Category: Headlines

by AspiDimitrov

DIE HARD EAGLES

Report from Herts Baseball Newswire Correspondent, DAVE HAMILTON

 

The Herts Eagles extended their winning streak to three games with another sensational victory at Grovehill against the Sidewinders.  Fresh from two victories against Burgess Hill the previous week, and buoyed by memories of their extra-innings win over the same opponents earlier in the season, the Eagles were confident of further success.

 

With runs hard to come by in another pitching duel, there was little between the two sides but the visiting Sidewinders eventually edged ahead.

 

Many of the team felt it was a case of deja-vu as for the second week in a row they entered the final inning trailing by a run after another hard fought encounter.  However, after two quick outs it seemed like this time there was to be no 'great escape'.  Outfielder Jon Lewys, a late call-up from the Raptors squad, refused to go down without a fight though, slapping another base hit up the middle, setting the scene for Carlos Casal to come up with the game's big hit – an RBI triple to the fence in left field that scored Lewys all the way from first base and tied the game.

 

With the Sidewinders a little deflated and victory just 90 feet away, pitcher Louis Hare sealed victory for himself and the team with an RBI single, restoring the Eagles to a .500 record, with 7 wins and 7 losses on the season – an amazing performance given their step up from AA last year.

 

Unfortunately the Eagles weren't able to build on their momentum and fell to a comprehensive defeat in the second game.  The main point of note in the game was a collision at home plate between Eagles player-manager Dave Westfallen and the Sidewinders catcher that left the visiting catcher concussed.  All agreed it was a fair play (simply a result of tough, no-holds barred baseball) but everyone at the ballpark wish the injured player a speedy recovery.

 

The Eagles now have a week off, before their re-arranged visit to the Bournemouth Sharks, a game which was rained out earlier in the season.

by AspiDimitrov

HOME RUNS GALORE

The Herts Yankees have a commanding lead in the Herts Baseball Little League after 8 games into the season. They were the only team to pick up two wins this weekend and find themselves 2 games ahead of the pack.  Their wins came against the Red Sox and the Cubs. 

 

The Cubs managed to end a 4-game losing streak later in the day with a 9-3 win against the Blue Jays.  The Blue Jays and Cubs find themselves at the bottom of the league, but still very much within touching distance of the leaders.

 

This week saw the first home runs being hit out of the park this season.  Lewis Paterson and Liam Green each hit the ball over the outfield wall.

 

In the Minors, the Giants and the Cardinals split the double-header 3-11 and 10-9.

 

The team’s players of the week were Liam Green (Red Sox), Marty Cullen Jr (Yankees), Aaron Witter (Blue Jays), Alex Ringrose (Cubs), Chloe Strange (Cardinals), Lewis Auchterlounie (Giants).

 

View the Herts Little League Scoreboard and Standings

by AspiDimitrov

STOP THE PRESSES: FALCONS TAKE FIRST


Photo Credit and Article from Joe Grey of BaseballGB
(amended by Newswire Staff)

The Falcons jumped to the top of the National Baseball League this Sunday, after sending the Croydon Pirates further into the basement with a drubbing in both games of their doubleheader at Roundshaw Playing Fields in Croydon.

The Pirates, who have struggled to field a side of late, showed flashes of their old self but were still put to the sword by scores of 20-2 and 13-8.

Darrin Ward took the win for Herts in Game One, while Nic Goetz claimed the honors in Game Two.

The second match, in particular, was full of unconventional quirks that kept the fans engaged and the sideline-historians deep in “never seen that before” exchanges.  In the bottom of the first inning, Pirate Maikel Azcuy clubbed a home run over the short right field porch off Goetz.  He was mobbed by his teammates near the plate, elated that their fortunes seemed to be turning after a 1-2-3 top of the Falcons 1st.  But some heads-up work from catcher Lee Manning wiped the dinger off the scorepages – Azcuy never touched home plate after rounding the bases, and Manning simply brought the ball there to get the out from umpire Dave Thomson.

Then, late in the game as the Falcons were staging a late-inning comeback, Lin Yuchih was forced out at second base on a fielders choice for the second out of the inning.  The Pirates threw on to 1st, trying to double-up runner-batter Andy Cornish… and then turned around to see Lin walking off the field via third base.  Mistaking him for a runner-in-play they attempted to catch Lin (who ran into the pickle not sure if he was really out or safe at 2nd base!), tagged him, and ran off the field believing the inning had ended.  It wasn't until the Herts side and official scorers had convinced the umpires that Lin was actually charged with two outs in the same inning that the Croydon players were sent back onto the field to get out number three.

Despite the day's antics, the Falcons walked away from Roundshaw with their heads held high.  In just their first year in the National League they've established themselves as post-season contenders.  While a one game lead over Bracknell, Richmond and London is slim, it's a lead nonetheless… and more than Herts (or their rivals and critics) would have expected from an expansion team.  With half the season to play anything can happen.  But the League should probably start-over their search for the true underdogs – the Falcons don't seem to be rolling over for anyone.

Note: the other scheduled action in Week 8, a doubleheader between the Richmond Flames and London Mets, was postponed due to a waterlogged pitch at Finsbury Park.

GAME ONE

Herts Falcons at Croydon Pirates
Score By Innings 1 2 3 4 5 R H E
Herts Falcons 0 5 0 3 12 20 8 2
Croydon Pirates 2 0 0 0 0 2 5 2

Herts Falcons 20, Croydon Pirates 2
Herts Falcons Croydon Pirates
  ab r h bi   ab r h bi
Riley Fisher 3b 3 3 2 2 Player 1 p 3 0 0 0
Andy Cornish lf 3 2 2 5 (t5) Daniel Rose lf-p 0 0 0 0
Lin Yuchih 2b 4 1 1 3 Ron Almonte ss 2 1 0 0
Darrin Ward p 2 2 1 3 Jessie Quinones c-1b 3 0 0 0
Jason Greenberg c 2 2 0 1 Daniel Quinones 1b-rf 2 1 1 1
Nick Goetz ss 2 1 0 1 Jose Sosa 2b-3b 3 0 1 0
(t5) Luis Goncalves ss 0 0 0 0 Pdero Padilla 2b 1 0 0 0
Lee Manning 1b 2 2 1 1 (t3) Maikel Azcuy 2b-3b 0 0 0 0
John Oliver rf 1 4 1 1 Brandon Florence lf-p 2 0 0 0
Jamie Munn cf 0 3 0 1 Tadashi Zushi cf 2 0 1 0
Mark Morgenroth rf 2 0 2 0
(t5) Marco Moreno c 0 0 0 0
TEAM TOTALS 19 20 8 18 TEAM TOTALS 20 2 5 1

E: Riley Fisher, Nick Goetz, Player 1, Brandon Florence. DP: Croydon Pirates 2. LOB:
Herts Falcons 4, Croydon Pirates 6. 2B: Lin Yuchih, Andy Cornish. SB: Lee Manning,
John Oliver, Ron Almonte, Mark Morgenroth. SB: Nick Goetz. SF: Nick Goetz, Lee
Manning.

Herts Falcons IP H R ER BB SO
Darrin Ward W 5.00 5 2 1 3 2
Croydon Pirates            
Jessie Quinones 2.67 0 6 6 0 0
Player 1 L 1.33 6 9 8 9 1
Brandon Florence 1.00 2 3 3 2 1
Daniel Rose 0.00 0 2 2 2 0

HBP: by Player 1 (Jason Greenberg), by Player 1 (Andy Cornish). . , by Player 1
(Riley Fisher). , by Daniel Rose (Riley Fisher). WP: Player 1(5). T: 2:23. A: 39.

GAME TWO

Herts Falcons at Croydon Pirates
Score By Innings 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 R H E
Herts Falcons 3 0 1 0 0 4 5 13 8 4
Croydon Pirates 0 2 0 3 0 1 2 8 8 5

Herts Falcons 13, Croydon Pirates 8
Herts Falcons Croydon Pirates
  ab r h bi   ab r h bi
Riley Fisher 3b 2 2 0 0 Ron Almonte ss 4 0 0 0
Kimiyoshi Saionji 2b 4 3 2 2 Jose Sosa p 4 0 0 0
Lin Yuchih dh 5 1 1 0 Maikel Azcuy 3b 3 1 1 0
Andy Cornish rf 5 0 0 1 Jessie Quinones c 4 1 1 0
Lee Manning c 3 2 0 0 Daniel Quinones rf 4 2 0 0
Luis Goncalves ss 2 1 0 1 Brandon Florence lf 1 2 1 0
John Oliver 1b 4 1 1 1 (t7) Pdero Padilla lf 1 0 1 0
Aspi Dimitrov lf 3 1 1 0 Tadashi Zushi cf 3 2 2 3
Jamie Munn cf 4 2 3 1 (b7) Daniel Rose cf 1 0 0 0
Nick Goetz p 0 0 0 0 Stephen Gayle 2b 2 0 1 0
(b7) Nicardio Simms 2b 1 0 0 0
M Moreno 1b 3 0 1 1
TEAM TOTALS 32 13 8 6 TEAM TOTALS 31 8 8 4

E: Luis Goncalves(2), Lee Manning, Riley Fisher, Maikel Azcuy, Stephen Gayle, Jessie
Quinones, M Moreno, Tadashi Zushi. DP: Croydon Pirates 1. LOB: Croydon Pirates 7,
Herts Falcons 7. 2B: Tadashi Zushi, Brandon Florence. 3B: Maikel Azcuy. SB: Luis
Goncalves, John Oliver, Aspi Dimitrov, Brandon Florence, Tadashi Zushi.

Herts Falcons IP H R ER BB SO
Nick Goetz W 7.00 8 8 5 5 4
Croydon Pirates            
Jose Sosa L 7.00 8 13 5 8 7

HBP: by Jose Sosa (Luis Goncalves). WP: Nick Goetz(2), Jose Sosa. PB: Lee Manning,
Jessie Quinones. Balk: Jose Sosa(2). T: 2:34. A: 39.

by AspiDimitrov

SUN SHINES ON THE MAVERICKS’ RALLY

Report from Herts Baseball Newswire Correspondent, Jon Gamble

 

Few things are as unpredictable as the weather in an English summer.  A sure rain-off for the afternoon's game in Guilford looks likely. Yet as the Raptors arrive to face the Mavericks, it is one of those perfect sunny June days in England that are made for a game of baseball.

 

The Raptors are confident coming out of a strong win at Richmond the previous week. The confidence shows right from the start. With bases loaded, Jonathon Lewys thumps a 3-run home run deep into the playing fields of leafy Surrey. The Raptors have turned up for a game.

 

The Mavericks reply with a couple of runs. They don't look flustered. The early innings settle into a low-scoring scrap with both sides defending with grit. At the top of the fifth, the Raptors change gear. Paul Curtis and Steve Nippress both hit doubles. Jonathon Lewys decides it's time to belt another 3-run home run – with bases loaded off course. He is in imperious form.

 

The Mavericks finally look a little rattled. Time-out. Out goes TJ Sheridan with the Mavericks' bullpen in action. Andrew Slater is promptly hit by fiery low pitch but manages to get round in some obvious pain. This is leading from the front. At the end of the inning, the Raptors are on top with a commanding 15-3 lead.

 

The Mavericks are going to have to dig deep to get out of a hole. They reply with 5 doubles in the bottom of the fifth, score 7 runs and show that they are not ready to be sent to bed early. 15-10 looks a lot better.

 

What the Maverick's new pitcher lacks in accuracy he makes up for in vim. Some of his pitches are so zesty that even the umpire is having trouble seeing how low they are. The Raptors are hustled out in the top of the fifth – with only Steve Nippress getting round.

 

They put on a couple of runs in the bottom of the sixth. It is 16-12 at the end of the innings. Everyone suddenly knows that they're in a game not a walk-over. Ilya Dimitrov and Steve Nippress both hit doubles in the top of the seventh. Steve is having a helluva game with both bat and mitt – by now. Jon Gamble strikes out looking after dodging pitches round the ankles and at head height. He is still looking for the pitch that struck him out. 19-12 at the top of the seventh.

 

The Mavericks made the most of a couple of fielding errors and picked up the rally they started in the bottom of the fifth to reply with 5 runs in the bottom of the seventh. The Mavericks are not the kind of team that gives up when they're behind. They rode their luck. Once they had pulled the game back to 19-17, their tails were up. Both teams out up a run each in the eighth with the game finely balanced.. 

 

The Raptors had lead all the way through the game, going into the ninth inning 20-18 but could not hold the Mavericks in the final inning. They had played catch-up all game and finally made it. The Raptors left Godalming a little disappointed but somehow satisfied that they had fought hard in a closely fought game. Driving home through Buckinghamshire, the heavens opened and the thunder clapped. Few things are as unpredictable as the English weather in summer – except maybe the Mavericks' relief pitcher.

 

Click for more images from the game, courtesy of Jon Gamble.

 

Herts Raptors at Guildford Mavericks
Score By Innings 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
Herts Raptors 4 1 1 0 9 1 3 1 0 20 16 5
Guildford Mavericks 2 1 0 0 7 2 5 1 3 21 22 9

Guildford Mavericks 21, Herts Raptors 20
Guildford Mavericks Herts Raptors
  ab r h bi   ab r h bi
TJ Sheridan p 6 1 1 1 Matt Johnston cf 5 2 1 0
Michael Burdett c 7 3 3 2 Nick Read c 4 2 1 0
Tom Sheridan 1b 7 2 3 4 Jonathon Lewys 3b 6 3 4 7
Dante Taglucop 2b 5 2 3 2 Andrew Slater p 5 3 1 1
Ally Carr 3b 5 2 1 0 Ilya Dimitrov ss 5 4 3 1
Peter Badenhuizen ss 5 2 3 2 Jack Calow 2b 3 1 1 0
James Cumper lf 6 4 4 2 (t5) Neil Brackley 2b 2 0 0 0
Marty Poulter cf 6 3 3 1 Paul Curtis 1b 5 2 3 4
Rik Travers rf 4 2 1 1 Steve Nippress lf 5 2 2 2
          Phil Hynes rf 2 0 0 0
          (t4) Robert Crouch rf 3 1 0 1
          (t7) Jon Gamble rf 0 0 0 0
TEAM TOTALS 51 21 22 15 TEAM TOTALS 45 20 16 16

E: TJ Sheridan(2), Michael Burdett(2), Tom Sheridan(2), Dante Taglucop(2), Ally Carr,
Paul Curtis(2), Jonathon Lewys, Ilya Dimitrov, Jack Calow. LOB: Herts Raptors 9,
Guildford Mavericks 11. 2B: Tom Sheridan(3), Michael Burdett, TJ Sheridan, Dante
Taglucop, Peter Badenhuizen, Marty Poulter, Jonathon Lewys(2), Steve Nippress(2),
Ilya Dimitrov, Andrew Slater, Paul Curtis. HR: Jonathon Lewys(2). SB: James
Cumper(4), Michael Burdett(2), Dante Taglucop(2), TJ Sheridan, Marty Poulter, Ally
Carr, Rik Travers, Ilya Dimitrov(3), Steve Nippress(2), Jonathon Lewys(2), Matt
Johnston(2), Paul Curtis. CS: Andrew Slater.

Guildford Mavericks IP H R ER BB SO
TJ Sheridan W 9.00 16 20 13 10 11
Herts Raptors            
Andrew Slater L 8.33 22 21 16 6 3

HBP: by TJ Sheridan (Andrew Slater). . . . . WP: Andrew Slater(3). PB: Nick Read(2).
T: 4:35. A: 32.

by AspiDimitrov

FALCONS PUNISH FLAMES FOR ERROR-STREWN FIELDING

This article and images were provided by Joe Gray and were first published on Mister Baseball

 

The only National Baseball League (NBL) action last Sunday was a double-header between the Herts Falcons and Richmond Flames at Grovehill Ballpark.  Richmond were missing  several players, including the multi-talented Ryan Bird (suspended) and the dangerous Cody Cain, but their line-up still contained enough talent for the spectators at Grovehill Ballpark to be expecting two victories for the visitors.

Those spectators were to be treated to two gripping contests, with the HERTS FALCONS coming from behind to edge both games by 1 run. While the FALCONS’ sweep came as a surprise, the same cannot be said for the ingredients of the victories: HERTS combined well-drilled fielding, intelligent pitching, and opportunistic base-running, as they have done all season.

Their off-field programme is widely acknowledged as being a beacon for baseball development in Britain, and now they have proven that their club also deserves recognition on the field at the highest level of the game. This last statement would apply even if the FALCONS had lost all four of their 1-run contests, because the fact that they have just been keeping scorelines respectable against established NBL sides is some achievement for a team making a jump from playing in the second tier of baseball in 2008

 

Richmond Flames 6

Herts Falcons 7

 

After Yoshi Saito led off with a single for the FLAMES and the home team then failed to convert the second half of a makeable double-play opportunity, it looked like RICHMOND might get on the board in the first inning. However, the FALCONS’ starter Nick Goetz served up a second ground ball, and this time the HERTS infield did turn the double-play, suggesting that the failed effort one batter earlier was merely indicative of early-game nerves.

Goetz’s mound rival was the experienced hurler Michael Osborn (pictured to the left), who had overpowered the FALCONS just 3 weeks earlier, striking out 11 in a 10-3 victory. Osborn looked strong once more, but he had lost the advantage of novelty and, more significantly, his pitching was not backed up by his infield in the way it deserved to be. By the time Osborn got out of the first inning, the FLAMES defence had already gifted the FALCONS 4 runs.

RICHMOND halved the deficit in the second inning, and despite HERTS scoring another run in the bottom of the fifth frame, the FLAMES were able to take the lead in the top of the next inning, aided by a two-out 3-run double off the bat of Brett Wakeley, the number-nine hitter. This made the score 6-5.

 

In the bottom of the sixth, HERTS levelled the game with Andy Cornish stealing third and then advancing home after the attempt to gun him down ended up in the outfield. The FALCONS then attempted a squeeze bunt to plate the go-ahead run, with Aspi Dimitrov on third, Riley Fisher at bat, one out, and a count of 1-and-2.  The bunt went foul, though, and a long fly-ball off the bat of Jason Greenberg, the next batter, was caught in centre field to end the inning.

 

Goetz retired the first RICHMOND batter in the top of the final regulation inning but then gave up a walk to the next batter (his third of the game), which was followed by back-to-back singles to load the bases. Up stepped Brad Crinion, who had worked 11 pitches for a walk in his previous plate appearance (as part of the FLAMES’ 4-run rally in the sixth). Included in those 11 pitches were three fiercely hit balls that just strayed foul down the third-base line. In the seventh, though, Goetz pitched masterfully to Crinion, striking him out on three swings.

 

With the bases still loaded, the left-handed hitter Matt Spaulding came up to bat. He hit a grounder straight at first baseman Darrin Ward, and for a moment it looked like a bobble might take the ball away from the dependable gloveman, but Ward managed to handle it and then got across to first to retire Spaulding by two steps.

 

In the bottom of the seventh, the FALCONS got their lead-off hitter, Lin Yuchih, aboard with a walk, but Darrin Ward grounded into a force-out at second for the first out. With Kimiyoshi Saionji at bat (pictured right), HERTS might have considered bringing in a pinch-runner for Ward but this would have taken his glove out of the game if it had gone into extra innings.

 

Saionji had delivered a walk-off hit when HERTS defeated LONDON back at the start of May, and he did the same once again with his double to the recently installed permanent fence scoring Ward all the way from first.

 

Tellingly, this was the first earned run that Osborn had given up in the game.

 

 

Richmond Flames 4

Herts Falcons 5

 

Darrin Ward (pictured right) picked up the win in this game to join Henry Collins of BRACKNELL and Michael Osborn as the first pitchers to get to three victories this season.

 

RICHMOND opened the game with a 3-run first inning, but HERTS scored a run in each of the first four innings, while RICHMOND added only a solo home run, hit by Grant Delzoppo, through the top of the fifth inning.

 

With the game tied at 4-4, Ward led off the bottom of the fifth with a double and advanced to third on a ground-out to short. Like they had in game one, HERTS tried the squeeze bunt, but the RICHMOND pitcher Brad Crinion was clearly wise to the ploy as he directed the pitch well above the strike zone, making it impossible for Lee Manning to put bat on ball. This left Ward an easy out at the plate, killing the threat.

 

After holding the FLAMES to no score in the top of the sixth, the FALCONS again found themselves with one out and a runner on base, Jamie Munn (pictured left). This time, the call was made to bring in Andy Cornish as a pinch-hitter. He connected for a single to score Munn and leave the FALCONS three outs away from a second victory of the day.

 

Despite having to face the heart of RICHMOND’s batting line-up in the seventh, Ward struck out the side to complete an unlikely sweep.

 

The results left four teams tied for first in the NBL: RICHMOND (7-5), HERTS (6-4), LONDON (6-4), and BRACKNELL (5-3). The CROYDON PIRATES, the NBL’s fifth team, are yet to register a win.

 

Joe Gray writes for BaseballGB and also looks after Great British top-tier statistics, Project Cobb, and the Great Britain National Team archive.

More images from the game courtesy of Joe Gray

GAME 1

Richmond Flames at Herts Falcons
Score By Innings 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 R H E
Richmond Flames 0 2 0 0 0 4 0 6 11 11
Herts Falcons 4 0 0 0 1 1 1 7 4 2

Herts Falcons 7, Richmond Flames 6
Herts Falcons Richmond Flames
  ab r h bi   ab r h bi
Riley Fisher 3b 4 1 0 0 Saito Yoshi ss 4 0 3 0
Jason Greenberg c 4 1 0 0 Mann Mike 2b 4 0 0 0
Lin Yuchih dh 3 1 0 0 Grant Delzoppo c 2 0 0 0
Darrin Ward 1b 4 2 3 1 Guy Lidbetter lf-3b 4 1 2 0
Kimiyoshi Saionji 2b 3 1 1 2 Mike Osborn p 4 2 3 1
Luis Goncalves ss 3 0 0 1 Brad Crinion 1b 3 1 1 1
Andy Cornish rf 3 1 0 0 Mitt Spalding rf 4 1 0 0
Aspi Dimitrov lf 3 0 0 0 George Naumczik cf 2 1 1 2
Jamie Munn cf 3 0 0 0 Brett Wakeley 3b-lf 3 0 1 0
Nick Goetz p 0 0 0 0
TEAM TOTALS 30 7 4 4 TEAM TOTALS 30 6 11 4

E: Nick Goetz, Aspi Dimitrov, Guy Lidbetter(4), Mann Mike(2), Brett Wakeley(2), Saito
Yoshi, Brad Crinion, Grant Delzoppo. DP: Herts Falcons 1. LOB: Herts Falcons 6,
Richmond Flames 7. 2B: Kimiyoshi Saionji, Brett Wakeley. SB: Aspi Dimitrov, Andy
Cornish. SF: Kimiyoshi Saionji, George Naumczik.

Herts Falcons IP H R ER BB SO
Nick Goetz W 7.00 11 6 6 3 4
Richmond Flames            
Mike Osborn L 6.33 4 7 1 1 8

PB: Grant Delzoppo. T: 2:08. A: 38.

GAME 2

Richmond Flames at Herts Falcons
Score By Innings 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 R H E
Richmond Flames 3 0 1 0 0 0 0 4 5 6
Herts Falcons 1 1 1 1 0 1 0 5 8 2

Herts Falcons 5, Richmond Flames 4
Herts Falcons Richmond Flames
  ab r h bi   ab r h bi
Riley Fisher 3b 4 1 3 0 Saito Yoshi ss 3 1 0 0
Kimiyoshi Saionji rf 3 0 0 0 Mike Osborn 3b 4 0 0 0
Lin Yuchih 2b 3 1 1 0 Delzoppo Grant c 3 2 2 1
Darrin Ward p 3 1 2 0 Guy Lidbetter 1b 4 1 1 2
Luis Goncalves ss 1 0 0 0 Brad Crinion p 3 0 1 1
Lee Manning 1b 3 0 0 0 Brett Wakeley lf 2 0 1 0
Aspi Dimitrov lf 3 1 1 1 George Naumczik cf 3 0 0 0
Jamie Munn cf 3 1 0 0 Matt Spalding rf 3 0 0 0
Jason Greenberg c 2 0 0 0 Mike Mann 2b 3 0 0 0
(t6) Andy Cornish c 1 0 1 1
TEAM TOTALS 26 5 8 2 TEAM TOTALS 28 4 5 4

E: Riley Fisher(2), Mike Mann(3), Saito Yoshi(2), Matt Spalding. LOB: Herts Falcons
5, Richmond Flames 6. 2B: Darrin Ward, Guy Lidbetter, Brad Crinion. HR: Delzoppo
Grant. SB: Lin Yuchih(2), Luis Goncalves, Aspi Dimitrov.

Herts Falcons IP H R ER BB SO
Darrin Ward W 7.00 5 4 4 3 5
Richmond Flames            
Brad Crinion L 6.00 8 5 1 2 3

WP: Brad Crinion. T: 1:55. A: 38.

by AspiDimitrov

AAA CLASH ON SOUTH COAST BOILS OVER

Report from Herts Baseball Newswire Correspondent, DAVE HAMILTON

 

Controversy ruled in Southampton on Sunday as, after hours of uncompromising baseball in blazing sunshine, manager Dave Westfallen led his Eagles team from the field in protest with the score still tied 8-8 in extra innings.  It was a sad end to a game where Herts had fought off everything the Mustangs could throw at them but a very competitive match-up was ruined by a string of umpiring decisions which seemed to consistently favour the home side.

 

It was probably appropriate that the hottest day of the season would produce the most heated confrontation to date although no one could have anticipated the sudden and acrimonious end, which occurred when the umpire (who was one of the Southampton players) tried to eject the Eagles' manager from the game.  This was the final straw for the visitors who had been frustrated throughout at the umpire's lack of neutrality and after several unproductive conversations between the two managers and the umpire to try and resolve the problem, the Eagles agreed they could not overcome this obstacle any longer and followed their catcher off the diamond.  The game, which despite (or perhaps because of) the umpiring problems was still on a knife-edge, was therefore abandoned.

 

After a lacklustre display in game 1, the Herts Eagles had come out much more fired-up in game 2, scoring three first innings runs to take an early advantage.  Trouble arose as early as the second inning of the contest though when the stand-in umpire's strike zone seemed to narrow, with a number of borderline pitches not being given as strikes.  Two of the home side drew walks as a result and both came round to score, giving the Southampton Mustangs a 4-3 advantage. 

 

Louis Hare scored on a single by shortstop Pete Kikel to tie the score in the third inning before the Mustangs edged ahead once more and then extended their lead to 7-4 after four innings. With the umpire viewing many of pitcher Hare's curveballs as being outside the strike zone, the 21 year old right hander was being forced to throw a lot of extra pitches in the scorching heat, as well as being unable to use his full variations that had proved so successful in recent weeks at keeping hitters off balance.  However, when a belt high fastball over the middle of the plate was called a 'ball' the Eagles knew they were in for a long afternoon.

 

After a scoreless fifth inning the Eagles fought back in the sixth inning and some aggressive baserunning forced two throwing errors from the home side's otherwise solid defence.  This allowed three runs to score on a single by first baseman John Oliver, who then scored on Hare's third hit of the game to give Herts an 8-7 lead. 

 

Unfortunately the Eagles couldn't keep the lead for long, but a tag at home plate meant they held the score to 8-8 entering the final inning.  With the tension mounting, both teams managed to get a runner to third base but were unable to come up with the crucial hit to score the run, and the game was forced into extra innings.

 

It seemed likely that the Eagles would draw first blood in extra innings as they managed to get runners onto second and third base with only one out.  However, Kal Dimitrov was then caught in a run-down between third and home on a failed squeeze play.  The Eagles claimed interference as, with a number of Mustangs players involved in the attempt to tag the runner, Dimitrov had dodge at least one player on the baseline who didn't have the ball.  Such an unusual call would be difficult for any umpire, not least at such a crucial point in the game, but given the troubles of earlier innings it was no surprise that the home team were given the benefit of the doubt and the 8-8 scoreline was retained.

 

Despite their growing frustration, and with the game becoming increasingly bad tempered, Herts once again held firm in defence to force a second extra inning, but were unable to break the deadlock in their half of the inning.  The sense of injustice increased when catcher Dave Westfallen was called out on strikes on a pitch high in the strike zone and when with one out in the bottom half of the inning the same pitch was then called a ball for the Mustangs batter, the irate Eagles manager couldn't help but comment, leading to his ejection from the game and the unsavoury halt to proceedings.

 

Earlier in the day, the Mustangs had run out comfortable 11-1 winners in game 1.  Unfortunately the Eagles' bats were unable to generate any offence for pitcher Mike Wakelam on his return from injury.  It should be noted that this game was very well, and fairly, umpired by a different Mustangs player. 

 

I should also add that in a league which often depends on regular players to stand in as umpires, we support and value the efforts of these individuals who often sacrifice their own playing time to help ensure the games can proceed.  We all understand that as stand in officials, mistakes will be made, particularly on some of the finer elements of the rule book.  However, it's important for everyone that the umpire is consistent for both teams in his treatment of the strike zone and the calls he makes.  Without this the enjoyment, which is crucial to a Sunday afternoon league, is rapidly lost and frustrations inevitably boil over.

 

GAME 1

Herts Eagles at Sothampton Mustangs
Score By Innings 1 2 3 4 5 R H E
Herts Eagles 0 1 0 0 0 1 4 5
Sothampton Mustangs 4 0 2 3 2 11 4 1

Sothampton Mustangs 11, Herts Eagles 1
Sothampton Mustangs Herts Eagles
  ab r h bi   ab r h bi
Lean 3b 2 2 0 0 Nick Russell rf 3 0 0 0
Ralph p 1 2 0 0 John Oliver 1b 3 0 0 0
Urbanscons cf 3 1 1 2 Ade Orioye lf 2 0 0 0
Johnson 2b-lf-ss 7 5 2 3 Louis Hare 2b 2 0 0 0
Wrighty c 3 0 0 1 Dave Westfallen c-ss 2 1 1 0
Barnes 1b 2 1 1 0 Peter Kikel 3b 1 0 0 0
Taylor rf 1 0 0 0 Mike Wakelam p 2 0 2 1
Dave Hamilton cf 2 0 0 0
Jake Kikel c 2 0 1 0
(b5) Kal Dimitrov c 0 0 0 0
TEAM TOTALS 19 11 4 6 TEAM TOTALS 19 1 4 1

E: Barnes, Dave Hamilton, Dave Westfallen, Peter Kikel, Mike Wakelam, Kal Dimitrov.
LOB: Sothampton Mustangs 1, Herts Eagles 4. 3B: Johnson. SB: Johnson(6), Lean(3),
Ralph(2), Urbanscons, Dave Westfallen.

Sothampton Mustangs IP H R ER BB SO
Ralph W 5.00 4 1 1 1 4
Herts Eagles            
Mike Wakelam L 4.33 4 11 5 4 4

HBP: by Mike Wakelam (Johnson). . . , by Mike Wakelam (Taylor). . WP: Ralph, Mike
Wakelam(2). T: 2:02. A: 30.

GAME 2

Herts Eagles at Southampton Mustangs
Score By Innings 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
Herts Eagles 3 0 1 0 0 4 0 0 0 8 9 2
Southampton Mustangs 1 3 1 2 0 1 0 0 0 8 14 2

Herts Eagles 8, Southampton Mustangs 8
Herts Eagles Southampton Mustangs
  ab r h bi   ab r h bi
John Oliver 1b 4 2 3 3 Lean ss 5 3 3 1
Nick Russell lf-ss 4 0 0 0 Ralph 3b 4 0 2 3
Rodney Naghar 2b 4 1 0 0 Urbanschlier p 5 1 3 0
Louis Hare p 5 2 3 2 Johnson 2b 5 0 2 1
Dave Westfallen c 3 0 0 0 Cooper lf 5 1 1 0
Peter Kikel ss-3b 5 0 2 3 Baines 1b 4 1 0 0
Mike Wakelam 3b 3 1 0 0 Taylor cf 3 1 1 0
(b6) Ade Orioye lf 1 0 0 0 Arieta rf 4 0 2 1
Dave Hamilton cf 3 1 1 0 Davis c 4 1 0 1
Kal Dimitrov rf 1 1 0 0
TEAM TOTALS 33 8 9 8 TEAM TOTALS 39 8 14 7

E: John Oliver, Rodney Naghar, Ralph, Urbanschlier. DP: Southampton Mustangs 1. LOB:
Herts Eagles 7, Southampton Mustangs 8. 2B: Urbanschlier, Arieta. SB: Louis Hare(3),
John Oliver(2), Kal Dimitrov(2), Ade Orioye(2), Dave Westfallen, Peter Kikel, Rodney
Naghar, Urbanschlier(3), Lean(2), Cooper(2), Johnson, Baines, Ralph. CS: Kal
Dimitrov. SB: Nick Russell.

Herts Eagles IP H R ER BB SO
Louis Hare 8.33 14 8 7 2 0
Southampton Mustangs            
Urbanschlier 9.00 9 8 4 7 8

HBP: by Urbanschlier (Kal Dimitrov). . . . PB: Dave Westfallen, Davis. T: 2:51. A: 30

by AspiDimitrov

RED SOX AND YANKEES ON TOP IN HERTS LITTLE LEAGUE

The Herts Red Sox picked up two wins out of two in week 3 of the Herts Baseball Little League and are now tied at the top of the table with the Yankees.

 

With the Yankees missing several key players, the Red Sox took full advantage obliterating  them 10-1.  Rookie, Ronnie Howell, started on the mound for the Sox and pitched another gem.  He helped himself with an inside the park grand slam.  His performance was rewarded with the Red Sox Player of the Week Award.

 

Game 2 was a closer affair against the Cubs, but once again the Red Sox proved too strong.  The Herts Cubs find themselves at the bottom of the league and in a 3-game losing streak.  They will look to end it this coming Saturday.  Despite this there were many positives for the Cubs to take out of week 3, most notably Declan Carlean who picked up the Cubs Player of the Week Award.

 

After their defeat against the Red Sox, the Yankees managed to come back with a 9-5 win against the Blue Jays, who had earlier beaten the Cubs 5-3.  Lewis Green and Zack Longboy picked up the Player of the Week Awards for the Yankees and Blue Jays, respectively.

 

Click to view the Herts Baseball Little League scoreboard and standings

 

More Images from Week 3 of the Herts Baseball Little League

 

Below you will find box scores from the second games of the day.

 

Herts Cubs at Herts Red Sox
Score By Innings 1 2 3 R H E
Herts Cubs 0 0 5 5 4 0
Herts Red Sox 1 0 1 2 1 0

Herts Cubs 5, Herts Red Sox 1
Herts Cubs Herts Red Sox
  ab r h bi   ab r h bi
Charlie Owens rf 0 0 0 1 Mikito Ariga p 1 1 1 0
Liam Green p 1 1 1 1 Michelle Johnson 2b 0 0 0 0
Daniel Brener b 0 0 0 1 Declan Carlean 1b 2 0 0 0
Carlos Casal Jr 3b 2 0 1 0 J.D. Ludlow ss 0 0 0 0
Michael Davis ss 2 0 0 0 Andrew Wells 3b 1 0 0 1
Ronnie Howell b 1 1 1 0 James Wells cf 1 0 0 0
Connor Caffrey b 1 1 1 1 Robert Wells rf 1 0 0 0
Adam White ss 0 1 0 0 Ewan Thom c 0 0 0 0
Theo Longboy 2b 0 1 0 1 George Owens lf 1 0 0 0
TEAM TOTALS 7 5 4 5 TEAM TOTALS 7 1 1 1

LOB: Herts Red Sox 5, Herts Cubs 6. 2B: Mikito Ariga.

Herts Cubs IP H R ER BB SO
Liam Green W 2.00 1 1 1 4 4
Herts Red Sox            
Mikito Ariga L 1.33 4 5 5 7 2

HBP: by Mikito Ariga (Adam White), by Liam Green (Ewan Thom). T: 1:30. A: 85.

 

Herts Blue Jays at Herts Yankees
Score By Innings 1 2 R H E
Herts Blue Jays 5 4 9 6 1
Herts Yankees 2 3 5 2 0

Herts Blue Jays 10, Herts Yankees 5
Herts Blue Jays Herts Yankees
  ab r h bi   ab r h bi
Jamie Paterson ss 1 1 0 0 Zachary Longboy ss 0 2 0 0
Dan Phillips c 1 2 1 0 Aaron Witter 2b-p 1 1 1 0
Player 2 2b-1b 1 1 1 0 Kieran Manning 1b-p-2b 1 1 1 0
Player 5 1b-3b 0 2 0 1 Lewis Paterson p-1b 1 0 0 1
Lewis Green lf 2 2 2 1 Jacob Strange 3b 1 0 0 0
James Baird 3b-p-2b 0 2 0 2 Yuki Ariga c 0 0 0 2
Lewis Auchterlounie cf 0 0 0 0 Sub 7 lf 1 1 0 1
Rhys Whitney p-2b 1 0 1 4 Chloe Strange rf 2 0 0 0
Jamie Rowley rf 1 0 1 1 Ozam Martin cf 2 0 0 0
TEAM TOTALS 7 10 6 9 TEAM TOTALS 9 5 2 4

E: Player 2. LOB: Herts Blue Jays 4, Herts Yankees 6. 3B: Rhys Whitney.

Herts Blue Jays IP H R ER BB SO
Rhys Whitney W 1.67 2 2 2 4 5
James Baird 0.33 0 3 2 4 1
Herts Yankees            
Aaron Witter 0.67 3 5 5 5 0
Lewis Paterson 0.33 3 3 3 1 0
Kieran Manning L 0.00 0 2 2 3 0

HBP: by Lewis Paterson (Player 5). . T: 1:25. A: 89.

by AspiDimitrov

FIRST EVER SCORED HERTS LITTLE LEAGUE GAME, WALK-OFF WIN FOR BLUE JAYS

The Herts Baseball Little League is making big strides and one of the additions to this season's competition is the official scoring of games.  During Spring Training, while the players were getting themselves ready for the season, many of the Little League parents volunteered to become official League scorers.  What a dedicated group of parents?  The Herts Little League now has its first officially scored game.  And what a game it was.  The Blue Jays recorded a memorable walk-off victory over the Red Sox, Storm Frisby with the game-winning RBI.

The addition of scoring games will be a very valuable tool for players and coaches in evaluating player and team performances. 

As scoring is gradually incorporated in every Little League game, the software will also assist coaches in tracking pitchers' pitch count ensuring that the league complies with pitch count rules applicable in youth baseball.

It will enhance the experince of fans as the scoring software used by Herts Baseball Club will allow a much more accurate and detailed reporting of games.  Below is an example of some of the capabilities including box scores just like they do it in Major League Baseball, as well as a play-by-play account of the game. 

Herts Red Sox at Herts Blue Jays
Score By Innings 1 2 3 4 5 R H E
Herts Red Sox 1 0 1 1 0 3 9 0
Herts Blue Jays 0 1 1 2 0 4 10 0

Herts Blue Jays 4, Herts Red Sox 3
Herts Blue Jays Herts Red Sox
  ab r h bi   ab r h bi
Bradley Edgar p 3 0 2 0 Aaron Witter cf 3 0 0 0
Aaron Witter 2b 3 0 1 0 Michael Davis 1b-p 2 1 1 0
Kieran Manning 3b 2 1 1 1 Ronnie Howell p-c-1b 3 1 3 0
Lewis Paterson 1b 1 1 0 0 Charlie Owens ss 2 0 0 0
Micky Watson c 3 0 1 1 Liam Green 3b 3 1 2 1
Zachary Longboy ss 2 1 1 0 Daniel Brener c 2 0 1 1
Stella Dixon lf-cf 5 1 3 1 Connor Caffrey lf 2 0 1 0
(b4) Storm Frisby lf 1 0 1 1 Adam White 2b 3 0 1 1
TEAM TOTALS 20 4 10 4 TEAM TOTALS 20 3 9 3

LOB: Herts Red Sox 7, Herts Blue Jays 10. 3B: Zachary Longboy, Micky Watson(2).

Herts Blue Jays IP H R ER BB SO
Bradley Edgar W 4.00 9 3 3 0 9
Herts Red Sox            
Ronnie Howell 3.00 8 2 2 1 7
Michael Davis L 0.33 2 2 2 3 1

HBP: by Bradley Edgar (Connor Caffrey). , by Bradley Edgar (Daniel Brener). . . T:
1:25. A: 89.
Herts Red Sox – Top of the 1st:
Aaron Witter struck out looking.
Michael Davis singled, batted forward to home.
Micky Watson singled, batted forward to 2nd.
Charlie Owens struck out looking.
Liam Green singled, 1 RBI.
Daniel Brener struck out swinging.
1 run, 3 hits, 0 errors, 2 LOB.
Herts Blue Jays – Bottom of the 1st:
Bradley Edgar singled, batted forward to 3rd.
Aaron Witter singled, batted forward to 2nd.
Kieran Manning struck out looking.
Lewis Paterson walked.
Micky Watson struck out looking.
Zachary Longboy struck out looking.
0 runs, 2 hits, 0 errors, 3 LOB.
Herts Red Sox – Top of the 2nd:
Connor Caffrey hit by pitch.
Adam White struck out looking.
Aaron Witter struck out looking.
Michael Davis grounded out.
0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 1 LOB.
Herts Blue Jays – Bottom of the 2nd:
Stella Dixon struck out swinging.
Stella Dixon singled, batted forward to home.
Bradley Edgar singled, batted forward to 2nd.
Aaron Witter struck out looking.
Kieran Manning singled, 1 RBI.
Lewis Paterson struck out looking.
1 run, 3 hits, 0 errors, 2 LOB.
Herts Red Sox – Top of the 3rd:
Micky Watson tripled, forced out at home.
Charlie Owens struck out looking.
Liam Green singled, batted forward to home.
Daniel Brener hit by pitch, batted forward to 3rd.
Connor Caffrey singled, batted forward to 2nd.
Adam White singled, forced out at 2nd, 1 RBI.
Aaron Witter reached on fielder's choice.
1 run, 4 hits, 0 errors, 3 LOB.
Herts Blue Jays – Bottom of the 3rd:
Micky Watson grounded out.
Zachary Longboy tripled, batted forward to home.
Stella Dixon singled, batted forward to 3rd.
Stella Dixon singled, batted forward to 2nd, 1 RBI.
Bradley Edgar grounded out.
Aaron Witter struck out looking.
1 run, 3 hits, 0 errors, 2 LOB.
Herts Red Sox – Top of the 4th:
Micky Watson tripled, batted forward to home.
Liam Green struck out looking.
Daniel Brener singled, 1 RBI.
Connor Caffrey struck out looking.
Adam White struck out looking.
1 run, 2 hits, 0 errors, 1 LOB.
Herts Blue Jays – Bottom of the 4th:
Kieran Manning walked, batted forward to home.
Lewis Paterson walked, batted forward to home.
Micky Watson singled, batted forward to 3rd, 1 RBI.
Zachary Longboy walked, batted forward to 2nd.
Stella Dixon struck out looking.
Storm Frisby singled, 1 RBI.
2 runs, 2 hits, 0 errors, 3 LOB.
Herts Red Sox – Top of the 5th:
0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 0 LOB.
by AspiDimitrov

A CHANCE FOR HERTS BASEBALL FANS TO SUPPORT THE GB TEAM ON THEIR WAY TO THE WORLD CUP

 

Herts Baseball Club is committed to helping the Great Britain National Team to raise the funding necessary to send a fully prepared squad to the World Cup in September. The Great Britain team is involved in various fundraising projects.  One of them is the sale of GB baseball merchandise. 

 

Readers of the Herts Baseball Newswire can help the GB National Team by ordering merchandise.  The following are the items on offer:

GB Caps: £10 each – One size fits all
GB T-shirts: £10 each – Large and XLarge
GB Pins: £1 each
BBF baseballs: £5 each

Some sample images can be seen by clicking HERE.

Please send in your orders to secretary@hertsbaseball.comby Thursday, February 26th at the latest.

 

In your order email please indicate the quantity (and size for T-shirts) of the items which you want to order.

by AspiDimitrov

RAYS EXTEND RAPTORS’ LOSING STREAK

Report from Herts Baseball Newswire Correspondent, ROB JONES

This was another tale of bold battling from the Herts rookies, but two bad innings consigned them to a tough but honourable defeat.

The Raptors started well in the Essex sunshine. Four of the first five hitters reached base, and the visitors plated three runs. But the Rays pounced when Herts' starting pitcher, Hunter Devine, struggled with his control as he nursed a tight shoulder. With the help of merciless base-stealing, Braintree took a 9-3 lead in the first inning, and that helped them keep their noses in front. 

The next few innings saw the initiative ebb and flow. Having left the mound, Hunter Devine was a menace at the plate and on the bases. He stole 7 bags in all, and Jon Lewys — the Raptors' player of the year so far — came up big again with hits and with strikeouts. By the middle of the fifth it was 16-8 to Braintree, and the match was finely balanced.

Then the Rays bats suddenly got to work. Their hits managed to find gaps in both the infield and outfield and it was death by a thousand cuts for the Raptors as seven runs scored. Throughout the game there had been notably few big hits from the Rays — the outfield had a mostly quiet day, save for one booming hit which turned into a 3-run homer because of the lack of any outfield fence. But, however they are scored, the runs all count.

Raptors tried to strike back in the top of the sixth but a little bit of bad luck sealed their fate. After Ilya Dimitrov earned the latest in his series of walks, he stole his way to third. Rob Jones worked the count and fouled off pitches before finally connecting with a sharp line drive. But rather than finding a gap for an RBI it whizzed straight into the shortstop's waiting glove, and he sharply doubled off Dimitrov at third base. A potential rally was decisively stifled.

Raptors did manage one last hurrah, in the top of the seventh, as they tried to avoid the slaughter rule. A single and a walk got runners on base, and as Chris Brown beat the throw to first on a dropped third strike, Jeff Witter ran in to score from third. He slipped, but was able to literally crawl across home plate and keep the game alive. The Raptors managed to score four runs, but finally the Rays were too strong.

More images of the Raptors' trip to Braintree provided by Rob Jones

Herts Raptors at Braintree Rays
Score By Innings 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 R H E
Herts Raptors 3 1 0 4 0 0 4 12 10 1
Braintree Rays 9 1 5 1 7 1 0 24 14 3

Braintree Rays 24, Herts Raptors 12
Braintree Rays Herts Raptors
  ab r h bi   ab r h bi
Player 1 p 2 4 2 2 Hunter Devine p-1b 4 2 3 0
Player 2 c 4 4 3 3 Ilya Dimitrov cf 2 2 1 1
Player 3 1b 4 3 3 2 Rob Jones ss 4 2 0 0
Player 4 2b 3 0 1 1 Andrew Slater 3b 3 2 1 1
Player 5 3b 3 4 2 1 Jonathon Lewys 1b-p 4 1 4 3
Player 6 ss 2 3 0 0 Jeff Witter 2b 3 1 0 0
Player 7 lf 3 1 1 5 Nick Read c-3b 2 0 0 0
Player 8 cf 4 2 1 1 (t4) Perrie Sherman cf-c 2 0 0 0
Player 9 rf 3 3 1 0 Phil Crooks lf 3 0 0 0
Chris Brown rf 3 1 0 0
(b4) Paul Curtis rf-lf 2 1 1 0
TEAM TOTALS 28 24 14 15 TEAM TOTALS 32 12 10 5

E: Player 2(2), Player 3, Hunter Devine. LOB: Braintree Rays 5, Herts Raptors 7. 2B:
Player 2, Player 3, Player 1, Jonathon Lewys(2), Paul Curtis. HR: Player 7. SB:
Player 2(10), Player 3(7), Player 1(6), Player 5(5), Player 8(4), Player 9(4), Player
7(3), Player 4(2), Player 6(2), Hunter Devine(7), Ilya Dimitrov(7), Jonathon
Lewys(5), Andrew Slater(2), Rob Jones(2), Jeff Witter, Paul Curtis. CS: Hunter
Devine. SB: Player 1.

Braintree Rays IP H R ER BB SO
Player 1 W 7.00 10 12 6 8 11
Herts Raptors            
Jonathon Lewys 5.00 11 14 13 8 5
Hunter Devine L 1.00 3 10 10 10 1

HBP: by Player 1 (Nick Read). WP: Player 1(2), Jonathon Lewys. PB: Player 2(2). T:
3:20. A: 60.