Category: Featured

by Herts Baseball News Editor

He is back!

The Herts Falcons are preparing for a massive 2019 season in the National Baseball League (NBL) and the European Federation Cup. They have started their preparations with a bang by announcing the return of two-time NBL Champion, Jarrod Pretorius. The 33-year-old slugger was a member of the Falcons in 2017 but they missed him last year. He is back for what is expected to be an unforgettable year for Herts and British baseball as a whole, which will feature the MLB London Series.

Pretorius was a key member of the Harlow Nationals team which dominated the NBL winning it in 2011, 2012 and 2013. Many would argue that if he was not with the Nationals, the Falcons would have become NBL Champions in 2012. In Game 6 of the NBL Final it was Jarrod Pretorius’ 3-run home run after a memorable at bat versus pitcher Ryan Bird which proved to be the difference in the Nationals’ 6-3 title-clinching win.

In that year the South African was also voted as the NBL’s Most Valuable Player (MVP). In 2013 he was once again instrumental when the Nationals eliminated the Falcons in the NBL Semi-Final at Farnham Park.

A look at the NBL archives from the 2012 and 2013 season shows Pretorius leading in various statistical categories, including best batting average (.500) and slugging average (.760) in 2012, NBL Third Base Gold Glove in 2012 and First Base Gold Glove in 2013.

In 2015 he signed for the Tubingen Hawks in the German Bundesliga. In a key game he suffered an injury. This kept him out of the game, but he made his comeback with Herts in 2017. He marked his Falcons debut with a home run on Opening Day and he also dented the car of one of his teammates. We can’t wait to see what he will do on his second debut for the club.

Adult and youth players, from beginners to advanced players, are now registering for the 2019 baseball season. For more details about how to join any of the Herts adult and youth baseball and softball teams or to try baseball at an upcoming open session, please contact us.

by Herts Baseball News Editor

Herts announce their new baseball ballpark in NW London

The home of the newly unveiled Herts Londoners baseball team will be Basing Hill Ballpark in North West London. The announcement was made at Herts Baseball Club’s Annual General Meeting.

The first baseball game at the venue will be the team’s home opener of the 2019 BBF league season. The club is yet to confirm which league tier of the British Baseball Federation the Londoners will enter.  They indicated that the team managers will assess the potential rosters in order to make the final decision just before the league-entry deadline on 31 January and will announce it publicly shortly after that.

Apart from baseball for adults, the venue will also offer baseball for boys and girls with teams playing in the BBF youth baseball leagues.

The dimensions of the diamond are slightly larger than those of Diamond One at the club’s existing ballpark in Hemel Hempstead. The baseball-specific field components will be added gradually so the venue will be taking shape over the next few months.

Basing Hill Ballpark is located within walking distance of two London Underground stations. It also benefits from numerous bus services and a ThamesLink train station. Major roads such as the M1, A41 and A406 North Circular Road cross next to Basing Hill which will make it easily accessible not only for the local community but for anyone in and around London. It is a 25-minute drive from Hemel Hempstead which opens the opportunity for Herts youth teams based in NW London to play league games with their counterparts from Hemel Hempstead.

Herts players showcasing baseball at Clitterhouse Playing Fields in July 2018

The club started its expansion into NW London in 2014 by establishing its satellite baseball club at Whitefield School which developed into a school baseball league involving teams from schools around NW London and Hertfordshire. At the same time the club worked with the London Borough of Barnet and local Councillors in a bid to add baseball to the nearby Clitterhouse Playing Fields, which is part of the Brent Cross Regeneration project. In 2016 Barnet Council selected the developer for the Brent Cross South project. Herts has taken part in various stages of the project, including consultation workshops and more recently an event at Clitterhouse Playing Fields in July 2018 where various sports were showcased. Herts baseball received positive feedback from the public and the Youth Sports Trust at that event.

Basing Hill Ballpark in relation to Clitterhouse Playing Fields and the wider Brent Cross South project

The response from the Brent Cross South developers has also been encouraging and the club is continuing its efforts to include baseball and softball at Clitterhouse Playing Fields. Club president, Aspi Dimitrov, said that “the Brent Cross South project is expected to commence at the end of 2020, which is why it was necessary to fast track the opening of Basing Hill Ballpark this year in order to have the capacity in NW London to accommodate the anticipated increase in participants thanks to the upcoming league games between the Boston Red Sox and the New York Yankees as part of the MLB London Series”. Clitterhouse Playing Fields  is located just 300m from Basing Hill Ballpark which would mean that large baseball and softball tournaments can be staged with games being played at both venues at the same time.

“Expanding Grovehill Ballpark in Hemel Hempstead in 2010 brought incredible energy to our club and gave us the opportunity to grow. We hope that this new baseball venue in NW London will be equally successful” said Dimitrov.

Adult and youth players, from beginners to advanced players, are now registering for the 2019 baseball season. For more details about how to join any of the Herts adult and youth baseball and softball teams or to try baseball at an upcoming open session, please contact us. You can now follow the Herts Londoners on Twitter.

London has a new baseball team
by Herts Baseball News Editor

London has a new baseball team


Earlier this evening, at its 22nd Annual General Meeting, Herts Baseball Club unveiled its first London-based team. At a packed venue it was announced that the name of the team will be the Herts Londoners.

In deciding the name, the club opted to retain its established brand name, Herts, symbolising its origins, while at the same time the team’s moniker, Londoners, signifies its new geographic location. Over the years Herts teams have featured a large number of players from North West London, but this new team will welcome not only these existing Herts players, but, more importantly, it aims to give playing opportunities to everyone in North West London who is interested to play baseball but until now has not had a team located near them and has found it difficult to travel to the club’s existing baseball complex in Hemel Hempstead.

This additional club base will give Herts extra flexibility and greater capacity to accommodate players of all levels from complete beginners to players of the highest calibre. The MLB London Series between the Boston Red Sox and the New York Yankees will be played on 29 and 30 June, but it is already having a positive effect in attracting new players to the club. The team managers will need to show foresight and leave extra room in their rosters so that they have the capacity to accommodate the surge in demand from new players as we get closer to the London Series.

The Herts Londoners will be wearing the traditional white uniform with the red Herts letters on the chest and the red letter “H” on their black baseball caps. The team’s logo also reflects these established branding features and the Club’s colours of red, white and black.

The 31 January deadline for team entries in the various leagues of the British Baseball Federation (BBF) is fast-approaching. The Club did not reveal at this stage which BBF league tier the Londoners will be entering, but it will announce this on or around the deadline day. After that, the focus will turn to the 2019 Season Opening Day in April and the first ever game in the history of this team.

Stay tuned for our next article which will include all the facts and details of the ballpark in North West London which will be the home of the Herts Londoners.

For more details about how to join any of the Herts adult and youth baseball and softball teams or to try baseball at an upcoming open session, please contact us. You can now follow the Herts Londoners on Twitter.

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 Herts Baseball News Editor

Herts Falcons to play in Bulgaria in their European Fed Cup Qualifier

Russtar Arena in Moscow, one of the Fed Cup qualifier venues

The opponents of the Herts Falcons in their 2019 European Federations Cup Qualifier have been announced by the Confederation of European Baseball (CEB). The majority of them are teams from Central and Eastern Europe, with one each from Scandinavia and the Baltic.

This will be the Falcons’ debut in continental club competitions. They booked their European place after finishing as National Baseball League (NBL) runners-up in 2018, losing to the London Mets in the Final. The Mets are also one of the 12 teams who will be competing in this Qualifier.

The games will be played on June 10 to 15, 2019. The two cities which have been awarded the right to host the Federations Cup Qualifiers are the Russian capital, Moscow, and Blagoevgrad in South Western Bulgaria. Herts have been assigned to Blagoevgrad.

It’s a city 60 miles from Sofia, the cultural centre of its region. There are two universities, so plenty of cafes and restaurants, and it hosts several music festivals. The Blagoevgrad Buffaloes baseball team have won a string of national titles.

While Herts would have welcomed the chance to go to one of the host cities of the very successful 2018 World Cup in Russia, Bulgaria is the preferred option from a financial perspective. The Herts Falcons will be raising money to help fund this amazing opportunity, and fans and players alike will be working hard to do that.

Federations Cup Qualifier Lineup
Pool 1 – Moscow, Russia, June 10 – 15, 2019

1) London Mets (GBR)
2) KS Silesia Rybnik (POL)
3) Apollo Bratislava (SVK)
4) Russtar Moscow (RUS)
5) Sofia Blues (BUL)
6) Kaunas County (LTU)

Pool 2 – Blagoevgrad, Bulgaria, June 10 – 15, 2019

1) Herts Falcons (GBR)
2) Athletic Sofia (BUL)
3) Solvesborg Firehawks (SWE)
4) Utenos Titanai (LTU)
5) CS Atletico Alexandria (ROM)
6) UKS Deby Osielso (POL)

 

The home of the Blagoevgrad Buffaloes

If British baseball clubs make progress in these international competitions they can look forward to competing in the Champions Cup and the CEB Cup alongside the highest ranked European clubs.

Champions Cup Lineup
Bologna, Italy, June 4 – 8, 2019

1) Curacao Neptunus (NED)
2) L&D Amsterdam (NED)
3) Unipolsai Fortitudo Bologna (ITA)
4) A.S.D. Rimini (ITA)
5) Bonn Capitals (GER)
6) Ostrava Arrows (CZE)
7) Rouen Huskies (FRA)
8) Deurne Spartans (BEL)

CEB Cup Lineup
Brno, Czech Republic, June 5 – 9, 2019

1) Heidenheim Heidekoepfe (GER)
2) Draci Brno (CZE)
3) Valencia Astros (ESP)
4) Zuerich Challengers (SUI)
5) Montigny Cougars (FRA)
6) KNTU Kropivnytsky
7) Minsk (BLR)
8) Vindija Varazdin (CRO)

Federations Cup Lineup
Karlovac, Croatia, June 10 – 15, 2019

1) Dornbirn Indians (AUT)
2) Vienna Metrostars (AUT)
3) Olimpija Karlovac (CRO)
4) Therwil Flyers (SUI)
5) Leksand (SWE)
6) Borgerhout Squirrels (BEL)

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 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 Herts Baseball News Editor

Adult and youth players now registering for the 2019 Herts baseball and softball season

Player registration for the 2019 season has commenced.

ADULT BASEBALL LEAGUES

Last season three Herts teams entered the BBF senior baseball leagues. How many teams will represent Herts in 2019? The next few weeks will be critical to see how many players will register to play for Herts in 2019 and on the basis of this the club will decide how many teams to enter before the BBF league entry deadline, and which leagues the teams will play in.

 

KEY DATES – ADULT TEAMS

February – players report for indoor Spring Training

March – first open-air training session of 2019

23-24 March – Start of the 2019 Herts Spring League (subject to confirmation of the BBF League Opening Day)*

23-24 March – Great Britain National Team Tryouts (senior and youth teams)

7 April – BBF National Baseball League and Triple-A League Opening Day (subject to confirmation)*

14 April – BBF Double-A and Single-A League Opening Day (subject to confirmation)*

May-August – Midweek Evening Baseball

10-16 June – Herts Falcons in the European Federation Cup

29-30 June – MLB London Series (See details below)

August-September* – BBF 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 BASEBALL LEAGUES

The British Baseball Federation launched the Super League in 2017. It enhanced the youth baseball regular season and it is expected to be even more exciting in 2019. Many of our youth players will be moving up to the next age group to face a different challenge in 2019. They will be joined by the new players who are joining the club every week. The Herts youth teams welcome boys and girls aged between 4 and 17 from complete beginners to experienced players.

KEY DATES – YOUTH TEAMS

February – U18, U15, U13 and U11 players report for indoor Spring Training

March – first open-air training session of 2019

23-24 March – Great Britain National Team Tryouts (senior and youth teams)

April – U8 players report for their first session

7-14 April – U18, U15, U13, U11, U8 Season Opening Day*

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

29-30 June – MLB London Series (See details below)

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

September – National Youth Baseball Championships (U18, U15, U13, U11)

September – Herts Futures Tournament (U18, U15, U13, U11, U8)

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

SOFTBALL

In 2017 Herts Baseball Club launched its softball programme which has enabled 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.

Softball Spring Training will commence in February. The first few sessions will be indoors. 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. These will be followed by indoor softball pre-season games. 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.

MLB LONDON SERIES – BASEBALL IS COMING HOME

In case you have not heard, the Boston Red Sox and New York Yankees will be playing two MLB official league games on 29 and 30 June 2019 in London. This is the first time that MLB games will be staged in Europe. Various events and activities will take place as part of the MLB London Series and details will be announced in due course.  For now, baseball fans are advised to pre-register not later than 4:59 pm on 29 November 2018 in order to be eligible to access pre-sale tickets when they go on sale at 10:00 am on Monday, 3 December 2019. Click here for full details.

FIRST LONDON-BASED HERTS TEAM IN THE BBF LEAGUES

The first Herts baseball team based in North West London is set to make its BBF League debut in 2019. The club is in the process of securing the NW London ballpark and putting all of the components together in order to unveil the team in time for Opening Day. 2019 Player Registration has just commenced (see details below). The online registration form will ask each adult and youth player to indicate whether they prefer to play their home league games in Hemel Hempstead or in NW London, or whether they would be happy with either. This will provide vital information to club management about how to go about forming the first team which will play in NW London without affecting existing teams based in Hemel Hempstead.

HOW TO REGISTER FOR THE 2019 HERTS BASEBALL AND SOFTBALL SEASON

Herts Baseball Club has commenced the 2019 registration process for adult and youth players. For those who already have a Herts Online Clubhouse 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 a Herts online account will be able to register as members by completing this form. For more details about joining our teams in 2019 click here or contact us.

by Herts Baseball News Editor

How to buy tickets for the Yankees v Red Sox in London next year


NEW YORK YANKEES v BOSTON RED SOX
Saturday 29 June 2019, 6:10 pm British Summer Time
Sunday 30 June 2019, 3:10 pm British Summer Time
London Stadium, Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, London E20 2ST

A trip to see the Boston Red Sox and the New York Yankees slug it out IN LONDON next June might be the most exciting Christmas present ever!

Hot off the press, here are some important guidelines released by Major League Baseball on about securing tickets for these games. Tickets will sell out very quickly – so please read carefully to maximise your chances of getting some.

BUYING TICKETS
There will be two opportunities to secure tickets, and priority will be given to those who have Pre-Registered.

To Pre-Register for advanced ticket access, go to mlb.com/londonseries.

  • You have until 4:59 pm on 29 November 2018 to sign up.
  •  Advanced access to tickets will start at 10.00 am GMT on Monday 3 December 2018.
  •  If you have signed up, you will receive an email before 3 December containing a unique code and instructions on how to purchase tickets.  The code cannot be shared with others.
  •  Pre-registered fans can purchase up to eight single tickets across the two games.  The code may be used multiple times, but once you have purchased the maximum number of tickets it will cease to work.
  •  If you wish to purchase additional tickets, you can do so when general sale tickets are released at 10.00 am GMT on Thursday 6 December.

NOTE 1:  Pre-Registering does not guarantee ticket availability and therefore does not guarantee tickets to the games.

NOTE 2:  If you pre-registered for tickets when these games were first announced earlier this year, you do not need to register again.

General sale tickets will be available from 10.00 am GMT on Thursday 6 December 2018, sold through Ticketmaster.

For all purchases, you are likely to need a new Ticketmaster account.  Existing Ticketmaster.com accounts cannot be used.  You can set up an account at www.ticketmaster.co.uk/member now, which will save you time at checkout.

CHOOSING SEATS

  • Tickets will vary in price depending on where you choose to sit.
  • Single tickets will range from £30 to £320.
  • The Red Sox are the ‘home’ team for both games.
  • The Boston Red Sox will be occupying the dugout along the first base line, to the right of home plate.
  • The New York Yankees will be occupying the dugout along the third base line, to the left of home plate.

For further details on the London Series, fan events and activities around the games, check out mlb.com/londonseries and https://twitter.com/mlblondonseries.

by Herts Baseball News Editor

Pressure is on for Herts to unveil NW London ballpark in time for 2019 Opening Day

While the United Kingdom is gripped by the drama of Brexit, Herts Baseball Club is working frantically to secure and unveil its venue in North West London to host BBF adult and youth league games in time for the start of the 2019 season. Opening Day is on 7 April 2019 which is just a week after the UK is scheduled to leave the European Union so it is expected to be a Bexit-like race against the clock.

The club was founded in 1996 and over the years has developed Grovehill Ballpark in Hemel Hempstead into one of the best baseball venues in the country with support from Sport England, BaseballSoftballUK, Dacorum Borough Council and other partners. At its Annual General Meeting ahead of the 2013 season, the club recognised the need to expand into North West London to accommodate not only the large number of existing London-based club members, but also to welcome new players from that densely-populated part of London who struggle to commute to Hemel Hempstead.

As a first step, a satellite baseball club was established in Whitefield School in 2014 running baseball sessions and games as part of a school baseball league involving schools from around North West London and Hertfordshire.

In a press conference on 8 May 2018 London Mayor, Sadiq Khan, and MLB Commissioner, Rob Manfred, announced that the New York Yankees and the Boston Red Sox will play two official league games at the London Stadium on 29 and 30 June 2019. The London Series is part of MLB’s efforts to market Major League Baseball around the globe and to promote the development of baseball as a world and Olympic sport.

The announcement prompted Herts Baseball Club to accelerate the timetable for the creation of a baseball venue in North West London. This year the Club ran a series of events in NW London giving the local community the opportunity to come and try baseball. The participation levels and feedback from the public have been positive.

Ceremonial first pitch at the unveiling of the second diamond of Grovehill Ballpark in 2010.

The project is into the critical stage of negotiating to secure the venue where the first London-based Herts team will make its BBF league debut. “There are only 143 days until the 2019 BBF Opening Day so the pressure is on” said club president, Aspi Dimitrov, who was realistic that “it will take several years for us to have a fully-developed ballpark, but the key for 2019 is to have a diamond which meets the requirements to stage BBF adult and youth league games so that we are ready for the arrival of MLB and the anticipated increase in the number of players interested to play baseball.”

The club will shortly be launching its 2019 player registration. The online registration form will ask each player to indicate whether they prefer to play their home league games in Hemel Hempstead or in NW London, or whether they would be happy with either. This will provide vital information to club management about how to go about forming the first team which will play in NW London without affecting existing teams based in Hemel Hempstead. Team managers will also use the information to decide which BBF League the NW London team will enter.

Whether this is baseball, football or another sport, the prospect of opening a new venue always brings excitement. The club already experienced this back in 2010 when the second diamond was added to Grovehill Ballpark and gave it the capacity to achieve further growth and success on and off the field of play.