British baseball beyond borders
In addition to this weekend’s fantastic matches around Britain, the GB 23Us have been in action, representing the nation on the big stage in the USA over the Independence Day holidays, while next week the GB Juniors will take on other top sides in the European qualifiers.
The GB 23U travelled to New England to play against some of the top college talent in the region; a number of players in the leagues have been drafted by MLB sides in recent years.
They have fought valiantly so far, with a strong pitching rotation matched to a vibrant batting line-up, and have taken teams all the way on every occasion. For many in the side it’s a continuation of their development through the GB ranks, while for others it’s a whole new experience, and one that the top officials in the country will be hoping adds even more quality to the leagues in the UK to bolster home-grown development going forwards.
In travelling to Massachusetts, Vermont and New Hampshire, the GB 23U faced up against some terrific teams with truly awesome players. However, the 23s, who are only playing together for the third time competitively, have held their own, including a pitchers’ duel on the opening game and big home runs to keep things close on Day 2. As Essex Arrows’ travelling shortstop, Luke Foley, said: “We’re getting used to playing with each other, but when we fire on all cylinders we should beat these guys!”
The GB Juniors set off next week to fight for a place in the European Junior Baseball Championships, taking part in a qualifier in Toulouse – against Croatia, Poland, Sweden, Switzerland, Romania and hosts France. Again, for some this is a continuation of their involvement within the Cadets programme – they fly off to Canada next week for their international tour – while for others it’s a first chance to experience GB Baseball while still developing as baseball players and maturing as young adults.
I’ll be able to give a fuller round-up next week once results have been collated from the teams’ trips, as well as a preview to the London Tournament.
But that’s the future, this is the here and now. Let’s have a look at the awesome BBF leagues.
Starting with Single-A, Hove Tuesday had no trouble in welcoming the Richmond Dukes and then sending them packing, both doing as they had done all season in winning big or losing heavy. In their debut season, Tuesday have conceded less than four runs per game and improved to 5-0, while the Dukes, similarly placed coming into the season, have only averaged scoring six at a time.
Elsewhere, a close one between the Essex Archers and the Herts Raptors saw the Archers confirm their playoff spot – a 5-run come-from-behind win ensures they’ll be in the top two, while another victory will secure their top spot.
AA South, then, saw some other interesting features, with Daws Hill Spitfires comfortably beating the Southampton Mustangs II in what should have been, on paper at least, a close match. Both Guildford Mavericks and Poole Piranhas won via forfeit, the Thames Valley Bisons beat the winless Brentwood Stags and the Latin Tigers travelled well to beat the Essex Redbacks II. In the top games in Pool B, the Herts Hawks and Sidewinders split to leave the Hawks a game behind, while the London Mammoths won over the Richmond Dragons and now lie a half game either side of the other two in second place.
AA Midlands witnessed some excellent baseball again, with the Milton Keynes Bucks putting pressure on the Leicester Blue Sox for second place, following a sweep of the winless Stourbridge Titans, while the Nottingham Rebels remain unbeaten after squeaking a 6-4 win over the Birmingham Maple Leafs.
Rain once again threatened to damage the Northern schedule, but baseball was the winner on Sunday. The Oldham North Stars made things interesting by not buckling as their position may have suggested to the travelling Sheffield Bladerunners. Although the Bladerunners took both, Oldham looked stronger than they have done through most of the past three seasons in limiting Sheffield’s chances to score. The Harrogate Tigers all-but secured second place with two forfeit wins over the Hull Scorpions, while the Newton Aycliffe Spartans are still searching for their maiden victory after going down twice in Manchester to the Torrent.
Up a league and the Manchester As were unable to field a side, meaning the Liverpool Trojans’ new unbeaten run continued, racking up four wins on Sunday with a sweep of the Bolton Robots of Doom after they completed a rescheduled game from earlier in the season. Bolton’s James Newall claims that the Menwith Hill Patriot’s military intelligence has hacked the BBF site in awarding the Patriots two forfeit victories after it was declared that the Menwith Hill base’s ballpark was unavailable, hence the rearranged game between Bolton-Liverpool. So for the first time in seemingly living memory, the weather alone didn’t play any real part in the outcome of the weekend’s action.
Down in the South, the Essex Redbacks and Oxford Kings split a pair, meaning they both stay where they were, although are running out of games to pull away or make up differences – the Redbacks crushed five home runs through the afternoon – while the Cambridge Royals and Latin Boys beat each other up as they chase down the final playoff spot in Pool B, sharing a couple in Croydon.
Elsewhere in Croydon, the Essex Arrows’ Shane Wodzynski said his team experienced sideways rain, akin to that described in Forest Gump, although it didn’t hamper their efforts in beating the host Pirates to put themselves back on the right track in the NBL following an extended losing-streak. The Pirates, though, are still struggling, and lost to the GB Juniors as well in the afternoon as the Britain side got in some vital practise prior to their trip this week.
The win, in the Arrows’ minds, should have pushed them closer to fifth place, but the Lakenheath Diamondbacks won two key matches over the London Mets – who had only lost three times all year coming into it – meaning the Diamondbacks, with games in hand, are close to making a move for fourth. The other teams weren’t playing this weekend, meaning the Nationals and Falcons stay one-two when the Mets would have thought they had a chance of breaking up the party. Time is running out for the Arrows as they’ve played more games than anyone else in the league and, with only nine remaining and at least three games to catch up, it’s unlikely they’ll make the postseason.
Going forward, then, here’s what next weekend looks like:
NBL: Bracknell Blazers at London Mets, Herts Falcons at Harlow Nationals, Southampton Mustangs at Essex Arrows, Croydon Pirates at Lakenheath Diamondbacks
Although all eyes will be on the Falcons-Nationals, as a top-of-the-table clash, the Mustangs-Arrows could be a key one. The Mustangs have been on a slide and need two wins to regain momentum, while the Arrows need a sweep to stand a chance of making the playoffs. The Mets and Blazers have both been hit hard by the GB programme’s tours, while Lakenheath are the only side that would be odds-on to win both games – if they do, they could well make a charge towards fourth.
AAA South: London Metros at Latin Boys, Bristol Badgers at Oxford Kings
With the Redbacks and Royals not playing, the Metros and Boys will want to do something more than split to stage a playoff charge. However, the money is against either of them to succeed in this regardless of the weekend’s outcome. The Badgers and Kings will square off knowing that a split likely gives both of them a playoff edge, but the Richmond Knights will pick up two forfeit wins and it is getting really tense in Pool A.
AA Midlands: Milton Keynes Bucks at Birmingham Maple Leafs; Nottingham Rebels at Leicester Blue Sox
The Rebels aim to continue their unbeaten run in Leicester against a Blue Sox team knowing that results need to go their way elsewhere, as well as on their own diamond, for second place to realistically be an option. The Bucks are unlikely to fall twice to the Leafs, even in Birmingham, but with a Milton Keynes sweep, and two wins for the Rebels, the final standings might yet be decided this weekend.
AA South: Thames Valley Bisons at Croydon Pirates III, Daws Hill Spitfires at Essex Redbacks II, Guildford Mavericks at Herts Hawks, Southampton Mustangs II at Sidewinders, Brentwood Stags at Richmond Dragons, Poole Piranhas at London Mammoths, Latin Tigers at Kent Mariners
A full schedule meets AA South this weekend, with the key match-ups identified as the Spitfires-Redbacks II (Pool B fourth playoff spot) and Bisons-Pirates III (Pool A third/fourth playoff spot). Southampton will hope to capitalise on two Bisons wins, but face a big test in the Sidewinders, while the Hawks are as yet the trickiest side to face the Mavericks, and have home advantage to boot. The Mammoths will work out where they stand when they host the Piranhas; a win will give them a lot of confidence, a loss will confirm that Pool A is much stronger this season.
A South: London Marauders at Tonbridge Bobcats, Herts Eagles at Hove Tuesday, Herts Raptors at Guildford Mavericks II
The Marauders will hope to stay unbeaten against the Bobcats, while Tuesday will fancy a repeat performance against the Eagles while no clear winner is emerging from the Raptors-Mavericks II match-up; both sides will need wins to retain outside chances of making the playoffs, but the Mavericks II might be slight favourites with home advantage.
AA and AAA North: No games scheduled
With a number of matches to make up over the next four weeks prior to the playoffs, the North sees a free weekend for teams to play those that were rained off earlier this season. It could be an incredibly productive weekend, as those charging for positions, playoffs or pride will all hope for a dry weekend on which to throw, hit and catch.
