Category: Featured

by Herts Baseball News Editor

Herts U16 and U13 baseball teams going for the National Championship this weekend

Since publishing this article Saturday’s games were cancelled due to rain.  We are expecting confirmation of the revised games schedule for Sunday.

The Herts Hawks brought the Single-A League National Championship trophy back from Farnham Park last Sunday. This weekend it’s the turn of the Herts youth teams as they go into the Under-16 and Under-13 National Baseball Championship.

HERTS KITES (U16)

The Herts U16 team has been given the toughest draw possible as they face the London Mets U16 on Saturday in the Semi-Final. Back in 2013 Herts were in exactly the same situation facing the London Mets in the Semi-Final with the odds stacked heavily against them, but they overcame the Mets in an unforgettable 6-4 win. In 2013 the name of the Herts U17 team was the Herts Harriers. This year the age groups were realigned from U17 to U16 and manager Andrew Fulford and his team have just announced that they will enter the National Baseball Championships with the team name Herts Kites, named after the bird of prey in the family Accipitridae which can be seen regularly flying over Grovehill Ballpark, the home of Herts Baseball Club.

If the Herts Kits win their semi-final on Saturday they will face either LYBL or London Sports in the final later on the same day.

U16 SCHEDULE

Saturday, 10 September 2016

9:30am, Semi-Final: Herts Kites (U16) @ London Mets (U16) (on Field 1)

11:30am, U16 Skills Competition

1:30pm, Semi-Final: London Sports (U16) @ LYBL (U16) (on Field 1)

4:30pm, Final: SF1 Winner vs SF2 Winner (on Field 1)

HERTS (U13)

The Herts U13 team also has a difficult task if they are to reach the National Final. They will face London Sports and London Mets in the qualifying round on Saturday. From the five teams in that round the team finishing last will be eliminated and the remaining four will go through to the Semi-Finals on Sunday, with the Semi-Final winners facing each other to determine the 2016 U13 National Champions.

Manager Mike Wakelam and the rest of the Herts U13 coaching staff know that this is going to be a major challenge for the team, but they know that the team is capable of beating any of the top seeds this weekend.

U13 SCHEDULE

Saturday, 10 September 2016

Qualifying Round

12:00pm Herts (U13) @ London Sports (U13) (on Field 3)

2:30pm U13 Skills Competition

4:30pm, Herts (U13) @ London Mets (U13) (on Field 3)

 

Sunday, 11 September 2016

9:30am, Semi Final: 4th seed @ 1st seed (on Field 2)

12:00am, Semi Final: 3rd seed @ 2nd seed (on Field 2)

3:00pm, Final: Lower seed @ Higher seed (on Field 2)

VENUE

All games will be played at the Farnham Park National Baseball and Softball Complex in Slough (Beaconsfield Road,Slough,SL2 3BP).

 

by Herts Baseball News Editor

Invincible Herts Hawks are Single-A National Champions

Herts Hawks lifted the Single-A National Championship trophy at the weekend to complete a perfect season in which they won all of their 18 games this year. They made their qualification to the postseason look effortless totally dominating their Single-A division in the regular season. However, they needed every last ounce of energy to prevail in the postseason.

The Semi-Final: London Musketeers 4 Herts Hawks 5

Ahead of the Semi-Final against the London Musketeers the Hawks had done their scouting homework largely thanks to the fact that their sister team the Herts Raptors faced them during the regular season. London’s ace pitcher was Billy Atkinson-Warne with a regular season ERA of 2.35 which is unheard-of in the Single-A league. But their success was not only due to pitching. They have been a very strong defensive unit with a potent offence.

The Hawks started with player-manager Greg Bochan on the mound. His win-loss record for the year was 5-0. In the top of the 1st inning it looked like the Hawks were going to strand London’s runners on second and third base with a ground ball which third baseman Jon Lewys fielded cleanly and with a runner approaching him from second base it looked easier to simply tag him than to get the third out at first base. However, with great agility, the runner very cleverly managed to avoid the tag long enough to enable the runner from third base to step on home plate just before Lewys applied the tag to end the inning.

London added two more runs to make the score 3-1 after two innings. With London’s strong defence the Hawks could not afford to concede any more runs. Bochan dug deep and over the next four innings shut down the Musketeers’ offence completely not allowing any runs, with the help of outstanding defence from his teammates including a diving catch by centerfielder Andy Cornish. Cornish also fired up the Hawks’ offence leading off with a single and coming around to reduce London’s lead to 3-2 in the fourth inning.

The game was entering the late innings and with Herts runners being stranded inning-after-inning they decided to take a risk. Sony Lama led-off the 6th inning with a single and went on to steal second and then third base against a strong-armed London catcher who had almost neutralized Herts’ running game up to this point. With Lama on third base, Cornish hit the ball deep for a triple to drive in the tying run. He was now on third with no outs, but pitcher Atkinson-Warne got out of this situation inducing two pop-ups in the infield and a strikeout to end the inning with the game tied 3-3.

Atkinson-Warne then took matters into his own hands in the 7th inning getting on base with a single and coming around to score putting the Musketeers in the lead again 4-3. This took the energy out of the Hawks, but only temporarily. They didn’t score any runs in the bottom of the 7th but in the top of the 8th catcher Hunter Devine produced a defensive display which reignited his team. He made two gold glove catches on pop-ups in the enormous foul territory of Farnham Park for the first two outs and followed that with an assist for the third out.

Despite trailing by a run the momentum was back with the Hawks as the game went into the bottom of the penultimate inning. Gilberto Medina singled and stole to put himself on second base. Jon Lewys then showed his power with a double which tied the game 4-4 and brought the noise level from the home bench even higher as Herts players found the top step of the dugout not quite high enough. With 1 out, Lewys advanced to third and came home to give the Hawks the lead for the first time in this game.

This left the Musketeers with just 3 outs to try to respond in the top of the 9th inning. From that point Greg Bochan took control from the mound. He closed the game with a strikeout, groundout and pop-out which he fielded himself to spark the wild celebrations.

The Final: Tonbridge Wildcats 9 Herts Hawks 20

The Hawks were still buzzing after Saturday’s semi-final, and there was an extra edge ahead of the final. A year ago Tonbridge eliminated the Hawks in the Semi-Final and there was a sense of defiance in the team from Herts not to slip up again at the final hurdles.

Both teams had brought a large number of travelling fans to Farnham Park who created the type of atmosphere which players thrive on in the postseason. Among the Herts fans were many former and current players of the club’s other teams, not to mention the Herts fans scattered around the world who were following game updates and posting comments of support thanks to the internet. There were also a large number of Guildford Mavericks and Guildford Millers fans which added to the occasion.

When the starting line-ups were announced it came as a major surprise to see Greg Bochan starting on the mound after having pitched a complete 9-inning game just 24 hours earlier. The Wildcats adopted the same strategy going with Jon Carter who pitched a complete game in the previous day’s Semi-Final win over the Durham Spartans. Usually a starting pitcher would need at least 2 or 3 days rest to recover before they can get on the mound again. But this was the last game of the season so the coaching staff of both teams essentially said to their starting pitchers “you will have the whole winter to rest”.

The Hawks got off the blocks much faster and took charge with a 10-1 lead after just 4 innings. Hits and quality at bats were coming from the top, middle and bottom of their batting lineup. Incredibly Greg Bochan was proving to be very effective despite signs of fatigue even during the pregame warm-up. The defence resumed their service behind him with more outstanding plays including a 5-3-6 double play involving Gilberto Medina, Jon Lewys and Louis Hare. The Hawks added 8 more runs in the 5th inning, but to the Wildcats’ credit they fought back scoring 3 runs in the fifth and 5 in the sixth inning. This wasn’t enough though and at the end the Hawks managed to win it without the nail-biting climax of Saturday’s semi-final.

The win was followed by wild celebrations at Farnham Park which continued late into the evening as the players, coaches and family members gathered for a celebratory dinner in St Albans.

This is the first national title for a Herts senior league team since the Herts Falcons won the club’s only other silverware when they became the Triple-A League National Champions in 2008, so it has been a long wait for Herts baseball fans.

It has been an unforgettable season for the Hawks, but this is not just because of winning the national championship. Co-managers Greg Bochan and Andrew Slater have managed to create such a fantastic atmosphere within the team that the team spirit would have been just as strong if they had lost every game this season. Even for the players who were left on the bench during these playoff games, this was always about being part of something bigger than just individuals playing baseball. There is a strong sense among the members of the team that this is more than just a baseball team and for them this is a second family.

2017 Season

So what’s next for the Herts Hawks? They dominated the League this year. Will they look for a challenge in the higher leagues of British baseball or will they go again in the Single-A League? The reluctance of some of the team members to go up to the Double-A League stems from the large number of double-headers which in this fast-changing world has put pressure on their ability to balance their family, work and baseball lives, but the hope is that the British Baseball Federation will recognize that this change is affecting every team and that a better balance can be struck by increasing the number of single games in the Double-A League.

 

by Rob Jones

Bochan gem, Hawks bats end Raptors dream

The Herts Hawks glittering season was polished further on Sunday by a powerful batting display which took them through to the national finals. They will play in the semis at Farnham Park next weekend in search of the Single-A title.

The downside for the club was that their victims were the Herts Raptors, who saw their own remarkable season come to an end. They had beaten the defending champions, Tonbridge, in their wildcard playoff, but the Hawks had too much for them.

Greg Bochan threw a complete game with 9 K’s

There were showers and clouds over Grovehill as the players prepared for this one. There were ceremonies and photos and good-natured joking. But the prize at stake made this serious for everyone.

The early stages of the game were tight. Co-manager Greg Bochan was on the mound for the home side, the Hawks, who went through the regular season undefeated. The Raptors lead-off man Michael Cresswell got aboard and manufactured an early run. But it was the only one.

The Hawks hit back with four runs, as they showed the power of their lineup. Hunter Devine scored first for them, after narrowly escaping a double play on the bases.

The Raptors defense limited the damage, and they uncorked their own offense in the shape of Matt Jackson. The centre fielder hit a triple, then came home on a pass ball, to cut the deficit.

The first rain delay soon interrupted proceedings. Showers would mix with downpours and only the odd burst of sunshine as the day went on.

Manny Banson at bat in the closing stages of the game

When the game resumed the Raptors took the lead, going up 5-4 by the middle of the third. Their starting pitcher Paul Barton had been keeping the Hawks in check, striking out one and giving up only one walk.

But when Gilberto Medina unloaded on a fast ball which strayed too close to the heart of the plate, it was a sign of what the Hawks could do. The line drive went over the left field fence in a flash and Medina was greeted at home plate by his team-mates.

The Raptors were blanked for the first time in the top of the fourth, and by the end of the inning it was 10-5 to the Hawks. Matt Jackson — who also made a series of crucial catches during the game — then hit his second triple of the day.

The gap narrowed to 10-7, then stretched again to 13-7 with Jon Lewys, Jamie Warren  and Greg Bochan piling up the hits.

Then the rain intervened for a longer delay. Players sheltered under umbrellas in the increasingly muddy dugouts, or under a gazebo which the manufacturer had probably intended to protect from the sun.

Even once the rain stopped, there was a further delay as both sides worked to clear water from the diamond without damaging the playing surface. An impressively careful operation scooped up the water with any available receptacle and cleared it away.

Hawks clear standing water

The Raptors seemed to come out cold from this second stoppage. They went down one-two-three in the inning, with Bochan picking up more strikeouts. He ended the day with 9, and only 2 walks.

The Hawks had made substitutions now, making use of the impressive depth of their bench, and they put the game away. Sonam Lama was 2-for-2 with a pair of runs, Tim Elkins and Matthew Gentry also scored.

The Raptors relief pitchers Jim Arnott and Aaron Witter weren’t able to close it down this time, and a big 12-run inning ended the contest.

Both sides agreed that the final scoreline of 25-7 failed to tell the true story of the ballgame. The Hawks put up the gaudy numbers — two dozen hits, 7 doubles, a home run – but for over 5 innings it was a close contest.

Hawks catcher Ken Pike said it had been a great game, and a shame they had to knock out a sister team. Co-manager Andrew Slater — who couldn’t be at the game — offered congratulations to his players on reaching the finals at Farnham Park for the second year in a row.

For the Raptors, Paul Barton felt the game had gone really well until the sixth inning, when the team was overpowered. Michael Cresswell added that it had been “the most enjoyable season ever”.

Herts Baseball President, Aspi Dimitrov, said it had been a great day for the club, and that everyone was proud of how far the Raptors had progressed against the odds. “We are now willing on the Hawks to go one better than last year, and win the title”.

by Rob Jones

Kings of Kent: Raptors upset champion Bobcats

Herts Raptors match reports always maintain a certain professional detachment, a level of decorum. But after an historic playoff victory against the defending Single-A champions, thanks to an epic four-hour game littered with heroic performances, how can we do that today?

The Raptors travelled to Kent face the Tonbridge Bobcats after a late switch of games by the BBF.  No question, on paper it looked as if the Herts side had got the worst of the federation’s change of heart about the seedings.

The Bobcats beat the powerful Herts Hawks on the way to claiming last year’s crown, and they had lost only one game all season in 2016. The odds were stacked against the Raptors.

But when the game began on a blustery playing field almost in the shadow of Tonbridge castle, all bets were off.

The victorious, and very serious, Herts Raptors

The first three innings were tight, defensive, and scoreless. Herts managed to load the bases in the top of the first as the home side’s pitcher, Gareth Nutt, settled in on the mound. But they couldn’t push the run across.

Co-manager Paul Barton was the starting pitcher for Herts. After getting up at the crack of dawn to drive more than 200 miles from Leeds, he twirled an absolute gem for three innings.

The first clutch of runs came in the top of the fourth, as Herts capitalised on a handful of walks. Third baseman Jim Arnott scored the first of them, with catcher Joe Court using his Major League slide to create a run, and second baseman Rob Jones also coming home.

The Raptors plated nine runs before it was over.

The first big Herts hit of the day had came from Matt Jackson. He was playing centre field, just days after eye surgery which had threatened to rule him out of the game entirely. His booming drive to right centre allowed him to motor round for a triple.

Matt Jackson went 3-for-4 on the day

The Bobcats hit back quickly in the bottom of the inning, scoring five runs of their own. Barton began to lose the zone, but he and his joint manager Michael Cresswell made a swift decision to stop the bleeding and Arnott came in to relieve.

Both sides then put up zeroes, before the runs began again. Cresswell was hit by a pitch for the second time to start the sixth, and got aboard.

13 year old phenom Aaron Witter then stepped up to bat, and hit a monstrous shot into Tonbridge’s gaping outfield. There are no fences in Kent, so he was able to circle the bases for a vital home run to extend the Herts lead.

Witter then showed his defensive prowess in the bottom of the inning. A sharply hit chopper flicked off Paul Barton’s glove at third base, but the shortstop was right behind him to cover.

Witter gloved the ball and made a full-on Derek Jeter leap to hurl the ball towards first base. It arrived in time for Michael Cresswell to scoop it up, juggle it, and then seize hold of it just in the nick of time to nab the runner.

Tonbridge had managed to pull back another two runs, meaning it was 11-7 after six innings. But Herts were still pushing on. Left fielder Darren Priest got one of a pair of hits, while Aaron Witter — whose day was far from over — claimed his seventh RBI. Arnott stole home as the climax approached.

The last Herts pitching change saw the young shortstop take to the mound and settle in quickly. The defending champion Bobcats showed no signs of lying down, but Witter stayed calm to keep the game under control.

The Raptors chipped in with their final runs and chased Gareth Nutt from the game after more than 200 pitches.

Third baseman Jim Arnott scored three runs

Rob Jones finally got a hit, while debutant Rob Henney ripped a double. Herts could only manage a couple of runs off reliever David Mote, and led 23-18 going into the bottom of the ninth.

There was a quick debate about whether Aaron Witter should stay in to pitch in such high pressure circumstances. But he made the call, and stepped back on to the pitchers mound.

Herts secured the first out, then the next batter skied a ball on the infield which looked ominously as if it would drop in between everybody for a cheap hit.

As everyone held their breath, grizzle-faced veteran Rob Jones raced in from second base, slid desperately and came up with an improbable catch. Emotions started to break out, as he was hugged by the bosses. The team was now a whisker from a stunning win.

There was another intake of breath as the next batter drove a pitch to the outfield. But Matt Jackson, he of the eye surgery, was right there under it. Cool as anything, he caught the ball and the Raptors celebrated.

This was a famous victory for Herts. The defending Single-A champions Tonbridge had fought hard and played well, their bats always posing a threat and their fielding giving nothing away.

But a series of great performances from all nine Raptors earned their place in the next round of the playoffs. Paul Barton was awarded the pitching W, while Aaron Witter was surely the game’s MVP.

“Amazingly proud of them all”, was Michael Cresswell’s assessment of the players. “Everyone was amazing and fully deserved the win”. Barton added: “Everyone played really, really great baseball. So happy I can’t believe it!”

The first year managers march on, and won’t fear their next opponent, whoever it is.

by Herts Baseball News Editor

Raptors playoff opponent switched after BBF decision

The British Baseball Federation announced the Playoff lineup at the start of the week giving the Herts Raptors a tough away tie against the Guildford Millers.  Yesterday the lineup was revised and the Raptors now have to face the reigning Single-A national champions, the Tonbridge Bobcats, again away from home.

We understand that the decision was made after a technical infringement of the player transfer deadline regulations by the Bobcats. We do not know the full details of the infringement, but it seems highly unusual given the fact that club delegates voted to remove the transfer deadline for the Single-A League at last November’s BBF Annual General Meeting.

As a result the Raptors now face a much more difficult task on Sunday. Their preparations have been hampered further by the fact that they will be travelling to Tonbridge with a much depleted squad.

Herts fans who cannot make the trip, can follow Herts Raptors on twitter for updates on Sunday.

by Herts Baseball News Editor

Gary Lineker-like gamble backfires on Herts U17 baseball manager


Football and non-football fans will be glued to their TV screens this Saturday evening as Match of the Day returns for the start of the new Premier League season. The reason is something which happened in the first few weeks of last season when 5000-to-1 outsiders, Leicester City, found themselves top of the table. At the time this was seen as something which can happen in the early weeks of the season and everyone assumed that order will quickly be restored by the big spenders taking their places at the top. When Leicester-fan Gary Lineker said at the time that he would present the first Match of the Day show of the new season in his underpants if Leicester become Premier League Champions, everyone accepted it as one of those throw-away remarks that people say sometimes to illustrate just how improbable a scenario is. 10 months later and the nation is waiting to see if Gary Lineker will deliver on his promise.

At the weekend the manager of the Herts Under-17 baseball team, Andrew Fulford, found himself in a similar predicament. A few weeks ago, in an effort to give his players an incentive, he promised to shave his beard if they manage to throw two balls into a bucket all the way from centerfield. A bookmaker would probably give such an outcome odds of around 5000-to-1, so, like Gary Lineker, Fulford must have felt that the odds are on his side. The improbable happened and on Saturday his players were looking forward to shaving his beard as the main event of a barbeque party at Grovehill Ballpark.

Coach Fulford had written off his beard but in an effort to salvage at least his sideburns, he included a gentle warning for his players in one of his weekly emails. The message read: ”I wasn’t sure if we won the Little League World Series or if Babe Ruth got resurrected, but being able to shave my beard got you guys a little excited. As agreed, you guys threw 2 balls into the bucket from centerfield, and now my beard is in your fragile little hands. If you guys even get close to my sideburns, you’ll be doing 100 push-ups while you eat your hot dogs.”

We understand that, while the sideburns are still intact, the beard is gone. Gary Lineker, over to you.

by Herts Baseball News Editor

Louis Hare puts on a show with 3 home runs. Hawks still unbeaten.

The Herts Hawks maintained their 100% league record with two more wins on Sunday. The score lines may not tell the whole story as both of their opponents made them work hard for it.

NORTHANS CENTURIONS 15 HERTS HAWKS 29

First up were the Northants Centurions who shocked Herts scoring 12 runs in the first two innings and taking a 2-run lead. That was the wake-up call that the Hawks needed as they went on to win 29-15 allowing only 3 more runs for the remainder of the game. Starting pitcher Andrew Slater picked up the win, his third of the season. The team accumulated 20 hits in the game, two of which were home runs by Louis Hare.

MK COYOTES 4 HERTS HAWKS 17

The second game was against the Milton Keynes Coyotes who had former Herts player, Nick Russell, starting on the mound. His Hawks counterpart was Greg Bochan who had another impressive performance pitching a complete game and allowing only 4 runs. Despite a determined effort by the Coyotes, the Herts offense was working well driving in 17 runs. Louis Hare was at it again as he hit his third home run of the day. The last time a Herts player had a 3-home-run-day was in 2005 when Jim Denison hit back-to-back-to-back home runs away at the almighty Cambridge Monarchs who in those years were a formidable US Air Force team based at RAF Feltwell.

Gilberto Medina (pictured above) also hit a home run, his second in the last three games, to boost his slugging percentage to 1.212 for the season, just ahead of Louis Hare’s 1.097.

The Hawks have their last two regular season games this coming Sunday at home against the Birmingham Outlaws. If they maintain their 100% record they would be seeded either first or second in the playoffs which would give them home field advantage. The only other team which remains unbeaten this season is Tonbridge Wildcats. If both teams end the regular season unbeaten and if they were to meet in the postseason playoffs home field advantage is likely to be determined on which team has conceded the fewest number of runs per game. After the weekend’s games Herts Hawks have conceded an average of 7.31 runs per game while Tonbridge Wildcats have conceded 7.64. Tonbridge also play their final regular season game this Sunday.

by Herts Baseball News Editor

European Champions – Straight Outta Herts

Marianna Casal and Theo Longboy became Under-19 European Softball Champions at the weekend.

Herts fans will recognise their names as both came through the Herts youth baseball programme. 2008 saw the inaugural season of the Herts Little League and at the time it is unlikely that Marianna and Theo would have expected to find themselves wearing the GB Team jersey playing in, and winning, the European Championships eight years later. Coaches Lee Manning and Marty Cullen who founded the club’s youth baseball programme had set very ambitious targets for the project but seeing two members of the league reach such heights is unlikely to have been one of those targets.

Both girls were seven years old when they joined Herts but they didn’t seem to mind competing against older players, most of whom were boys. This, along with the fact that they came from families which spent most of their time at the ballpark, may have helped them along the way.

Even when they weren’t playing they would be at the field in various capacities from cheering on their older brothers Carlos Casal and Zack Longboy or their dads who play for the Herts adult league teams to singing the national anthem in front of a large audience at the National Baseball Championships.

This is the first time that a Great Britain Fastpitch Softball Team has ever won a European Championship at any age level. Coincidentally, while the GB U19 National Team was battling it out in Spain last week, the International Olympic Committee announced that baseball and softball have been added back to the list of sports to be played at the 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo. Following the excellent play by the GB Women’s Team at the World Championship in Canada last month, it means that GB Softball is on the rise at exactly the right time, with the sport back in the Olympics for 2020 and a Europe/Africa Olympic Qualifier likely to happen in three years’ time.

 

GB Team photos courtesy of Amanda Murphy

A good number of the players who went undefeated in this year’s U19 European Championships, with a record of 10-0 and two wins over both Italy and the Czech Republic, are bound to be involved when that Olympic Qualifier comes around. We have no idea if Marianna and Theo will get the call up, but it will be exciting for us Herts baseball fans to follow their progress in the coming years.

 

by Herts Baseball News Editor

2016 Herts Futures Tournament details announced

Herts Baseball Club has announced that the 2016 Herts Futures Tournament will take place on Saturday, 17 September 2016.

The Herts Futures Tournament (HFT) has been held every year since 2008 and is now a permanent fixture in the British baseball calendar. Last year was a record year for the HFT with 20 teams entering the competition, which makes it the largest youth baseball event in the United Kingdom. It will be interesting to see how many teams will enter this year. If the number continues to increase the club will have to consider ways of expanding the venue further.

The event brings together youth teams of all age groups from across the country for a day of baseball at one of the best baseball venues in the UK. Grovehill Ballpark is the home of Herts Baseball Club. Over the years the venue has been selected to host some of the biggest events in the British baseball calendar including the National Baseball Championships. During the Herts Futures Tournament additional diamonds are added to cater for all the age groups.

This year’s edition is expected to cover the Under-17, Under-13, Under-11 and Under-8 age groups.

For more information about the event or if you require details about how teams can enter the Tournament or how players can join the Herts teams in time for the HFT, visit the Herts Futures Tournament homepage or contact Herts Baseball Club.

by Zack Longboy

Depleted Falcons regress from run of good form

On a day where the Falcons could barely cobble together a 9-man side, Herts limped to a 10-4 loss against the first place London Mets.

Injuries to Conner Brown (tricep), Darren Meintjes (finger) and the absences of shortstop Louis Hare, second basemen Ian McCann and Moises Vasquez, and catcher Phil Clark meant that the Falcons were far from full strength.

Above: With regular catchers Conner Brown and Phil Clark sidelined due to injury and family commitments, Manager Lee Manning was forced to don the ‘tools of ignorance’ for Sunday’s game against the Mets.

So there the Falcons found themselves, down 5 starters, facing the NBL’s premier team.  The only potential saving grace? The schedule. Sunday would be a single 7-inning game matchup, and in baseball, especially 7-inning baseball, anything can happen.

The game started very promising with Mets starter Maxwell Tyler issuing leadoff walks to both Brown (playing as the designated hitter) and John Blose, before a 2-RBI single from Tyler Badenhorst broke open the scoring.

The lead however didn’t last long. In the bottom of 1st the Mets’ bats rallied for a barrage of 4 runs against the Falcons’ starter Zack Longboy. Throughout the game Longboy, who has pitched well in recent weeks, struggled to find his normal command on his fastball, forcing him to rely almost exclusively on his knuckleball. Although this kept hitters off balance from the 2nd-5th innings (1 earned run), it did lead to costly walks for Longboy.

After the 1st, Tyler settled down and carved up the Falcons lineup, going the next four innings without a run crossing the plate. After a smattering of runs (earned and unearned) across the middle innings, Tyler exited the game in the 5th with his team up 9-2.

Replacing him was Mets reliever Elijah Hackney-Rose, a familiar face for some Herts players who had played with him for Great Britain youth teams. And maybe this familiarity helped the Falcons as Brown (a catcher for Hackney-Rose on the GB side) opened with a hard hit single and the frame ended with 2 more Herts runs having crossed the plate.

However, the score wouldn’t get much closer than 9-4 as London rallied to score another run off of Longboy in the 6th drawing the game to its final score of 10-4. The result ends what has been a run of good form that the Falcons have put up against their recent opponents (splitting the last two doubleheaders), however Manning is confident that, with a full squad, the Falcons can stay competitive even against top teams like London.

MOMENTS THAT MATTERED

Filling in With the rash of injuries and absences plaguing the Falcons, two players rostered in lower levels of the organization were called on to perform on Sunday. Aspi Dimitrov (who had been on brief hiatus) returned with consistent play in centerfield and even picked up a single in his last at-bat. Single A player Rodney Naghar also made an impact, showing good glove work at first base and hitting a double to left field.

Tak-ing off  The Falcons bid farewell to one of their more consistent performers on Sunday as the beloved Takaya Miki played in his final NBL game before leaving for a university placement in Japan. Miki has been a defensive stopper for Herts this year, consistently filling a corner outfield spot, and his bat had heated up in recent weeks. He will be greatly missed by his teammates and Manager who wish only the best for him and his future.

WHAT’S NEXT

The Falcons have a two-game home stand on July 31st against the 2nd place Southampton Mustangs (21-3). First pitch for Game 1 is at 12 PM and Game 2 is scheduled to begin at 3 PM