Category: Featured

by Herts Baseball News Editor

Giants win ties series with Dodgers 1-1

written by hertsbaseball.com correspondent, Chris Jones

The latest match in the series between the Herts Dodgers and the Herts Giants was held on Saturday 16th June at Grovehill.

The Dodgers came to the game one-up in the series after a 10-4 victory on May 26th. For the Dodgers, Thomas Garton and Cameron Manning came in for Ozan Martin, William Ahern and Alex Jones, while the Giants brought in big hitter Joshua Jones in place of Rose Burgess-Van Dort and Talia Martin. With seven players per side, both coaches elected to omit centre and right fielders.

Despite apocalyptic warnings of “once-in-50-year” rainstorms, the Grovehill field was playable, and the weather held up just enough to allow the game to proceed. Elsewhere on the field the concession stand pavilion was straining at its guy-ropes, threatening to sail off towards St Albans. Spectators kept themselves wrapped up well, thermos flasks at hand, and your scorer wore one woolly glove while tapping the plays into the computer.

The Giants took the first turn at-bat. All of the first six batters hit singles, and four runs were scored in all. In reply, the Giants had their opponents scoreless with two outs, but let the opportunity slip. Again, a parade of singles brought runner after runner to home plate, five runs in all.

Another three runs to the Giants in the second, to take a 7-5 lead. The Dodgers were restricted to two, after some efficient infield play forced out runners at third and second. Scores were tied after two innings.

Into the third, the Giants hit more infield singles, plus a line drive to the left-field fence from Joshua Jones to bring home Oliver Durer. 10-7 to the Giants, and the pressure was on the Dodgers to reclaim the lead. All was set, with bases loaded and one out, before a strike-out and a 1-3 ground-out (Alex Trautman and Oliver Durer) closed the inning without a run scored.

The Giants turned the screw in the fourth inning, scoring the maximum five runs, the highlight an unstoppable ground rule double by Joshua Jones. Now facing an eight-run deficit, the Dodgers couldn’t repeat their batting form from the start of the game, scoring only one in their last two innings. A fly-out to pitcher and catcher at the bottom of the fifth brought the game to a close, the Giants running away with a 15-8 win to tie the series.

After the game, the coaches were encouraged by the continuing improvement we are seeing from these two teams. Fielding seemed sharper, and there was more awareness of where to make the plays. We have plenty of areas to work on, including throwing accuracy and base-running, but there’s a lot of promise here – sometimes we have to remind ourselves how young some of the players really are.

To relive the full game with full statistical analysis fans can view a new facility which Herts Baseball Club is testing at the moment. CLICK TO OPEN THE GAMECAST AND PRESS REPLAY IN TOP RIGHT CORNER

 

by Herts Baseball News Editor

“Pimping” a home run

Mike Osborn demonstrating his beautiful, and respectful, home run trot after he hit his first home run of the season on Sunday (photo courtesy of hp2photographic.com)

One of the many talking points after Sunday’s biggest game of the NBL season so far was the altercation after the 3-run home run by Edwin Alcantara which tied the game in the bottom of the sixth inning.

For a few minutes while the game was stopped fans were in the dark about what had sparked this confrontation. Even when different versions of events started circling around Grovehill Ballpark some fans were still fidning it difficult to understand the precise reasons.

Baseballgb.co.uk writer and Project COBB founder, Joe Gray, who was at the game reported on the incident in an article which enhances the post-match analysis so hertsbaseball.com was keen to post a link to the article (Click to view).

 

by Herts Baseball News Editor

Herts looking to add softball programme

Over the last 16 years Herts Baseball Club has built an impressive baseball programme and is currently one of the leading clubs in the United Kingdom. Herts have thriving adult and youth baseball programmes and high grade facilities but the one big component which has been missing has been a softball programme.

hertsbaseball.com had the opportunity to chat with club president, Aspi Dimitrov, about the prospect of softball being played in Hertfordshire.

hertsbaseball.com: We understand that the club is exploring the option to add softball. How did this idea come up?

Aspi Dimitrov: Although baseball is the multi-billion dollar sport watched by millions on TV around the world, a large proportion of people like to show their passion for baseball by playing softball which is the more recreational version of the game. During MLB’s All Star week celebrities and former baseball players get together for the MLB All Star Softball Game and it is the ideal way to get male and female players of all ages and ability playing together. Herts has baseball teams playing in all senior and youth leagues of British Baseball so we are already able to accommodate players of various abilities and ages into our baseball teams, however adding softball would enable us to make the game appealing for an even wider audience.

hertsbaseball.com: When did the idea of adding softball come about?

Aspi Dimitrov: The club has been eager to add softball for many years now and is something which the Herts Executive Board has discussed on many occasions. The main obstacle which has stopped us from making it possible has been that we need one or two members who would be able to give up some of their spare time to drive the project forward. We have so many members but they are all baseball-mad so they have been reluctant to give up their baseball time.

hertsbaseball.com: How do you plan to overcome this hurdle?

Aspi Dimitrov: We are hoping to organise several softball events this year and this may attract these key members who can provide the platform which we can build on. We already had one softball event on April 1 which was part of the 2012 NBL Opening Day celebrations at Grovehill Ballpark. It went very well. We managed to attract enough players for 4 softball teams. The majority were parents and family members of our youth team families and there were others who came to the ballpark for the first time to give softball a try.

hertsbaseball.com: What is the club hoping to achieve with the softball programme?

Aspi Dimitrov: Softball is very popular and in fact there are more softball teams than baseball teams in this country. The majority of softball teams and leagues are located in central London. There are no softball programmes in Hertfordshire at present. Hertfordshire County, North West London and the surrounding regions are a huge untapped market so there is potential for substantial growth. It is an exciting opportunity. If we find the right people to set up the administrative infrastructure we may be able to double the size of Herts Baseball Club in the next 4 or 5 years and create a large regional softball league here in Hertfordshire. Many softball leagues play their games on weekday evenings so if we can achieve this we can look forward to having baseball and softball league games being played at Grovehill Ballpark every day of the week.

hertsbaseball.com: So what is the next step in the project?

Aspi Dimitrov: We are very fortunate that this summer BSUK will be running softball taster sessions in St. Albans which is just a few minutes away from our ballpark. These will take place every Wednesday evening from 7:00pm to 8:30pm. These sessions will continue for a period of 8 weeks. The first session is on Wednesday, June 20. We have already started recruiting softball players, coaches, and facilitators and this BSUK project will hopefully attract enough new members to enable us to start the softball programme here at Herts. For more details about these softball taster session click here.

 

 

by Herts Baseball News Editor

Passions flare up as title race reaches boiling point

The Falcons vs Nationals showdown was billed as “the biggest game of the season so far”. There is absolutely no risk that the Advertising Standards Authority will be cautioning hertsbaseball.com for overhyping Sunday’s NBL doubleheader as it most definitely lived up to the billing.

The game was in doubt right up until 2 hours before first pitch due to a waterlogged Grovehill Ballpark, but once it was given the go-ahead fans started streaming down to Grovehill Ballpark, some fans coming from as far as Oxford.

Among the many who came was the GB senior national team manager, Sam Dempster, who had the opportunity to assess several possible candidates for the GB Team which has a big year ahead including the European Championships and qualification for the 2013 World Baseball Classic.

The Falcons started game one with 2011 NBL Best Pitcher, Robbie Unsell, who got out of a bases loaded jam in the top of the first without allowing any runs. But the Nationals were at it again taking a 3-0 lead in the second inning on a home run by Jarrod Pretorius. Their pitcher Roberto Almanzar was very effective in the first few innings not allowing any hits. The Herts batters eventually got into their usual rhythm which has devastated NBL opponents all season long. They tied the game 5-5 in the fourth inning and took a 9-5 lead going into the sixth. Jeff House was now on the mound for Herts and he had to come up against a Nationals lineup looking determined not to lose this game. They responded with a home run by Luis Goncalves which flew over the right field foul pole. Most of the Herts fans seated on the first base side thought that it was a foul ball, but umpires Hare and Dollin were unanimous in their decision confirming that it was a home run. Harlow followed that with a 3-run home run by Edwin Alcantara to tie the game 9-9 in dramatic fashion. Tensions were running high as Falcons players felt that Alcantara’s reaction as he trotted around the bases was disrespectful towards Herts. For a moment it seemed like the incident would end up in a bench-clearing brawl but both teams soon focused back on the game.

Into the top of the seventh inning the Nationals continued their relentless offence bringing 4 runs in. That 4-run lead was too much for Herts to claw back and the visitors recorded a dramatic come-from-behind win.

Harlow Nationals first baseman Jarrod Pretorius dives for a bullet down the first base line from a Herts Falcons bat (photo by British Baseball Magazine click image for more)

Darrin Ward started game two for the Falcons in his first game since his move back to Herts from the Essex Arrows. He was in commanding form changing speed and locating his pitches very effectively. By the third inning Herts had a 13-1 lead after bombarding the Nationals with hits including home runs for Ryan Bird, Cris Hiche and Mike Osborn. Into the 5th inning and with the score 13-3 the Nationals managed to avoid the mercy-rule coming into effect scoring 2 runs.

With the scoreboard operating staff having to attend an emergency, the lack of scoreboard updates gave the Nationals the impression that Herts had written them off and that they consider the game to be won. That seemed to spur the Nationals on. And they mounted a strong come back, but at the end the Falcons stayed in control and won the second game 15-10.

An exciting afternoon of baseball which had everything and the fans certainly enjoyed it. The scores mean that the NBL race is very finely poised with the promise of more encounters like this one to come between now and the postseason playoffs.

by Herts Baseball News Editor

Eagles unable to end Archers’ unbeaten streak

British A-League

Herts Eagles 15 Essex Archers 32

written by Duncan Hoyle

 

Senna Ashida was solid at shortstop for the Eagles

Herts Eagles knew they would be up against it when they travelled over to Waltham Forest for their league game against runaway leaders Essex Archers. The Archers have dropped down to Single A despite having an impressive record at AA last season and so far this year have easily won all 5 of their league games.

Despite the forecast in the early part of the week predicting rain all day, gameday turned out to be a dry, humid day. With a number of key players unavailable, the Eagles were forced to play Will Belbin at catcher – a position he hasn’t played since 2010, Senna Ashida moved from left field to 1st base and debutant Mike Cresswell made his debut in right field.

Herts got off to a good start, with Duncan Hoyle hitting a line drive to centre field to bat in Joseph Osborne and Senna Ashida to get the scoreboard ticking over in the first inning. At the end of the 1st the score was 3-2 to the Archers, and with the consistent Theo Scheepers once again putting in another good shift on the pitching mound, the Eagles were able to keep in touch with the Archers in the early exchanges. In the second and third innings, 18 year old Mike Cresswell got his Herts career off to a great start by getting a RBI in the 2nd, and then hitting a drive to right field to bring in another 2 runners in the 3rd. Tak Ashida was looking good at short stop, and Will Belbin was catching confidently. Belbin was letting little get past him but unfortunately injured his finger in the bottom of the 3rd. He was substituted by the versatile Adrian Smithers to avoid any long term damage. Most of the Herts batting lineup were able to get on base one way or another, and were then baserunning confidently to be able to pick up runs regularly.

However, as the game went into the 4th inning, Essex began to show why they are top of the league. Their powerful batting lineup started to get their eye in, and the Herts outfield suffered some long chases as the ball sailed over to the fence on a number of occasions. Despite a couple of great outfield catches from Osborne, the Archers were beginning to get away from the Eagles.

In the middle of the 5th, the score was 14 – 8 to the Archers. Herts then had a half inning they will want to forget as 13 runs were added to the Archers total, as a now tired Herts defence started to let a few errors creep into their game. The Archers made the Eagles pay for these errors ruthlessly, and with their powerful batting line up bossing the game they were even able to hit an inside the park home run.

The Eagles kept giving nothing less than 100%, and kept the runs ticking over. Lefty batters Joseph Osborne and Senna Ashida are both getting a reputation of being able to draw a walk from the pitcher – Osborne in particular is becoming something of an expert in this as in his 6 at bats he found himself on base no less than 5 times from walking. Craig La Roux finally got himself a deserved hit towards the end of the game, and he also made his second pitching appearance of the season to close out the 6th with the Archers having finished their scoring on 32. The Eagles kept on battling right until the end and Senna Ashida and Simon Roberts where able to get round to score in the top of the 7th to take the Eagles run total to a respectable 15. The mercy rule then came into effect, as it has done in every game for the Archers. Despite what on paper looks a heavy loss, Herts will be able to take away some satisfaction from the manner in which they played the game and the fact they scored 15 runs – 1 more than all five previous opponents of the Archers have scored put together.

 

by Herts Baseball News Editor

Herts survive late Feltwell rally to pick up 2 wins

Marty Cullen Jr pitched a 1-hitter to pick up another win

Herts U17 All Stars picked up two important wins versus the Feltwell Redbacks which count towards the postseason playoff seeding of the National Baseball Championships.

On Friday afternoon all youth league games scheduled at Herts for Saturday were cancelled due to waterlogged fields. By midnight Herts and Feltwell managed to salvage their U17 League games by switching them to RAF Feltwell.

The Feltwell Redbacks are affiliated with the Redbacks organisation but are a team consisting of players from the US airbase at RAF Feltwell. This is their first year in the league, but despite this they proved to be a difficult opponent especially in the second game which could have been won by either team.

In game one Marty Cullen Jr started on the mound for Herts. He gave another impressive performance pitching a complete game allowing only 1 hit and 2 runs and only 1 of these 2 runs was earned. Richard Ganster went 4-4 with a double and 2 RBIs. Jake Caress, Kyle Lloyd-Jones and Marty Cullen Jr each had 2 hits in the game. Marty Cullen Jr’s two hits were a double and a triple. Liam Green continues to torment opponents with his bat. He went 3-4 which included a single, double and an inside the park home run. He just missed out on completing the cycle, with a just a double missing.

Click to view Game 1 box scores and play-by-play

Game 2 was a very different contest. Chris Kiefer who is one of the most promising young players in the league took the mound for the Redbacks and he made it very difficult for Herts to repeat their dominant offensive results from the first game of the day. At the same time Herts pitchers walked 12 batters and hit another 5. This made their task even more difficult. Their Manager, Cristbal Hiche had to use 4 different pitchers to try to steady the ship. Herts had a slight advantage with 8 hits against Feltwell’s 5 but the game was ultimately won by the team which committed the fewest errors. Feltwell committed 7 errors in the field, while Herts had their best fielding performance of the season without any errors in game 2.

In the bottom of the last inning the RedBacks put the visitors from Hertfordshire under tremendous pressure. They loaded the bases with the runner on first base representing the winning run. It seemed like Feltwell were about to complete a memorable turnaround, when the backstop came to Herts’ rescue. A Redbacks runner decided to come home from third on a passed ball. The ball rolled to the backstop and bounced hard off the wooden panelling giving Herts catcher, Marty Cullen Jr, enough time to throw to pitcher Jake Caress who was covering home plate, to apply the game-ending tag.

Click to view Game 2 box scores and play-by-play

Herts return home with two vital wins in the race for the National Championship, but the Redbacks deserve a lot of credit for making this a very exciting and tense second game.

 

by Herts Baseball News Editor

Ward is back

Herts Baseball Club announced that pitcher, Darrin Ward, has just completed a transfer back to the Herts Falcons. Ward has been wearing the Herts uniform since 2008, but before the start of the 2012 season he made a surprising move to NBL rivals, the Essex Arrows.

His return is a major boost for Herts who find themselves half a game back on the reigning champion Harlow Nationals.

During his 4 years with Herts, Darrin Ward was voted Herts MVP 3 times (2008, 2009 and 2010 with the Herts Eagles), Best Pitcher twice (2009 and 2011), 3-time Batting Champion (2009, 2010, 2011). Ward is a former Great Britain National Team player. His NBL career stretches all the way back to 1992 when he played for the London Warriors. He spent 8 seasons with them (1992-1999) winning the NBL in 1992, 1993 and 1997. His return to Herts means that he is now reunited with his old London Warriors teammate Michael Osborn for the first time since the 1990s. Osborn moved to Herts at the start of the season and he was looking forward to playing with Ward again. He was disappointed when he learned of Darrin Ward’s move to Essex earlier this year, but today’s announcement means that they will be playing side-by-side again.

Darrin Ward’s career batting average in the NBL is an impressive .378, slugging average .602, with 16 home runs and 130 RBIs. As a pitcher his record is 14-17. He has made only 11 errors in 211 NBL innings prior to 2012. (stats courtesy of Project COBB)

Herts Falcons Manager, Lee Manning, was grateful to Essex for their co-operation. “I would like to thank the Essex Arrows in the manner they have handled this transfer” said Manning. The transfer was completed in time for Ward to be eligible for selection for this Sunday’s NBL game at Grovehill Ballpark against the Bracknell Blazers (11:00am) and exhibition game with the GB U19 National Team (4:00pm).

 

by Herts Baseball News Editor

Spoils shared in Herts-Essex derby

The clash between rivals Herts Falcons and Essex Arrows illustrated just how competitive the NBL is this season and that every team is capable of winning the title. Herts’ superior 8-2 record before today didn’t seem to concern the Essex Arrows whose 6-6 record does not do them justice on today’s showing.

Jordan Farkas missed the games against Croydon a week ago, but he was back as the starting pitcher for Herts in the first game of the doubleheader. He allowed only 2 earned runs striking out 5 over 6 innings. 2-run home runs by both Kevin Niedringhaus and Dave Tretheway spurred the Falcons on putting 5 runs in the second and fifth innings. A single by Ryan Bird in the sixth inning brought another 2 runs in to give the home team some more breathing space. Robbie Unsell relieved Farkas in the final inning to secure a 12-7 win. Unsell is also coming alive offensively. He went 3-4 with two doubles, an RBI, 3 runs and 3 stolen bases.

Click to view game1 box scores and play-by-play

In game 2 Essex jumped to an early 4-0 lead after 2 errors and 3 hits in the top of the first inning. Three innings later the Arrows had an even bigger lead of 10-2. A solo home run by Ryan Bird in the bottom of the fourth was the wakeup call which the Falcons needed. They followed that up with 2 runs in each of the fifth, sixth and seventh inning. That burst by the Falcons included 2 singles by Dave House and two doubles by Cristobal Hiche. When Ryan Bird stepped up for his fourth at bat of the game he was looking for a triple to complete the cycle. He did produce another hit but it was a single. This late surge by Herts closed the gap but the league-leaders ran out of time. Essex won it 13-9. This loss means that the reigning champions, Harlow Nationals, overtake Herts at the top of the standings after they swept Bracknell.

Click to view game2 box scores and play-by-play

5 GAMES AT GROVEHILL NEXT SUNDAY, JUNE 3

With the Nationals resting next weekend, the Falcons will have a chance to go joint-top if they can win their next game against Bracknell which will be played at Grovehill Ballpark and will be part of an exciting day of baseball in Hertfordshire. Both Bracknell and Herts will each play an additional exhibition game against the Great Britain U19 National Team later that day, while on the other diamond the Herts Hawks will clash against the Essex RedBacks in a AA League matchup between the second and third-placed teams. Here is the full order of play:

11:00, Herts Falcons @ Bracknell Blazers (NBL)

12:00, Essex RedBacks II @ Herts Hawks (AA League)

13:30, GB U19 National Team @ Bracknell Blazers (exhibition game)

14:30, Essex RedBacks II @ Herts Hawks (AA League)

16:00, Herts Falcons @ GB U19 National Team (exhibition game)

Venue: Grovehill Ballpark, Herts (click for address and directions). Admission is free.

 

by Rob Jones

Raptors outdone by Marauders

Jake Caress was one of the most productive batters for the Raptors

The way the game ended spoke volumes about the sort of luck the Herts Raptors had all day.

In the seventh inning, Herts had scored 6 of the 7 runs they needed to keep the game alive. There was one man out, and the bases were loaded, when Gilberto Medina hit a laser shot down the third base line.

But rather than driving in the crucial runs, the ball was spectacularly snared by a leaping third baseman. Ken Pike, the runner moving off from second, was helplessly stranded and was tagged out to complete the double play and end the game.  Marauders had won by the mercy rule on a score of 20-9.

The incident also demonstrated the importance of London’s defence throughout the game. They had made the play on every bobbling ground ball, they had caught every fly ball, and they had made the most of their scoring opportunities early in the game.

Starting on the mound, Ken Pike had struggled to make his strike zone match up with the umpire’s.  As a result, the home side had taken seven walks by the end of the day. And when the Marauders did get bat on ball, the Herts fielders were unable to make the plays — in all, there were 15 errors, including 5 wild pitches. The visitors were also on the wrong end of some close calls, and the home side quickly took a 10-run lead.

Frustration soon set in for the Raptors on a baking hot day, and it was not made any better by the bats being consistently stifled by Thomas Flack’s pitching. A tall pitcher, benefitting from a high strike zone — the result was an unusual amount of balls popping up into the blue north London sky.

Pike did manage a couple of hits, and Glen Downer got on board, but it was the fourth inning before the visiting Raptors managed to get a man across the plate.  Jake Caress — who was the most consistent performer with the bat — drove in his father, Mark.  Three runs scored in all, but there was a mountain to climb, as the Marauders already had 20 runs on the board.

Zack Longboy came in to relieve in the fourth inning and he was able to quiet the London offense. He racked up five strikeouts over three innings, and put zeroes on the board.  Longboy Sr — team manager Arnie — helped out with a diving catch at second base to rob the Marauders of a surefire hit. Now Herts’ powerful bats had to do their job.

Jose Morillo came in for Arnie Longboy and immediately sparked the offense in the top of the seventh, with the Raptors needing 7 runs to avoid the mercy rule. He hit a single, stole a base, then scampered to third on a passed ball. Glen Downer’s double brought him home. Ben Marques added an RBI single.

Gilberto Medina's bullet with the bases loaded almost extended the game beyond the seventh inning

The Marauders’ relief pitcher, Saadaab Janab was struggling with his control, and Herts were patiently waiting him out, ticking round the runs. Two came in on bases-loaded walks. The stage was set for a dramatic finale.

And the drama came. Although not the way Herts had hoped. Instead, it came with that last flash of leather from the home team, and the tag which killed the rally. Suddenly, when it seemed unlikely, the game had got close.

The manager was reassured by the way his side had made a fight of it. Arnie Longboy said “This game was huge for us, so it was disappointing that we did not get the bats going. But it was really good to rally at the end, and everyone contributed.”

The Raptors now have another — slightly unwelcome — week off, but the derby game against the Herts Eagles in June could be the perfect moment to level their season record at 2-2.

by Herts Baseball News Editor

Hawks lose to Latin Tigers in a close game

Ralph Bartholomew - in the zone

The onset of the sunny weather provided an excellent backdrop for the clash between the Latin Tigers and the Herts Hawks.

The weather was perfect, the fielding was not. In an error-strewn game (8 errors for each team), the Hawks and Tigers took to Roundshaw Playing Field’s second diamond, which was as predictable as the English weather.

With Nic Goetz on the mound, the Hawks had all that was required for success on the day, and he did not disappoint – 7 strikeouts and 1 Earned Run over 8 innings. However, the Tiger’s pitching was also on form – the two pitchers combined for a total of 10 strikeouts, which was in line with the major weakness of the Hawks on the day – the hitting. After taking a 2-0 lead, the Hawks fell behind 4-2 in the second, and trailed throughout the game. The Tigers did not overwhelm, but were able to add a run to their lead in each of the 4th, 5th, 6th and 7th inning. Herts kept close, and came back with 3 runs in the top of the 8th to make the score 8-7 for the Tigers. Still, the Tiger pitching and fielding kept the top of the 9th to a 1-2-3 inning which gave them the win. The usually prolific Elkins, Naghar and Bartholomew were kept hitless, while no Hawks batter recorded more than 1 hit.

Click to view box scores and play-by-play

Although the Hawks did not have their full squad available, they were able to rely on the services of Joseph Osborne-Brade, and were in no way depleted. Stand-in manager Kal Dimitrov commented after the game “If we had hit better and played better defence, we would have won”. After collecting his cliché award for the week, he also added “Barring the disappointment from the loss, the errors and the lack of hits, the guys enjoyed it, more or less.” Hawks are looking forward to their upcoming game on June 3, in particular because the co-managers Cornish and Bochan would be back at the helm. They will welcome the Essex RedBacks II to Grovehill Ballpark in Herts for a doubleheader which was rained out earlier in the year. First pitch 12:00pm.