White Lightning was missing several of its big guns in Sunday’s opening games of the Hunlock Series including their trio of NBL players from South Africa, Bird, Pretorius and Tretheway. They had a difficult start losing 13-4 against the Roosters. Despite this the team showed a lot of character to turn it around. They battled hard in the next two games and came agonisingly close to picking up a win. They lost both games by 1-run but the players who have mainly Single-A or Double-A experience really raised their game against opponents featuring NBL superstars.

Stand-in manager, Theo Scheepers, and Reagan Wood were instrumental in turning the team around after the early setback.

The Lightning find themselves bottom of the Hunlock Series standings with no wins and 3 losses. But those who are writing them off at such an early stage should think again.

They may prefer to keep it quite, but they are expecting their big stars to be back for this Sunday’s second round of Hunlock Series games. This includes players who played in the NBL this season like, Ryan Bird, Andy Cornish and Lee Manning. This, added to the players who battled on Sunday could give the team the winning formula.

 

Sunday’s Hunlock Series games included the official introduction of cricket-sensation Guv Bhangal, who is a neighbour of Darrin Ward and decided to give baseball a try in the Hunlock Series. Bhangal has played some cricket in the past but had never held a baseball bat in his hands before Sunday. In a Roy Hobbs-like moment he stepped up for his first at bat and launched the ball over the outfield fence for a home run. Many experienced baseball players spend many seasons before they manage to hit their first home run. It took Bhangal only 1 at bat, which is sensational but not unprecedented.

In 2007 cricket player Dan Kerry made his baseball debut for Herts against the Milton Keynes Hurricanes. On the mound for the Hurricanes was baseball legend Darrin Ward. The first pitch to Kerry hit him in the ribs, but he was adjudged to have swung so the at bat continued. On the second pitch Dan Kerry hit a towering home run which travelled around 390 feet over the left centerfield wall of the old diamond at Grovehill. Dan Kerry went on to try out for the Great Britain National Baseball Team. Will Guv Bhangal end up being monitored by the GB Team scouts?

Bhangal introduced himself to Herts baseball club in the best possible way and he proved that the home run was not a fluke with display of more power later in the day driving the ball hard down the left field line for a double. What will “the Natural” have up his sleeve next Sunday?

 

The first week of Hunlock Series games produced some very close encounters with 4 of the 6 games being decided by 1 run. At the end of the day 3 teams are tied at the top of the standings.

WHITE LIGHTNING 4 RED ROOSTERS 13 (click to view box scores)

The Red Roosters started strongly with a convincing 13-4 win against White Lightning. Their first round pick, Nick Russell, produced another solid performance on the mound. The scoreline would suggest that he had the support from the team’s batting lineup, but in fact White Lightning outhit them 6-4 with Lucas Lattergrass (3-3) and Craig Le Roux (1-2 2B) standing out from the Lightning lineup. It was walks and errors which proved very costly for White Lightning otherwise the game could have been very different.

BLUE DOGS 5 BLACK WIDOWS 6

The Black Widows are a team managed by the Herts U17 team manager, Cris Hiche, who adopted a clear strategy during the Draft of putting together the U17 team. We understand that before Sunday’s games Hiche was desperately trying to pick up the other youth players who ended up in the rosters of other teams, but to no avail as rival managers seemed reluctant to make a deal. With so many young players in the Black Widows’ lineup it was a major upset that they managed to beat the experience and power of the Blue Dogs in a dramatic 6-5 walk-off win.

RED ROOSTERS 4 BLUE DOGS 5 (click to view box scores)

The Blue Dogs bounced back against the Red Roosters in what was billed as the clash of the day. The two teams featured the highest number of NBL players and both managers chose NBL pitchers to pitch in this matchup – Darrin Ward for the Dogs and Kevin Niedringhaus for the Roosters. Both pitchers dominated allowing only 1 earned run each with Ward striking out 8 through 4 innings and Niedringhaus 7 over 3 innings.

Ward also helped himself with a home run in that game holding on for the win despite a late Roosters’ rally.

BLACK WIDOWS 3 WHITE LIGHTNING 2 (click to view box scores)

White Lightning regrouped and produced an outstanding performance against the Black Widows. The team picked up Lucas Lattergrass and Perrie Sherman from the free agents block just 24 hours before this game and started as catcher and pitcher, respectively. They provided the stability they needed after a rough ride in the earlier game. The defence behind them was also much improved with only 1 error in the game. They took a 2-0 lead going into the late innings, but the Widows came back with several quality at bats including Duncan Hoyle and Kyle Lloyd-Jones making good contact in consecutive at bats to drive ground balls to the right side of the infield allowing runners from third base to score and tie the game at 2-2. In the last inning the Widows scored the go-ahead run without a single hit in the inning but with some productive at bats. Cris Hiche came on to pinch hit working a lead-off walk to get on base and the team brought him home to score with several productive at bats. The loss was very harsh on White Lightning, but the young Widows are certainly showing maturity of seasoned professionals. Jake Caress came in relief with a 1-run lead and he closed the game without showing any nerves in a tense situation.

BLACK WIDOWS 2 RED ROOSTERS 8 (click to view box scores)

Red Roosters ended Black Widows’ 100% record with an 8-2 win. Rob Jones, Lima Green, kevin Niedringhaus, Carlos Casal and Nick Russell all recording a hit, but it was new recruit Matthew Cox who got the biggest cheer after flying around the bases on a hit to left field to score with an inside-the-park-homerun.

WHITE LIGHTNING 14 BLUE DOGS 15

With both teams running low on pitchers this proved to be a high-scoring game. White Lightning once again came agonisingly close to winning but lost a second consecutive 1-run game. The win put the Blue Dogs in a three-way tie at the top of the standings.

Stand-out players of the weekend:

Guv Bhangal – his home run in his first ever baseball game has provided enough material for a Hollywood movie. Guv Bhangal introduced himself to Herts baseball club in the best possible way and he proved that the home run was not a fluke with display of more power later in the day. What will “the Natural” have up his sleeve next Sunday.

Lucas Lattergrass – provided much-needed stability for White Lightning in the absence of some of the team’s more experienced players. The team was down after a bad loss in the opening game of the day, but Lattergrass, aong with Theo Scheepers and Reagan Wood, had a calming influence and offered words of encouragement and constructive advice for his team mates.

Jake Caress and Cris Hiche – impressive pitching outing for both. No runs, no walks, and no hits allowed by them.

 

Despite glorious weather over the last few days, heavy and prolonged rain combined with strong winds is expected to reach London and Hertfordshire on Sunday, 23 September. This leaves Herts Baseball Club with no other option but to postpone the opening round of games in the 2012 Hunlock Series.

The four teams will have to wait until next Sunday, 30 September, to get the Series under way.

A little earlier today it was confirmed that just 24 hours after the Draft, the team managers have completed the first player trade of the Series. White Lightning have traded first-baseman, Gary Armstrong, to the Black Widows for third-baseman and key member of the Herts Hawks, Seth Lipstock.

We understand that various other player transactions are currently being discussed between team offiicials.  We will keep you updated as soon as any transactions are confirmed.

Last night, after the end of the GB vs Canada WBC qualifying game, the Herts Baseball TV Channel had live coverage of the 2012 Hunlock Series Draft. The managers of the four teams had a plethora of talent to choose form with 82 players drafted over 21 rounds.

THE FIRST ROUND PICKS

On a toss of a coin the Blue Dogs were given the first pick. Standing in for manager John Kjorstad was Duncan Hoyle and without hesitation announced that the first pick of the 2012 Hunlock Series Draft is Herts Falcons pitcher and first baseman, Darrin Ward. “Darrin is a British Baseball legend” said Duncan Hoyle. He added: “In my time at the club he has always had time for some of the younger and newer players at the club and he will have very positive influence on some of the less experienced players who will be added to the Blue Dogs roster”.

Next it was the turn of the Black Widows to make their first pick. Manager Cris Hiche chose Herts U17 third baseman, Kyle Lloyd-Jones. “I have had the pleasure of working with Kyle this year. This is his last year in the U17 league and he is ready to make the step up to the adult leagues. I think he is going to be one of the stars of the Series”.

Red Roosters Manager, Ken Pike, decided to go with one of the most reliable pitchers in the country, Nick Russell. “He keeps delivering year-after-year and we need stability on the mound” said Pike.

By virtue of White Lightning having appointed their 3 co-managers, Dave Tretheway, Jarrod Pretorius and Ryan Bird, they were restricted from picking in the first few rounds of the Draft. When they came to make their first unrestricted pick, co-manager, Ryan Bird, confirmed Herts Eagles pitcher, Theo Scheepers, as their first pick. “I have worked with Theo over the last few weeks in the softball project which Herts is running together with BSUK and he is a great guy to have in the team. He also comes from South Africa like the three co-managers of White Lightning so it is good to pick some local talent” said Bird.

If you missed the 2012 Hunlock Series Live Draft Show, you can watch it on demand (click to view)

FREE AGENTS AND TRADES

The full team rosters determined at last night’s draft are shown here. Several more players have become available as free agents after the draft and they will be drafted in due course. We will keep you updated about free agent signings and trades over the four weeks of the series.

OPENING DAY

The Series commence on Sunday, 23 September, with all 4 teams in action from 1pm at Grovehill Ballpark in Hemel Hempstead. For complete Series schedule click here.

 

With the news that all World Baseball Classic games will be shown live on ESPN America and on the internet, free of charge, and in view of the Team GB playing against Canada on Thursday, 20 September, the LIVE Draft for the 2012 Hunlock Series will be moved back by approximately 1 hour and will now commence at around 8:30pm or as soon as Team GB’s game against Canada ends.

This is the biggest game in years for the Great Britain National team. A place in the World Baseball Classic (WBC) is up for grabs and if the team qualifies for the prestigious WBC, this could be an amazing boost for British Baseball. Playing on the biggest international stage will bring substantial publicity and televised games could attract new players to the game of baseball in this country. Another potential benefit could come in the form of a financial boost for the British Baseball Federation as all qualifying national federations are exected to receive fees for qualifying.

The game will commence at 6pm UK time and is expected to end at around 8:30pm or 9:00pm. As soon as it ends we will join Herts Baseball TV host, Ken Pike, and special guests for the 2012 Hunlock Series Draft.

Over 80 players have already signed up to play in the Series. Who will be the first round picks for the teams?

It will be shown on the Herts Baseball TV channel (click to view). Viewers will be able to interact using the ChatZone on the right-side of the TV screen.

Note: For players who wish to play in the Series but have missed the deadline for the Draft, they can still register and be added to the team rosters from the trading/free agent block.