Category: Youth Leagues

by AspiDimitrov

2009 SEASON STARTS TODAY FOR HERTS BASEBALL CLUB

     

 

For many clubs around the country AGMs are usually held in January or February just a few weeks before the start of the season, but in the last two years Herts has decided to bring it forward by three months in order for the elected officers to commence their work and to better utilize the off-season period.  On Sunday, members of Herts Baseball Club gathered at the SportsSpace Centre in Hemel Hempstead for their 12th Annual General Meeting.   The 2008 Executive Board had an opportunity to report on the club’s progress and achievements in the last 12 months, which undoubtedly has been the club’s best season ever, on and off the field.

 

Herts successfully implemented the expansion into a club with three adult and four youth teams.  Its AAA team, the Falcons became the 2008 British AAA National Champion.  The Little League teams have already won a trophy and have performed very well against the best youth teams in the country.  The Club is an organiser of large events at national and regional level, from the Herts Little League and the Herts Spring League to the Herts Futures Tournament.

 

There are many more objectives which the club has set for 2009 including the completion of the Grovehill Ballpark project; further growth of the Herts Little League, adopting better coaching techniques, establishing stronger relationship with local schools.  The Club must also transfer the successful structure at AAA level to the other teams in the adult programme.

 

Over the years the Club has been very fortunate to have very hard-working, dedicated and creative people elected as club officers and on Sunday the members elected another very strong team of Club officers for 2009.  It is a very strong combination of old and new officers which ensures that continuity is maintained while injecting new energy into the organisation. 

 

2009 HBC OFFICERS

 

BOARD

Aspi Dimitrov, Secretary / President

Paul Auchterlounie, Treasurer

Jason Greenberg, First Team Manager

(vacant), Second Team Manager

Andrew Slater, Third Team Manager

Marty Cullen, Little League Commissioner

 

NON-BOARD

Jason Greenberg, Webmaster

Jo Smith, Fundraising Manager

Nic Goetz, Sponsorship Manager

Greg Bochan, Statistics Officer

 

The Second Team Manager position was left vacant.  The Club will be communicating with potential candidates in order to fill this position.

by AspiDimitrov

AND THE HERTS LITTLE LEAGUE AWARD GOES TO…

 

The 2008 Herts Little League season drew to a close on Saturday with the presentation of individual awards for the four Herts teams.  But before the trophy and medal presentation the players took part in the 2008 Herts Little League Home Run Derby.

 

In the first round Alex Ringrose (2) and Zack Longboy (1) hit home runs for the Blue Jays.  For the Yankees, the big sluggers were brothers Lewis (1) and Liam Green (3) as well as Marty Cullen Jr (2).  The absence of the League’s Home Run Leader, Lewis Paterson, for the Cubs was clear as they struggled to produce the necessary power.  Kieran Manning recorded one home run for the Red Sox but the most notable performance in the first Round was that of another Red Sock.  Mikito Ariga put on a real batting exhibition with six home runs reminding spectators at Grovehill Ballpark of Josh Hamilton’s performance on the other side of the Atlantic Ocean at Yankee Stadium during the MLB Home Run Derby earlier this year.

 

Photos from the day (including shots from the Family Softball Game)

 

Four of the players with highest scores in the first Round made it through to the Final Round where players had only 5 Outs to work with.  Mikito Ariga recorded one home run while Marty Cullen Jr had two, but this wasn’t enough as Liam Green and Alex Ringrose both hit 3 home runs.  This meant that the winner was to be decided in a Sudden-Death Elimination between the two.  Ringrose and Green were taking a swing each until finally Liam Green hit a bomb which confirmed him as the 2008 Home Run Derby Champion.

 

In the 2008 Awards Ceremony which followed, every player’s contribution was acknowledged with the presentation of the Herts Little League medals.  Players from each of the four teams were awarded with the individual awards in the various categories.  Infield and Outfield Gold Gloves were presented for some outstanding defensive performances.  The big hitters in each team received the Batting Champion trophies.  The Cy Young Award recognized the pitching aces of 2008.  For many players 2008 was the first year playing the game of baseball and the Rookie of the Year trophies were presented to those who have worked hard to develop their baseball skills and as a result have had very successful debut seasons.

 

Since the final game of the season the Little League players have been casting their Most Valuable Player (MVP) votes in order to determine the four players (one from each of the four teams) who is deemed most valuable to the team not only in terms of ability, talent and statistics but the ability to act as a team leader. This is perhaps the best award to be given as the MVP is seen as the best-all round player on the team and the one who has contributed most to the team’s success.

 

The Red Sox MVP vote was very competitive with both Charlie Mayhew and Yuki Ariga coming very close, but it was Yuki’s brother, Mikito, who picked up the MVP.  Storm Frisby, Nicolas Carlean and Georgia Ringrose all picked up MVP votes, but the undoubted winner among the Blue Jays was, Zack Longboy.  Lewis Paterson was the MVP for the Cubs in a close race with Carlos Casal Jr.  Finally, for the 2008 Champions, the Herts Yankees, the highest number of votes were collected by Liam Green.

 

FULL LIST OF AWARD WINNERS

 

HERTS RED SOX  

MVP

Mikito Ariga

Batting Champion

Mikito Ariga

Infield Gold Glove

Kieran Manning

Outfield Gold Glove

Declan Carlean

Rookie of the Year

Jamie Brener

Cy Young Award

Mikito Ariga

 

HERTS BLUE JAYS          

MVP

Zachary Longboy

Batting Champion

Alex Ringrose

Infield Gold Glove

Dan Phillips

Outfield Gold Glove

Storm Frisby

Rookie of the Year

Ozan Martin

Cy Young Award

Zachary Longboy

 

HERTS CUBS         

MVP

Lewis Paterson

Batting Champion

Lewis Paterson

Infield Gold Glove

Carlos Casal Jr

Outfield Gold Glove

Joshua Keenan

Rookie of the Year

Paul Sands

Cy Young Award

Carlos Casal Jr

 

HERTS YANKEES

MVP

Liam Green

Batting Champion

Liam Green

Infield Gold Glove

Marty Cullen Jr

Outfield Gold Glove

Lewis Green

Rookie of the Year

Theo Longboy

Cy Young Award

Marty Cullen Jr

by AspiDimitrov

HORSHAM ALL-STARS COME OUT ON TOP IN EPIC FINAL AGAINST HERTS JUNIOR HAWKS

 

Baseball may not be the number one sport in Great Britain but on Saturday’s evidence it is clear that it has been making real progress in the last few years and is beginning to attract many new players and fans.  In one of the final events of the 2008 baseball season, eight of the top youth teams in Great Britain took part in the Herts Futures Tournament.  This is a new event in the British baseball calendar organised by Herts Baseball Club and held at its Grovehill Ballpark in Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire.  It proved to be a real celebration of baseball and a very fitting way to celebrate the end of the season.

 

The eight teams were split into two groups of four and they battled it out in a round robin format.  The London Mets and the Horsham All-Stars stamped their authority early with two convincing wins against the Windsor Bears and the Herts Junior Raptors.  This set up an intriguing clash between the two teams in the last group game to decide which of them will clinch top spot in the group and a place in the final.  Horsham came out on top with a 6-4 win.

 

In the other group the visiting teams did not know what to expect from the Herts Junior Hawks which is a team representing the hosts, Herts Baseball Club.   The Herts players play in the Herts Little League which is an independent league created only 12 months ago.  Despite fielding some players who were visibly younger than their opponents, the Junior Hawks produced some terrific baseball.  They won all of their group games to clinch first place in their group. 

 

This meant that the final of the first ever Herts Futures Tournament was to be contested between two teams representing independent youth Leagues. 

 

The Horsham and Herts teams were removed by the BBF from participating in the 2008 National Championships.  It must be said that the BBF were forced to do so for logistical reasons which were out of their control but still it is ironic that these same teams overcame their BBF opponents to reach the Final on Saturday. 

 

The Herts vs Horsham Final proved to be a classic.  Herts Junior Hawks took a 2-1 lead and seemed to be on their way to a famous victory, but then Horsham struck back in the top of the final inning with 3 vital runs.  Herts managed to reduce the deficit scoring a run in the bottom of the inning, but the all important tying run was left stranded on second base.

 

The disappointment on the faces of the Herts players was there for all to see, but those players should be very proud of finishing second in only their second tournament against opponents outside of Hertfordshire’s Little League. 

 

IMAGES OF THE DAY

 

FULL TOURNAMENT SCOREBOARD

 

GROUP 1 HOME       VISITORS GROUP 1 STANDINGS W L Runs +/-
11:00am London Mets 16 vs 0 Herts Jr. Raptors Horsham All-Stars 3 0 27
11:00am Horsham All-Stars 10 vs 0 Windsor Bears London Mets 2 1 21
12:15pm Herts Jr. Raptors 0 vs 15 Horsham All-Stars Windsor Bears 1 2 -4
12:15pm Windsor Bears 3 vs 10 London Mets Herts Jr. Raptors 0 3 -44
1:30pm Horsham All-Stars 6 vs 4 London Mets
1:30pm Herts Jr. Raptors 2 vs 15 Windsor Bears
GROUP 2 HOME       VISITORS GROUP 1 STANDINGS W L Runs +/-
11:00am Bracknell Blazers 5 vs 9 Herts Jr. Hawks Herts Jr. Hawks 3 0 13
11:00am Brentwood Bucks 8 vs 1 Tonbridge Bobcats Bracknell Blazers 2 1 6
12:15pm Herts Jr. Hawks 9 vs 7 Brentwood Bucks Brentwood Bucks 1 2 3
12:15pm Tonbridge Bobcats 2 vs 10 Bracknell Blazers Tonbridge Bobcats 0 3 -22
1:30pm Brentwood Bucks 1 vs 3 Bracknell Blazers
1:30pm Herts Jr. Hawks 7 vs 0 Tonbridge Bobcats
FINALS HOME       VISITORS
3:00pm Horsham All-Stars 4 vs 3 Herts Jr. Hawks
3:00pm Bracknell Blazers 11 vs 0 London Mets
3:00pm Windsor Bears 2 vs 7 Brentwood Bucks
3:00pm Tonbridge Bobcats 11 vs 10 Herts Jr. Raptors
by AspiDimitrov

GROVEHILL BALLPARK TO HOST THE HERTS FUTURES TOURNAMENT THIS SATURDAY

 

Eight of the top British youth baseball teams will play in the first ever Herts Futures Tournament.  It will be held at Grovehill Ballpark in Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire on Saturday, 27 September.  The action begins at 11am.

 

The 8 teams will be placed in two groups of four teams. Teams play games against each team in

their group. To determine the winner and the overall Tournament standings all teams will play

in a Final against the corresponding team in the other group.

 

The invited teams will be from the BBF Southern Conference and the independent Little

Leagues in the South, including London Mets, Horsham All-Stars, Wi9ndsor Bears, Bracknell Blazers, Brentwood Bucks, Tonbridge Bobcats.  They will join the two host teams, the Herts Junior Raptors and the Herts Junior Hawks.  The two Herts teams play in the Herts Little League established this year, so this Tournament is a great opportunity for the Herts Little League players to play against teams from other parts of the country.  It will also be a test to see how the Herts programme will compare against much more experienced and well-established youth teams.

 

The Tournament is expected to attract a record attendance at the baseball diamond at Grovehill Ballpark and is set to be a great day out for the whole family.  Apart from great baseball action, the players, and fans will be able to sample traditional baseball snacks and drinks, as well as fresh doughnuts provided through the Krispy-Kreme Fundraising Programme.  All profits will go towards Herts Baseball Club’s project to develop Grovehill Ballpark by improving existing facilities and adding a second baseball diamond.

 

It is not too late for boys and girls to sign up and play in this event.  For more details about the Tournament and how to take part please contact us.

 

2008 HERTS FUTURES TOURNAMENT SCHEDULE

 

GROUP 1

HOME

 

VISITORS

FIELD

11:00am

London Mets

vs

Herts Jr. Raptors

3

11:00am

Horsham All-Stars

vs

Windsor Bears

4

12:15pm

Herts Jr. Raptors

vs

Horsham All-Stars

3

12:15pm

Windsor Bears

vs

London Mets

4

1:30pm

Horsham All-Stars

vs

London Mets

3

1:30pm

Herts Jr. Raptors

vs

Windsor Bears

4

GROUP 2

HOME

 

VISITORS

FIELD

11:00am

Bracknell Blazers

vs

Herts Jr. Hawks

1

11:00am

Brentwood Bucks

vs

Tonbridge Bobcats

2

12:15pm

Herts Jr. Hawks

vs

Brentwood Bucks

1

12:15pm

Tonbridge Bobcats

vs

Bracknell Blazers

2

1:30pm

Brentwood Bucks

vs

Bracknell Blazers

1

1:30pm

Herts Jr. Hawks

vs

Tonbridge Bobcats

2

FINALS

HOME

 

VISITORS

FIELD

3:00pm

1st (Group 1)

vs

1st (Group 2)

1

3:00pm

2nd (Group 2)

vs

2nd (Group 1)

2

3:00pm

3rd (Group 1)

vs

3rd (Group 2)

3

3:00pm

4th (Group 2)

vs

4th (Group 1)

4
by AspiDimitrov

YANKEES ARE FIRST EVER HERTS LITTLE LEAGUE CHAMPIONS. BLUE JAYS WIN THIRD PLACE FINAL

 

The 2008 Herts Baseball Little League season ended with a bang.  The Herts Yankees had to produce their two best performances of the season in order to lift the League trophy.

 

In the opening game of the final day, they clashed with the Herts Red Sox in the sudden-death play-off.  The prize for the winner was a place in the League Championship Final.  The dilemma facing both the Red Sox and Yankee Coaches was which pitchers to use in this play-off game.  The choice was between using the ace pitchers of the team or to save their arms for the Championship Final.  One thing was certain; whoever pitched in the play-off game would not have the energy to pitch in the Championship game.

 

Both managers decided to gamble.  Such is the life of a Herts Little League Coach that, for one of the two Coaches, this was to prove to be a brilliant move, while for the other, an error of enormous proportions.

 

Making a rare appearance on the mound for the Yankees was Liam Green.  The pressure of the occasion did not seem to faze him.  He was throwing a nasty combination of fastballs and curveballs which kept the Red Sox batters off balance all day.  At the same time the Yankees delivered some crushing blows with their bats and started to chalk up one run after another.

 

Desperate to stay in the game, the Red Sox tried to regroup with some changes in the field, but nothing seemed to be going their way.  The Yankees outplayed them both offensively and defensively to record a famous 7-0 victory.

 

And so the scene was set for the 2008 Herts Little League Championship game.  Cubs vs Yankees. 

With the Yankees having played through a gruelling playoff with the Red Sox earlier, it was expected that they would come into the game exhausted against the Cubs who had the luxury of resting their arms and bats before the Final.  This wasn’t the case and instead the Yankees were the quickest off the blocks taking a 3-run lead in the top of the first inning.  The Cubs were putting runners on base but were missing that all important hit with runners in scoring positions.  Yankees puitcher, Marty Cullen Jr always seemed to be finding that little bit extra in those key situations.

 

The Final score of 12-0 was a true reflection of the Yankees’ outstanding performance.

 

In the 3rd/4th Place Final the Blue Jays managed to pull off a surprising 6-1 win against the Red Sox.

 

A great day to end a very successful first season of the Herts Baseball Little League.  In a very short period of time the League has managed to establish itself as one of the best ways for boys and girls to spend their summer.  But this has been more than just a way for kids to spend their free time.  The members are now very much a part of one big family – Herts Baseball Club. 

 

IMAGES OF THE FINAL DAY OF THE LEAGUE SEASON

by AspiDimitrov

RED SOX-YANKEES-CUBS DEADLOCK. HERTS LITTLE LEAGUE EXTENDED TO DETERMINE CHAMPIONS.

 

On a sun-drenched afternoon the players and fans of the Herts Baseball Little League came down to Grovehill Ballpark for the final League day of the season to determine the 2008 Champions.  At the end of the day, three teams were still locked in a stalemate at the top of the standings, which meant that everyone will be coming back for one more final day to decide the Winners. 

 

Before the Final Day games, the Herts Cubs were in the lead and they knew that they had their destiny in their own hands.  They needed one win to make sure that no one jumps above them.  Two wins, and they are the Champions.  Even if they were to lose the first game of the day, a win against the Yankees in the second game would still guarantee them the title.  The Yankees were one game back on the Cubs and needed to make up that deficit over the two games of the day.  The Red Sox were playing catch-up with two games back on the leaders.  They needed to win both their games and hope that the Yankees lose to the Blue Jays and beat the Cubs, which at the start of the day seemed like a very, very unlikely scenario.

 

With all the attention on the three teams at the top of the table, the last-placed Blue Jays caused a major upset by beating the Yankees 4-3.  Fearing that they may have blown their chances of becoming Champions, anxious Yankee players and coaches headed towards Field 1 hoping for a Red Sox win against the Cubs.  Their hopes were realized.  The Red Sox produced their best performance of the season shutting down the Cubs 5-0. 

 

The Cubs may have lost but they knew that a win against the Yankees in the final game of the season and the trophy is theirs.  This proved to be one of the most nail-biting games of the year.  The Yankees took a 5-2 lead going into the final inning, but the Cubs were not giving up.  Despite the Yankees recording two quick outs, the Cubs managed to load the bases.  Up stepped the league’s home run leader, Lewis Paterson (3 HR), to face GB National team pitcher Marty Cullen Jr  in a power-versus-power duel.  With the count full at 3 balls and 2 strikes, Paterson kept fighting, fouling off some tough pitches.  In the eighth pitch of the at bat, Cullen threw a hard inside fastball.  Great pitch but it glanced off Paterson’s leg.  An epic at bat which made the score 5-3 and the bases were still loaded.  Cullen Jr may have been shaken up by this, but with the tying run on second base he kept his composure striking out the next batter to secure the win for the Yankees.

 

The unthinkable had happened.  The Herts Cubs needed to win only one of their two games to become Champions but lost both.  The Red Sox on the other hand have put together a 5-game winning streak just at the right time and the outcome of all the other games was exactly what they were hoping for.  Not even J.K. Rawlings could have written a better script. 

 

In sports such as football a tie in the league table is usually resolved on the basis of goal difference.  In baseball, however, the tradition is that if teams have the same win-loss record at the end of the season they play an extra tie-break game.  The Herts Baseball Little League will follow the true baseball tradition and so the season has been extended and extra games will be played.

 

With the Herts Cubs having a better head-to-head and run difference record than the Yankees and the Red Sox, they have secured their place in the Championship deciding game.  To determine their opponent, the Yankees and the Red Sox will battle it out next week. 

 

This is the schedule for the “final” Final day of the season next Saturday, 20 September.

 

FIRST SET OF GAMES

Red Sox @ Yankees (to determine the second Championship Game Finalist)

Cubs @ Blue Jays (exhibition game)

(3-inning games)

 

SECOND SET OF GAMES

Yankees or Red Sox @ Cubs (Herts Little League Championship Game)

Blue Jays @ Yankees or Red Sox (3rd/4th Place Final)

(4-inning games)

 

Link to Photos from the Final Regular Season Day

Link to the League Standings and Results

by AspiDimitrov

FALCONS REIGN ON KINGS PARADE, CROWNED AAA CHAMPS



After amodest toast to their charmed ascendancy through the League, the Hertsfirst-team quickly rested and refocused for a Sunday morning clash with theirAAA Oxford rivals.  The Falcons arrivedat Croydon’s Diamond One a full hour-and-a-half before their opponents and the umpiringcrew, fueled only by their sheer determination to finish what they’d begun.

 

The weatherhad not improved despite Club President Aspi Dimitrov’s claim that this was “abetter rain.”  The mist was unrelentingand left the field water-logged and – according to BBF officials –unplayable.  Nevertheless, the Falconsstretched and warmed their arms no less than three times before the mainstagewas relocated to the better-maintained second field, and the game commenced 90minutes behind schedule.

 

Withseveral runner-up games already cancelled due to weather, Herts was eager toget proceedings underway and avoid an unnecessary postponement.  They were present, they were warmed and theywere fired up.  The growing crowd wasequally impatient; the excitement of an inevitable climax hung in the air.

 

Flashbackto July 6 2008: Oxford Kings travel to a rain-soaked Grovehill for a crucialcross-division matchup. Capitalizing as the away team, Oxford jumps out to a four-run lead in thetop of the 1st (unbelievably, in both games of this double-header).

 

It was nosurprise then that Kings Manager Santo Bains chose to again be the away teamwhen he won the coin toss prior to Sunday’s final… a gamble that Oxford would soon regret.

 

Darrin “TheColonel” Ward took the mound seeking revenge – having suffered his only loss ofthe season to Oxfordtwo months prior – and immediately shut down the Kings’ impressiveoffense.  Leadoff batter Masaharu Egawa struckout looking before Jorge Pinto Machado reached first on a hard-hit grounder tothe right side.  Despite the admonitionsof first baseman Marty Cullen, Machado attempted to steal on the next pitch andwas cut down easily by Catcher Jason Greenberg’s cannon.  That play brought Oxford’s running game to a screeching halt;it was their only attempt at a stolen base, and Greenberg was 3-3 in throwdowns over the weekend.  Anotherstrikeout ended the inning, and the Falcons had neutralized Bains’ plans for adominant top-of-the-first.

 

With noscore and two outs in the bottom of the 2nd, and Kimiyoshi Saionjion third base, rightfielder Aspi Dimitrov connected on a 1-and-2 count for aline drive up the middle, bringing home the first run of the game.  Herts had taken a lead they would neverrelinquish.  In the top of the 3rdwith the bases loaded and one out, Ward’s legendary changeup forced Oxford intoan infield fly and a foul-pop to catcher Greenberg ending the threat.

 

The windbeneath their wings, the Falcons quickly tacked on three more runs in thebottom of the inning on two hits and two Kings’ errors.  Despite a string of four hits by Oxfordscoring two runs in the fourth (including a to-the-fence double from Machado),the Falcons brought their lead to 6-2 with precision defense, a triple fromClub President Dimitrov and timely strikeouts from the crafty Ward.  Machado wasn’t finished; he crushed a hangingbreaking ball over the right field wall for the game’s final run (the Kings’third)… but no amount of muscle could combat Herts dogged determination.  Outfielder and lightening-bolt Jim Hyde wasejected in the bottom-of-the-6th for attempting to score on a groundball to the left side.  Although photoevidence shows him under the tag, the umpire punched him out and Hyde,incensed, pounded his helmet into the batters circle.  It was that kind of never-die grit that keptHerts on top despite the game’s mounting pressure.

 

With theFalcons leading 6-3 in the top of the seventh, a strikeout, a fly-out and apop-out brought the AAA season to an end. The natural finalists – first in their respective League brackets – haddone battle in the inclement English weather, in front of the BBF’s top umpiresand officials and to the delight of their many supporting fans.  The Herts Falcons were crowned National Champions,taking the trophy from their scrappy opponents in what proved the tightest,hardest-fought contest of the 2008 Final 4. It was a showdown for the annals, and will be hotly remembered in theseason to come when Herts and Oxfordnext face-off on the diamond.

 

2008 saw animprobable rise to the top for the Herts Baseball Club.  Weathering demotion, re-promotion and nowcoronation, the Falcons’ successes have made for a glory season of resurgenceand optimism.  They garnered the bestwin-loss record in the AAA, bested every opponent they faced, and allowed thefewest runs of any team in the League.  AsBBF President Rob Rance presented the championship trophy, he offeredencouraging words of support to Hertfordshire’s ballclub, saying “Herts is agreat programme – a class act – the kind of Club that the BBF needs to helpthis country develop the game. Congratulations to the Falcons on a fine season.”



BOX SCORE

Oxford Kings at Herts Falcons
Score By Innings 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 R H E
Oxford Kings 0 0 0 2 0 1 0 3 11 2
Herts Falcons 0 1 3 2 0 0 0 6 9 5

Herts Falcons 6, Oxford Kings 3
Herts Falcons Oxford Kings
  ab r h bi   ab r h bi
Jim Hyde lf 2 2 1 0 Player 1 p 4 0 1 0
(t7) Greg Bochan rf 0 0 0 0 Player 2 c 5 1 3 3
Andy Cornish 3b 4 1 1 0 Player 3 1b 4 0 0 0
Jason Greenberg c 4 1 1 1 Player 4 2b 3 0 1 0
Kimiyoshi Saionji 2b 2 1 1 2 Player 5 3b 3 0 1 0
Dan Kerry cf 3 0 1 0 Player 6 ss 4 0 1 0
Marty Cullen 1b 3 0 0 0 Player 7 lf 4 0 1 0
Aspi Dimitrov rf-lf 3 1 2 1 Player 8 cf 4 1 1 0
Nick Goetz ss 3 0 1 0 Player 9 rf 4 1 2 0
Darrin Ward p 3 0 1 1
TEAM TOTALS 27 6 9 5 TEAM TOTALS 35 3 11 3

E: Nick Goetz(3), Marty Cullen, Darrin Ward, Player 1, Player 4. DP: Oxford Kings 1.
LOB: Herts Falcons 7, Oxford Kings 15. 2B: Player 2, Player 9. 3B: Aspi Dimitrov. HR:
Player 2. SB: Jim Hyde(2), Dan Kerry. CS: Player 2.

Herts Falcons IP H R ER BB SO
Darrin Ward W 7.00 11 3 3 3 5
Oxford Kings            
Player 1 L 6.00 9 6 3 2 5

HBP: by Darrin Ward (Player 3). . , by Player 1 (Jim Hyde). . . , by Player 1 (Jim
Hyde). . PB: Player 2. T: 2:28. A: 151.
Oxford Kings – Top of the 1st:
Player 1 struck out looking.
Player 2 reached on error, caught trying to steal 2nd.
Player 3 hit by pitch.
Player 4 struck out swinging.
0 runs, 0 hits, 1 error, 1 LOB.
Herts Falcons – Bottom of the 1st:
Jim Hyde singled, forced out at 2nd.
Andy Cornish hit into double play.
Jason Greenberg struck out swinging.
0 runs, 1 hit, 0 errors, 0 LOB.
Oxford Kings – Top of the 2nd:
Player 5 walked, forced out at 2nd.
Player 6 reached on fielder's choice, batted forward to 2nd.
Player 7 singled.
Player 8 struck out looking.
Player 9 grounded out.
0 runs, 1 hit, 0 errors, 2 LOB.
Herts Falcons – Bottom of the 2nd:
Kimiyoshi Saionji walked, batted forward to home.
Dan Kerry struck out looking.
Marty Cullen grounded out.
Aspi Dimitrov singled, 1 RBI.
Nick Goetz struck out looking.
1 run, 1 hit, 0 errors, 1 LOB.
Oxford Kings – Top of the 3rd:
Player 1 walked, batted forward to 2nd, forced out at 3rd.
Player 2 singled, batted forward to 3rd.
Player 3 reached on fielder's choice, batted forward to 2nd.
Player 4 singled.
Player 5 out by infield fly rule.
Player 6 popped out.
0 runs, 2 hits, 0 errors, 3 LOB.
Herts Falcons – Bottom of the 3rd:
Darrin Ward grounded out.
Jim Hyde hit by pitch, advanced to 3rd on error, advanced to home on passed ball.
Andy Cornish reached on error, advanced to 2nd on error, advanced to 3rd on passed
ball, batted forward to home.
Jason Greenberg reached on error, advanced to 2nd on passed ball, batted forward to
home.
Kimiyoshi Saionji singled, advanced to 2nd on throw, batted forward to 3rd, tagged
out going to home, 2 RBI.
Dan Kerry singled, stole 2nd.
Marty Cullen flied out.
3 runs, 2 hits, 2 errors, 1 LOB.
Oxford Kings – Top of the 4th:
Player 7 flied out.
Player 8 singled, batted forward to home.
Player 9 singled, batted forward to home.
Player 1 singled, batted forward to 3rd.
Player 2 doubled, 2 RBI.
Player 3 grounded out.
Player 4 walked.
Player 5 flied out.
2 runs, 4 hits, 0 errors, 3 LOB.
Herts Falcons – Bottom of the 4th:
Aspi Dimitrov tripled, batted forward to home.
Nick Goetz struck out swinging.
Darrin Ward singled, forced out at 2nd, 1 RBI.
Jim Hyde reached on fielder's choice, batted forward to home.
Andy Cornish singled, batted forward to 3rd.
Jason Greenberg singled, batted forward to 2nd, 1 RBI.
Kimiyoshi Saionji walked.
Dan Kerry popped out.
2 runs, 4 hits, 0 errors, 3 LOB.
Oxford Kings – Top of the 5th:
Player 6 singled, forced out at 2nd.
Player 7 struck out looking.
Player 8 reached on error, batted forward to 3rd.
Player 9 doubled.
Player 1 grounded out.
0 runs, 2 hits, 1 error, 2 LOB.
Herts Falcons – Bottom of the 5th:
Marty Cullen grounded out.
Aspi Dimitrov struck out looking.
Nick Goetz singled.
Darrin Ward grounded out.
0 runs, 1 hit, 0 errors, 1 LOB.
Oxford Kings – Top of the 6th:
Player 2 hit solo home run, 1 RBI.
Player 3 grounded out.
Player 4 popped out.
Player 5 singled, advanced to 3rd on error.
Player 6 reached on error, advanced to 2nd on error.
Player 7 reached on error.
Player 8 grounded out.
1 run, 2 hits, 2 errors, 3 LOB.
Herts Falcons – Bottom of the 6th:
Jim Hyde hit by pitch, stole 2nd, stole 3rd, tagged out going to home.
Hyde ejected for tossing helmet after being called out at home. It must be noted
that Hyde did not say a single word to the umpire and this may have just been due to
frustration. Hyde wouldn't have been ejected if this had happened in an MLB game.
Andy Cornish popped out.
Jason Greenberg reached on fielder's choice.
Kimiyoshi Saionji popped out.
0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 1 LOB.
Oxford Kings – Top of the 7th:
Player 9 struck out swinging.
Player 1 reached on error, advanced to 2nd on error.
Player 2 flied out.
Player 3 popped out.
Falcons are AAA Champions…Falcons are AAA Chapmions…Go crazy folks…go crazy
0 runs, 0 hits, 1 error, 1 LOB.
by AspiDimitrov

HERTS QUALIFY, PILOTS SHOT DOWN OVER CROYDON

The diamond was drenched in déjà vu.  Only one year ago the Herts first-team were onthis same field… facing the same opposition.

 

In the 2007 National Championships, the Falcons metthe Humber Pilots in the AA Final. Relegated from the Premier League the season before, Herts weredetermined to cap their walk-over winning season with a trophy and trip backinto the AAA.  But sloppy first-inningdefense and ineffective pitching allowed Humbera 5-0 lead, and they never looked back. The Falcons suffered an 8-5 loss and hung their heads in defeat.  Although they secured re-promotion to theAAA, the lack of a national title was the sole blemish on an otherwise perfect(and perfectly effortless) season.

 

Here we go again. Humber – also promoted to the AAA in the Northern bracket – made thelong trek due south from Hullto face their pushover opponents from the previous year.  Heavy storm clouds loomed over the same,rain-soaked field… and the Pilots came expecting a repeat victory.

 

Mayday! Mayday!

 

These were not the same Falcons.  Herts charged into 2008 with a full head ofsteam.  New leadership brought a wholenew approach.  With a focus on improvedtraining methods and a unifying philosophy, these Falcons sported adetermination and team commitment unrivalled in years past.  The emergence of additional talent – newfoundand home grown – meant that Herts brought improved speed, pitching, defense andpower to an already successful lineup. The Pilots were in for a dogfight.

 

In a complete reversal of their last encounter, theFalcons won the coin toss, took the home side dugout and readied themselves fora tooth-and-nail showdown.  The Pilotsseemed to take an early advantage when 2007 Best Pitcher Nic Goetz got off to aherky-jerky start walking the first two batters and beaning the third.  But the threat was quickly silenced.  Catcher Jason Greenberg gunned down awould-be base-stealer for the first out of the game, and a line-drive doubleplay by third baseman Darrin Ward brought the inning to the end.  Herts wasted no time in embracing theirmomentum.  In the bottom of the 1st,speedy leadoff batter Jim Hyde walked, stole second and was brought home on adouble from slugger Andy Cornish.  Twomore hits, two walks, a hit batter and a suicide squeeze brought in anadditional four runs for the Falcons who, in a reversal of fortunes of their2007 championship game, had an early 5-0 lead… and a confidence that evenMother Nature couldn’t quash.

 

Goetz quickly found his focus and dominated the Humber offense.  Ina foreshortened five-inning game the Pilots were held to one run on only twohits.  Meanwhile, the Falcons batserupted for six runs in the 2nd, six more in the 3rd, andfour runs in the 4th.  Theblowout seemed to end before it had even begun as the Falcons brought theirwinged rivals down to earth in a 21-1 qualifying win.

 

The game was not without controversy.  The two-man ump crew of Petter Nordwall andDarrin Muller hand their hands full with the frustrated Humberside.  Shortly after shortstop C. Radgewas ejected for colourfully objecting to a close play at second base, oneinning later replacement shortstop S. Radgewas thrown out for intentionally tripping speedster Hyde on the base-path.  Indeed, this marked the first father-sonejections in recorded BBF championship history.

 

On the positive side, Herts busted out the bigbats.  Cornish connected for two doublesand a monster-run for 4 RBI.  MartyCullen and Darrin Ward also doubled, and Ward smacked a two-run blast of hisown.  Second-baseman Kimiyoshi Saionjiwent 4-for-4 with 4 RBI including a three-run dinger.  The Falcons flew around the base-pathsstealing 8-of-8 and hustling out two triples from Jim “T-Devil” Hyde and Dan“Hollywood” Kerry.

 

As the Falcons packed up their rain-soaked gear withthe knowledge that Oxfordhad bested their division rival London Metros, the inevitable question loomed…“Can we win it all…?”



BOX SCORE

Humber Pilots at Herts Falcons
Score By Innings 1 2 3 4 5 R H E
Humber Pilots 0 0 1 0 0 1 2 4
Herts Falcons 5 6 6 4 0 21 19 2

Herts Falcons 21, Humber Pilots 1
Herts Falcons Humber Pilots
  ab r h bi   ab r h bi
Jim Hyde lf 4 2 3 1 M Radge cf 2 0 0 0
Andy Cornish ss 4 3 3 4 S Radge 2b 2 0 1 0
Jason Greenberg c 4 3 1 0 C Radge ss 0 0 0 0
Kimiyoshi Saionji 2b 4 4 4 4 A Maltby c 1 0 0 1
Darrin Ward 3b 2 3 2 3 B Webb p 2 0 0 0
(t4) Peter Kikel 3b 1 0 0 0 M Gilbert 3b 2 0 0 0
Dan Kerry cf 2 3 2 1 S Mayhew lf 2 0 0 0
(t4) Tim Elkins cf 0 1 0 0 K McThitas 1b 2 0 1 0
Marty Cullen 1b 3 2 2 2 P Senn rf 2 1 0 0
Greg Bochan rf 2 0 1 1
(b3) Rodney Naghar rf 2 0 1 1
Lee Manning dh 3 0 0 0
Nick Goetz p 0 0 0 0
Aspi Dimitrov p 0 0 0 0
TEAM TOTALS 31 21 19 17 TEAM TOTALS 15 1 2 1

E: Andy Cornish, Darrin Ward, M Gilbert(2), C Radge, M Radge. LOB: Humber Pilots 4,
Herts Falcons 6. 2B: Andy Cornish(2), Darrin Ward, Marty Cullen. 3B: Jim Hyde, Dan
Kerry. HR: Kimiyoshi Saionji, Andy Cornish, Darrin Ward. SB: Andy Cornish(2), Jim
Hyde(2), Jason Greenberg(2), Kimiyoshi Saionji, Dan Kerry. CS: M Radge, S Mayhew. SB:
Marty Cullen.

Herts Falcons IP H R ER BB SO
Nick Goetz W 4.00 2 1 1 4 1
Aspi Dimitrov 1.00 0 0 0 0 1
Humber Pilots            
B Webb L 4.00 19 21 16 5 3

HBP: by Nick Goetz (C Radge), by B Webb (Dan Kerry). . . , by B Webb (Lee Manning). .
Balk: B Webb. T: 2:00. A: 151.
Humber Pilots – Top of the 1st:
M Radge walked, caught trying to steal 2nd.
S Radge walked, batted forward to 2nd, tagged out going to 3rd.
C Radge hit by pitch.
A Maltby lined out.
0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 1 LOB.
Herts Falcons – Bottom of the 1st:
Jim Hyde singled, stole 2nd, batted forward to home.
Andy Cornish doubled, stole 3rd, batted forward to home, 1 RBI.
Jason Greenberg grounded out.
Kimiyoshi Saionji singled, stole 2nd, batted forward to home, 1 RBI.
Darrin Ward walked, batted forward to 3rd, advanced to home on error.
Dan Kerry hit by pitch, batted forward to 2nd, advanced to 3rd on error, batted
forward to home.
Marty Cullen sacrifice bunted, 1 RBI.
Greg Bochan singled, 1 RBI.
Lee Manning grounded out.
5 runs, 4 hits, 1 error, 1 LOB.
Humber Pilots – Top of the 2nd:
B Webb grounded out.
M Gilbert struck out looking.
S Mayhew reached on error, caught trying to steal 2nd.
0 runs, 0 hits, 1 error, 0 LOB.
Herts Falcons – Bottom of the 2nd:
Jim Hyde walked, stole 2nd, batted forward to home.
Andy Cornish hit 2-run home run, 2 RBI.
Jason Greenberg reached on error, stole 2nd, batted forward to home.
Kimiyoshi Saionji singled, batted forward to home, 1 RBI.
Darrin Ward doubled, batted forward to home, 1 RBI.
Dan Kerry singled, stole 2nd, advanced to 3rd on balk, batted forward to home, 1 RBI.
Marty Cullen singled, batted forward to 3rd, 1 RBI.
Greg Bochan flied out.
Lee Manning flied out.
Jim Hyde singled, advanced to 2nd on error, picked off.
6 runs, 6 hits, 2 errors, 1 LOB.
Humber Pilots – Top of the 3rd:
K McThitas singled, forced out at 2nd.
P Senn reached on fielder's choice, batted forward to home.
M Radge popped out.
S Radge singled, batted forward to 3rd.
C Radge walked, batted forward to 2nd.
A Maltby walked, 1 RBI.
B Webb grounded out.
1 run, 2 hits, 0 errors, 3 LOB.
Herts Falcons – Bottom of the 3rd:
Andy Cornish doubled, batted forward to 3rd, stole home.
Jason Greenberg singled, stole 2nd, batted forward to home.
Kimiyoshi Saionji singled, batted forward to home.
Darrin Ward hit 2-run home run, 2 RBI.
Dan Kerry tripled, advanced to home on error.
Marty Cullen reached on error, batted forward to home.
Rodney Naghar struck out swinging.
Lee Manning popped out.
Jim Hyde tripled, 1 RBI.
Andy Cornish grounded out.
6 runs, 6 hits, 1 error, 1 LOB.
Humber Pilots – Top of the 4th:
M Gilbert reached on error, forced out at 2nd.
S Mayhew lined out.
K McThitas grounded out.
0 runs, 0 hits, 1 error, 0 LOB.
Herts Falcons – Bottom of the 4th:
Jason Greenberg walked, batted forward to home.
Kimiyoshi Saionji hit 2-run home run, 2 RBI.
Peter Kikel struck out looking.
Tim Elkins walked, batted forward to home.
Marty Cullen doubled, batted forward to home.
Rodney Naghar singled, batted forward to 3rd, 1 RBI.
Lee Manning hit by pitch, batted forward to 2nd.
Jim Hyde struck out looking.
Andy Cornish walked, 1 RBI.
Jason Greenberg grounded out.
4 runs, 3 hits, 0 errors, 3 LOB.
Humber Pilots – Top of the 5th:
P Senn grounded out.
M Radge grounded out.
S Radge struck out swinging.
0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 0 LOB.

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

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.