Category: Headlines

5 September 2010 by AspiDimitrov

AUDIO: BBC RADIO 5 LIVE PREVIEWS THE 2010 NBC FINAL DAY

3 September 2010 by AspiDimitrov

BBF NATIONAL BASEBALL CHAMPIONSHIPS TO PROVIDE LIVE SCOREBOARD VIA GAMECHANGER

The 2010 National Baseball Championships are set to get underway at Grovehill Ballpark, home of the Herts Baseball Club, Saturday morning at 9.30am. The BBF has announced that all games will be 'simul-cast' live on the internet via GameChanger.

To follow the action, use the league hubs below.

Follow live postseason match-ups on GameChanger™:

National League Championships:
http://www.gamechanger.io/g/bbf_nbc_nbl

AAA Championships:
http://www.gamechanger.io/g/bbf_nbc_aaa

AA Final:
http://www.gamechanger.io/g/bbf_nbc_aa

A Final:http://www.gamechanger.io/g/bbf_nbc_a

2 September 2010 by AspiDimitrov

BBC RADIO 5 LIVE COVERAGE OF THE 2010 NBC

Fans of British baseball can tune in to BBC Radio 5 Live on Sunday morning during the Weekend Breakfast programme presented by Rachel Burden and Phil Williams for a look back at the games played on Saturday and a preview of the final games of the 2010 National Baseball Championships on Sunday.

The show will feature Matt Smith, who is the founder and editor of www.baseballgb.co.uk , an online publication which is well-known by fans of baseball in the UK. The programme starts at 6:00am and ends at 8:30am. The NBC segment is scheduled around 7am.

Later on Sunday, Jonny Gould and Josh Chetwynd will report the scores from the NBC games as they come in on Sunday evening, during the regular MLB coverage on BBC Radio 5 Live Sports Extra. This week's MLB game is the Texas Rangers at the Minesotta Twins. programme starts at 7pm.

2 September 201029 January 2012 by AspiDimitrov

BRITISH BASEBALL SEASON REACHES ITS CLIMAX THIS WEEKEND

British baseball fans are on the edge of their seats in anticipation of the National Baseball Championships (NBC) this weekend. Year-after-year the NBC never seems to disappoint. By Sunday evening we will know the identity of the champions in the four British baseball leagues. But before that we will be going through the emotions and excitement of 14 baseball games with enormous implications riding on every single one of them.

After Saturday’s playoff games, we now know the names of the 12 teams which will be heading to Grovehill Ballpark in Hemel Hempstead in the hope of making history.

NATIONAL BASEBALL LEAGUE (NBL)

The London Mets and the Bracknell Blazers already booked their places by virtue of taking the top two spots in the regular season standings. Richmond and Southampton joined them in the NBC after their playoff wins against Croydon and Mildenhall, respectively. For more on last week’s NBL playoffs read Simon Fitzjohn’s playoff roundup.

Bracknell Blazers will open the NBC on Saturday at 9:30am against the Richmond Flames on the new diamond at Grovehill Ballpark, followed by the Mets and Mustangs at 12:00pm.

AAA-LEAGUE

The last team to book their place in the AAA NBC were the Herts Eagles after their 14-3 playoff win against the Bracknell Inferno. Darrin Ward pitched a complete game for the win. He was supported by a solid Herts offence which included a 3-run home run by Mahendra Prasad, his second of the year. The Eagles may be seen as the underdogs in the AAA Championship, but they will have the advantage of playing at their home field and in front of the loyal Herts baseball fans.

The other teams in the AAA race are the Liverpool Trojans and the Oxford Kings who finished top of the AAA (North) and AAA (South) divisions, respectively. The Menwith Hill Patriots earned a place in the NBC, but due to their team’s obligations at the airbase, they have withdrawn from the Championships. The Bracknell Inferno will take their place in the AAA NBC as both the Manchester A’s and Halton Jaguars were unable to take the slot due to insufficient time to organise their trip.

AA-LEAGUE

After two weeks of exciting playoff action, we are down to the two best British teams in the AA League. One of them is Leicester after they produced yet another epic one-run win against the Birmingham Maple Leafs. Shannon Henry picked up the win and Richard Hu came in to close the game for the save and a 10-9 win. In the AA Final they will meet the Richmond Knights, who extended their incredible winning streak to 19 after a 11-4 win against the Poole Piranhas.

A-LEAGUE

MK Bucks are through to the A-League Final after a 7-0 win against the Humber Pilots. Pitchers Tom Lloyd and Tom McVay combined for a 2-hit shutout. Starter Lloyd threw 6 innings, recording 9 strikeouts and retiring 8 batters in a row at one point. McVay came in for the last three innings to close the game and he also contributed with the bat going 2-4 with a double, triple and 3 RBI. Last week we reported on Bucks slugger, Barnes, having to miss out on the NBC due to an assignment in Afghanistan. We can now confirm that Barnes will be available for the NBC having been granted extended leave to take part in this weekend’s title decider. The Bucks will meet the Guildford Mavericks after they ended the Chelmsford Clippers incredible postseason. There were no upsets this time as the Mavericks won convincingly 25-7.

A CELEBRATION OF BRITISH BASEBALL

The NBC is a unique opportunity for fans of baseball and those who are new to the sport to get close to the action and witness the crowning of the 2010 Champions. Of course it would not be a true baseball celebration without good food. A variety of food and drinks will be on offer including BBQ Beef and Pulled-Pork Sandwiches (pictured right), Gourmet Sausages, Homemade Coleslaw, Old Fashioned Lemonade and more. A commemorative NBC programme will be available. First 200 fans will receive the programme free of charge, so get there early.

SCHEDULE

NATIONAL BASEBALL LEAGUE

Saturday, 4 September 2010

09:30	Diamond 1	Game 1	Richmond Flames	@	Bracknell Blazers	7 innings
12:00	Diamond 1	Game 2	Southampton	@	London Mets	7 innings
14:30	Diamond 1	Game 3	Game 1 Winner	@	Game 2 Winner	7 innings
17:00	Diamond 1	Game 4	Game 1 Loser	@	Game 2 Loser	7 innings

Sunday, 5 September 2010

09:30	Diamond 1	Game 5	Game 4 Winner	@	Game 3 Loser	7 innings
15:30	Diamond 1	Final	Game 5 Winner	@	Game 3 Winner	7 innings

AAA League

Saturday, 4 September 2010

09:30	Diamond 2	Game 1	Herts Eagles	@	Liverpool Trojans	7 innings
12:00	Diamond 2	Game 2	Bracknell Inferno	@	Oxford Kings	7 innings
14:30	Diamond 2	Game 3	Game 1 Winner	@	Game 2 Winner	7 innings
17:00	Diamond 2	Game 4	Game 1 Loser	@	Game 2 Loser	7 innings

Sunday, 5 September 2010

09:30	Diamond 2	Game 5	Game 4 Winner	@	Game 3 Loser	7 innings
15:30	Diamond 2	Final	Game 5 Winner	@	Game 3 Winner	7 innings

AA League

Sunday, 5 September 2010

12:00

Diamond 1

Final

Leicester Blue Sox

Richmond Knights

9 innings

Single-A League

Sunday, 5 September 2010

12:00

Diamond 2

Final

MK Bucks

Guildford Mavericks

9 innings

Note: Start times may be pushed back if earlier games overrun. The BBF reserves the right to make alterations to the schedule if there is a change in circumstances (e.g. rain delay etc.).

VENUE DETAILS

The event will be held at Herts Baseball Club, Grovehill Park, Washington Avenue, Hemel Hempstead

Hertfordshire HP2 6NH (click for map and directions).

30 August 2010 by AspiDimitrov

AUDIO: BBC RADIO 5 LIVE SX PREVIEWS THE 2010 NBC COMING TO HERTS THIS WEEKEND

British Baseball legends Jonny Gould and Josh Chetwynd took time to preview the 2010 National Baseball Championships during the Sunday evening coverage of the New York Yankees vs the Chicago White Sox on BBC Radio 5 Live Sports Extra. The preview included a guest appearance by Rob Rance whose Bracknell Blazers will look to defend their 2009 title when they go out onto Grovehill Ballpark in Hemel Hempstead on Saturday, 4 September, in the opening game of the NBCs.

28 August 20105 February 2012 by AspiDimitrov

HERTS EAGLES THROUGH TO THE NBC

Job done. Herts Eagles win convincingly against the always dangerous Bracknell Inferno

Special Report by Paul Auchterlounie

Postseason Baseball. What we all play for. A time when the form book can be torn up, and regular season meetings count for nothing. One game. 9 innings. All or nothing. To the victors the spoils, to the vanquished the disappointment of an early start to the off season.

This is what it came down to for the Herts Eagles last Saturday, 28^th August. A single game playoff against Bracknell Inferno for the right to go to the AAA NBC’s on September 4^th / 5^th.

The regular season meetings had gone the same way – a sweep for the home team. Would the Eagles prevail again on their own ground, or would Bracknell spoil the party?

It was good weather for baseball, not too hot and no rain. Around 12 noon the game got underway. On the mound for the Eagles was veteran pitcher Darrin Ward; behind the plate Lee Manning for the absent Dave Westfallen. Infield of Rad Nagher (1B), Perrie Sherman (2B) Louis Hare (SS) and Liam Green (3B). Outfield of Paul Auchterlounie(LF), Mahendra Prasad (CF) and Jon Lewys (RF).

The game got off to an awkward start as Ward fielded a leadoff bunt and threw over the head of Naghar for an error. The 2^nd Bracknell batter Jordan Edmonds singled and stole to put 2 runners in scoring position and no outs. Could the Eagles’ season be unravelling so soon?? Thankfully not as Ward’s experience prevailed, retiring the next 3 batters with no runs scored.

In the bottom of the 1^st leadoff Prasad failed to reach base, then Naghar was allowed to reach base on an error from the Bracknell LF Norio Kenjo who unfortunately failed to hold his fly ball down the line. A strikeout for Hare followed, before Ward was the recipient of another Kenjo error on a running fly ball that came out of his glove, which brought Naghar round to score. A final strike out and the inning was over. Eagles 1 up.

Another error in the top of the 2^nd allowed the leadoff Bracknell batter on and he promptly stole second, advanced to third on a deep fly ball from Kenjo when the Eagles LF lost his footing after making the catch, then came home to tie it up on a Chambers groundout. No other runs crossed the plate though. In the bottom of the 2^nd things started badly for the Bracknell pitcher Wagner as he walked Sherman, Auchterlounie, Green and Manning before being pulled by Inferno manager Paul Vernon. New pitcher Jordan Edmonds was welcomed to the game by Prasad hitting a 3 run HR. It would have been a grand slam but for a passed ball a couple of pitches before allowing the runner on 3^rd to score. 7 more batters came to the plate through the inning, as Herts scored 6 runs in total to take early control 7 –1.

That control was never really relinquished through the rest of the contest. Bracknell were held scoreless through the next 3 innings as Herts scored 1,5 and 0 to lead 13-1 going into the 6^th inning. Unfortunately for Bracknell the Herts batters were getting on base through successive walks being issued as the pitchers were unable to find the strike zone on a consistent basis. Indeed both Auchterlounie and Manning walked every time at the plate.

Into the 6^th and the Eagles were looking to close out the game early on the 10-run slaughter rule. Bracknell scored 1, Ryan Soan leading off with a double before Huxley finally brought him home with a bases loaded fielder’s choice single. Eagles replied in the bottom of the 6^th with 1 of their own, Hare scoring on a Ward RBI groundout. This put Herts up 14-2 going into the 7^th.

Jordan Edmonds reached again on a walk, and made it round to home on another Eagles error. Eagles then made it interesting, allowing a runner to reach 3^rd base with less than 2 outs and Bracknell looking as though they might yet make the Eagles bat again. However after a missed double play ball up the middle Ward again made key pitches when it counted, getting the last 2 outs on a force at 2^nd and a pop fly to 1^st with no further runs scored.

So the Eagles made it.

A final score of 14 – 3 somewhat lop-sided and not a reflection of the close games played through the regular season.

Whether Bracknell were missing some key personnel or whether it was just post season baseball nerves I’m not sure – their pitching was unfortunately not quite good enough. They will be back next year I’m sure; and will no doubt be better prepared for having experienced disappointment in the unpredictable chaos that is postseason baseball.

Up next for the Eagles – the NBC’s on home turf and the fight to win it all.

View more images from Saturday’s playoff triumph for the Eagles.

BOX SCORES

Bracknell Inferno at Herts Eagles
Score By Innings	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	R	H	E
Bracknell Inferno	0	1	0	0	0	1	1	3	5	4
Herts Eagles	1	6	1	5	0	1	0	14	7	5

Herts Eagles 14, Bracknell Inferno 3
Herts Eagles					Bracknell Inferno
	ab	r	h	bi		ab	r	h	bi
PRASAD Mahendra cf	3	1	2	4	GITTOES Cam 2b-p	3	0	0	0
NAGHAR Rodney 1b	5	2	1	2	EDMONDS Jordan cf-p-2b-ss	3	1	1	0
HARE Louis ss	3	3	1	0	WAGNER Shayne p-cf-c-ss	4	0	1	0
WARD Darrin p	4	0	0	1	MATEY Scott 1b	4	0	1	0
LEWYS Jonathon rf-2b	5	0	3	2	SOAN Ryan rf	4	1	1	0
SHERMAN Perrie 2b	2	1	0	0	VERNON Connor ss-p	4	1	0	0
(b5) RUSSELL Nick rf	1	0	0	0	KENJO Norio lf	2	0	0	0
AUCHTERLOUNIE Paul lf	0	2	0	1	(t6) GRAY Danny lf-rf	1	0	0	0
(b6) HAMILTON Dave lf	0	0	0	0	(t7) MATTHEWS Chris lf	1	0	0	0
GREEN Liam 3b	3	2	0	0	CHAMBERS Zack 3b	2	0	0	1
MANNING Lee c	0	3	0	1	HUXLEY Adam cf-c	3	0	1	1
TEAM TOTALS	26	14	7	11	TEAM TOTALS	31	3	5	2

E: GREEN Liam(2), HARE Louis, WARD Darrin, LEWYS Jonathon, KENJO Norio(2), VERNON
Connor, GRAY Danny. DP: Bracknell Inferno 1. LOB: Bracknell Inferno 10, Herts Eagles
12. 2B: SOAN Ryan. HR: PRASAD Mahendra. SB: WARD Darrin(2), PRASAD Mahendra, LEWYS
Jonathon, VERNON Connor, EDMONDS Jordan. CS: LEWYS Jonathon.

Herts Eagles	IP	H	R	ER	BB	SO
WARD Darrin W	7.00	5	3	1	3	4
Bracknell Inferno
GITTOES Cam	3.00	5	3	2	3	2
EDMONDS Jordan	1.00	2	3	2	4	0
VERNON Connor	1.00	0	3	3	5	1
WAGNER Shayne L	1.00	0	5	4	4	2

HBP: by GITTOES Cam (PRASAD Mahendra). . , by GITTOES Cam (HAMILTON Dave). . WP:
GITTOES Cam(2), VERNON Connor(2), WAGNER Shayne. PB: HUXLEY Adam. T: 2:48. A: 89.

27 August 20105 February 2012 by AspiDimitrov

EAGLES ONE STEP AWAY FROM THE NBC

The whole club will be getting behind the Eagles this Saturday as they go for glory in the AAA postseason

The postseason playoffs are coming to Grovehill Ballpark tomorrow. With the Falcons dramatic exit form the NBL postseason last weekend, they and everyone else connected with Herts will be right behind the Eagles with the hope that they can keep the Herts flag flying high all the way to the National Championships on 4-5 September.

The Eagles meet the always dangerous Bracknell Inferno. The two teams have been involved in some epic encounters so far this year so this playoff game is a mouth-watering prospect. Can the Eagles do it?

The game starts at 12:00pm this Saturday, 28 August, at Grovehill Ballpark (Directions).

26 August 2010 by AspiDimitrov

BRITISH BASEBALL BUZZING WITH EXCITEMENT AS NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS DRAW NEARER

This article was first published on www.britishbaseball.org

The British Baseball postseason is underway and the sense of anticipation and excitement around the country can hardly be contained. After five months and 521 games in the British baseball leagues, the best teams in the country are now battling in the playoffs to book a place in the National Baseball Championships (NBC) which will take place on the weekend of 4 and 5 September to decide the 2010 champions.

Bad News Bird – 2009 MVP Ryan Bird is back in form and this can only be bad news for Richmond’s opponents in the postseason (photo by www.event-photos.co.uk)

NBL PLAYOFFS

Mildenhall advanced to the postseason with two wins against direct rivals Herts Falcons on the final day of the regular season. This sets up an intriguing playoff line-up in Britain’s top baseball league.

Both NBL playoff games will be played at Richmond’s Connare Field this Saturday. First up is the clash between Mildenhall and Southampton. The problem that has plagued the Bulldogs all season long is the fact that most of its players are US servicemen whose unpredictable working schedule can sometimes leave their squad down to bare bones. If their top performers are available then they will be a very awkward opponent and the Mustangs will have their work cut out, as they found out two weeks ago when they lost 0-6 and 2-3 to Mildenhall.

In the second game of the day starting at 3:30 pm, the Richmond Flames will meet the Croydon Pirates. After a slow start the Flames have picked up speed just at the right time. 2009 MVP Ryan Bird is back firing on all cylinders. He was the wining pitcher in the 13-0 win against 2009 champions Bracknell and that can only be bad news for the Pirates. Also returning for the Flames is Robbie Unsell, who was last year’s stolen base leader but missed several games this season after a freakish head injury trying to field a ground ball.

Despite Richmond’s recent return to form, Croydon have proven this year that they are capable of beating any NBL opponent. They have some very dangerous players in their line-up, most notably Home Run Champion Maikel Azcuy.

NBL Playoffs (Connare Field, Richmond, Saturday 28 August 2010)12:00, Mildenhall Bulldogs (10-16) @ Southampton Mustangs (13-15).
15:30, Croydon Pirates (10-18) @ Richmond Flames (17-11).

AAA-LEAGUE PLAYOFFS

Oxford’s win against the Bracknell Inferno on Sunday confirmed them as the AAA (South) winners and they go straight through to the AAA NBC. This leaves the Bracknell Inferno and Herts Eagles fighting for the last remaining place in the AAA National Finals. They will meet this Saturday at Grovehill Ballpark in Hemel Hempstead. The two teams have been involved in some epic encounters so far this year so this playoff game is a mouth-watering prospect.

AAA Playoff (Grovehill Ballpark, Hemel Hempstead, Saturday 28 August 2010)12:00, Bracknell Inferno (16-8) @ Herts Eagles (18-6).

Catcher Dave Westfallen is expected to be one of the key men for the Eagles as they play the Bracknell Inferno for a place in the NBC (photo by www.HP2photographic.com)

Can the Blue Sox repeat their walk-off win against Birmingham or will the Maple Leafs get their revenge

AA-LEAGUE PLAYOFFS

While the National Baseball League (NBL) and AAA League completed their regular season schedule on Sunday, teams from the AA and Single-A Leagues were already going head-to-head.

The Leicester Blue Sox appear to be carrying a great deal of momentum into the postseason. After winning the AA (Midlands) divisional title earlier this month they met the Sheffield Bladerunners who were the runners-up in AA (North). The Blue Sox eased to a 19-9 win with Shannon Henry picking up another win on the mound, while Oscar Martinez provided the highlight of the game with a towering two-run home run.

Meanwhile, a second team from the Midlands booked a place in the AA Semi-Finals. The Birmingham Maple Leafs produced the most dominating performance in the 2010 postseason so far with a 18-1 blowout win over the Bolton Robots of Doom, which is the best team in AA (North). Birmingham and Leicester will clash once again at Western Park this Saturday at 12.00 noon in a repeat of the Midlands title decider. The Blue Sox came out on top that time, but the Maple Leafs will feel that have been given an opportunity for sweet revenge.

The team with the best record in the AA League, Richmond Knights, booked their place in the Semi-Final with a 10-6 win over the Windsor Bears. A two-run home run by Windsor slugger Clint Milner was not enough for the team from Berkshire. The Knights will meet the Poole Piranhas in the Semi-Final, after they overcame the Essex Archers by a score of 17-3. Shannon Hall was the winning pitcher, while Archers Manager, Darren Ludlow was saddled with the loss.

Despite the loss, Essex can be very proud of reaching the AA League playoffs in their first year after promotion from the Single-A League. And so, in accordance with the formbook, the Poole Piranhas will be travelling to Ham Ground to face the Richmond Knights. They Knights have the upper hand as they won convincingly when the two teams met in the first week of August in the regular season.

AA Playoffs (Semi-Finals) Saturday, 28 August 201012:00, Birmingham Maple Leafs (15-5) @ Leicester Blue Sox (15-5) (Western Park, Leicester).
12:00, Poole Piranhas (13-5) @ Richmond Knights (17-1) (Ham Ground Richmond).

A-LEAGUE PLAYOFFS

The Chelmsford Clippers stunned British Baseball with a 16-12 win over the Richmond Dragons, who went into the playoffs as the favourite to go all the way and win the A-League title.

The Clippers clinched a place in the postseason in the last minute after the Old Timers dropped out. They may have had an average regular season with a modest 6-7 record, but that doesn’t seem to have affected them and their win over Richmond was an amazing achievement for a team in their first year of existence.

In the semi-final Chelmsford will play against Guildford, who produced a dominant performance to beat the Braintree Rays 22-14. Matt Bruce pitched a complete nine-inning win, recording 10 strikeouts for the Mavericks. Their better regular season record has given them home field advantage in the Semi-Final.

The other Semi-Final will be between the Humber Pilots and the MK Bucks, both of whom progress after convincing wins in their quarter-final games. Humber beat the Leicester Blue Sox in a high-scoring 36-12 win. MVP for the Pilots proved to be Lee Evans, who was the winning pitcher and also contributed offensively with a home run. MK Bucks beat Manchester Torrent 22-3. Tom Lloyd was the winning pitcher for the Bucks and his teammate Ross Barnes scored an inside-the-park home run. Barnes’ may have played his last game of the season as he is due to be posted to Afghanistan imminently. Will this setback prove to be decisive when the Bucks host the Pilots this Saturday?

A Playoffs (Semi-Finals) Saturday, 28 August 201014:00, Humber Pilots (14-8) @ Milton Keynes Bucks (13-7) (Woughton on the Green, Milton Keynes).
14:30, Chelmsford Clippers (6-7) @ Guildford Mavericks (9-4) (Broadwater School, Guildford).

Matt Bruce pitched a 9-inning complete game as the Mavericks knocked Braintree out of the postseason

22 August 20105 February 2012 by AspiDimitrov

BULLDOGS KNOCK FALCONS OUT OF THE PLAYOFFS

This article by BSUK special correspondent Simon Fitzjohn, was first published on www.britishbaseball.org

The Mildenhall Bulldogs claimed the prized final playoff spot in 2010, and the Richmond Flames laid down an impressive marker as the National Baseball League regular season drew to a close on Sunday 21 August. The Bulldogs swept the Herts Falcons in a winner-takes-all showdown, while the Flames eased past heavyweights Bracknell Blazers.

Herts Falcons’ leading batter, Dan Kerry, had to be taken out of the first game with a suspected broken toe.

Everyone connected with Herts wishes him a speedy recovery. (photo by www.HP2photographic.com)

HERTS FALCONS AT MILDENHALL BULLDOGS

Anyone expecting a tension-filled, tight brace of encounters were to be disappointed as the Bulldogs rolled to impressive 11-4 and 18-1 victories. Barry Wiles and Ken Reber picked up the wins on the mound, sentencing Pete Kikel and Nic Goetz to defeat and erasing the Falcons from the play-off picture in the process. Herts’ Aspi Dimitrov said, “My immediate reaction is obviously one of disappointment. We were so close to making it, but all of the credit must go to Mildenhall. They fully deserved their wins.” “I would predict that if they have their full roster available for the play-offs they are going to surprise a few people and could even go all the way.”

BRACKNELL BLAZERS AT RICHMOND FLAMES

Richmond swept the Blazers in impressive fashion to wrap-up their third-placed finish in style. The Flames were 13-0 and 6-5 winners, with Ryan Bird and Rob Unsell taking the pitching honours. Coach Grant Delzoppo also clubbed a two-run home run in game one as part of an impressive all-round display. Delzoppo said: “We are really pleased. To get two wins and finish the season on a high is a real plus for us. We beat their best pitchers. It is always good to beat a side like Bracknell and this will give us a real boost heading into the play-offs.”

15 August 20105 February 2012 by AspiDimitrov

HERTS AND ESSEX SHARE SPOILS TO SET UP PLAYOFF SHOWDOWN THIS SUNDAY

The Herts Falcons suffered a setback in their mission to reach the National League playoffs. A spirited fight back by the visiting Essex Arrows in the last inning resulted in a heartbreaking loss for the Falcons. Despite this, a combination of results in the other NBL games and a convincing win in the second game of the day meant that the loss in game one was not as costly as first thought.

Having beaten the Arrows in their previous two meetings this season, the Falcons went into the game with confidence but the tension of the postseason race was evident. Herts took a slender lead early in the game, but the visitors kept in touch with their starting pitcher Matt Gilbert keeping batters off balance by changing speed very effectively. Herts went into the seventh and final inning with a 3-2 lead and it looked as though starting pitcher Pete Kikel would complete the game with a win after he struck out the lead off batter, Ben Sayer. A great deal of credit has to be given to the Essex Arrows at that point as they didn’t give up. Their next two batters got on base after they were both hit by pitches. A double by the always dangerous Rich Chesterton tied the game. Up next was Essex’s cleanup batter Matt Gilbert and the Falcons decided to walk him intentionally to load the bases. Leftfielder Brandon Florence was the next to bat and he drove the ball all the way to the outfield wall to bring in 3 more runs. In total 5 runs came in and that proved to be too much for the home team to recover from in the bottom of the inning.

Stung by that loss, the Falcons came back fighting in the second game. They took a 14-1 lead in just three innings of play. Their bats were on fire. Third baseman Alex Ganster went 4-for-4 driving in 5 runs. Carlos Casal from Hemel Hempstead and Jason Greenberg had two hits each but the biggest ovation was for shortstop Brandon Deal who launched the ball high over the left-centerfield wall for a 3-run home run. He was 3-for-3 with 3 RBIs in the game. He will miss the remaining games of the season as he will be on military duty overseas over the next few weeks, but that was a great way to end his season and send the Falcons on a high going into next week’s do-or-die last game of the season against playoff rivals Mildenhall.

After the games Herts Falcons Manager, Jason Greenberg said: “”It was a disappointment that we let game one on Sunday slip through our fingers. We had a slim one-run lead going into the final frame, but it wasn’t enough to secure the win. But the boys battled back in game two, and I was pleased with the confidence and momentum we found right from the first pitch. That’s how we need to begin our series against the Bulldogs this Sunday: with the knowledge that we are going to get ahead early, and stay ahead until the final out is made.”

With Mildenhall picking up two wins against Southampton, losing game one against Essex has turned out to be not as costly as first thought. The Herts Falcons will be travelling to RAF Feltwell this Sunday knowing that they must win one of their two games against the Bulldogs to book their place in the playoffs. If they win both games they would jump over both Mildenhall and Croydon which would give them better seeding in the playoffs. Losing both games is not an option as that would signal the end of the season for the boys from Hemel Hempstead.

images courtesy of www.HP2photographic.com