts were running an exhibition event there and decided to join Herts Baseball Club. He went on to play for the Herts Eagles in the AAA League and also for the Falcons in the NBL establishing himself as one of the most feared sluggers. His career batting average in the NBL stands at an impressive .667. His persistent knee problems have kept him out of the game since 2010 but he has stayed involved in baseball contributing to the success of the Herts Baseball youth programme.

In the beginning of 2010 he was a candidate for the Coaches Commissioner role on the Board of the British Baseball Federation. He generously withdrew his candidacy to make way for Leicester’s Mark Meredith to run for that office. This has been a blessing for Herts as it has allowed him to give all of his expertise and time to the club and contribute to its success.

by Rob Jones

Buzzards: the new face of Herts softball

The logo can now be revealed for Herts’ new slowpitch softball programme, which is introducing the Buzzards to the British sporting scene.

The first session will take place at 10 am this Sunday, 12th February, at the excellent facilities at John F. Kennedy Catholic School in Hemel Hempstead.

The invitation is open to everyone wanting to give the sport a try — baseball players, their families, or completely new faces looking for something different. These first taster sessions are free of charge.

The Buzzards will start as a fun, recreational team playing in selected tournaments and friendlies with local teams as it develops and finds its feet. The expectation is that they will either join a local league or be able to start their own by 2018.

Softball is a social and enjoyable game that’s easy to learn and play, even for people who are not “athletes” or don’t have much experience of team sports. The fact that men and women play together in the same team and on an equal level gives the sport a social buzz.

This team has been created by some Herts parents at a loose end after guiding their kids through the youth programme, and by veterans needing a different pace of game.

But don’t imagine that this is just a game for the old folks!

Herts has a great pedigree in softball, as the former youth players Theo Longboy and Marianna Casal won the U-19 European Softball Championship with the GB team in 2016.

The Buzzards may not recreate the GB success just yet, but the more players we can get having fun, the better the results will be!

The Buzzards shirt

All equipment will be provided this Sunday – you just need comfortable sporting clothes, water, and your enthusiasm!

For more information on the Buzzards please contact http://hertsbaseball.com/contact-us/

 

by Herts Baseball News Editor

Players now registering for the 2017 Herts baseball…and softball season

The wait is over. Player registration for the 2017 season has commenced.

SOFTBALL

In addition to adult and youth baseball, this year will see the launch of the Herts softball programme. This will enable the club to offer playing opportunities to a much wider audience and to women in particular. Slowpitch Softball is the more recreational version of the game, which is equally appealing to male and female players. Softball is a social and enjoyable game that’s easy to learn and play, even for people who are not “athletes” or don’t have much experience of team sports. The fact that men and women play together in the same team and on an equal level gives the sport a social buzz.

There will be four open softball sessions to get the programme started and give as many male and female players the opportunity to give it a try for free.  The first session is at 10am on Sunday, 12 February. These first few sessions will be held indoors at the modern sports facilities of John F Kennedy School in Hemel Hempstead. All equipment will be provided so anyone aged 14 and over can come and enjoy the day, meet new friends and try a new sport. For more details about the Herts Softball Programme click here. If you are interested to come and try softball at any of the upcoming  open sessions contact us and we will provide you with full details and add you to our mailing list.

ADULT LEAGUES

Herts has already completed the 2017 British Baseball League entry process and will be represented by three teams. The Herts Falcons will be looking to bounce back in the National Baseball League after a season in which they had more losses than wins. Herts Hawks have made the step up to the Double-A League after winning the Single-A National title. The Herts Raptors will be flying the flag in the Single-A League, looking to repeat or even improve on last year’s amazing season in which they reached the playoff quarter finals, eliminating the reigning national champions Tonbridge along the way.

KEY DATES – ADULT TEAMS

5 February – Adult team players report for first Spring Training indoor session

5 March – Adult teams return to Grovehill Ballpark for the first time in 2017

18 March – Start of the 2017 Herts Spring League

2 April* – Opening Day (National Baseball League)

2-9 April*, Opening Day (Double-A and Single-A Leagues)

May – Start of Midweek Evening Baseball

August-September – Postseason Playoffs and National Championships

September-October – Hunlock Series

* – these are preliminary dates. The BBF will be making its official announcements in due course.

YOUTH LEAGUES

The hard work which the Herts youth teams have put in over the last few years is starting to pay off and it must have felt good for all the players and coaching staff to see the teams do so well in 2016.  They may have fallen at the semi-final stage in the National Baseball Championships, but those games were worthy of being the Finals of the respective age groups.  But the success of the youth programme is not measured only by looking at where the teams finish in the National Championships.  The coaches have built something very special which the players and their families enjoy being part of every week.

The British Baseball Federation has provided preliminary details of a model which they hope to adopt in 2017 which is expected to enhance youth baseball further and make it even more attractive to boys and girls of all ages.  We will keep you updated as more details come out about the upcoming season.

KEY DATES – YOUTH TEAMS

5 February – U17 and U15 players report for first Spring Training indoor session

11 February – U13 and U11 players report for first Spring Training indoor session

March – First session at Grovehill Ballpark for the youth teams

April – U17, U15, U13, U12, U8 Season Opening Day

June – Little League UK Qualifiers (U17, U15, U13, U11)

July-August – Little League Europe Qualifier (Poland or Italy) and World Series (USA) (subject to qualification)

September – National Youth Baseball Championships (U17, U15, U13, U11)

September – Herts Futures Tournament (U17, U15, U13, U11, U8)

HOW TO REGISTER FOR THE 2017 HERTS BASEBALL AND SOFTBALL SEASON

Herts Baseball Club has commenced the 2017 member registration process. For those who already have a Herts Online Club House account they will be prompted to register when they log on next time (click here to go to the Herts Online Club House and log on with your existing username and password). Those who are new to Herts and do not have an online account will be able to register as 2017 members by completing this form.

by Herts Baseball News Editor

Herts Baseball Club prepares for its AGM this Sunday

Herts Baseball Club has confirmed that its 20th Annual General Meeting will take place on Sunday, 15 January 2017.

In 2016 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 2017 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:

  • President
  • Treasurer
  • Secretary
  • Manager Third Team – Herts Raptors
  • Youth League Commissioner
  • Head of U17 Baseball
  • Head of U13 Baseball
  • Head of U11 Baseball
  • Head of U8 Baseball
  • Communications Director

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

Although only 2016 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 2017 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. The venue is the Grovehill Youth Centre.

DATE:    Sunday, 15 January 2017

TIME:    Registration starts at 12:45pm, the AGM will commence at 1:00pm (expected to end at around 4:30pm)

VENUE:                Grovehill Youth Centre, Stevenage Rise, Hemel Hempstead, Herts HP2 6BH (Directions and Map)

by Rob Jones

Herts softball Buzzards are hatched

Herts Baseball Club are delighted to announce the start of their slowpitch softball programme.

Play is due to start in 2017, with training sessions taking place from late January. New players and existing  baseball players are welcome to come and join the team.

softball-generic

The Buzzards will start as a fun, recreational team playing in selected tournaments and friendlies with local teams as it develops and finds its feet — with the expectation that it will either join a local league or be able to start its own by 2018.

The idea for the team has come from a group of parents who have spent many hours watching their sons and daughters play baseball for Herts. They find themselves at a loose end now that their offspring have moved on, but still want to be involved with the Herts club and have some fun having a go themselves.

That’s what has led to the team name ‘Buzzards’ — which keeps with the Herts bird theme but more importantly describes some of the players in the team (old and haggard!)

Of course the team is open to all, young and old, new or experienced, men and women, we just want to have a great time with the people we have come to know and love.

If you would like to join the ‘family’ and have some fun please come on down, you’ll always be welcome.

Details of Herts training sessions will be published on the club website and emailed to interested parties once they have been finalised.  Herts softball is open to men and women, and boys and girls over 14 years of age. The team will predominantly be an adult team.

Former Herts youth players Theo Longboy and Marianna Casal won the U-19 European Softball Championship this year (pic: Amanda Murphy)

We may not recreate the success of the GB Under-19s just yet, but the more players we can get having fun, the better the results will be!

By adding Softball to the Herts club its hoped that there is now something for everyone to have a go at  – adult baseball, casual ‘recreational’ baseball, youth baseball, co-ed recreational slowpitch softball.

For more information on the Buzzards please contact http://hertsbaseball.com/contact-us/

by Herts Baseball News Editor

British Baseball mourns the death of umpire Dave Smith

Herts Baseball Club received the sad news that Dave Smith passed away last Thursday after battling with medical issues over the last few months.

Over the years Dave umpired in the National Baseball League which is British Baseball’s highest league. He also supported Herts Baseball Club umpiring youth baseball and games at all other league levels as well as some of the largest tournaments in Great Britain such as the Herts Futures Tournament, Herts Spring League and others.

His involvement with Herts Baseball Club extended into other roles including being part of the club’s coaching staff. Before becoming an umpire Dave played for many years mainly as a middle infielder and sometimes at first base.

He was a true baseball fan and, even on days when he wasn’t umpiring or coaching and despite medical difficulties in recent months, he enjoyed coming down to the ballpark to watch whatever games or training sessions were taking place, following the progress of players and teams.

Herts Baseball Club and the wider British Baseball community has lost one of its friends.

We will miss you Dave. Our thoughts are with your family.

 

by Rob Jones

Herts youngsters chosen for GB rosters

A clutch of young Herts baseball stars have been named to the rosters for Great Britain’s development programme.

The national team development programme (NTDP) is divided into three sections — under-15; under-18; and seniors. It’s intended to give a wide pool of players the chance of elite preparation and training, and these rosters will be used for selecting the teams for international competitions.

Brodie Caress has been selected for the U-18 roster

At U-15, Herts is represented by Jamie Warren, a new arrival at the club. He and his family have already made an impression with both the U-17 programme and the Herts Hawks in the BBF adult leagues.

Coaches see potential in Jamie for a high quality player — a feeling that GB obviously shares — and he has already been part of the national high performance academy.

Great Britain will send an U-15 team to the Confederation of European Baseball (CEB) European Championship Qualifier in Switzerland in July.

Several young stars from the revamped Herts Falcons have been chosen for the U-18 roster. Having risen through the club’s ranks they have also been familiar faces to GB for several years.

Conner Brown and Brodie Caress have been turning out for the Falcons already this season as catcher and pitcher and have performed superbly. Carlos Casal and Zack Longboy — who have long, successful connections to Herts — have also been selected for the NTDP. 

The U18 programme will send a GB national team to the CEB European Championship in Spain in July. This year’s championship will also serve as qualifier for the 2017 World Cup.

Last but not least, Will Zucker has been named to the GB Lions. This team is intended to bridge the gap between the Under-18 and the senior national team.

Will’s pitching helped take the Herts Raptors to national playoffs just a few years ago and, despite heading off to university, his links to Herts remain strong. The Lions will take part in an All-Star game against NBL talent later in May.

Will Zucker in pre-season action

Most of the players on these rosters are British-based, and a wide range of clubs across the country are represented. Over time, GB Baseball says it hopes to include players from even more clubs.

The NTDP will see the players benefit from a strength and conditioning coach, as well as a sports science expert and — of course – top baseball coaches.

There have been tryouts in March, and more will take place later in the year. On top of that, coaches will be scouting British baseball games for the best talent available.