Category: Headlines

by AspiDimitrov

2008 CHAMPIONS DECIDED THIS WEEKEND, WILL FALCONS LIFT THE AAA TROPHY?

 

Last weekend’s baseball action was wiped out by the rain.  Hertfordshire’ top team, the Falcons, travelled South to the magnificent Pavilion Field in Brighton only to find a flooded home plate and base areas.   Both Herts and their hosts, the Burgess Hill Red Hats, tried frantically to remove the standing water – and they succeeded – but unfortunately it had already caused sufficient damage to make the ground too soft and unstable, which raised the risk of injuries.  With the Falcons having clinched a Final 4 place and the Red hats already out of contention, the games would not affect the standings and the officials chose to postpone the game in view of the hazardous ground conditions.

 

The hosts from Burgess Hill were very generous in allowing the Falcons to use Pavilion Field to have a practice session in preparation for the Final 4 so it was not a completely wasted afternoon although travelling from Hertfordshire to Brighton for a training session was not ideal.

 

We are now officially into the 2008 postseason with Britain’s top baseball teams battling it out for silverware on 6 and 7 September.  The winners of all four British Baseball Leagues will be decided in one action-packed weekend.  Here is the line-up in the respective Leagues:

 

British National league Finalists: London Mets, Richmond Flames, Manchester Eagles, Menwith Hill Patriots

British AAA Finalists: Herts Falcons, Oxford Kings, Humber Pilots, London Metros

British AA Finalists: Manchester A’s, Bournemouth Sharks, Enfield Sidewinders, Birmingham Maple Leafs

British A Finalists: Croydon Pirates III, Old Timers

 

A full Falcons squad will be heading to Roundshaw Playing Fields in Croydon and every member of the team is fully fit.  The Falcons will be supported by their loyal fans who have followed the team up and down the country all season long.

 

For the Falcons it all starts on Saturday at 12:00pm on the Main Diamond in Croydon when they meet their old rivals the Humber Pilots, winners of the AAA Northern Division (13-9).  The two teams met last year once again in the Final 4 but at AA level.  12 months later both teams have made the successful adjustment to the much higher standards of the AAA League.  The Falcons will be looking to settle old scores after losing 8-5 last time around.  If the Falcons overcome the Pilots they will go to the Final on Sunday at 2pm and once again it is likely to be played on the Main Diamond.  Their opponents will be the winner of the other semi-final between the Oxford Kings and the London Metros.

 

In the other Divisions there will be two ex-Herts players who have managed to reach the Final 4.  Both of them are leftie pitchers.  Paul Raybould will be wearing the Old Timers jersey in the Single-A Final against the Croydon Pirates III.  In the AA Division, Bruce “the Big Unit” Dullea, now of the Enfield Sidewinders, will be looking to go one better than he did with the Falcons in 2007 and win the trophy.    

by AspiDimitrov

(VIDEO) BASEBALL IS TALK OF THE TOWN

 

 

This Saturday the town centre in Hemel Hempstead had an added baseball flavour.  Members of the adult and Little League teams of Herts Baseball Club alongside Little League parents invaded the Riverside Shopping Centre.  This was billed as a fundraising event for the club’s Grovehill Ballpark Project, but it was about a lot more than just raising funds.  This was an opportunity for the club to spread news of the great work it does for the local community and the fantastic opportunities it offers for youngsters and adults to play baseball by joining one of the best and coolest sports clubs in the UK.

 

 

It was impressive to see so many members of the public who were already aware of Herts Baseball Club and the game of baseball.  Those who did not know that baseball is being played right on their doorstep, took the club’s recruitment flyer and the club is very happy to report that within hours of the event, the club’s website started to receive enquiries about joining the Herts Baseball Little League and the Herts adult teams.  Herts Little League Vice President, Marty Cullen, said: “This was a very successful event and we intend to do more promotional events in the future.  We certainly hope that we will have the opportunity to say hello again to the many people who we met today, but this time in our home at Grovehill Ballpark.”

 

Many shoppers had the opportunity to take part in the Baseball Quiz to test their baseball knowledge and they certainly did well despite some hesitation earlier in the day. 

 

Amazingly, one of the Quiz contestants turned out to be a relative of New York Mets third baseman, David Wright.  It is beyond belief that one of the superstars of baseball who can be regularly seen on the front covers of the world’s major sports magazines, has a relative right here in Hemel Hempstead.  But then again, Hemel Hempstead is becoming something of a central point for baseball in the UK, so it makes sense that UK-based relatives of baseball stars would be living in Hemel Hempstead.

 

The undoubted stars of the day were the Little League boys and girls who were buzzing around from start to finish with their collection buckets.  In total they single-handedly raised £177.96 from the very generous residents of Hemel and other parts of Hertfordshire – an amazing achievement by the Little Leaguers.

 

Many members of the public also left their good luck video messages to the Herts Falcons ahead of their games in the AAA British National Championships Final 4 on 6-7 September. 

 

Herts Baseball Club wants to thank the Riverside Shopping Centre in Hemel for allowing this fundraising event to take place on their premises.

 

 

Can you believe it?  New York Mets third baseman, David Wright,

has relatives right here in Hemel Hempstead.

by AspiDimitrov

I DON’T BELIEVE IT

Report from Herts Baseball Newswire correspondent, DAVE HAMILTON

 

To quote Yankee legend Yogi Berra it was “deja vu, all over again” for the Hawks on Sunday as for the second consecutive week they watched their opponents secure victory with the last swing of the bat.  This time it was the Brentwood Stags who came out on top, winning 9-8 in the bottom of the ninth inning.

 

A much more good natured affair than their contest in Bournemouth, the games were otherwise almost identical as the Hawks nine battled their way into a hard fought lead only to let it slip in the late innings.  Yet again, Louie Hare was the hard-luck losing pitcher after once more pitching the complete game, another ninth inning squeeze play was unsuccessful, and again it was Hawks outfielder Nick Russell who was left to retrieve the ball from the fence after the opponents' game winning hit.

 

Herts started the day confident of beating Brentwood after previous victories against the same team, and were fielding eight of the nine who had fought so hard against Bournemouth, Kal Dimitrov acting as an (almost as speedy!!) replacement for Ross Asquith in the outfield. However, yet again the Hawks failed to put a first inning run on the board, despite John Oliver reaching with two outs. 

 

The scoring started in the second inning though, with Carlos Casal contributing a two-out RBI single, although outfielder Dave Hamilton was furious at being called out at home, having clearly slid across the plate before he could reach the tag of the Stags catcher.  At the time, the Hawks players shrugged off the call, but later in the day it emerged this run could have proved crucial.

 

A huge home run from the Stags star player quickly levelled the scores before the Hawks knocked the home team's starting pitcher out of the game in the third inning with a string of hits.

 

The Hawks defense was once again proving strong with Luis Concalves pivotal in two double plays, while catcher Dave Westfallen also managed to gun down two runners in a single inning.

 

The Hawks extended their lead with some patient hitting and aggressive baserunning, their biggest hit of the day being John Oliver's huge two run double to the deepest part of the ballpark in centre field.  The Stags were battling hard too though and fought their way back to tie the scores. 

 

So we got to the eighth inning tied 8-8 and, after a scoreless inning we were once again in a 'sudden death' scenario.  Kal Dimitrov led off the Hawks inning with a single, advancing to second on a wild throw.  He was then successfully bunted across to third base and the go-ahead run was just 90 feet away.

 

Determined to bring the run home, Carlos Casal attempted a squeeze play only to see it go horribly wrong as indecision on the basepaths saw the batter thrown out at first and Dimitrov then thrown out at the plate.  Inning over.  Still 8-8.

 

Louie Hare did well to restrict the Stag's power hitter to a single to lead off the bottom of the ninth but their catcher cracked an RBI double to right field, just out of the reach of the despairing Russell to see Brentwood home with a 9-8 victory. 

 

Even the generous donation of post-match beer from their opponents was not enough to cheer up the shell-shocked Hawks who had seen victory once again slip through their fingers.  Manager Carlos Casal was on this occasion much calmer in defeat though, refusing to be drawn into any arguments about umpiring decisions, commenting “it was a good hard-fought game and we had our chances – we just didn't take them”.   

 

The Hawks will seek to end their season on a more positive note with a victory over regular rivals the Richmond Dragons in what looks set to be a fourth place playoff in the AA league.

 

 

by AspiDimitrov

HERTS LITTLE LEAGUE CHAMPIONS TO BE DECIDED ON FINAL DAY OF THE SEASON

The Herts Red Sox got exactly what they needed to stay alive in the race for the Herts Little League title.  They won both their games while at the same time the joint leaders, the Cubs and the Yankees, dropped one and two games, respectively.  This means that going into the final day of the 2008 season, all three teams are still very much in with a chance of becoming the 2008 champions.

 

To start the day, the table-topping Herts Cubs were stunned by bottom of the table Blue Jays.  A combination of solid hitting from a rejuvenated Blue Jays batting lineup and masterful pitching by Alex Ringrose secured the win for the Jays.  They have really come alive over the last few weeks and despite being out of the running, they are causing an absolute mayhem with the ambitious plans of the teams above them in the standings.

 

This meant that the Herts Yankees had the chance to jump above the Cubs, but they were caught up in a classic pitching duel against the Red Sox.  Mikito Ariga for the Sox and Marty Cullen Jr had locked horns on the mound matching each other’s zeros, inning-after-inning.  The game went into extra innings.  The pressure was on and the Red Sox held their nerve to clinch it 1-0.

 

In the second games of the day, the Red Sox picked up another priceless victory, this time against the Blue Jays.  In a spirited come-back in the bottom of the last inning, the Jays scored three runs after some clutch-hitting from brothers Nicolas and Declan Carlean and Jays slugger Storm Frisby.  But it wasn’t enough as Alec Walker picked up a groundball at third for the final out of the game.

 

On field one at the same time, there was a face-off between the joint leaders, the Yankees and the Cubs.  The Cubs came through to win it 5-2.  Leftie Lewis Paterson launched his 2nd and 3rd home run of the season in the process with two blasts over the right-field wall and picked up the Player of the Week trophy.

 

This sets up a fascinating finale to the 2008 season.  There is a real possibility that two or more teams may be tied at the top of the standings.  In the event that two teams are tied, the season will be decided in a sudden-death Championship game between the joint leaders.  At the moment it looks like this game will be scheduled for Saturday, 13 September, and it will be played alongside a Bronze Medal sudden-death decider between the third and fourth placed teams.

 

Things get really complicated if there is a three-way tie between the Yankees, Cubs and Red Sox.  In such scenario, run differential of the three teams will be decisive.  The team with the best run differential qualifies automatically for the sudden-death Championship game.  The other two teams will play against each other in a sudden death extra innings shoot-out immediately after the scheduled games on the final day.  The team with the second best run differential will have home-field advantage.

by AspiDimitrov

(VIDEO) BASEBALL WAS INVENTED BY…THE BRITISH?

A recent discovery in Sussex, England, indicates that the earliest records of the game of baseball originate from the British Isles.

MLB has made a movie about this discovery.  Click on the link below to visit the MLB site and use the menu on the left-hand side to see extra video footage.

http://mlb.mlb.com/mlb/mediacenter/baseball_discovered/

…but if history is not your thing, why not check out the plays of the week in HOW 'BOUT THAT?

by AspiDimitrov

FALCONS CLINCH, CONQUER AAA FIRST YEAR BACK

LINK: Photos of the Day

Stay tuned for a video report from the game right here on the Herts Baseball Newswire.


GAME REPORT:

The Herts Falcons celebrated at the mound twice on Sunday.

In the first instance, they would be headed to the Final 4.  That news followed an 11-4 thrashing of the Southampton Mustangs in which the Falcons muscled out  three doubles, fifteen hits and eight stolen bases.  Nic Goetz picked up his eighth win of the season with six strikeouts and no earned runs.  While the Herts defense was not as picture-perfect as in the early days of the summer, the players were buoyed by their determination to finish what they began: a near-perfect run in which only one team – the Oxford Kings – managed to split their season series.  Kings aside, Herts has won every other head-to-head matchup in the 2008 AAA.  (They will likely face Oxford again at the Final 4, where they can settle their 1-1 season tie.)

The second celebration came with the final out of the day.  By sweeping Southampton, the Falcons secured the overall best win/loss record in the League.  They can finish no worse than 23-5, at least a game up of their direct rivals, the London Metros.  This was the sweeter mound-meeting, for just two years ago the Herts first-team was relegated to a lower division when they finished at the bottom of the standings and lost a do-or-die playoff game to the Burgess Hill Colts.  After sailing through the AA last season, the Falcons' 2008 season goal was simply to secure a winning record in the Premier League.  Never in their wildest dreams did they imagine they would annihilate the competition and elbow their way to the Final 4!

When asked about the keys to their success, Manager Jason Greenberg responded: “We got a great jump on the season out of spring training.  We're no squad of spring chickens… that's for sure.  But way back in January we were conditioning, getting to know and trust one another, and preparing our strategy for the months to come.  All that preparation has paid off.  By the time the other teams in our division had dusted off the cobwebs we were 6-0 and at the top of the charts.  We never looked back.  Never had to.”

Comparing the Falcons to the other teams in the AAA, Greenberg continued: “We've got the most heart.  Don't get me wrong… we've got a lot of other things too.  Some excellent starting and relief pitching.  A solid infield, a speedy outfield.  Some liners, some sluggers, and a real aggressiveness on the base paths.  But… most of all it's about this team's heart.  You never see our guys argue with one another.  Sportsmanship is big for us – you rarely see a Falcon act anything less than professional.  And it's been the same 13 players all season long!  That's dedicaiton.  We've committed ourselves to winning.  We expect to win.  And that means, as a manager, I don't have to do a thing except show up and manage the unexpected.”

Herts has only a double-header remaining in their regular season, played in Brighton on July 31 against their old rivals… the Burgess Hill Colts.  These games are only for show, however.  Burgess Hill was eliminated from playoff contention on Sunday, losing a pair to the (also eliminated) Essex Arrows.  Nevertheless, the Falcons must be eager to get back on the diamond with the Colts and show them what a different kind of team they've become in just two short years.

Then it's on to September 6-7 and the Final 4 in Croydon.  In the first round of the tournament Herts will face the AAA Northern Champions – possibly the Humber Pilots who bested the Falcons 8-5 in the AA playoffs a year ago.  In round two the Falcons should see the Oxford Kings or London Metros.  Both teams managed one win off the Falcons in the regular season… so Herts is expecting a fierce showdown.

But they're also expecting to win.

GAME NOTES…  Falcons slugger Andy Cornish was a torrid 6-10 on the day, with 4 stolen bases, 4 runs and 3 RBI…  in Game Two, pitcher Darrin Ward had his first start in a month striking out 6 and allowing only 1 earned run for his seventh win of the season…  Ward also batted 4-7 with 5 RBI…  Aspi Dimitrov continued his blistering August going 5-8 with 2 RBI and pulling his average up to 0.325, fifth best on the team…  Herts Hawk Tim Elkins got the call-up and played solid outfield defense for the Falcons…  and the games were officiated by generous (and unwaveringly fair) Herts players Jonathan Lewys and Rodney Naghar.

 

 

GROVEHILL BALLPARK, 12:00

GAME 1

 

 

Southampton Mustangs at Herts Falcons
Score By Innings 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 R H E
Southampton Mustangs 0 0 1 3 0 0 0 4 4 3
Herts Falcons 0 1 3 0 6 1 0 11 15 8

Herts Falcons 11, Southampton Mustangs 4
Herts Falcons Southampton Mustangs
  ab r h bi   ab r h bi
Andy Cornish ss 5 2 3 2 Player 1 p 4 0 2 2
Kimiyoshi Saionji 2b 4 0 1 1 Player 2 c 4 0 0 0
Jason Greenberg c 4 2 2 1 Player 3 1b 3 0 0 0
Darrin Ward 3b 4 2 2 2 Player 4 2b 4 0 0 0
Aspi Dimitrov cf-lf 4 2 2 1 Player 5 3b 4 0 0 0
Marty Cullen 1b 4 1 2 2 Player 6 ss 3 1 1 0
Nick Goetz p 3 0 1 1 Player 7 lf 2 0 0 0
Rodney Naghar lf-rf 3 1 2 0 Player 8 cf 3 2 1 0
Tim Elkins rf 2 0 0 0 Player 9 rf 2 1 0 0
(b5) Jim Hyde rf-cf 0 1 0 0
TEAM TOTALS 33 11 15 10 TEAM TOTALS 29 4 4 2

E: Andy Cornish(2), Jason Greenberg(2), Darrin Ward(2), Marty Cullen(2), Player 2,
Player 5, Player 9. LOB: Southampton Mustangs 7, Herts Falcons 8. 2B: Jason
Greenberg, Marty Cullen, Rodney Naghar, Player 6. SB: Rodney Naghar(2), Andy
Cornish(2), Aspi Dimitrov(2), Marty Cullen, Jim Hyde, Player 1. CS: Player 3. SF:
Nick Goetz.

Herts Falcons IP H R ER BB SO
Nick Goetz W 7.00 4 4 0 2 6
Southampton Mustangs            
Player 1 L 6.00 15 11 9 3 3

HBP: by Nick Goetz (Player 3). . . . . . . T: 3:00. A: 0.

 

GROVEHILL BALLPARK, 2:30pm

GAME 2

 

Southampton Mustangs at Herts Falcons
Score By Innings 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 R H E
Southampton Mustangs 2 0 0 2 0 0 0 4 11 3
Herts Falcons 1 4 8 0 0 0 0 13 15 4

Herts Falcons 13, Southampton Mustangs 4
Herts Falcons Southampton Mustangs
  ab r h bi   ab r h bi
Jim Hyde cf 5 1 1 3 Player 1 p 3 1 1 0
Andy Cornish 3b-c 5 2 3 1 Player 2 c 4 0 1 0
Kimiyoshi Saionji rf 2 0 0 0 Player 3 1b 4 1 2 2
(b4) Tim Elkins rf 2 0 0 0 Player 4 2b 4 0 2 0
Jason Greenberg c-3b 4 2 2 1 Player 5 3b 4 0 1 1
Darrin Ward p 3 1 2 3 Player 6 ss 4 0 1 0
Marty Cullen 1b 2 1 0 0 Player 7 lf 4 0 1 0
Nick Goetz ss 4 2 1 1 Player 8 cf 2 1 0 0
Aspi Dimitrov lf 4 2 3 1 Player 9 rf 3 1 2 0
Lee Manning 2b 4 2 3 2
TEAM TOTALS 35 13 15 12 TEAM TOTALS 32 4 11 3

E: Jim Hyde, Andy Cornish, Marty Cullen, Lee Manning, Player 6(2), Player 2. LOB:
Herts Falcons 8, Southampton Mustangs 9. 2B: Andy Cornish(2), Jason Greenberg(2), Lee
Manning, Darrin Ward, Jim Hyde. 3B: Player 7. SB: Andy Cornish(2), Jason Greenberg,
Lee Manning, Aspi Dimitrov, Player 4, Player 1, Player 9.

Herts Falcons IP H R ER BB SO
Darrin Ward W 7.00 11 4 1 3 6
Southampton Mustangs            
Player 1 L 6.00 15 13 9 4 4

PB: Andy Cornish. T: 3:00. A: 0.

by AspiDimitrov

HERTS BASEBALL CLUB ANNOUNCES POSTSEASON/FUNDRAISING SCHEDULE

With just a few weeks remaining of the regular season, Herts Baseball Club has announced the 2008 postseason schedule.  It will be packed with events for all branches of the Herts Baseball organisation, from the Little League to the club’s adult teams.  The postseason is also the time to get volunteers, friends and family members involved and playing the game.  Who knows?  The club may discover a new superstar among friends and family members.

 

In September the Herts Little League will be hosting its first tournament inviting all the top British League teams in the Bronco age group (10-13 year olds).  Most of these teams will include players who are members of the GB Juveniles Team so the Herts Little League will be able to check on its progress against top opposition.

 

The postseason period coincides with a critical period for the club’s project to develop Grovehill Ballpark.  The club requires one final fundraising push before commencing the construction work.  If the club reaches its fundraising target, members of the club as well as everyone else in the British baseball community can look forward to 2009 when the revamped Grovehill Ballpark and its second baseball diamond will be unveiled.  Members of the adult and Little League teams will be asked to play a key role in the upcoming fundraising events and absolutely everyone must do their best to take part in these events.

 

This September and October the club remembers fallen Falcon number 36 in the 2008 Kyle Hunlock Series.  Full details of an exciting new format for this event will be released in the next few days.  As part of the event, Herts Baseball Club will be making history with the first ever live radio broadcast online on the Herts Baseball Channel. 

 

Even after the last pitch of the season is thrown, club events keep coming thick and fast as we build up to 2009, so make a note of these dates.

 

 

2008 POSTSEASON AND FUNDRAISING CAMPAIGN

SCHEDULE

 

Key:

Little League

Adults

Fundraising

 

Thursday, 21 August 2008

3:30pm-5:30pm

Fundraising Visit to Hemel Industrial Zone

 

Saturday, 23 August 2008

11am-2:30pm

Little League Final Day

 

3pm-5pm

Fundraising at local shopping centres

 

Saturday-Sunday, 6-7 September 2008

Morning-night

AAA Final 4 at Croydon

 

Thursday, 18 September 2008

8pm

LIVE – Kyle Hunlock Series Draft

(making history with first ever LIVE broadcast on the Herts Baseball Channel)

 

Sunday, 21 September 2008

11pm-7pm

Kyle Hunlock Series (DAY1)

 

Saturday, 27 September 2008

TBC

Herts Little League Tournament

 

Sunday, 28 September 2008

11pm-7pm

Kyle Hunlock Series (DAY2)

 

Thursday, 2 October 2008

8pm

LIVE – Kyle Hunlock Series re-Draft

 

Sunday, 5 October 2008

11pm-2pm

Kyle Hunlock Series (FINAL DAY)

 

2pm-3pm

Little League Home Run Derby

 

3pm-4pm

Little League 2008 Awards Ceremony

 

4pm-7pm

Family Softball Game (s)

·         Little League Parents and Adult members family/friends

 

Sunday, 12 October 2008

TBC

2009 Annual General Meeting

 

October-November 2008

TBC

The HBC Tennis League

(unlike baseball, you gotta keep the ball IN the park)

 

Adult Herts Baseball Players (and family members) will be competing head-to-head over several weeks in a league format.

 

Friday, 12 December 2008

TBC

2008 Awards Night (Adult Teams)

 

 

by AspiDimitrov

SHARKS GET MORE THAN THEY BARGAINED FOR IN EPIC BATTLE WITH HAWKS

 

Report from Herts Baseball Newswire correspondent, DAVE HAMILTON

 

A fearless team – 9 of the Hawks' finest – made the trek down to Bournemouth on Sunday, keen to prove once again that they could compete with the best in their division as they took on the league leading Sharks in a AA league match-up.

 

Their fierce determination was in contrast to the cockiness of the home side who believed their playoff spot was already assured (mistakenly as the Hawks manager pointed out) and felt they would coast to another comfortable victory over mid-table opposition.  Conditions ruled out a slug-fest though, with a strong gusting wind blowing in from the outfield meaning the fence would barely be threatened all day, even in batting practice.

 

In the first inning, there is a single by John Oliver for the Hawks but no other baserunners.  Bournemouth meanwhile are quick to emphasise why they are top of the league, jumping out to an early lead with four quick runs. 

 

The Hawks stem the tide though with solid defense, preventing the Sharks from extending their lead.  Meanwhile, the bats are starting to come alive and Bournemouth aren't looking so secure.  Back to back doubles from Dave Westfallen and Humberto Concalves make it 4-1.

 

Fourth inning – Hawks rally.  Consecutive hits from Dave Hamilton, Luis Concalves and Ross Asquith to lead off the inning get Herts going as they send 10 men to the plate.  Four score.  The visitors lead 5-4 and the Sharks are stunned.

 

An immediate response from the home team though…half way through, we're all tied. 

 

Luis Concalves hits a booming ground rule double for the Hawks – the biggest hit of the game.  In defense, the Hawks are proving strong – with all three outfielders (Nick Russell, Asquith and Hamilton) making impressive defensive grabs to deny the Sharks baserunners.

 

The Hawks grab a run, and the lead. 6-5.  It's the seventh inning stretch and the Sharks are rattled – time is running out and inconceivably (to them) they are trailing.  Bournemouth continue to rotate their squad pulling fresh legs from the bench in a search for inspiration, while the Hawks team battle on knowing their fate lies in the nine men on the pitch – their bench is empty.  Their seemingly untiring pitcher Louie Hare leads the way but there are contributions up and down the order with no weak links for the Sharks to prey on.

 

The top of the eighth, and the Hawks add an insurance run with a two-out bases loaded RBI single from their ninth placed hitter.  Unfortunately manager Carlos Casal is thrown out at home trying to score on the same play, ending the Herts threat.  Even so, it's 7-5 and the visitors are six outs away from a phenomenal victory.

 

The Sharks are getting desperate, but they manage to mount a challenge with a little help from the umpire whose previously consistent strike zone suddenly shrinks to a fraction of its previous size [conspiracy theorists note the fact that the umpire is a Sharks player and question a possible link but our journalist is unable to substantiate any claims of deliberate foul play].  Pitcher Hare is left with an unenviable choice – walk batters or throw pitches down the middle to the highest scoring team in the league.

 

Despite this handicap, the Hawks almost escape the inning unscathed, but a wild throw on what could have been an inning ending ground ball allows two runs to score.  A few 'walks' (seemingly inevitable under this new strike zone), including one with the bases loaded, appear to give Bournemouth a crucial 8-7 lead.

 

The game is increasingly bad tempered, as the Hawks are frustrated by the umpire's new approach.  Valid complaints about the Sharks' young pitcher licking his fingers on the mound are derided by the home fans who seem personally insulted that the Hawks are seeking a fair finish to this titanic battle. 

 

Hawks first baseman John Oliver uses the revised strike zone to his advantage in the ninth inning, working a walk for the visitors but a deep drive by Louie Hare falls victim to that wind blowing in from the fence – it is hauled in by the grateful left fielder to end the inning.  Devastated, and frustrated at being robbed of victory, the Hawks think it is all over, and form a huddle only to see the umpire and Sharks players waiting for them to take field again…

 

…WAIT A MINUTE!…

 

…it is NOT all over…

 

In the excitement (and without the Dimitrov brothers to keep track of such details) the Hawks had lost track of the score.  Apparently it was still 7-7 and the Hawks had a life-line.

 

Battling the strike-zone, the Hawks got an out, before a Shark runner made his way to third base.  Bournemouth attempt to bunt him home with a squeeze play – but it's not hit hard enough.  The infield pounce, and the lead runner is cut down.  The batter reaches second…and next pitch breaks for third…where he is gunned down by catcher Dave Westfallen.  Finally the Hawks have a close call go their way and we are going to extra innings…

 

Top of the tenth…the Hawks threaten again.  A single, and a two out walk puts two runners on…but a ground out ends the inning and the runners are stranded.

 

Bottom of the tenth…the Hawks are hanging on.  Astonishingly Louie Hare continues to pitch well despite being into his tenth inning of work.  But the new reduced strike zone makes it almost impossible for him and this time the walk proves decisive.  A stolen base.  A good pickoff attempt at second is ruled unsuccessful.  Another steal…and then a game winning single to left field clinches it for the Sharks.

 

The exhausted Herts players file off…defeated but unbowed, knowing they put in a very strong performance that deserved a win.  This fine performance was arguably their best of the season, and having also threatened victory against the Sidewinders at Grovehill, they have proven conclusively that they can compete with the best in their league. 

 

Carlos Casal is proud of his team and furious they've been robbed of victory – sadly I cannot quote him in a 'family-friendly' website.  All the players know they've been in a hard-fought battle, full of drama with many twists and turns, and all nine have performed admirably in contributing to the contest.  Sadly, the result hasn't gone their way this time, but they are confident of ending their season with a flourish.

 

What a game!  GO HAWKS!!

 

 

Herts Hawks at Bournemouth Sharks
Score By Innings 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 R H E
Herts Hawks 0 1 0 0 4 1 0 1 0 0 7 18 2
Bournemouth Sharks 3 1 0 0 1 0 0 2 0 1 8 12 1

Bournemouth Sharks 8, Herts Hawks 7
Bournemouth Sharks Herts Hawks
  ab r h bi   ab r h bi
Rob Cochran 2b 4 1 2 0 Luis Goncalves ss 6 2 3 0
Johnny Pew c 3 2 0 0 Ross Asquith rf 5 0 0 0
Harmon Killabeer 1b 5 1 1 0 John Oliver 1b 4 0 2 0
Greg Hoe p 6 2 3 2 Louis Hare p 5 1 2 0
Willie Might ss 5 1 2 1 Carlos Casal 3b 4 1 1 2
Hank Errand lf 4 0 0 0 Dave Westfallen c 6 2 4 0
Crooks Robins 3b 4 0 2 1 Humberto Goncalves 2b 4 0 2 2
Jose Canhito cf 5 0 1 1 Nick Russell lf 5 0 2 0
Ron Gnat rf 4 1 1 0 Dave Hamilton cf 5 1 2 0
TEAM TOTALS 40 8 12 5 TEAM TOTALS 44 7 18 4

E: Willie Might, Luis Goncalves(2). LOB: Bournemouth Sharks 13, Herts Hawks 18. 2B:
Willie Might, Ron Gnat, Dave Westfallen(2), Luis Goncalves, Humberto Goncalves. SB:
Rob Cochran(6), Ron Gnat(4), Johnny Pew(4), Greg Hoe(3), Jose Canhito(2), Harmon
Killabeer(2), Willie Might. S: Ross Asquith.

Bournemouth Sharks IP H R ER BB SO
Greg Hoe W 9.33 18 7 4 8 9
Herts Hawks            
Louis Hare L 9.33 12 8 6 9 5

T: 4:00. A: 0.