Category: Club News

by AspiDimitrov

BASEBALL TEAMS GEAR UP FOR HERTS SPRING LEAGUE

Fans of Major League Baseball suffer over the long winter season but with Spring just around the corner everyone is getting an uplifting feeling that the start of the Grapefruit and Cactus Leagues will signal the return of baseball. British Baseball is no different and over the last three years teams in Southern England have had their very own Grapefruit League to look forward to.

Organised by Herts Baseball Club, the Herts Spring League (HSL) adds a competitive edge to Spring training. The HSL is the time for managers to work out their winning formula going into the BBF league season. It is an opportunity to evaluate existing and newly recruited players. Which players will earn a spot in the pitching rotation and who will be batting where in the batting order? Who will make the first team and who will have to work their way up with the minor league teams? Not forgetting scouting your opponents. These are just some of the questions which will have to be answered during the upcoming HSL.

This is the third year of the competition and it is expected to be the best yet. In the first year of the HSL in 2008 ten teams took part. In 2009 due to overwhelming demand, the league had to expand. 13 teams played 21 games over three weekends at three different venues – Grovehill Ballpark in Herts, Ham Ground in Richmond and the £100,000 purpose-built baseball facility in Harlow. In fact demand was so high that two other teams had to be turned away as there simply were not enough fields to stage all the games.

The 2010 HSL will be played over three weekends commencing on Saturday, 27 March and ending on Sunday, 11 April. Teams will be placed in two divisions, HSL Majors and HSL Minors, based on the teams’ ranking going into the new season. HSL Majors is expected to include BBF teams from the National and AAA Leagues, while HSL Minors is expected to include BBF teams from AA and Single-A.

Last year the HSL Champions were the Bracknell Blazers and they went on to become the 2009 British National Baseball League Champions, so the more superstitious teams in the league will have an extra incentive to win the HSL this time around.

 

DEADLINE FOR ENTRIES TO THE HSL: Monday 15 February 2010.

 

Teams are currently submitting their entries for this year’s Herts Spring League. For more details on how to enter and a copy of the 2010 HSL Pack contact Herts Baseball Club.

by AspiDimitrov

THE SNOW IS GONE. HERTS BASEBALL PLAYERS REPORT FOR SPRING TRAINING

This Sunday, the Herts adult teams reported for training for the first time in 2010.  Over the next nine weeks the players will be going through the process of regaining their physical fitness, restoring their arm strength and conditioning their bodies.  Every imaginable aspect of baseball will be covered to get the players ready for fielding, hitting, pitching, base-running and performing at their optimum level in their respective positions. 

 

After this, the teams will play their first games of the year in the Herts Spring League (HSL), which is the British equivalent of the Grapefruit and Cactus Leagues in America.  The HSL is played over three weekends starting on 27 March and ending on 11 April.  This is the last chance for the British Baseball teams to fine-tune their game plans before the 2010 British Baseball League season commences.

 

Spring Training always brings the excitement of meeting the new players who will be wearing the Herts jersey in the coming season and it was pleasing to see that around twenty five percent of the players in this first training session of the new season were newly recruited members, so even at this early stage it seems as though Herts will have strength in depth going into the 2010 season. 

 

New players are able to join Herts Baseball Club at any time.  The Club welcomes new players regardless of their baseball abilities and experience – from complete beginners to experienced ball players.  Male and female players aged 14 or above are eligible to play in the British Adult Baseball League, while boys and girls aged between 5 and 16 have the opportunity to join the Herts youth programme and play as part of the exciting Herts Baseball Little League.  For more details contact Herts Baseball Club.

 

This Sunday’s session was held at the John F Kennedy School in Hemel Hempstead and, as soon as the weather becomes suitable, the players will be returning to Grovehill Ballpark, which has undergone significant developments since the end of the 2009 season, including the resurfacing of the second diamond and the installation of the backstop (pictured above).  These projects were made possible thanks to the support of Dacorum Borough Council, the Dacorum Sports Network, BaseballSoftballUK (BSUK), as well as other supporters of the club, including its many youth and adult members.

 

Click here for more images from Grovehill Ballpark.

 

    

by AspiDimitrov

BRITAIN’S TOP BASEBALL LEAGUE TO EXPAND IN 2010

TV Presenter, Jerry Springer (centre), paid several visits to see Essex Arrows games in 2009, including making an appearance as an umpire. In 2010 he will be able to follow their progress in the National Baseball League.

Competition will be increasing for the Herts Falcons in the National Baseball League (NBL) in 2010.  The British Baseball Federation (BBF) has just announced the expansion of the league from 5 to, effectively, 12 teams with 3 new teams joining the NBL South and 4 Northern teams forming the NBL North.  Apart from trips to Southampton and Cambridgeshire, the Falcons can look forward to renewing their rivalry with neighbours Essex Arrows.

The following is the full press release issued by the BBF earlier this afternoon:

BRITAIN'S TOP BASEBALL LEAGUE TO EXPAND IN 2010

The National Baseball League (NBL) will have three new teams in 2010. Essex Arrows, Mildenhall Bulldogs and Southampton Mustangs will all be joining the top flight of British Baseball next year.

The announcement comes just a few weeks after the British Baseball Federation (BBF) published details of the substantial growth in teams expected to join the league pyramid in 2010 and 2011.

A press release from the Board of British Baseball said, “This is an exciting prospect for British baseball fans and particularly for the baseball communities in the regions of these three clubs. It will provide the National Baseball League with a new level of verve, buoyancy and competition.”

Essex Arrows

The Essex Arrows were founded in 1983 and they have seen many successful seasons over the years including winning the AA League (1985) and the AAA League (1987, 2001). Their previous spell in the NBL culminated with reaching the Final in 1994 when they lost the series 2-1 against the Hull Mets.

Last season they blew away their AAA League opponents with a 25-0 record in the regular season. In the postseason they finished third, losing to Southampton and the eventual AAA League Champions, Harrogate.

Mildenhall Bulldogs

The Mildenhall Bulldogs are yet another team in the long tradition of teams coming out of RAF Feltwell. Most recent examples include the Cambridge Monarchs, who are remembered by fans of British baseball as the team which devastated the AAA League in the last decade. Their achievements included reaching the AAA postseason in five consecutive seasons (2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006) and becoming AAA Champions twice (2004, 2006).

Due to the war in Iraq, the Cambridge Monarchs were unable to take part in the 2007 and 2008 seasons, but in 2009 they were back in the British League under the name Mildenhall Bulldogs. Their return was triumphant as they clinched the AA League Championship. The team can count on the large talent pool of American players serving in the UK in the surrounding army bases, which over the years has included players like Glen Goodrich and Bob Runyon, the latter a 12th round (372nd overall) draft pick by the St. Louis Cardinals in 2002.

Southampton Mustangs

The third team which will be entering the NBL in 2010 is the Southampton Mustangs. Since their first season in 2004, the club has been climbing the British baseball leagues. In 2006 they won promotion with a regular season record of 10-2 in the AA League. The following year they reached the AAA postseason at the first time of asking, losing to the Essex Arrows in the Semi-Final of the National Baseball Championship. In 2009 they once again reached the postseason and just missed out on the AAA League Championship losing to the Harrogate Tigers in the Final.

Unique Opportunity

The British Baseball Federation’s decision to expand the league will not only bring excitement to the NBL in 2010, but the hope is that the three clubs will take advantage of this unique opportunity to continue their growth and development, just as Herts Falcons did in 2009.

The three teams are already on their way to doing so with Essex aiming to add a third team soon and establishing its youth programme in 2010, as well as plans for new dugouts and a grandstand at their field in Waltham Abbey. Mildenhall is also aiming to add another team to the minor leagues and are even considering the option to enter one of their youth teams in the BBF youth league playoffs. The Southampton Mustangs already have two adult league teams as well as a strong university programme, with enormous potential for further growth in its large, but as yet untapped market.

The North

Last season the teams in the North were all grouped together in a 10-team league. Next season the Northern Conference will make its return to the National Baseball League, which is another boost for British baseball.

The 10-team Northern Conference will be split into two groups. The upper group will form the NBL North. It will include four teams: Liverpool Trojans, Manchester A’s, Menwith Hill Patriots and the 2009 AAA Champions, the Harrogate Tigers, who were in devastating form in the AAA National Baseball Championship held at Tiger Field in September.

In the coming months the British Baseball Federation will be announcing more details about the 2010 season including the route to the National Baseball Championships, as British baseball prepares for another thrilling season.

Below are satellite images of the ballparks of the three new NBL teams. The National Finals have previously been held at RAF Feltwell (1993) and Waltham Abbey (1984, 1997, 2002).

   

by AspiDimitrov

VIDEO: INTERVIEW WITH ASPI DIMITROV

In our final interview in the series, Marty Cullen chats with Club President, Aspi Dimitrov.  This is the last interview of 2009, but be ready for coverage of the 2010 season right here on the Herts Baseball Newswire and Herts Baseball TV.

 

by AspiDimitrov

VIDEO: EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW WITH ANDY CORNISH

Herts Baseball TV brings you exclusive interviews from the 2009 Herts Baseball Awards Night.  Today, Marty Cullen talks to Andy Cornish with Herts Baseball fans hoping to see him back to full fitness in 2010.  Tune in on Wednesday for the final Marty Cullen interview of 2009.

by AspiDimitrov

VIDEO: INTERVIEW WITH 2009 RAPTORS MVP JON LEWYS

Herts Baseball TV brings you exclusive interviews from the 2009 Herts Baseball Awards Night.  In the coming days you will be able to see Herts Baseball TV Presenter, Marty Cullen, look back at 2009 and preview the 2010 season with members of the four Herts teams. Today's intrerview features the most powerful man in the Northern hemisphere, Jon Lewys.  Tune in on Saturday to find out the reason why female fans were coming to Grovehill in their droves in 2009.

by AspiDimitrov

VIDEO: INTERVIEW WITH HERTS RAPTORS MANAGER KEN PIKE

Herts Baseball TV brings you exclusive interviews from the 2009 Herts Baseball Awards Night.  In the coming days you will be able to see Herts Baseball TV Presenter, Marty Cullen, look back at 2009 and preview the 2010 season with members of the four Herts teams. Today, newly elected Herts Raptors Manager, Ken Pike, is under the spotlight.  On Thursday, it will be the turn of 2009 Raptors MVP, Jon Lewys.

by AspiDimitrov

43 TROPHIES PRESENTED AT 2009 HERTS BASEBALL AWARDS NIGHT

The 2009 season was officially put to bed with the announcement of the 2009 award winners of Herts Baseball Club’s adult programme.  The achievements of the Raptors, Hawks, Eagles and Falcons over the past 12 months were recognised at the club’s annual end of season event.

 

For the Raptors one name kept coming up throughout the night and that was the outstanding Jon Lewys.  He will need to make some extra space at home if he is to fit the five trophies which he picked up, including, Batting Champion (.750),   Stolen Bases (29), Home Run Champion (2), Play of the Year Trophy and the prestigious Most Valuable Player Award voted on by the players themselves.

 

The Hawks voted their Manager, Marty Cullen, as the team’s MVP in 2009.  Cullen also collected the Hawks Batting Title (.562) and the Most RBI’s (13).

 

Similarly, the Eagles players also chose their Manager, Dave Westfallen, as the team’s Most valuable Player, but it must be noted that the vote was very close indeed with Louis Hare and Mike Wakelam receiving a very large proportion of the votes.  They didn’t go empty-handed though.  Hare picked up the Eagles Coach’s Award, Best Pitcher and Home Run Champion Award which was shared with Wakelam who also received the Most RBI’s (16) trophy.

 

Darrin Ward was confirmed as the outstanding player of 2009 for the club’s National League team, the Herts Falcons.  He received three trophies in total, Best Pitcher, Batting Champion (.413) and the coveted Herts Falcons MVP Award.

 

Matt Johnston was awarded the 2009 Rookie of the Year Award (a club-wide award) to add to his Herts Hawks Outfield Gold Glove.  He announced at the awards ceremony that he will be choosing baseball over American football in 2010 which is a tremendous boost for the club.  A lot will be expected of him in the coming seasons.

 

Herts Baseball living legend, Andy Cornish’s contribution and dedication was recognised when he was presented with the Excellence in Leadership Award.

 

More images from the 2009 Awards Night

 

FULL LIST OF 2009 AWARDS

 

HERTS FALCONS

MVP, Darrin Ward

Batting Champion, Darrin Ward (.413)

Infield Gold Glove, Luis Goncalves

Outfield Gold Glove, Dan Kerry

Best Pitcher, Darrin Ward

Most Stolen Bases, Luis Goncalves (10)

Home Run Champion, Jason Greenberg (1)

Most RBIs, Yuchih Lin (15)

Most RBIs, Andy Cornish (15)

Coach's Award, Riley Fisher

 

HERTS EAGLES

MVP, Dave Westfallen

Batting Champion, Carlos Casal (.515)

Infield Gold Glove, Rod Ariss

Outfield Gold Glove, Dave Hamilton

Best Pitcher, Louis Hare

Most Stolen Bases, Carlos Casal (17)

Home Run Champion, Louis Hare (1)

Home Run Champion, Mike Wakelam (1)

Most RBIs, Mike Wakelam (16)

Coach's Award, Louis Hare

 

HERTS HAWKS

MVP, Marty Cullen

Batting Champion, Marty Cullen (.562)

Infield Gold Glove, Hunter Devine

Outfield Gold Glove, Matt Johnston

Best Pitcher, Greg Bochan

Most Stolen Bases, Matt Johnston (10)

Home Run Champion, Tim Grant (1)

Most RBIs, Marty Cullen (13)

Coach's Award, Liam Green

 

HERTS RAPTORS

MVP, Jonathon Lewys

Batting Champion, Jonathon Lewys (.750)

Infield Gold Glove, Jeff Witter

Outfield Gold Glove, Iwan Evans

Best Pitcher, Andrew Slater

Most Stolen Bases, Jonathon Lewys (29)

Home Run Champion, Jonathon Lewys (2)

Most RBIs, Andrew Slater (23)

Coach's Award, Paul Curtis

 

CLUB AWARDS

Excellence in Leadership, Andy Cornish

Rookie of the Year, Matt Johnston

Most Improved Player, Ilya Dimitrov

Play of the Year, Jonathon Lewys

Nob-Out Award (Stuck in the Mud), Marty Cullen & marty Cullen Jr

by AspiDimitrov

THE GREEN GREEN GRASS OF HOME

For the first time in the club's 13 year history Herts Baseball Club members have been praying for rain. 

Since the start of September this part of the world had not seen any rain at all.  This was very good for the Club's events in September and October such as the Herts Futures Tournament and the Kyle Hunlock Series, but it was not helping the growth of the newly planted grass seeds on the second diamond which Herts is creating.

Thankfully, just 24 hours after the last Herts event of the year, the rain came.  Members of the club who have not visited Grovehill Ballpark in the last few weeks would be pleased to learn that the first blades of grass appeared last week. 

Click here for more images of the new grass taken this weekend.

The lack of rain may result in the unveiling of the brand new second diamond taking place two or three weeks after Opening Day of the 2010 British Baseball season, which was the original target date.