Category: Softball League

by Herts Baseball News Editor

Herts adult and youth players start Spring Training this weekend

Herts Baseball Club published details of its Spring Training schedule. The adult and youth baseball teams will return to training this weekend 9-10 February. The only exception is the Under-8 programme which starts later in the year. Softball players will be back in action on 24 February.

The Club has invested heavily this year to secure high quality venues including The Harefield Academy (pictured above) which offers a large indoor 3G artificial grass venue.

Other venues include the Berkhamsted Leisure Centre and Middlesex University both of which feature batting lanes.

The Herts baseball teams will return to Grovehill Ballpark and the new Basing Hill Ballpark for the first time on the weekend of 9 and 10 March.

The first pre-season games of 2019 will be played on 23 and 24 March as part of the Herts Spring League (HSL).

The Show begins in April as the Herts baseball adult and youth teams get their 2019 league seasons underway.

As always, around the middle of March the managers of the five Herts adult teams will announce their preliminary rosters ahead of the HSL. Of course these preliminary rosters are likely to change as we get closer to Opening Day and managers promote those who impress in Spring Training. The movement of Herts players up and down the Herts league teams is usually an ongoing process. We have witnessed players start the season in the Single-A League and end up making their NBL debut later in the year. We will follow players’ progress over the course of Spring Training and during the league season.

ADULT BASEBALL (Ages 14 and over) – SPRING TRAINING SCHEDULE

DAY DATE AGE GROUPS EVENT NAME LOCATION
Sun 10-Feb Adult Baseball Spring Training Berkhamsted Leisure Centre
Sun 24-Feb Adult Baseball Spring Training Harefield Academy
Sun 03-Mar Adult Baseball Spring Training Middlesex University
Sun 03-Mar Adult Baseball Spring Training Middlesex University
Sat 09-Mar Adult Baseball Spring Training Basing Hill Ballpark, NW London
Sun 10-Mar Adult Baseball Spring Training Grovehill Ballpark, Herts
Sat 16-Mar Adult Baseball Herts Spring League Grovehill Ballpark, Herts
Sun 17-Mar Adult Baseball Herts Spring League Grovehill Ballpark, Herts
Sat 23-Mar Adult Baseball Herts Spring League Grovehill Ballpark, Herts
Sun 24-Mar Adult Baseball Herts Spring League Grovehill Ballpark, Herts
Sat 30-Mar Adult Baseball Herts Spring League Grovehill Ballpark, Herts
Sun 31-Mar Adult Baseball Herts Spring League Grovehill Ballpark, Herts

YOUTH BASEBALL (U18 U15 U13 U11) – SPRING TRAINING SCHEDULE

DAY DATE AGE GROUPS EVENT NAME LOCATION
Sat 09-Feb Youth Baseball Spring Training Berkhamsted Leisure Centre
Sat 23-Feb Youth Baseball Spring Training Berkhamsted Leisure Centre
Sat 02-Mar Youth Baseball Spring Training Berkhamsted Leisure Centre
Sat 09-Mar Youth Baseball Spring Training Berkhamsted Leisure Centre
Sat 16-Mar Youth Baseball Spring Training Berkhamsted Leisure Centre

ADULT SOFTBALL (Ages 14 and over) – SPRING TRAINING SCHEDULE

DAY DATE AGE GROUPS EVENT NAME LOCATION
Sun 24-Feb Adult Softball Spring Training Harefield Academy
Sun 03-Mar Adult Softball Spring Training Berkhamsted Leisure Centre
Sun 10-Mar Adult Softball Spring Training Berkhamsted Leisure Centre
Sun 17-Mar Adult Softball Spring Training Berkhamsted Leisure Centre

HOW TO TAKE PART?

Existing players who have not reactivated their registration for the 2019 season can do so here. New players can register for the new season here or if you would like to one of these open sessions to give baseball or softball a try then contact us for more details.

by Herts Baseball News Editor

Adult and youth players now registering for the 2019 Herts baseball and softball season

Player registration for the 2019 season has commenced.

ADULT BASEBALL LEAGUES

Last season three Herts teams entered the BBF senior baseball leagues. How many teams will represent Herts in 2019? The next few weeks will be critical to see how many players will register to play for Herts in 2019 and on the basis of this the club will decide how many teams to enter before the BBF league entry deadline, and which leagues the teams will play in.

 

KEY DATES – ADULT TEAMS

February – players report for indoor Spring Training

March – first open-air training session of 2019

23-24 March – Start of the 2019 Herts Spring League (subject to confirmation of the BBF League Opening Day)*

23-24 March – Great Britain National Team Tryouts (senior and youth teams)

7 April – BBF National Baseball League and Triple-A League Opening Day (subject to confirmation)*

14 April – BBF Double-A and Single-A League Opening Day (subject to confirmation)*

May-August – Midweek Evening Baseball

10-16 June – Herts Falcons in the European Federation Cup

29-30 June – MLB London Series (See details below)

August-September* – BBF Postseason Playoffs and National Championships

September-October – Hunlock Series

* – these are preliminary dates. The BBF will be making its official announcements in due course.

YOUTH BASEBALL LEAGUES

The British Baseball Federation launched the Super League in 2017. It enhanced the youth baseball regular season and it is expected to be even more exciting in 2019. Many of our youth players will be moving up to the next age group to face a different challenge in 2019. They will be joined by the new players who are joining the club every week. The Herts youth teams welcome boys and girls aged between 4 and 17 from complete beginners to experienced players.

KEY DATES – YOUTH TEAMS

February – U18, U15, U13 and U11 players report for indoor Spring Training

March – first open-air training session of 2019

23-24 March – Great Britain National Team Tryouts (senior and youth teams)

April – U8 players report for their first session

7-14 April – U18, U15, U13, U11, U8 Season Opening Day*

June – Little League UK Qualifiers (U17, U15, U13, U11)

29-30 June – MLB London Series (See details below)

July-August – Little League Europe Qualifier (Poland and Italy) and Little League World Series (USA) (subject to qualification)

September – National Youth Baseball Championships (U18, U15, U13, U11)

September – Herts Futures Tournament (U18, U15, U13, U11, U8)

* – these are preliminary dates. The BBF will be making its official announcements in due course.

SOFTBALL

In 2017 Herts Baseball Club launched its softball programme which has enabled the club to offer playing opportunities to a much wider audience and to women in particular. Slowpitch Softball is the more recreational version of the game, which is equally appealing to male and female players. Softball is a social and enjoyable game that’s easy to learn and play, even for people who are not “athletes” or don’t have much experience of team sports. The fact that men and women play together in the same team and on an equal level gives the sport a social buzz.

Softball Spring Training will commence in February. The first few sessions will be indoors. All equipment will be provided so anyone aged 14 and over can come and enjoy the day, meet new friends and try a new sport. These will be followed by indoor softball pre-season games. For more details about the Herts Softball Programme click here. If you are interested to come and try softball at any of the upcoming open sessions contact us and we will provide you with full details and add you to our mailing list.

MLB LONDON SERIES – BASEBALL IS COMING HOME

In case you have not heard, the Boston Red Sox and New York Yankees will be playing two MLB official league games on 29 and 30 June 2019 in London. This is the first time that MLB games will be staged in Europe. Various events and activities will take place as part of the MLB London Series and details will be announced in due course.  For now, baseball fans are advised to pre-register not later than 4:59 pm on 29 November 2018 in order to be eligible to access pre-sale tickets when they go on sale at 10:00 am on Monday, 3 December 2019. Click here for full details.

FIRST LONDON-BASED HERTS TEAM IN THE BBF LEAGUES

The first Herts baseball team based in North West London is set to make its BBF League debut in 2019. The club is in the process of securing the NW London ballpark and putting all of the components together in order to unveil the team in time for Opening Day. 2019 Player Registration has just commenced (see details below). The online registration form will ask each adult and youth player to indicate whether they prefer to play their home league games in Hemel Hempstead or in NW London, or whether they would be happy with either. This will provide vital information to club management about how to go about forming the first team which will play in NW London without affecting existing teams based in Hemel Hempstead.

HOW TO REGISTER FOR THE 2019 HERTS BASEBALL AND SOFTBALL SEASON

Herts Baseball Club has commenced the 2019 registration process for adult and youth players. For those who already have a Herts Online Clubhouse account they will be prompted to register when they log on next time (click here to go to the Herts Online Club House and log on with your existing username and password). Those who are new to Herts and do not have a Herts online account will be able to register as members by completing this form. For more details about joining our teams in 2019 click here or contact us.

by Herts Baseball News Editor

Adult and youth players now registering for the 2018 Herts baseball and softball season

The wait is over. Player registration for the 2018 season has commenced.

SOFTBALL

In 2017 Herts Baseball Club launched its softball programme which has enabled the club to offer playing opportunities to a much wider audience and to women in particular. Slowpitch Softball is the more recreational version of the game, which is equally appealing to male and female players. Softball is a social and enjoyable game that’s easy to learn and play, even for people who are not “athletes” or don’t have much experience of team sports. The fact that men and women play together in the same team and on an equal level gives the sport a social buzz.

The first Spring Training session for the softball players is at 10am on Sunday, 18 February. The first few sessions will be held indoors at the modern sports facilities of John F Kennedy School in Hemel Hempstead. All equipment will be provided so anyone aged 14 and over can come and enjoy the day, meet new friends and try a new sport. For more details about the Herts Softball Programme click here. If you are interested to come and try softball at any of the upcoming open sessions contact us and we will provide you with full details and add you to our mailing list.

ADULT BASEBALL LEAGUES

Last season three Herts teams entered the BBF senior baseball leagues. The next two weeks will be critical to see how many players will register to play for Herts in 2018 and on the basis of this the club will decide how many teams to enter before the 16 January league entry deadline. The club was close to entering four teams last season. How many will they enter this year?

KEY DATES – ADULT TEAMS

4 February – Adult team players report for first Spring Training indoor session

4 March – Adult teams return to Grovehill Ballpark for the first time in 2018

17 March – Start of the 2018 Herts Spring League (subject to confirmation of the BBF League Opening Day)*

8 April* – BBF League Opening Day (subject to confirmation)

May – Start of Midweek Evening Baseball

August-September* – BBF Postseason Playoffs and National Championships

September-October – Hunlock Series

* – these are preliminary dates. The BBF will be making its official announcements in due course.

YOUTH BASEBALL LEAGUES

The British Baseball Federation launched the Super League in 2017. It enhanced the youth baseball regular season and it is expected to be even more exciting in 2018. Many of our youth players will be moving up to the next age group to face a different challenge in 2018. They will be joined by the new players who are joining the club every week. The Herts youth teams welcome boys and girls aged between 4 and 16 from complete beginners to experienced players.

KEY DATES – YOUTH TEAMS

4 February – U17, U15, U13 and U11 players report for first Spring Training indoor session

March – First session at Grovehill Ballpark for the youth teams

April – U8 players report for their first session

April – U17, U15, U13, U12, U8 Season Opening Day

June – Little League UK Qualifiers (U17, U15, U13, U11)

July-August – Little League Europe Qualifier (Poland or Italy) and World Series (USA) (subject to qualification)

September – National Youth Baseball Championships (U17, U15, U13, U11)

September – Herts Futures Tournament (U17, U15, U13, U11, U8)

HOW TO REGISTER FOR THE 2018 HERTS BASEBALL AND SOFTBALL SEASON

Herts Baseball Club has commenced the 2018 registration process for adult and youth members. For those who already have a Herts Online Club House account they will be prompted to register when they log on next time (click here to go to the Herts Online Club House and log on with your existing username and password). Those who are new to Herts and do not have an online account will be able to register as members by completing this form.

by Rob Jones

Buzzards: the new face of Herts softball

The logo can now be revealed for Herts’ new slowpitch softball programme, which is introducing the Buzzards to the British sporting scene.

The first session will take place at 10 am this Sunday, 12th February, at the excellent facilities at John F. Kennedy Catholic School in Hemel Hempstead.

The invitation is open to everyone wanting to give the sport a try — baseball players, their families, or completely new faces looking for something different. These first taster sessions are free of charge.

The Buzzards will start as a fun, recreational team playing in selected tournaments and friendlies with local teams as it develops and finds its feet. The expectation is that they will either join a local league or be able to start their own by 2018.

Softball is a social and enjoyable game that’s easy to learn and play, even for people who are not “athletes” or don’t have much experience of team sports. The fact that men and women play together in the same team and on an equal level gives the sport a social buzz.

This team has been created by some Herts parents at a loose end after guiding their kids through the youth programme, and by veterans needing a different pace of game.

But don’t imagine that this is just a game for the old folks!

Herts has a great pedigree in softball, as the former youth players Theo Longboy and Marianna Casal won the U-19 European Softball Championship with the GB team in 2016.

The Buzzards may not recreate the GB success just yet, but the more players we can get having fun, the better the results will be!

The Buzzards shirt

All equipment will be provided this Sunday – you just need comfortable sporting clothes, water, and your enthusiasm!

For more information on the Buzzards please contact http://hertsbaseball.com/contact-us/

 

by Herts Baseball News Editor

Players now registering for the 2017 Herts baseball…and softball season

The wait is over. Player registration for the 2017 season has commenced.

SOFTBALL

In addition to adult and youth baseball, this year will see the launch of the Herts softball programme. This will enable the club to offer playing opportunities to a much wider audience and to women in particular. Slowpitch Softball is the more recreational version of the game, which is equally appealing to male and female players. Softball is a social and enjoyable game that’s easy to learn and play, even for people who are not “athletes” or don’t have much experience of team sports. The fact that men and women play together in the same team and on an equal level gives the sport a social buzz.

There will be four open softball sessions to get the programme started and give as many male and female players the opportunity to give it a try for free.  The first session is at 10am on Sunday, 12 February. These first few sessions will be held indoors at the modern sports facilities of John F Kennedy School in Hemel Hempstead. All equipment will be provided so anyone aged 14 and over can come and enjoy the day, meet new friends and try a new sport. For more details about the Herts Softball Programme click here. If you are interested to come and try softball at any of the upcoming  open sessions contact us and we will provide you with full details and add you to our mailing list.

ADULT LEAGUES

Herts has already completed the 2017 British Baseball League entry process and will be represented by three teams. The Herts Falcons will be looking to bounce back in the National Baseball League after a season in which they had more losses than wins. Herts Hawks have made the step up to the Double-A League after winning the Single-A National title. The Herts Raptors will be flying the flag in the Single-A League, looking to repeat or even improve on last year’s amazing season in which they reached the playoff quarter finals, eliminating the reigning national champions Tonbridge along the way.

KEY DATES – ADULT TEAMS

5 February – Adult team players report for first Spring Training indoor session

5 March – Adult teams return to Grovehill Ballpark for the first time in 2017

18 March – Start of the 2017 Herts Spring League

2 April* – Opening Day (National Baseball League)

2-9 April*, Opening Day (Double-A and Single-A Leagues)

May – Start of Midweek Evening Baseball

August-September – Postseason Playoffs and National Championships

September-October – Hunlock Series

* – these are preliminary dates. The BBF will be making its official announcements in due course.

YOUTH LEAGUES

The hard work which the Herts youth teams have put in over the last few years is starting to pay off and it must have felt good for all the players and coaching staff to see the teams do so well in 2016.  They may have fallen at the semi-final stage in the National Baseball Championships, but those games were worthy of being the Finals of the respective age groups.  But the success of the youth programme is not measured only by looking at where the teams finish in the National Championships.  The coaches have built something very special which the players and their families enjoy being part of every week.

The British Baseball Federation has provided preliminary details of a model which they hope to adopt in 2017 which is expected to enhance youth baseball further and make it even more attractive to boys and girls of all ages.  We will keep you updated as more details come out about the upcoming season.

KEY DATES – YOUTH TEAMS

5 February – U17 and U15 players report for first Spring Training indoor session

11 February – U13 and U11 players report for first Spring Training indoor session

March – First session at Grovehill Ballpark for the youth teams

April – U17, U15, U13, U12, U8 Season Opening Day

June – Little League UK Qualifiers (U17, U15, U13, U11)

July-August – Little League Europe Qualifier (Poland or Italy) and World Series (USA) (subject to qualification)

September – National Youth Baseball Championships (U17, U15, U13, U11)

September – Herts Futures Tournament (U17, U15, U13, U11, U8)

HOW TO REGISTER FOR THE 2017 HERTS BASEBALL AND SOFTBALL SEASON

Herts Baseball Club has commenced the 2017 member registration process. For those who already have a Herts Online Club House account they will be prompted to register when they log on next time (click here to go to the Herts Online Club House and log on with your existing username and password). Those who are new to Herts and do not have an online account will be able to register as 2017 members by completing this form.

by Rob Jones

Herts softball Buzzards are hatched

Herts Baseball Club are delighted to announce the start of their slowpitch softball programme.

Play is due to start in 2017, with training sessions taking place from late January. New players and existing  baseball players are welcome to come and join the team.

softball-generic

The Buzzards will start as a fun, recreational team playing in selected tournaments and friendlies with local teams as it develops and finds its feet — with the expectation that it will either join a local league or be able to start its own by 2018.

The idea for the team has come from a group of parents who have spent many hours watching their sons and daughters play baseball for Herts. They find themselves at a loose end now that their offspring have moved on, but still want to be involved with the Herts club and have some fun having a go themselves.

That’s what has led to the team name ‘Buzzards’ — which keeps with the Herts bird theme but more importantly describes some of the players in the team (old and haggard!)

Of course the team is open to all, young and old, new or experienced, men and women, we just want to have a great time with the people we have come to know and love.

If you would like to join the ‘family’ and have some fun please come on down, you’ll always be welcome.

Details of Herts training sessions will be published on the club website and emailed to interested parties once they have been finalised.  Herts softball is open to men and women, and boys and girls over 14 years of age. The team will predominantly be an adult team.

Former Herts youth players Theo Longboy and Marianna Casal won the U-19 European Softball Championship this year (pic: Amanda Murphy)

We may not recreate the success of the GB Under-19s just yet, but the more players we can get having fun, the better the results will be!

By adding Softball to the Herts club its hoped that there is now something for everyone to have a go at  – adult baseball, casual ‘recreational’ baseball, youth baseball, co-ed recreational slowpitch softball.

For more information on the Buzzards please contact http://hertsbaseball.com/contact-us/

by Herts Baseball News Editor

Herts Home Run Derby with a difference

(Note: Event schedule updated to fit in rained out U17 games from earlier in the season, as London Mets U17 confirmed availability)

The superstars of Major League Baseball gathered in front of a packed Citi Field in New York last week for the annual Home Run Derby as part of the MLB All Star week. This week it is the turn of the Herts Home Run Derby.

Herts Baseball Club has members who play in the five senior baseball leagues, but the club also has the youth team players aged from 6 to 16 as well as softball players and all of them will be competing for the Herts Home Run Champion title. Different outfield fences will be set up for the different teams and age groups reflecting the field distances they play on during their league games. This will mean that, for example, 5-year-old William Morillo will be able to compete against his 15-year old brother Jose Morillo, his father Jose Antonio, and also against Herts Falcons and NBL All Star centerfielder, Cris Hiche.

There will be the added angle of buckets filled with water scattered around the diamond. If a hit ball drops into the bucket the batter will be awarded a free drink from the Herts concessions bar.

EXHIBITION GAMES

The day will begin with an exhibition game between the Herts Harriers and a Herts All Star team featuring players from the club’s five senior league teams. There will be baseball activities for all other age groups before the Home Run Derby as the club welcomes newcomers to the game as part of the Olympics Legacy Festival of Sport in Dacorum Borough.

The day will end with an exhibition softball game involving baseball and softball players as well as parents of the Herts youth team players.

FOOD AND DRINKS

Throughout the event, the concessions stand will be running at full capacity offering hot and cold drinks and various traditional baseball snacks from hot dogs to Big League Chew.

EVENT SCHEDULE

10:00am, Updated: Herts Harriers vs London Mets (New Diamond) U17 League Game

11:00am, Baseball drills and exercises for all age groups, youth and adult (Old Diamond)

12:00pm, Lunch

12:15pm, Home Run Derby (New Diamond)

1:00pm, Updated: London Mets vs Horsham Hornets (Old Diamond) U17 League Game

2:00pm, Exhibition Softball Game

3:00pm, Event ends

VENUE

The event will take place at Grovehill Ballpark, the home of Herts Baseball Club (click for venue address and details)

CONTACT US

If you are not already on the club’s mailing lists contact us for details how to take part in this event. Everyone is welcome – male and female players of all ages.

 

by Herts Baseball News Editor

Herts softball players reporting for duty this Wednesday. Club looking to appoint paid staff.

Summer is here and the Herts Softball Programme is staging midweek evening open training sessions over the next two weeks. The club is looking to build on last year when the Herts softball programme started. It now has a mailing list of over 50 players.

The first session is on Wednesday, 19 June, and the second on 26 June. They will be held at Grovehill Ballpark in Hemel Hempstead which is one of the best baseball venues in this country.

Sessions will start from 6:30pm and end around 8:30pm.

These sessions are for boys and girls, men and women aged 14 and above, from complete beginners to advanced players. To cover costs, on the day players will be asked to pay £2 per session.

To sign up for these sessions or to receive more details, please contact us.

Over the next few weeks the Herts Softball League will also be looking for people to perform the following roles and they will receive pay of between £50 and £150 over the course of the season.

Team Managers – duties include overseeing and co-ordinating team activities, coaching, provision of equipment, delegating tasks and other aspects of managing the team.

Coaches – duties include running training sessions and supporting team managers as a coach during games.

Softball League Department Staff – the Herts Softball League is looking to invite corporations from the nearby industrial zones to create teams and enter the league. To administer this the club is looking to add 2 or 3 members of staff to run league operations.

If you are interested in these roles or would like to receive more details please contact us.

by Herts Baseball News Editor

AUDIO: Herts is BBC 3 Counties Radio’s club of the week

Last week BBC 3 Counties Radio confirmed that Herts Baseball Club  has been selected as “Club of the Week”. Herts Board member, Joe Gray, was invited to appear on Mike Naylor’s Saturday Sports Show at the weekend and they had a chance to cover a wide range of baseball subjects including a preview of last Sunday’s NBL top-of-the-table encounter between the Herts Falcons and the London Mets, the growth of baseball in our region and in the UK, the potential return of baseball and softball to the Olympics in 2020, the upcoming Little League World Series and a chance for youngsters from Herts, North-West London and the surrounding regions to take part in this massive international competition, and more. To listen, play the video below.