Category: Headlines

by AspiDimitrov

SIDEWINDERS BECOME HSL2 CHAMPIONS

The Sidewinders won the title in HSL2 with a 19-5 victory over the Herts Raptors.  They scored 8 runs in the top of the first inning.  The Raptors who are a brand new expansion team for the British Baseball League came back strong with 5 runs of their own after singles from Ilya Dimitrov and Nick Russell and a 2 RBI double from 2005 Hawks Batting Champ, Rob Jones. 

 

Unfortunately for the Raptors, these were their last runs of the day as the Sidewinders switched gears to take control of the game.  There were many positives for the Herts Raptors to take from this game.  Jake Kikel who came in to relieve at the end of the game continues to put up good stats as a pitcher.  Starter Mark Hoffman also produced two scoreless innings to end his day on a high.

 

More HSL Photos

 

Sidewinders at Herts Raptors
Score By Innings 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 R H E
Sidewinders 8 3 0 0 8 0 0 19 19 1
Herts Raptors 5 0 0 0 0 0 0 5 8 6

Sidewinders 19, Herts Raptors 5
Sidewinders Herts Raptors
  ab r h bi   ab r h bi
Player 1 p 3 3 3 1 Ilya Dimitrov rf 2 1 1 0
Player 2 c 3 2 1 2 (t4) Robert Crouch rf 1 0 1 0
Player 3 1b 4 2 3 2 Paul Hawes 1b 1 0 0 0
Player 4 2b 5 2 2 4 (b3) Jonathon Lewys 1b 1 0 0 0
Player 5 3b 4 2 3 2 Andy Ringrose c 4 0 1 0
Player 6 ss 4 3 2 0 Mark Hoffman p 2 1 0 0
Player 7 lf 4 0 1 0 (t5) Jake Kikel p 1 0 0 0
Player 8 cf 4 2 3 1 Pete Cox 2b 0 1 0 0
Player 9 rf 2 3 1 0 Nick Russell sf 3 1 2 0
Rob Jones cf 3 1 2 2
Andrew Slater 3b 3 0 1 0
Steve Nippress lf 3 0 0 0
TEAM TOTALS 33 19 19 12 TEAM TOTALS 24 5 8 2

E: Player 2, Jonathon Lewys(3), Andy Ringrose, Pete Cox, Andrew Slater. LOB:
Sidewinders 6, Herts Raptors 7. 2B: Player 5(2), Player 3, Rob Jones. HR: Player 4.
SB: Player 9(5), Player 1(3), Player 6(2), Player 8(2), Player 2, Player 7, Player 5,
Andrew Slater, Ilya Dimitrov. CS: Steve Nippress.

Sidewinders IP H R ER BB SO
Player 1 W 6.00 8 5 2 4 8
Herts Raptors            
Mark Hoffman L 4.00 16 18 10 5 5
Jake Kikel 2.00 3 1 1 3 0

HBP: by Player 1 (Paul Hawes), by Player 1 (Pete Cox). . . . , by Mark Hoffman
(Player 9). , by Jake Kikel (Player 5). . WP: Player 1, Mark Hoffman(2). PB: Player
2(3), Andy Ringrose(2). T: 2:59. A: 78.

by AspiDimitrov

BLAZERS DO THE DOUBLE OVER THE HAWKS

 

This high-scoring victory meant that the Sidewinders had a 100% winning record and the only team that had a chance to overtake them in the HSL2 standings were the Bracknell Blazers.  They played in the second game of the day and met the Herts Hawks.  The Blazers once again had packed their lineup with members of their National League team.  The 85mph+ pitching kept the Hawks off the bases.  The Hawks who will be playing two tiers below the National League in 2008 can be very proud in the knowledge that the did not give up against a formidable opponent and in effect prevented the Blazers from winning the title by holding their lead to single digits.  Hawks starter Louis Hare was certainly a key reason for with a solid pitching performance supported by a strong defence in the face of a powerful batting lineup.

 

The Blazers ended their HSL campaign with a 100% record (2-0) but critically their run differential was lower than that of the Sidewinders by 7 runs.

 

DRAGONS AND HAWKS PRODUCE A THRILLER

 

The final game of the 2008 Herts Spring League was a dramatic match up between the Richmond Dragons and the Herts Hawks.  An early 3-run lead for the visitors from Richmond did not last long as Herts Hall of Famer, Stuart Boast, delivered a crushing 3-run homerun.  The Hawks were playing their second game of the day with a severely depleted squad and a shortage of fresh arms.  Richmond took a full advantage and won the game 10-9.

by AspiDimitrov

WEATHER PLAYS HAVOC WITH HSL SCHEDULE

 

Winter was back with a vengeance for week two of the Herts Spring League. 

 

The first games to be postponed were the HSL1 games in North-West London.  Within minutes the venues in Bracknell and Hertfordshire also confirmed that no baseball will be played in HSL2.

 

Everyone involved will be hoping for better weather conditions next week.

 

by AspiDimitrov

RAPTORS, HAWKS AND FALCONS UNVEIL NEW UNIFORMS THIS SUNDAY

After 11 years of wearing the famous Falcons pinstripe jersey and black pants, the club will unveil the new uniforms which will be worn by the three adult teams.  This will take place this Sunday when the Falcons, Hawks and Raptors play in the seond round of games in the Herts Spring League.

The old Falcons pinstripe jersey will still be used by the Herts teams in selected games to celebrate the club's history.

by AspiDimitrov

HERTS RAPTORS MAKE HISTORY AS THEY PLAY THEIR FIRST EVER GAME

Herts Baseball Newswire Correspondent, Hunter Devine, writes

The first game in the history of the Herts Raptors commenced last Sunday during week one of the Herts Spring League, hosted at Richmond. Raptors’ starter and manager, Jake Kikel, was scored on quickly to open the first few frames, let down by the defence which got off to a slow start. However, he kept the team in the game and eventually got some help from his defence which made some nice plays, highlighted by a stellar catch in Left Field by Ilya Dimitrov.

 

Mark Hoffman, who had already made contributions with the bat (finishing the day 3-3 with 3 stolen bases and 2 RBIs), relieved Kikel in the 4th and pitched well, striking out 4 and giving up 3 runs, 2 earned.

 

Richmond, meanwhile, cruised through the game limiting the Raptors’ bats to 2 runs whilst scoring 10 themselves.

 

Though the game did not end up the way the Raptors’ had hoped it would, there were many positives for the young team to take away from the loss as they hope to make some noise in BBF’s Single-A division this season.

 

Herts Raptors at Richmond Dragons
Score By Innings 1 2 3 4 5 6 R H E
Herts Raptors 0 0 0 2 0 0 2 8 1
Richmond Dragons 3 4 0 1 2 0 10 12 0

Richmond Dragons 10, Herts Raptors 2
Richmond Dragons Herts Raptors
  ab r h bi   ab r h bi
Player 1 p 2 2 2 0 Ilya Dimitrov lf 4 0 1 0
Player 2 c 3 3 1 0 Jonathon Lewys 3b-rf-1b 1 1 0 0
Player 3 1b 4 1 1 2 Nick Russell cf 3 0 0 0
Player 4 2b 4 3 3 2 Mark Hoffman 1b-p 3 0 3 2
Player 5 3b 4 1 2 1 Pete Cox ss 2 0 0 0
Player 6 ss 2 0 1 2 Hunter Devine 2b 3 0 0 0
Player 7 lf 3 0 1 0 Andrew Slater rf-3b 1 0 0 0
Player 8 cf 2 0 1 0 Kal Dimitrov c 3 0 1 0
Player 9 rf 3 0 0 0 Jake Kikel p-rf 3 1 3 0
TEAM TOTALS 27 10 12 7 TEAM TOTALS 23 2 8 2

E: Kal Dimitrov. LOB: Richmond Dragons 7, Herts Raptors 11. 2B: Player 3, Player 4.
SB: Player 4(4), Player 1(4), Player 2(3), Player 5(2), Mark Hoffman(3), Ilya
Dimitrov, Jake Kikel.

Richmond Dragons IP H R ER BB SO
Player 1 W 6.00 8 2 2 7 9
Herts Raptors            
Jake Kikel L 3.00 9 7 4 2 7
Mark Hoffman 2.00 3 3 2 3 4

HBP: by Player 1 (Andrew Slater). . . . WP: Jake Kikel. T: 2:55. A: 90.
by AspiDimitrov

HSL ROUND-UP: OPENING DAY

 

The arrival of the sunny Spring weather was very well timed for the Opening Day of the Herts Spring League.  The HSL1 games took place in Hertfordshire while HSL2 was in Richmond. 

 

In HSL1 the Herts Falcons have the advantage after winning both their games vs Northampton and vs Burgess Hill (See separate game reports, box scores and more).  In the second game of the afternoon Burgess Hill took an early lead and never looked back against Northampton.

 

Burgess Hill @ Northampton

Score By Innings

1

2

3

4

5

 

R

H

E

Burgess Hill Redhats

0

7

6

7

3

 

23

 

 

Northampton

0

2

0

0

1

 

3

 

 

 

Northampton did appear to be missing several players, who hopefully will be back for the second weekend of action and they will hopefully get back in the race for the HSL1 title.  The falcons may be top of the standings after this first day of action, but the teams must not forget about the ASL Eagles who start their campaign next week at home at their Honeypot Lane baseball facility in Stanmore and could prove to be a very dangerous opponent.

 

In HSL2 the Bracknell Blazers impressed with a 8-5 win against the Herts Hawks (See separate game reports, box scores and more).  Richmond also won their opening game against the Herts Raptors but were brought back to earth by the Sidewinders who produced a good performances winning the game 11-6.

 

Next weekend the HSL2 games will be held in Bracknell and Hertfordshire, where the Herts Hawks meet the newly formed Herts Raptors for the first time.  This a good opportunity for some Raptors to stake a claim for a spot with the higher ranked Herts hawks team.  See HSL website for details of the upcoming games.

 

A secial thank you to Jon Gamble, a baseball fan and photographer, who came to Grovehill Ballpark to watch the HSL Opening Day and helped the Herts Baseball Newswire by providing many of the photos.

 

Photos from Opening Day:

HSL1 Photos

HSL2 Photos

More HSL2 Photos

 

by AspiDimitrov

FALCONS OFF TO A GREAT START IN HSL AS CLUB SAYS FAREWELL TO YUJI ENDO

 

Posted on behalf of Herts Baseball Newswire correspondent, Lee Manning

Yuji Endo is calling it time on his Falcons career on Thursday when he moves back to his homeland of Japan.  Sunday’s opening games of the Herts Spring League were his final games for the club before his departure.  The day turned out to be a very fitting farewell to Yuji who will missed by everyone at Herts Baseball Club.

 

The Herts Falcons started the 2008 HSL with a home game against Northampton.  The newly promoted Falcons jumped out to an early 6-run lead in the first 3 innings.  John Oliver stated on the hill and pitched 3 magnificent shutout innings allowing only 2 hits. The club’s young prospect Pete Kikel came in to relieve Oliver and pitched the final 3 innings striking out 6 batters and once again proving that he can play with the best.  Falcons won the game comfortably 15-3.

 

Northampton at Herts Falcons

Score By Innings

1

2

3

4

5

6

R

H

E

Northampton

0

0

0

2

1

0

3

6

8

Herts Falcons

3

1

2

6

3

0

15

15

0

 

Herts Falcons 15, Northampton 3

Herts Falcons

Northampton

 

ab

r

h

bi

 

ab

r

h

bi

Lee Manning 1b-lf

5

1

2

0

Player 1 p

2

0

0

0

Kimiyoshi Saionji 2b

3

1

0

0

Player 2 c

3

1

0

0

Jason Greenberg c

3

3

3

0

Player 3 1b

2

1

0

0

Peter Kikel 3b-p

4

3

1

1

Player 4 2b

3

1

2

1

Greg Bochan lf-3b

2

3

2

3

Player 5 3b

3

0

1

0

Yuji Endo ss

4

2

3

1

Player 6 ss

3

0

1

1

Aspi Dimitrov cf

3

0

1

0

Player 7 lf

3

0

1

0

Dave Hamilton rf

2

2

1

2

Player 8 cf

1

0

1

1

(t5) Paul Auchterlounie rf

1

0

0

0

Player 9 rf

3

0

0

0

John Oliver p-1b

2

0

2

2

 

 

 

 

 

Bruce Dullea dh

2

0

0

0

 

 

 

 

 

TEAM TOTALS

31

15

15

9

TEAM TOTALS

23

3

6

3

 

E: Player 4(3), Player 6(2), Player 9(2), Player 1. LOB: Northampton 6, Herts Falcons
7. 2B: Jason Greenberg, Peter Kikel, Dave Hamilton. SB: Greg Bochan(3), Kimiyoshi
Saionji(2), Yuji Endo(2), Jason Greenberg, Lee Manning, Player 4, Player 2, Player 8.
SB: Aspi Dimitrov.

 

Herts Falcons

IP

H

R

ER

BB

SO

John Oliver W

3.00

2

0

0

0

2

Peter Kikel

3.00

4

3

3

2

6

Northampton

 

 

 

 

 

 

Player 1 L

5.00

15

15

8

5

5

 

HBP: by Peter Kikel (Player 1). , by Peter Kikel (Player 8). WP: Player 1(2). PB:
Player 2(4). T: 2:00. A: 65.

 

by AspiDimitrov

HAWKS SUFFER DEFEAT AT THE HANDS OF THE BLAZERS

 

Posted on behalf of Herts baseball Newswire reporter, Kal Dimitrov 

The first week of the Herts Spring League could not have gotten to a more auspicious start – the expected showers and cloudy skies never materialized, and the whole day was played under sunny skies, with the temperature almost balmy at 15o C.

That was as far as luck went for the Herts Hawks.  The squad was depleted due to illness and call ups to the Falcons. The Hawks were able to get sufficient number of players thanks to the kind assistance of the Herts Raptors. This, however, was not a problem.  Calamity struck in the 1st inning, when starter Humberto Goncalves had to come off the mound with what some medical experts diagnosed as a pulled rib muscle, while others determined to be cramp in the pectoral area.

This required a hasty reshuffle in the field, as well as having to bring in Darrin Ward to pitch cold (which was not helped by his catcher calling for a number of weird pitches, such as sliders, screwballs and changeups after he had barely thrown 8 pitches to warm up).  The fallout was the Bracknell Blazers team taking a 5 to 0 lead at the bottom of the 1st.

The Hawks rallied, and were able to keep the score at a respectable margin, finally loosing 8 to 5 to a Bracknell team that contained a number of top class players, as well as some promising rookies of all genders (hats off to the Blazers).  Solid pitching by Darrin and some good hitting by Tim Elkins, Humberto Goncalves and Nick Russell kept hopes alive.

At the top of the 5th, Herts Hawks hopes for a comeback were revitalized, when, with the score 8 to 1, Darrin Ward hit a massive bases clearing double that made the score 8 to 4. Darrin was undoubtedly the man of the match for Hawks, with a total of 4 RBI’s and 10 stikeouts. This performance was complemented by the always stylish fielding and batting of young Luis Goncalves, as well as by the gritty determination of the rest of the team.

Bracknell, on this showing, will be tough opponents for any of the teams in the HSL 2 Bracket. In a post-match interview they expressed the view that they were happy with being able to execute their game-plan and give a lot of their players some game-time.

 

Herts Hawks at Bracknell Blazers
Score By Innings 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 R H E
Herts Hawks 0 1 0 0 3 0 1 5 5 1
Bracknell Blazers 5 1 0 2 0 0 0 8 9 1

 

Bracknell Blazers 8, Herts Hawks 5
Bracknell Blazers Herts Hawks
  ab r h bi   ab r h bi
Player 1 p 3 3 2 0 Nick Russell lf 4 1 1 0
Player 2 c 3 1 0 0 Tim Elkins 2b 3 2 1 0
Player 3 1b 4 0 2 4 Humberto Goncalves p-3b 3 1 1 0
Player 4 2b 3 1 0 0 (b1) Jake Kikel 1b 0 0 0 0
Player 5 3b 3 1 2 1 Darrin Ward 3b-p 4 0 2 4
Player 6 ss 2 1 1 0 Kal Dimitrov c 3 0 0 0
Player 7 lf 3 0 1 1 Jonathon Lewys cf 1 1 0 0
Player 8 cf 2 1 1 1 (t6) Ilya Dimitrov cf 0 0 0 0
Player 9 rf 3 0 0 0 Mark Hoffman 1b-3b 2 0 0 0
          Luis Goncalves ss 2 0 0 0
          Hunter Devine rf 3 0 0 0
TEAM TOTALS 26 8 9 7 TEAM TOTALS 25 5 5 4

 

E: Player 2, Humberto Goncalves. LOB: Herts Hawks 5, Bracknell Blazers 6. 2B: Player
1, Player 7, Player 8, Darrin Ward(2), Tim Elkins. SB: Player 5(3), Player 4, Player
1, Player 6, Player 2, Jonathon Lewys(2), Nick Russell, Luis Goncalves, Mark Hoffman.

 

Bracknell Blazers IP H R ER BB SO
Player 1 W 7.00 5 5 4 5 10
Herts Hawks            
Darrin Ward 5.67 8 6 4 4 10
Humberto Goncalves L 0.33 1 2 2 1 0

 

HBP: by Player 1 (Luis Goncalves). . . . . . PB: Player 2(2), Kal Dimitrov(3). T:
2:55. A: 90.

 

by AspiDimitrov

HSL MEDIA COVERAGE

The Herts Spring League commences this Sunday and it looks like it is attracting significant interest from the media.  The Hemel Gazette is expected to have an extensive coverage of the 2008 HSL over the three Sundays of the League.  Below you will find an extract from a preview of the HSL published this week.  The article was also published in their online publication HemelToday.co.uk