Category: Headlines

by Herts Baseball News Editor

Raptors prepare for a big playoff push

The Herts Raptors start their season this Sunday on the road at the Leicester Two Sox, who, in a Houston Astros-like move, have switched to the BBF Single-A League over from the AA Midlands. We had a chance to put some questions to Raptors Manager, Arnie Longboy.

We are just days away from Opening Day. Do you feel ready or has the bad weather in March affected preparations?

Arnie Longboy: Less than ideal weather is something that baseball players here just have to take as a given. So on one hand all of our competitors have faced the same challenge. That said I hope the indoor training we’ve had, especially with our strength and conditioning coach Tony, will prove to be a competitive advantage for all Herts teams.

What are your main goals for this season?

Arnie Longboy: Our goal is similar to last years. Field a competitive team and have fun in the process. We’ve also had some players move up so I’d like them to further develop and see them move up in the ranks as they progress with their baseball prowess.

What win-loss percentage would be seen as a successful season for the team and is it realistic to expect your team to reach the playoffs or even challenge for the title?

Arnie Longboy: I want all of the team to expect a winning season and a goal is always to make the playoffs. We almost did it last year and want to challenge for the title this year.

Will the entry of the Herts Ravens in the AAA League affect your team’s chances this season by diluting the strength of the Herts rosters across a larger number of teams?

Arnie Longboy: Herts is blessed to have the numbers to field 5 teams! I think it’s a result of the efforts we’ve made in trying to grow the sport in our region.

Who are the players we should look out for this year?

Arnie Longboy: We’ve again recruited a few of the junior club members so I expect much from them. But some of the veterans returning will provide the wisdom from their experience. It should make for a great team dynamic.

Which of your opponents in the league are likely to be the biggest challengers for the national title?

Arnie Longboy: The Eagles will be a formidable team and as their manager now has a year’s experince under his belt I expect that team to go far. Given we play them twice I think those will be the games to watch for our Herts fan base.

by Herts Baseball News Editor

We do try to do things the right way

The Herts Eagles had a very successful 2012 finishing the season with a .500 win-loss percentage.  We asked Eagles manager, Duncan Hoyle, for his thoughts on the Eagles, ahead of their 2013 season opening game at league debutants, MK Coyotes.

We are just days away from Opening Day of the BBF Single-A League. Do you feel ready or has the bad weather in March affected preparations?

Duncan Hoyle: It has affected our preparations. We have lost two HSL games to the weather, but several of the Eagles have played for other Herts teams during the HSL. All clubs and teams must have been affected by weather but we have had some good indoor and outdoor training sessions and overall I think we are in a good position going into the league season.

What are your main goals for this season?

Duncan Hoyle: The main goal for me is to provide a team for new players to be able to come into the sport and play in a friendly and committed team, in an enjoyable environment. We don’t take things too seriously but we do try to do things the right way. I want all the players who play for the Eagles to have the chance to develop as baseball players.

What win-loss percentage would be seen as a successful season for the team and is it realistic to expect your team to reach the playoffs or even challenge for the title?

Duncan Hoyle: I don’t want to set targets as I think this is unhelpful for us, as we won’t know the quality of the teams we will play against until a few weeks into the season at least. However I would like to think we will be competitive for the most part.

Will the entry of the Herts Ravens in the AAA League affect your team’s chances this season by diluting the strength of the Herts rosters across a larger number of teams?

Duncan Hoyle: For a short time, possibly. However in the long-term I think the introduction of the Ravens will benefit all of the existing teams as we should attract more players to join the club, as we have teams at all BBF levels, and this will in turn increase competition and movement between players within the teams.

Who are the players we should look out for this year?

Duncan Hoyle: We have several young players who I think could have a very good season, it would be unfair of me to single anyone out at this stage. But I am looking forward to the return from injury of last season’s joint Single-A home run-leader Adrian Smithers, the game is never dull when he is involved!

Which of your opponents in the league are likely to be the biggest challengers for the national title?

Duncan Hoyle: Difficult to say. In my time in baseball Single-A has been slightly damaged by always having one or two teams who should obviously be playing a higher grade, but at first glance this year seems to have a balanced line up. London Marauders, Guildford and the Old Timers are always tough to beat.

Which league game are you looking forward to most?

Duncan Hoyle: I am looking forward to the trips to new teams MK, Leicester and Haverhill – all new diamonds for us.

The postseason playoffs will be played at the brand new Farnham Park. Will this act as an even greater incentive for players to reach the postseason?

Duncan Hoyle: I don’t think so. I would hope that players will want to get to the playoffs wherever they are held, but it would be nice to play at such good facilities such as Farnham.

What is your message to Herts Baseball fans ahead of Opening day?

Duncan Hoyle: Watch this space for bigger and better things at Herts!

 

 

by Rob Jones

The Art of Training

The Spring, having finally arrived in the wake of the snow, is now almost over. The National Leaguers and the Double-A Hawks have kicked off their baseball season, and Triple-A will follow shortly after a weather-induced postponement, writes Rob Jones. The Herts Raptors and Eagles will start on Sunday, and as the league action draws closer, I felt it was time to reflect on the pre-season training period.

I made it to three or four indoor sessions this year. It was great to have the help of a conditioning coach, working us out and teaching us new exercises. I’m not sure I have fully grasped the idea of plyometrics, but I learned something. And in a slightly perverse way I enjoyed making my body ache. In the last session, I started off a bit badly and actually felt quite ill. But a break and some water helped overcome the effects of intense exercise early on Sunday morning.

Indoor Training
This was how it all started, indoors in January in Berkhamsted

Many of my erudite followers will also have read the excellent baseball novel which was a minor phenomenon last year, The Art of Fielding. In many ways, it’s not really about baseball — like any novel it is, in fact, about love, frailty, friendship and frustration — but the baseball setting speaks to us players more than it does to the average British Joe.

However, one of the biggest things to strike me was the way the shortstop phenom Henry Skrimshander would physically push himself — “working til you puke” — running up and down the football stadium steps, and doing endless reps with weights. It might be going too far to say that it inspired me, but it did make me want to do more and work harder.

That combination of early morning runs, protein shakes, and constant practise is part of the overall vision of being a professional athlete, which most of us reach for with our involvement in baseball. It’s not the glamour part, but it’s an element in the whole.

Perhaps, as I share Henry’s slight build, I saw it as an example of what work could achieve. And honestly, I have tried to put in some extra hours. That meant running round Regents Park in the snow in my dinner breaks whenever I could, and remembering to do my Powerball exercises at home of an evening. There has been no Skrimshander-like transformation, but I did feel better and brighter. And even more keen for the baseball season to start.

But this masochistic passion for personal pain was never going to last. “Running til you puke” is not really my style. Don’t get me wrong — especially if you are a likely opponent this season — I will give a game my all. But I am not one to drive myself over the edge in pursuit of physical perfection. I’m just too rational, too common-sense. And I often did my Powerball exercises with a glass of red wine on the go. Which may have defeated the object slightly.

And so, in the first weeks of March, we were back at the diamond. A couple of cold and grey sessions were the best we could manage here. But even if you don’t arrive at the field to see its glowing emerald green stretch out before you, like a Major League ballpark, it still lifts the heart a little to be at Grovehill.

And I felt pretty happy with these workouts. Just getting to throw the ball freely was good, and playing the rough hops of the diamond instead of the smooth predictability of a gymnasium floor! I felt I was throwing well, and the masterful Darrin Ward gave a large squad of would-be pitchers excellent tips.

Geoff Hare
Geoff Hare, once a fine Herts shortstop, now one of the country's top umpires

In one session, the equally excellent Geoff Hare taught me a base-running technique I had never heard before. Which impressed me, I can tell you. It’s not that I thought I knew everything about baseball, but that after ten years or so you do assume that further things you learn will be on the next level of the game — wheel plays, hit and runs, delayed steals. But this was something you can use in every situation. Obviously, I can’t reveal it here, it’s top secret, but suffice it to say it was fine advice.

The training part of the year ended on Sunday, with a few final drills and a scrimmage game between the Single-A rivals, the Eagles and the Raptors. I’m not sure I made a dramatic case for getting a second baseman’s job ahead of Raptors’ manager Arnie Longboy (who also likes to play there!), as I distinctly remember bobbling a ground ball which should have been the final out of an inning. But fortunately I became the first of three players involved in getting the last out at home plate instead!

I have hardly swung the bat this year so perhaps should not be surprised that my two at-bats led only to a groundout to short, and a pop-up to third which, luckily, was dropped. At least the first AB went to a full count, which is normal service for my batting! I did manage to hurt my back swinging for a low pitch, but I am trusting that is just the rigours of old age.

The most important thing was to take part, and to feel the ball in the glove after weeks snowed off, rained off, and dominated by weekends of work. Hopefully I — and the other Single-A players — will now be set up for Opening day. The Raptors are away in Leicester. Yes, Leicester. This game can take you places. Some places you never dreamed, some that you always dreamed of….  See you there.

by Herts Baseball News Editor

The small man with the big heart

Kimiyoshi Saionji launches a home run over the right field wall against the legendary Cody Cain in a 2-1 win over the eventual NBL champions, Richmond, in 2010

Herts Baseball Club has announced the departure of one of its most loved members, Kimiyoshi Saionji. He has just completed his transfer from the Herts Falcons to NBL rivals, Southampton Mustangs.

Kimi joined Herts in 2005 recruited thanks to another Herts legend, second-baseman, Shunji Kakutani. He made his debut for the Falcons on Opening Day of the 2005 season as the team made its debut in the Premier League (AAA-class) at the Shropshire Panthers after earning promotion in 2004.

Since then Kimi has been an ever-present figure at the club giving everything on and off the field through the ups and downs of relegation to AA in 2006 and then two consecutive promotions which included winning the AAA National Championship and promotion into the NBL in 2008 and finishing as NBL runners-up last season.

In 2006 Kimi suffered a horrific injury fracturing his jaw after a brave play as second baseman covering first base and colliding with an oncoming Richmond batter. That didn’t deter him. He was back within a few months better than ever.

In his 8 years with the club Kimi’s outstanding performances were recognised with a long list of awards, including the 2010 Falcons Most Valuable Player (MVP), three-time Infield Gold Glove Winner (2006, 2007, 2008), Batting Champion (2008), Home Run Champion (2010), Most RBIs (2008, 2010).

Kimi may have been one of the smaller players in the NBL but he has a big heart and the power of a giant.

Herts Falcons Manager, Lee Manning, said: “I’m sad to see Kimi leave but I will hold onto the great moments we had together on the field. I will never forget the image of Kimi with his trademark battle cry at second base every time he hits a double to start a rally.” He added “I and everyone connected with the club is grateful to Kimi for always playing hard and for sticking with the club during the dark years. Kimi will always be one of Herts Baseball’s greatest legends”.

His Herts Falcons team mates and members of the front office tried their best to convince him to stay, but the club will ultimately have to accept and respect Kimi’s decision.

Before his departure Kimi had a message for the club’s members: “Thank you for your kindness for nine years as a member of Herts Baseball Club. I love Herts and all the members. I want to wish the Falcons and all the Herts teams good luck this season. Please don’t feel sad. I will see you soon.”

 

by Cristobal Hiche

Falcons bounce back after dramatic walk-off loss

Falcons player-manager, Lee Manning, came up big with a 3-run double in game two (photo by Will Baxter)

written by Cristobal Hiche

The weather was perfect for some great baseball if it wasn’t for some strong winds from right to left field which effectively killed the “long ball” from the game. This set the tone for the first game in which solid pitching by Jordan Farkas (Herts) and Ryan (Diamondbacks), kept batters at bay with few hits and no runs scored by either team in the first 4 innings. Added to that was the fact that both teams weren’t efficient and both teams left too many men on base. In fact, Herts had men on 2nd and 3rd with no outs in the first inning but the heart of the order couldn’t bring the runners home. Lakenheath also had the bases loaded with 1 out in the bottom of the 3rd but ended up empty.

Both teams realised this game was going to go down to the wire and a small mistake could prove costly. Also, both teams realised they needed to manufacture runs and switched strategies by playing small ball. Sacrifice and drag bunts were attempted but a great play by third baseman James Brooks prevented Herts left fielder John Blose reaching base on a great surprise bunt down the line.

It wasn’t until the bottom of the 5th when Xavier Gonzales made an error on a very routine ground ball. The ball made an unusual bounce due to poor ground conditions and Xavi couldn’t do anything about it. Tough luck but this sparked the Dbacks to go on and score 3 runs. Herts felt the blow and quickly bounced back to tie the game at 3-3 in the top of the 6th inning. All looked like it was going to extra innings with quick two outs in the bottom of the 7thinning, but Jordan Farkas’ pitch count was rising and he gave up the first and only walk of the game for him, which at the end of the day proved to be costly. Matt Mulvaney, who was already 2-3 in the game, hit a timely line drive for a double in the gap in left-centerfield. The runner was held at 3rd base, but Shawn Benton became the hero with a single up the middle, which neither Robbie Unsell (2B) nor Xavier Gonzalez (SS) could reach. Walk-off single – game over.

This was truly a MLB-type game, with solid pitching, changing strategies by both teams, and with a nail biting finish which unfortunately didn’t go the way the Falcons wanted. “We left too many guys on base and we didn’t give Jordan the run support his pitching deserved” said Falcons manager, Lee Manning, after the game.

Click to view game 1 box scores

Given the disappointment by the Herts players and believing they should have won the first game, they were hungry to respond in the second game. They came out of the dugout with determination and in the top of the first they scored 5 runs. The highlight of this inning was a great 3-run bases-clearing-double by Lee Manning, proving the manager still has the skills to play at the top level. This proved to be enough as Darrin Ward again pitched a solid game, managing the game and his pitching repertoire to keep the Diamondbacks’ bats quiet. It was only in the 3rd inning that the heart of the Dbacks batting order managed to string a few singles together and scored two runs. With 2 outs and a man on first and third, Matt Mulvaney who was 3-4 with that great double in the first game, came up to the plate with the potential tying run. However, Ward won the battle and Matt hit a ground ball to second for a routine 4-3 play. Herts managed to get an insurance run in the 5th and sealed the game with additional 3 runs in the top of the 7th.

Click to view game 2 box scores

Herts Falcons Manager, Lee Manning, felt that the team responded well after the difficult loss in the first game.  He said: “we quickly picked ourselves up and exploded on the ball. Wardy (Darrin Ward) coasted through the game and we never looked back.” Manning added that “It’s always hard to travel to Lakenheath with the extra players they have for their home games. The wind played its part and affected both teams. Losing the way we did in game 1 was hard for the boys to take but we showed spirit to get ahead early in game 2 and stay there.”

Standout Herts players:

Robbie Unsell: 3-5, 1R, 2RBI, 3BB, 3SB, 1K

Darrin Ward: 7IP, 2R, 2ER, 3SO, 3BB

Xavier Gonzales: 3-6, 4R, 2 doubles, 2BB, 1SB

 

by Herts Baseball News Editor

UPDATE: Ravens vs Knights postponed. Hawks vs Mammoths is on

The Herts Ravens’ Opening Day game at home against the Richmond Knights has been postponed. The rain on Saturday has flooded the new diamond and the grounds crew will simply not be able to repair it in time even with the help of the expected warmer weather on Sunday.

The new diamond was already flooded on Saturday and the youth games scheduled for that day had to be moved to the Old Diamond. The additional rain on Saturday afternoon and evening has added to the problem and the grounds crew had no other choice but to postpone the Ravens verus Knights game on the new diamond.

UPDATE: A later inspection at the Old Dimaond has indicated that the grounds crew should be able to have that field ready for a 1pm start of the Hawks vs Mammoths game with some assistance from warmer and sunnier weather predicted for today.

 

by Herts Baseball News Editor

Falcons strengthen roster ahead of Dbacks clash

Last week the Herts Falcons were approached by pitcher, Barry Wiles, with a view to joining the National Baseball League team this season. He is expected to make his Herts debut this Sunday against the Lakenheath Diamondbacks.

Wiles has previously played for the Mildenhall Bulldogs in 2010 and for the Essex Arrows in 2012. His NBL career winning record on the mound is 4-7 with 57 strikeouts over 71 2/3 innings (7.2 per 9 innings). His NBL career batting average is .364.*

The Falcons also expect to welcome back Cris Hiche who missed the Opening Day encounter against the Pirates with a hamstring injury. Great Britain U16 National Team catcher, Conner Brown has also been added to the squad, in a call up from the club’s AAA League team, the Herts Ravens.

* – statistics courtesy of Project COBB

 

by Herts Baseball News Editor

Ravens prepare for their first ever league game

The newly formed Herts Ravens will play its first ever league game this Sunday as they host the Richmond Knights. We put several questions to Ravens Manager, Carlos Casal, and here are his thoughts.

We are just days away from Opening Day. Do you feel ready or has the bad weather in March affected preparations?

Carlos Casal: Being a newly formed team it is always difficult to achieve readiness at the beginning of the season however the preparation programme started slowly during the Spring League but will be fully implemented soon after week one.

What are your main goals for this season?

Carlos Casal: Enjoy playing the game and help the development of the club’s upcoming prospects. However, remember that physical, mental and skills preparation are a key factor to achieve these goals.

What win-loss percentage would be seen as a successful season for the team and is it realistic to expect your team to reach the playoffs or even challenge for the title?

Carlos Casal: Difficult to define. Our goal(s) for the AAA team this first season will be all around individual and team performance. With the right motivation and mindset surprises are possible. Remote, but it would be fantastic securing a spot in the postseason.

Who are the players we should look out for this year?

Carlos Casal: We have a great group of skilled and experienced players equally important for the process. However, the young group of players in our roster are a strong acquisition who will need our support to progress during the year.

Which league game are you looking forward to most?

Carlos Casal: Every game where the weather is clear and in the right temperature, otherwise every game.

The postseason playoffs will be played at the brand new Farnham Park. Will this act as an even greater incentive for players to reach the postseason?

Carlos Casal: I think this is a great incentive for every team in each league to go and play postseason games in these new facilities as all eyes will be there during those days.

What is your message to Herts Baseball fans ahead of Opening day?

Carlos Casal: Get behind each team and every player in our club and where possible come to the games and cheer us on. We all promise an exciting season for the club this year.

 

 

by Herts Baseball News Editor

Is British Baseball inadvertently damaging its competitiveness and market share?

What would be the effect on British Baseball if superstars like Mike Piazza (left) were able to play in some of the NBL games? Would they be ineligible to play in the postseason as a result of the 45%-rule?

In the winter of 2011 delegates of the National Baseball League (NBL) clubs met in central London to discuss issues at hand ahead of the 2012 season. Among the various items on the agenda was the subject of postseason player eligibility.

Prior to those winter meetings the BBF had a rule in place, which required players to have played in 20% of the regular season games of that team in order to be eligible to play in the postseason. The rule has been in place over the years to ensure that only players who have been part of the team during the regular season are fielded during the high-profile postseason games.

During those December 2011 Winter Meetings some NBL teams felt that 20% is insufficient protection and that the criteria needed to be stricter. Apart from setting a mid-season player registration deadline for postseason eligibility, it was also proposed that the percentage should be increased from 20% to 45%. Most of the NBL teams cast their votes in favour of this proposal and so the 45% requirement was adopted by the NBL (this 45%-rule does not apply to BBF’s minor leagues or youth leagues).

Although the reasons for adopting the 45%-rule are understandable, are there some unintended side effects?

In 2012 the NBL encountered problems with the maintenance of statistics and they were only partially available. This meant that we were not able to see how NBL postseason rosters would be affected and how many players had played in 45% of the regular season games of their team. Estimates would suggest that most NBL teams would have had 10 or less players eligible to play in the NBL postseason – not enough given the gruelling postseason schedule on pitchers, player ejections, potential injuries and player unavailability due to other reasons.

Commendable efforts are being made currently by the BBF to utilise the latest technology to achieve reporting of 100% of all league game stats. If this is accomplished, in 2013 the 45%-rule could prove to be a ticking time-bomb for the NBL and could damage the credibility of British Baseball. We could potentially end up with one or more teams which simply do not have 9 players who meet the 45%-rule and would either have to forfeit games or the BBF would have to issue special dispensations just to make sure that teams have 9 players.

NBL managers reading this article are likely to take note and in fact we have already seen in the first weekend of NBL games that managerial decisions are being influenced by the rule and they are making unnatural lineup decisions and substitutions just to prepare themselves for the effect of the 45%-rule. This implies that there will be times this season when NBL teams will play with under strength lineups, which means that at a time when the NBL is looking to increase the standard of play and attract fans and media interest, the hands of managers will be tied.

Perhaps an even greater concern is the fact that the rule will make some very big stars of British baseball ineligible to play in the postseason games when the BBF is investing resources to showcase the sport to a wider audience. The 45%-rule was not in place in 2009 and Bracknell were able to field some high-profile baseball players who played a few games during the regular season but their other commitments prevented them from reaching the 45% mark. Bracknell won the national title that year. If the 45%-rule was in place they, along with the other NBL teams, would have ended up with significantly weaker rosters.

Assume an NBL team has managed to secure a high-profile player, perhaps one with professional experience in MLB, for example someone like former MLB star, Mike Piazza. The team then registers that player at the start of the season knowing that he would be available only for a few regular season games but most importantly will be there for the postseason. A high-profile player like Mike Piazza would attract hundreds and perhaps thousands of fans to the postseason events if this is promoted correctly. However, with the 45%-rule in this example Mike Piazza would not be eligible to play. Removing the 45%-rule would give teams the incentive to actively recruit such star players, even if it is just for the postseason games. This could potentially place the NBL right alongside the established European baseball leagues of the Netherlands, Germany and Italy.

The world’s most successful sports leagues, from MLB (baseball) to the English Premier League (football), do everything possible to remove such restrictions and allow teams to bring the best talent in the world. The English Premier League’s superiority in world football and ability to win multi-billion dollar TV contracts across the globe is based to a large extent on the fact that the leagues have established the right regulatory environment to give teams the freedom and incentive to sign the best players on the planet.

Obviously, the integrity of league competition has to be protected to avoid movement of players away from clubs who are out of contention. Governing bodies achieve this by imposing a deadline on player transactions such as the MLB trade-deadline in August and the January player transfer deadline in football.

A similar deadline, for example 1 July, would also be appropriate for British Baseball to prevent movement of players away from teams which are out of the postseason race. At this stage of the development of the NBL there is an argument that such deadline should apply only to movement of players from one team to another, while new arrivals who have not been registered with a club during the season should still be eligible to play after the deadline and in the postseason.  This would give teams the freedom and incentive to recruit, grow and imporve the standad of play throughout the year, bringing the Mike Piazzas of this world.

None of the leading sports leagues have restrictions such at the 45%-rule. While MLB increases the size of the postseason team rosters from 25 to 40 players, British Baseball rules appear to have the effect of leaving the teams down to the bare bones. Is British Baseball inadvertently making itself less competitive than other European leagues and more importantly, is this damaging the ability of baseball to start winning market share in the competitive UK sports industry? We are currently running a poll on Facebook to gauge the opinion of British Baseball fans on this subject. Click here to take part in the Facebook poll.
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by Herts Baseball News Editor

Challenging season ahead for the Hawks

Many of the 2012 Hawks who reached the National Semi-Final have moved up to the Herts Ravens but the core remains and some new faces have been added

The Herts Hawks get their season underway this Sunday at home against the London Mammoths at Grovehill Ballpark in Hemel Hempstead (first pitch 12:00pm). We caught up with one half of the Hawks managerial duo, Andy Cornish, to get a sense of the mood in the Hawks club house.

We are just days away from Opening Day. Do you feel ready or has the bad weather in March affected preparations?

Andy Cornish: Yes, totally. The indoor training was great, but there is a certain something that you get from playing games and getting used to the ground. Last weekend, with our first game outdoors, was something that we feel should have happened a few weeks earlier, but that is life, we all have to deal with the same situation, and I look forward to a summer of warmth!

What are your main goals for this season?

Andy Cornish: I think that this season is going to be challenging. Our main goal is to get a few wins, develop a few players and have fun while doing it.

What win-loss percentage would be seen as a successful season for the team and is it realistic to expect your team to reach the playoffs or even challenge for the title?

Andy Cornish: For the hawks, a .500 would be a successful season. We are in a season of re-building at our level, so if we get a few players playing above that, getting called up, then I will be chuffed

Will the entry of the Herts Ravens in the AAA League affect your team’s chances this season by diluting the strength of the Herts rosters across a larger number of teams?

Andy Cornish: As an organisation, we have got stronger. The AAA addition will help get the younger players, and the players with drive to increase their game. It was always going to be tough for our team, going from a post-season type team, a lot of the players were bound to get the call, and I would have been upset if they didn’t. But it does reduce some of our quality, which gives the players coming up the opportunity to shine and develop. I am looking forward to the challenge

Who are the players we should look out for this year?

Andy Cornish: I am looking forward to getting a few guys on the field, Hunter is back, Ben is new to the team, John Kjorstad is always a pro, but I will always have a bit of a moment when Nick Russell gets on the mound. Nick was a class act last year, and with a pitcher of his quality, you always have that little bit more of a chance of winning the game.

Which of your opponents in the league are likely to be the biggest challengers for the national title?

Andy Cornish: Guildford play excellent baseball, but as we found out last year, it is the midland teams that are the ones to beat.

Which league game are you looking forward to most?

Andy Cornish: The first home game. Always.

The postseason playoffs will be played at the brand new Farnham Park. Will this act as an even greater incentive for players to reach the postseason?

Andy Cornish: It is always a pleasure to play at home, and especially for the post season, so I will miss that. Herts has grown so much over the last few years and we would have liked Herts to continue to be the home of baseball for post-season. The new Farnham Park is always going to have a special place from now on, and that additional excitement to go to another field, specially made for baseball in the UK, then of course it is going to have an effect.

What is your message to Herts Baseball fans ahead of Opening day?

Andy Cornish: Hello. Come down, watch some baseball!