The third annual Kyle Hunlock Series will get underway in just ten days. This special, intra-club event is named for fallen Falcon #36 and is a great opportunity for all HBC members to enjoy some friendly (yet competitive) postseason baseball at Grovehill.
LIVE ONLINE DRAFT
Unlike years' past, the 2008 Hunlock Series will set aside the established regular season rosters. Instead, three new managers will draft three new teams from all available Herts players. The Red Roosters, Blue Dogs and Black Widows will be comprised of Raptors, Hawks and Falcons. During the live online draft next week (Thursday 18 September, 8pm) the managers must make shrewd selections when stacking their bench with pitchers, catchers, position players and sluggers.
A Draft Prospectus with relevant hyperlinks will be posted a few days before the event. Plan to get online next Thursday around 7.45pm and tune-in to the Herts Baseball Internet Radio station. You will be able to listen to live commentary from the League Commissioner, hear live interviews with the Team Managers and potential superstars, and follow each draft pick as it happens… including your own!
2008 MANAGERS
Three special members have been selected to manage the 2008 Kyle Hunlock Series. These individuals have gone that extra mile this year for Herts Baseball, making an extra commitment to helping the Club and its teams to improve (on and off the diamond).
Red Roosters – Hunter Devine
Blue Dogs – Tim Elkins
Black Widows – Marty Cullen
SERIES SCHEDULE
Thu. 18 Sept, 8pm LIVE ONLINE DRAFT
Sun. 21 Sept, 10am ROUND 1 GAMES (7-innings)
Sun. 28 Sept, 10am ROUND 2 GAMES (7-innings)
Thu. 02 Oct, 8pm LIVE ONLINE RE-DRAFT
Sun. 05 Oct, 10am HUNLOCK CHAMPIONSHIP GAME (9-innings)
The series format is straightforward. Three teams will face each other twice, with two finalists advancing to the Championship Game. The Thursday before the Championship, the third-place team will be re-drafted (or dealt out) by the finalist managers. Therefore all Club members will have a chance to compete in the Final and the finalist managers have more options in fielding a competitive line-up.
OFFICIAL HUNLOCK SERIES HOMEPAGE
http://www.hertsbaseball.com/hunlock/
In the coming days this site will be updated with draft details, team rosters, game results and Series standings. You will already find the Series schedule and rules, including game rules and draft/trade regulations.
Category: Club News
FALCONS REIGN ON KINGS PARADE, CROWNED AAA CHAMPS
After amodest toast to their charmed ascendancy through the League, the Hertsfirst-team quickly rested and refocused for a Sunday morning clash with theirAAA Oxford rivals. The Falcons arrivedat Croydon’s Diamond One a full hour-and-a-half before their opponents and the umpiringcrew, fueled only by their sheer determination to finish what they’d begun.
The weatherhad not improved despite Club President Aspi Dimitrov’s claim that this was “abetter rain.” The mist was unrelentingand left the field water-logged and – according to BBF officials –unplayable. Nevertheless, the Falconsstretched and warmed their arms no less than three times before the mainstagewas relocated to the better-maintained second field, and the game commenced 90minutes behind schedule.
Withseveral runner-up games already cancelled due to weather, Herts was eager toget proceedings underway and avoid an unnecessary postponement. They were present, they were warmed and theywere fired up. The growing crowd wasequally impatient; the excitement of an inevitable climax hung in the air.
Flashbackto July 6 2008: Oxford Kings travel to a rain-soaked Grovehill for a crucialcross-division matchup. Capitalizing as the away team,
It was nosurprise then that Kings Manager Santo Bains chose to again be the away teamwhen he won the coin toss prior to Sunday’s final… a gamble that
Darrin “TheColonel” Ward took the mound seeking revenge – having suffered his only loss ofthe season to
With noscore and two outs in the bottom of the 2nd, and Kimiyoshi Saionjion third base, rightfielder Aspi Dimitrov connected on a 1-and-2 count for aline drive up the middle, bringing home the first run of the game. Herts had taken a lead they would neverrelinquish. In the top of the 3rdwith the bases loaded and one out, Ward’s legendary changeup forced Oxford intoan infield fly and a foul-pop to catcher Greenberg ending the threat.
The windbeneath their wings, the Falcons quickly tacked on three more runs in thebottom of the inning on two hits and two Kings’ errors. Despite a string of four hits by Oxfordscoring two runs in the fourth (including a to-the-fence double from Machado),the Falcons brought their lead to 6-2 with precision defense, a triple fromClub President Dimitrov and timely strikeouts from the crafty Ward. Machado wasn’t finished; he crushed a hangingbreaking ball over the right field wall for the game’s final run (the Kings’third)… but no amount of muscle could combat Herts dogged determination. Outfielder and lightening-bolt Jim Hyde wasejected in the bottom-of-the-6th for attempting to score on a groundball to the left side. Although photoevidence shows him under the tag, the umpire punched him out and Hyde,incensed, pounded his helmet into the batters circle. It was that kind of never-die grit that keptHerts on top despite the game’s mounting pressure.
With theFalcons leading 6-3 in the top of the seventh, a strikeout, a fly-out and apop-out brought the AAA season to an end. The natural finalists – first in their respective League brackets – haddone battle in the inclement English weather, in front of the BBF’s top umpiresand officials and to the delight of their many supporting fans. The Herts Falcons were crowned National Champions,taking the trophy from their scrappy opponents in what proved the tightest,hardest-fought contest of the 2008 Final 4. It was a showdown for the annals, and will be hotly remembered in theseason to come when Herts and
2008 saw animprobable rise to the top for the Herts Baseball Club. Weathering demotion, re-promotion and nowcoronation, the Falcons’ successes have made for a glory season of resurgenceand optimism. They garnered the bestwin-loss record in the AAA, bested every opponent they faced, and allowed thefewest runs of any team in the League. AsBBF President Rob Rance presented the championship trophy, he offeredencouraging words of support to Hertfordshire’s ballclub, saying “Herts is agreat programme – a class act – the kind of Club that the BBF needs to helpthis country develop the game. Congratulations to the Falcons on a fine season.”
| Oxford Kings at Herts Falcons | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Score By Innings | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | R | H | E |
| Oxford Kings | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 11 | 2 |
| Herts Falcons | 0 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 9 | 5 |
| Herts Falcons 6, Oxford Kings 3 | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Herts Falcons | Oxford Kings | ||||||||
| ab | r | h | bi | ab | r | h | bi | ||
| Jim Hyde lf | 2 | 2 | 1 | 0 | Player 1 p | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| (t7) Greg Bochan rf | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | Player 2 c | 5 | 1 | 3 | 3 |
| Andy Cornish 3b | 4 | 1 | 1 | 0 | Player 3 1b | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Jason Greenberg c | 4 | 1 | 1 | 1 | Player 4 2b | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Kimiyoshi Saionji 2b | 2 | 1 | 1 | 2 | Player 5 3b | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Dan Kerry cf | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | Player 6 ss | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Marty Cullen 1b | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | Player 7 lf | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Aspi Dimitrov rf-lf | 3 | 1 | 2 | 1 | Player 8 cf | 4 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Nick Goetz ss | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | Player 9 rf | 4 | 1 | 2 | 0 |
| Darrin Ward p | 3 | 0 | 1 | 1 | |||||
| TEAM TOTALS | 27 | 6 | 9 | 5 | TEAM TOTALS | 35 | 3 | 11 | 3 |
| E: Nick Goetz(3), Marty Cullen, Darrin Ward, Player 1, Player 4. DP: Oxford Kings 1. LOB: Herts Falcons 7, Oxford Kings 15. 2B: Player 2, Player 9. 3B: Aspi Dimitrov. HR: Player 2. SB: Jim Hyde(2), Dan Kerry. CS: Player 2. |
| Herts Falcons | IP | H | R | ER | BB | SO |
| Darrin Ward W | 7.00 | 11 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 5 |
| Oxford Kings | ||||||
| Player 1 L | 6.00 | 9 | 6 | 3 | 2 | 5 |
| HBP: by Darrin Ward (Player 3). . , by Player 1 (Jim Hyde). . . , by Player 1 (Jim Hyde). . PB: Player 2. T: 2:28. A: 151. |
| Oxford Kings – Top of the 1st: Player 1 struck out looking. Player 2 reached on error, caught trying to steal 2nd. Player 3 hit by pitch. Player 4 struck out swinging. 0 runs, 0 hits, 1 error, 1 LOB. |
| Herts Falcons – Bottom of the 1st: Jim Hyde singled, forced out at 2nd. Andy Cornish hit into double play. Jason Greenberg struck out swinging. 0 runs, 1 hit, 0 errors, 0 LOB. |
| Oxford Kings – Top of the 2nd: Player 5 walked, forced out at 2nd. Player 6 reached on fielder's choice, batted forward to 2nd. Player 7 singled. Player 8 struck out looking. Player 9 grounded out. 0 runs, 1 hit, 0 errors, 2 LOB. |
| Herts Falcons – Bottom of the 2nd: Kimiyoshi Saionji walked, batted forward to home. Dan Kerry struck out looking. Marty Cullen grounded out. Aspi Dimitrov singled, 1 RBI. Nick Goetz struck out looking. 1 run, 1 hit, 0 errors, 1 LOB. |
| Oxford Kings – Top of the 3rd: Player 1 walked, batted forward to 2nd, forced out at 3rd. Player 2 singled, batted forward to 3rd. Player 3 reached on fielder's choice, batted forward to 2nd. Player 4 singled. Player 5 out by infield fly rule. Player 6 popped out. 0 runs, 2 hits, 0 errors, 3 LOB. |
| Herts Falcons – Bottom of the 3rd: Darrin Ward grounded out. Jim Hyde hit by pitch, advanced to 3rd on error, advanced to home on passed ball. Andy Cornish reached on error, advanced to 2nd on error, advanced to 3rd on passed ball, batted forward to home. Jason Greenberg reached on error, advanced to 2nd on passed ball, batted forward to home. Kimiyoshi Saionji singled, advanced to 2nd on throw, batted forward to 3rd, tagged out going to home, 2 RBI. Dan Kerry singled, stole 2nd. Marty Cullen flied out. 3 runs, 2 hits, 2 errors, 1 LOB. |
| Oxford Kings – Top of the 4th: Player 7 flied out. Player 8 singled, batted forward to home. Player 9 singled, batted forward to home. Player 1 singled, batted forward to 3rd. Player 2 doubled, 2 RBI. Player 3 grounded out. Player 4 walked. Player 5 flied out. 2 runs, 4 hits, 0 errors, 3 LOB. |
| Herts Falcons – Bottom of the 4th: Aspi Dimitrov tripled, batted forward to home. Nick Goetz struck out swinging. Darrin Ward singled, forced out at 2nd, 1 RBI. Jim Hyde reached on fielder's choice, batted forward to home. Andy Cornish singled, batted forward to 3rd. Jason Greenberg singled, batted forward to 2nd, 1 RBI. Kimiyoshi Saionji walked. Dan Kerry popped out. 2 runs, 4 hits, 0 errors, 3 LOB. |
| Oxford Kings – Top of the 5th: Player 6 singled, forced out at 2nd. Player 7 struck out looking. Player 8 reached on error, batted forward to 3rd. Player 9 doubled. Player 1 grounded out. 0 runs, 2 hits, 1 error, 2 LOB. |
| Herts Falcons – Bottom of the 5th: Marty Cullen grounded out. Aspi Dimitrov struck out looking. Nick Goetz singled. Darrin Ward grounded out. 0 runs, 1 hit, 0 errors, 1 LOB. |
| Oxford Kings – Top of the 6th: Player 2 hit solo home run, 1 RBI. Player 3 grounded out. Player 4 popped out. Player 5 singled, advanced to 3rd on error. Player 6 reached on error, advanced to 2nd on error. Player 7 reached on error. Player 8 grounded out. 1 run, 2 hits, 2 errors, 3 LOB. |
| Herts Falcons – Bottom of the 6th: Jim Hyde hit by pitch, stole 2nd, stole 3rd, tagged out going to home. Hyde ejected for tossing helmet after being called out at home. It must be noted that Hyde did not say a single word to the umpire and this may have just been due to frustration. Hyde wouldn't have been ejected if this had happened in an MLB game. Andy Cornish popped out. Jason Greenberg reached on fielder's choice. Kimiyoshi Saionji popped out. 0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 1 LOB. |
| Oxford Kings – Top of the 7th: Player 9 struck out swinging. Player 1 reached on error, advanced to 2nd on error. Player 2 flied out. Player 3 popped out. Falcons are AAA Champions…Falcons are AAA Chapmions…Go crazy folks…go crazy 0 runs, 0 hits, 1 error, 1 LOB. |
HERTS QUALIFY, PILOTS SHOT DOWN OVER CROYDON
The diamond was drenched in déjà vu. Only one year ago the Herts first-team were onthis same field… facing the same opposition.
In the 2007 National Championships, the Falcons metthe Humber Pilots in the AA Final. Relegated from the Premier League the season before, Herts weredetermined to cap their walk-over winning season with a trophy and trip backinto the AAA. But sloppy first-inningdefense and ineffective pitching allowed
Here we go again. Humber – also promoted to the AAA in the Northern bracket – made thelong trek due south from
Mayday! Mayday!
These were not the same Falcons. Herts charged into 2008 with a full head ofsteam. New leadership brought a wholenew approach. With a focus on improvedtraining methods and a unifying philosophy, these Falcons sported adetermination and team commitment unrivalled in years past. The emergence of additional talent – newfoundand home grown – meant that Herts brought improved speed, pitching, defense andpower to an already successful lineup. The Pilots were in for a dogfight.
In a complete reversal of their last encounter, theFalcons won the coin toss, took the home side dugout and readied themselves fora tooth-and-nail showdown. The Pilotsseemed to take an early advantage when 2007 Best Pitcher Nic Goetz got off to aherky-jerky start walking the first two batters and beaning the third. But the threat was quickly silenced. Catcher Jason Greenberg gunned down awould-be base-stealer for the first out of the game, and a line-drive doubleplay by third baseman Darrin Ward brought the inning to the end. Herts wasted no time in embracing theirmomentum. In the bottom of the 1st,speedy leadoff batter Jim Hyde walked, stole second and was brought home on adouble from slugger Andy Cornish. Twomore hits, two walks, a hit batter and a suicide squeeze brought in anadditional four runs for the Falcons who, in a reversal of fortunes of their2007 championship game, had an early 5-0 lead… and a confidence that evenMother Nature couldn’t quash.
Goetz quickly found his focus and dominated the
The game was not without controversy. The two-man ump crew of Petter Nordwall andDarrin Muller hand their hands full with the frustrated
On the positive side, Herts busted out the bigbats. Cornish connected for two doublesand a monster-run for 4 RBI. MartyCullen and Darrin Ward also doubled, and Ward smacked a two-run blast of hisown. Second-baseman Kimiyoshi Saionjiwent 4-for-4 with 4 RBI including a three-run dinger. The Falcons flew around the base-pathsstealing 8-of-8 and hustling out two triples from Jim “T-Devil” Hyde and Dan“Hollywood” Kerry.
As the Falcons packed up their rain-soaked gear withthe knowledge that
BOX SCORE
| Humber Pilots at Herts Falcons | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Score By Innings | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | R | H | E |
| Humber Pilots | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 4 |
| Herts Falcons | 5 | 6 | 6 | 4 | 0 | 21 | 19 | 2 |
| Herts Falcons 21, Humber Pilots 1 | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Herts Falcons | Humber Pilots | ||||||||
| ab | r | h | bi | ab | r | h | bi | ||
| Jim Hyde lf | 4 | 2 | 3 | 1 | M Radge cf | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Andy Cornish ss | 4 | 3 | 3 | 4 | S Radge 2b | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Jason Greenberg c | 4 | 3 | 1 | 0 | C Radge ss | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Kimiyoshi Saionji 2b | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | A Maltby c | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Darrin Ward 3b | 2 | 3 | 2 | 3 | B Webb p | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| (t4) Peter Kikel 3b | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | M Gilbert 3b | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Dan Kerry cf | 2 | 3 | 2 | 1 | S Mayhew lf | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| (t4) Tim Elkins cf | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | K McThitas 1b | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Marty Cullen 1b | 3 | 2 | 2 | 2 | P Senn rf | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Greg Bochan rf | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | |||||
| (b3) Rodney Naghar rf | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | |||||
| Lee Manning dh | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |||||
| Nick Goetz p | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |||||
| Aspi Dimitrov p | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |||||
| TEAM TOTALS | 31 | 21 | 19 | 17 | TEAM TOTALS | 15 | 1 | 2 | 1 |
| E: Andy Cornish, Darrin Ward, M Gilbert(2), C Radge, M Radge. LOB: Humber Pilots 4, Herts Falcons 6. 2B: Andy Cornish(2), Darrin Ward, Marty Cullen. 3B: Jim Hyde, Dan Kerry. HR: Kimiyoshi Saionji, Andy Cornish, Darrin Ward. SB: Andy Cornish(2), Jim Hyde(2), Jason Greenberg(2), Kimiyoshi Saionji, Dan Kerry. CS: M Radge, S Mayhew. SB: Marty Cullen. |
| Herts Falcons | IP | H | R | ER | BB | SO |
| Nick Goetz W | 4.00 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 1 |
| Aspi Dimitrov | 1.00 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Humber Pilots | ||||||
| B Webb L | 4.00 | 19 | 21 | 16 | 5 | 3 |
| HBP: by Nick Goetz (C Radge), by B Webb (Dan Kerry). . . , by B Webb (Lee Manning). . Balk: B Webb. T: 2:00. A: 151. |
| Humber Pilots – Top of the 1st: M Radge walked, caught trying to steal 2nd. S Radge walked, batted forward to 2nd, tagged out going to 3rd. C Radge hit by pitch. A Maltby lined out. 0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 1 LOB. |
| Herts Falcons – Bottom of the 1st: Jim Hyde singled, stole 2nd, batted forward to home. Andy Cornish doubled, stole 3rd, batted forward to home, 1 RBI. Jason Greenberg grounded out. Kimiyoshi Saionji singled, stole 2nd, batted forward to home, 1 RBI. Darrin Ward walked, batted forward to 3rd, advanced to home on error. Dan Kerry hit by pitch, batted forward to 2nd, advanced to 3rd on error, batted forward to home. Marty Cullen sacrifice bunted, 1 RBI. Greg Bochan singled, 1 RBI. Lee Manning grounded out. 5 runs, 4 hits, 1 error, 1 LOB. |
| Humber Pilots – Top of the 2nd: B Webb grounded out. M Gilbert struck out looking. S Mayhew reached on error, caught trying to steal 2nd. 0 runs, 0 hits, 1 error, 0 LOB. |
| Herts Falcons – Bottom of the 2nd: Jim Hyde walked, stole 2nd, batted forward to home. Andy Cornish hit 2-run home run, 2 RBI. Jason Greenberg reached on error, stole 2nd, batted forward to home. Kimiyoshi Saionji singled, batted forward to home, 1 RBI. Darrin Ward doubled, batted forward to home, 1 RBI. Dan Kerry singled, stole 2nd, advanced to 3rd on balk, batted forward to home, 1 RBI. Marty Cullen singled, batted forward to 3rd, 1 RBI. Greg Bochan flied out. Lee Manning flied out. Jim Hyde singled, advanced to 2nd on error, picked off. 6 runs, 6 hits, 2 errors, 1 LOB. |
| Humber Pilots – Top of the 3rd: K McThitas singled, forced out at 2nd. P Senn reached on fielder's choice, batted forward to home. M Radge popped out. S Radge singled, batted forward to 3rd. C Radge walked, batted forward to 2nd. A Maltby walked, 1 RBI. B Webb grounded out. 1 run, 2 hits, 0 errors, 3 LOB. |
| Herts Falcons – Bottom of the 3rd: Andy Cornish doubled, batted forward to 3rd, stole home. Jason Greenberg singled, stole 2nd, batted forward to home. Kimiyoshi Saionji singled, batted forward to home. Darrin Ward hit 2-run home run, 2 RBI. Dan Kerry tripled, advanced to home on error. Marty Cullen reached on error, batted forward to home. Rodney Naghar struck out swinging. Lee Manning popped out. Jim Hyde tripled, 1 RBI. Andy Cornish grounded out. 6 runs, 6 hits, 1 error, 1 LOB. |
| Humber Pilots – Top of the 4th: M Gilbert reached on error, forced out at 2nd. S Mayhew lined out. K McThitas grounded out. 0 runs, 0 hits, 1 error, 0 LOB. |
| Herts Falcons – Bottom of the 4th: Jason Greenberg walked, batted forward to home. Kimiyoshi Saionji hit 2-run home run, 2 RBI. Peter Kikel struck out looking. Tim Elkins walked, batted forward to home. Marty Cullen doubled, batted forward to home. Rodney Naghar singled, batted forward to 3rd, 1 RBI. Lee Manning hit by pitch, batted forward to 2nd. Jim Hyde struck out looking. Andy Cornish walked, 1 RBI. Jason Greenberg grounded out. 4 runs, 3 hits, 0 errors, 3 LOB. |
| Humber Pilots – Top of the 5th: P Senn grounded out. M Radge grounded out. S Radge struck out swinging. 0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 0 LOB. |
(VIDEO) BASEBALL IS TALK OF THE TOWN
This Saturday the town centre in Hemel Hempstead had an added baseball flavour. Members of the adult and Little League teams of Herts Baseball Club alongside Little League parents invaded the Riverside Shopping Centre. This was billed as a fundraising event for the club’s Grovehill Ballpark Project, but it was about a lot more than just raising funds. This was an opportunity for the club to spread news of the great work it does for the local community and the fantastic opportunities it offers for youngsters and adults to play baseball by joining one of the best and coolest sports clubs in the UK.
It was impressive to see so many members of the public who were already aware of Herts Baseball Club and the game of baseball. Those who did not know that baseball is being played right on their doorstep, took the club’s recruitment flyer and the club is very happy to report that within hours of the event, the club’s website started to receive enquiries about joining the Herts Baseball Little League and the Herts adult teams. Herts Little League Vice President, Marty Cullen, said: “This was a very successful event and we intend to do more promotional events in the future. We certainly hope that we will have the opportunity to say hello again to the many people who we met today, but this time in our home at Grovehill Ballpark.”
Many shoppers had the opportunity to take part in the Baseball Quiz to test their baseball knowledge and they certainly did well despite some hesitation earlier in the day.
Amazingly, one of the Quiz contestants turned out to be a relative of New York Mets third baseman, David Wright. It is beyond belief that one of the superstars of baseball who can be regularly seen on the front covers of the world’s major sports magazines, has a relative right here in Hemel Hempstead. But then again, Hemel Hempstead is becoming something of a central point for baseball in the UK, so it makes sense that UK-based relatives of baseball stars would be living in Hemel Hempstead.
The undoubted stars of the day were the Little League boys and girls who were buzzing around from start to finish with their collection buckets. In total they single-handedly raised £177.96 from the very generous residents of Hemel and other parts of Hertfordshire – an amazing achievement by the Little Leaguers.
Many members of the public also left their good luck video messages to the Herts Falcons ahead of their games in the AAA British National Championships Final 4 on 6-7 September.
Herts Baseball Club wants to thank the Riverside Shopping Centre in Hemel for allowing this fundraising event to take place on their premises.
Can you believe it? New York Mets third baseman, David Wright,
has relatives right here in Hemel Hempstead.
TOP BASEBALL ACTION BY GB AND LITTLE LEAGUE TEAMS, HOT DOGS, HOME RUNS, TRIPLE PLAY AND A LOT MORE
Hertfordshire is becoming baseball-crazy. Saturday’s event was yet another confirmation of this. Around 200 fans came to enjoy a great day of baseball at Grovehill Ballpark which started at 9:30am with a special Little League pre-game clinic ran by GB coaches and finished 11 hours later with the GB exhibition games.
The baseball facilities at the home of Herts Baseball Club were being utilized to the full especially around midday. Two Little League games were taking place on the two Little League fields. Little League spectators who were in attendance had the chance to see Zachary Longboy of the Herts Bue Jays turn a triple play, which is one of the rarest plays in baseball. At the same time the GB Junior National Team was taking their batting practice behind the main field, while GB Senior Team Head Coach, Stephan Rapaglia, and his colleagues were putting the twenty or so GB Trialists through various drills to evaluate every aspect of their game.
This was one of the last tests for the GB Junior National Team before the European Championships qualifying. The team is flying to Sweden next week to start their campaign and Head Coach, Liam Carroll will be upbeat about the team’s chances after a good showing today and over the last few games, including a second place finish at the International London Tournament last week.
The GB Trialists’ team included players from various clubs around Great Britain. Players made the trip to Hertfordshire from places as far as Edinburgh, but the longest trip was made by Head Coach, Stephan Rapaglia, who landed from America at 6am on the day of the event.
Before the GB Exhibition game both teams and the Herts Little League players took part in the pre-game ceremony which included a traditional team roll-call. This was followed by the National Anthem performed by 7-year old Mariana Casal, the ceremonial first pitch was thrown by Brian Essery and caught by Roddi Liebenberg, both members of the European Championship silver-medal winning GB Team last year in Barcelona. There was also a “second” ceremonial first pitch. This time the 50 or so Little League players lined up with their balls to pitch to the adult players from the GB Junior and GB Trialists teams.
Among the Trialists were two members of the hosts Herts Baseball Club. Andy Cornish and Dan Kerry received the biggest cheer from the hometown fans. Both performed very well and hopefully they have done enough to impress the GB coaches.
Visit the Herts Baseball gallery for more photos from this special day.
PRESS RELEASE: CLUB SECURES AWARDS FOR ALL NATIONAL LOTTERY FUNDING FOR PROJECT “GROVEHILL BALLPARK”
Herts Falcons Baseball Club used the Opening Day of the Herts Baseball Little League to make a very exciting announcement for the club and for baseball in Hertfordshire and the British baseball community as a whole.
Speaking on behalf of the Club, President, Aspi Dimitrov said: “Our club has been growing at an incredible speed in the last few years. We now have 3 adult teams playing in the British League and of course the Herts Little League. Last year the club recognized the need to improve the existing facilities and develop a second baseball diamond and started the Grovehill Ballpark Project. Upon completion of the project, the venue would have two adult baseball diamonds and as many as 6 Little League baseball diamonds. Earlier this year the club applied to Awards for All (National Lottery) to assist in funding this great project. HBC is very pleased to confirm that Awards for All have issued a cheque for £10,000.”
Dimitrov added: ”This is tremendous news for our Little League players who will be able to play baseball at some of the best baseball facilities in this country. On behalf of the Club I wish to express our gratitude to Awards for All and the National Lottery for recognizing the importance of this project and the positive effects which it will have on the community in our region.”
Herts Falcons Baseball Club is now in the process of obtaining approval for the project from the local Council and it hopes that the local community will support it and will take advantage of the fantastic new facilities when the project is completed.
For more information about Awards for All and the National Lottery please visit www.awardsforall.org.uk Telephone 0845 600 2040
HERTS BASEBALL FOOD AND BEER FESTIVAL THREATENS TO END CULINARY DOMINATION OF GORDON RAMSEY, JAMIE OLIVER, DELIA SMITH & Co.
Herts Baseball Club held its 2008 International Beer and Food Festival. The event raised over £500, which will be used in the club’s Grovehill Ballpark project.
The Festival was attended by over 60 adult and junior club members and other supporters of the club. They were able to sample dishes prepared by club members who come from all corners of the globe creating a truly international culinary experience, from Haggis to Paella, Lasagne to Sushi. And of course, this being the Herts Baseball Club, on offer was a wide range of international beverages to be sampled and enjoyed.
The wide variety of comestible delights was presented in the best French “nouvelle cuisine” style, but came in quantities that satisfied the always hungry baseball players and fans. The experience was immeasurably enhanced by the fact that everything was freshly cooked on the spot by the Fund Raising Team and other members of the Club.
The festival included several hotly contested competitions. In the Hot Dog Eating Challenge, Ilya “KGB” Dimitrov won the prestigious title in a photo finish with Rodney Naghar, whose reputation of endless capacity for food is in tatters. However, Dimitrov’s title was immediately challenged by original Falcons, Sean Young and Simon Clarke, who beat the record by employing a very effective technique and showed that experience can always overcome youthful enthusiasm.
In “Strictly Come Dancing”, Fatima and Humberto Goncalves were the undoubted winners, showing off their slick moves and practiced technique.
In the Tug-of-War competition, the New York Yankees proved they can pull with the best of them and won the “Tug-of-War” World Series. Their opponents, the Chicago Cubs, came very close but ultimately lost only because they failed to follow Hunter’s Dad’s wise advice to tie the rope to the radiator. MVP for the Yankees was Greg “the Motion” Bochan, but victory would not have been possible without his teammates.
2008 TUG-OF-WAR RESULTS
ALCS: New York Yankees vs Boston Red Sox (2-0)
NLCS: Chicago Cubs vs Los Angeles Dodgers (2-1)
Tug of War World Series: New York Yankees vs Chicago Cubs (2-1)
The whole event was a rousing success and looks likely to become an entrenched tradition of Herts Baseball Club.
CRUNCH TIME FOR GROVEHILL BALLPARK DEVELOPMENT
In July 2007 Herts Baseball Club started to put together a plan for improvements of Grovehill Ballpark in
The club carried out an extensive consultation process with relevant organisations and authorities including Dacorum Borough Council, Herts Sports Partnership, Dacorum Sports Network, Awards for All and others. In January 2008 Herts Baseball Club presented the plans, which if realized would make Grovehill Ballpark one of the best baseball facilities in the country.
Large part of the project is to be funded by a government grant with the rest of the funds provided by the club and its members. The Awards for All grant application has been submitted but in order to make a decision whether or not to approve the grant, Awards for All and everyone connected with Herts Baseball Club and British baseball is awaiting a decision from Dacorum Borough Council.
Provided that Dacorum Borough Council gives the go-ahead for the project, this would result in well over £10,000 being invested in improving Grovehill Playing Fields, which certainly would be fantastic news for users of the facility and local residents alike, who undoubtedly have noticed the vigour which Herts Baseball Club has brought to what is considered to be a neglected part of Hemel Hempstead.
Club President, Aspi Dimitrov, said: “Many see Grovehill as a developing area in
While awaiting a decision from Dacorum Borough Council, Herts Baseball Club has been working hard to raise funds for the second stage of development which will involve the resurfacing of the turf designated for the second baseball diamond. The head of sponsorship at the club, Marty Cullen, has already signed a contract for the club with BMW and MINI as official sponsors of Herts Baseball Club and the Herts Baseball Little League, respectively. The value of the sponsorship is a four-digit sum which has brought the club closer to reaching the target for stage 2 of development.
Additionally, a Fundraising Forum has been established by members and volunteers connected with the club and this is already bearing fruit with various fund-raising events already scheduled this year.
These are exciting times for Herts Baseball Club and for the local community with a rising number of residents getting involved. To accommodate this growth the club is relying on receiving a go-ahead from the local government. Members of the club are holding their breath in anticipation of the decision from Dacorum Borough Council.
BROKEN HERTS: THE ROAD TO REDEMPTION
It feels like an eternity since the Falcons were last in the Premiere League. The 2006 season started well enough as Herts took an early 3-1 record – good enough for second place in the standings. What followed was nothing less than disastrous. The Falcons failed to perform week after week, and a precipitous 13-game losing streak saw Herts slide to 11 games under .500.
No one thing was to blame. Rather, a combination of weak offence, lackluster pitching, error-laden defence and managerial turnover meant that every Falcon donned his pessimism at some point between buttoning up his jersey and lacing up his cleats. We simply could do no good.
September brought closure to the losing season… but also a crucial relegation playoff game against the lower division's second place team, the Burgess Hill Colts. In a dramatic (and all-too-predictable) finale to 2006, Herts took an early lead only to see it squandered by sloppy defensive errors. In the bottom of the ninth-inning with the game tied at 12, Herts loaded the bases (for the second time that inning), but the Gods were not smiling on Hertfordshire that day and the game-winning run was stranded just 90 feet from home plate. Burgess Hill's Gary Davison struck out 16 in his complete game win… Herts lost the game 13-12 in 10-innings… and the Falcons were relegated to BBF Division 1.
Defeat was snatched from the jaws of victory.
2007 became a rebuilding year. Under new management the Falcons retooled, retrained, and recovered from the embarrassment of their demotion. Weaker opposing pitching and immeasurable defensive strides led to an 18-2 record, a Division 1 Championship, and automatic re-promotion to the newly-christened BBF AAA (formerly the Premiere League).
But the lessons of 2006 have been drilled into our skulls with the force of a 90-mph heater. Nothing has been taken for granted… and complacency has no quarter. From mid-January 2008 the Herts Baseball Club has been conditioning, training, and emphasising player development. Club President Aspi Dimitrov manufactured a Spring Training League – akin to its Cactus and Grapefruit cousins in America – so the Falcons could flex some muscle well before Opening Day. Dimitrov even invited Herts’ onetime nemeses to take part – the Burgess Hill Colts.
The teams clashed horns in vintage style. Again with Colts hurler Gary Davison on the mound, the Falcons played tug-of-war ushering an 8-8 tie into the final inning. But this was a new year… and a new team. The Falcons connected for five runs in the 7th and walked away from the diamond with their heads high and their newfound optimism soundly intact.
Now comes the test of time – the great equaliser in baseball. Will the Falcons maintain their control and confidence week-in and week-out…? Can they keep their players healthy and off the disabled list…? Will they roll with the inevitable punches that undoubtedly lie in store…? Or will the bitter taste of a single defeat send the squad into an all-too-familiar tailspin from which they cannot recover…?
Yogi Berra said, “If you don't know where you're going, you'll end up somewhere else.” Ask any Herts player, and he'll tell you that – this year – all roads lead to a winning season. No bags are packed. There's no need. The Falcons plan to stay put.
FANTASY FUNDRAISING: MANAGE YOUR WAY INTO ‘COOPERSTOWN’
Herts Baseball Club has teamed up with Scotthall Watford MINI to commission a Fox Sports Fantasy Baseball League with a very valuable prize for the 2008 Champion.
The HBC Fantasy Baseball League is your chance to run your very own MLB Ball Club. You draft and trade your players, pick your best line-up and manage your team to glory…or failure.
But you must hurry. The 2008 MLB Opening Day is less than 6 days away and all participants must sign up in time for the LIVE online draft at 9pm this Sunday, 30 March, when all the team owners will be online to select their 24-man roster from the entire spectrum of MLB players (American League and National League). The clock is ticking so don’t miss out.
(Don't worry: if you can't make the draft the Fox Fantasy system will select a team for you from all the available MLB stars based on their 2007 season performances.)
For details of the winning prize and how to join the League please click on the link below:
http://www.hertsbaseball.com/fantasy/
The cost to enter the race is £15. All proceeds go to the Herts Development Fund, and will be used to further the building of a second diamond and permanent outfield fence.
Join the League now. The League Commissioner is waiting to register your MLB franchise and the Live Online Draft looms large.