Who might have No Bloody Chance of making the NBCs?
The National Baseball Championships have been confirmed for the 10th and 11th September at Herts Baseball Club’s Grovehill Playing Fields.
The NBCs this year will be hosted by the GB National team as a fundraising event for the boys in blue, who are looking to win friends, support and donations from within the British Baseball community for their exploits at the European Qualifiers and for the Championships next year.
Only five teams are guaranteed to appear at the NBCs; the top two from AAA North, the top team from AAA South and each of the pool winners from the NBL.
And despite 53% of British Baseball teams making the playoffs, only 12 will make the finals weekend. So here’s a little look at who will probably be the contenders for the showdowns in September.
Single-A
Starting from the bottom up, let’s take single-A. The four teams from A South are joined by four teams from AA Midlands and AA North, each of whom will face off so that one contender from the North/Midlands and South slug it out for the title. If pushed, based on form, it will likely be the Birmingham Maple Leafs facing the Cambridge Royals on Sunday 11th for the championship. The Royals are unbeaten all year and the Maple Leafs were only just nudged out of AA playoff contention a couple of weeks ago, and are proven post-season players.
Predictions: Cambridge Royals (Champions); Birmingham Maple Leafs (Runners-up)
Double-A
A similar format is in place in the AA playoffs, with one team from the Midlands/North divisions taking on the best of the two pools in the south. Though I’ve followed the leagues closely in the south, I would struggle to pick a definite winner out of the Guildford Mavericks and Latin Boys, though would favour the Latinos if they bring their A-game. But only just – the Mavs and Boys split their series this season.
Of the teams from the North and the Midlands, the Bolton Robots of Doom and MK Bucks each have a ridiculous winning percentage of over .900 this year. The Nottingham Rebels could be a stumbling block for the Robots of Doom, but the Bolton side have home advantage; this year could just be the Cyborgs’ season to shine, and AAA North will need another team to fill the division next year.
Predictions: Latin Boys (Champions); Bolton Robots of Doom (Runners-up)
Triple-A
It’s hard to bet against the Liverpool Trojans given their superb form all year. But if the Bristol Badgers have their full roster available, they’ll also be hard to beat. The Oxford Kings have been hotter than a Texan summer since mid-June, going 12-1 over the past 13 games, but lost all their matches against their playoff opponents the Essex Redbacks. One of these two won’t make the NBCs, and it’s likely that the Kings will have to abdicate their throne.
NBC Predictions: Liverpool Trojans (Champions); Bristol Badgers (Runners-up); Essex Redbacks and Halton Jaguars (semi-finals)
NBL
With Lakenheath and one of the Richmond Flames, 2010 champions and current Pool A leaders, or Southampton Mustangs taking automatic spots, the pressure for the remaining two is a shoot-out between the other four sides that have made the post-season.
The Southern Nationals will likely need to travel to Southampton, and following a split series a couple of weeks ago there’s genuine competition to be had at the University’s baseball diamond. The Mustangs will hope to regroup after their stampede has died-down a little in the past six weeks, and this will be a tough one to call.
The London Mets have the form book over any of the Bracknell Blazers, Croydon Pirates or Essex Arrows – any of the three teams from Pool A could yet qualify. Though baseball’s not played on paper, the Mets will probably be going to the finals weekend.
NBC Predictions: Richmond Flames (Champions); London Mets (Runners-up); Lakenheath Diamondbacks and Southern Nationals (semi-finals)
