The #roadtoherts: AA League – Match Previews & More
This set of final articles for UK American Sports Fans previews this weekend’s National Baseball Championships, but as a last hurrah I’ve managed to hear back from a number of high profile players and coaches who’ve been able to give us the best insight yet for this weekend.
You’ll be able to follow the progress of the NBCs via www.britishbaseball.org over the weekend or, better yet, come join in! The hashtags #roadtoherts #bbfnbcs and #britishbaseball (Ed: #uk_sportsfans as well will try and check these out for retweets!) will also be excellent ways to follow the action on Twitter. To get a feel for all the action, follow the British Baseball and Softball Clubs list I compiled at: https://twitter.com/#!/DazzMcGuinness/british-baseball-softball
Please note that the likely pitching match-ups are from speculation as well as conversations with the managers, and are not set in stone. Although if they do materialise then we’re in for some cracking baseball, and that’s just in the first round! Also, for further information about the historical context of the NBL, read Joe Gray’s overview on: http://www.baseballgb.co.uk/?p=14415
AA
Likely starters
Nic Goetz (Hawks) vs Shannon Henry (Rebels)
Shannon Hall (Piranhas) vs Chris White (Bucks)
POOLE PIRANHAS (finished second in AA South Pool A but have been hot in second half of season. Haven’t competed at NBC as the Piranhas before)
Poole have been lights-out in the second half of the season and Carlos Velazco’s grand slam (the most important in the AA playoffs last weekend) capped a season where they’ve finished second only in numbers, and only once on the diamond.
Shannon Hall will likely take up most of the pitching duties, but manager Carlos Bertran may fancy his chances from the mound. Bertran will be an excellent second-pitcher if they wish to rest Hall for the final, while Hall has plenty in his arsenal and energy to boot if required to throw for more than one game.
Xavier Gonzalez has been among the best catchers in the division, gunning down runners as if he were a Spitfire pilot in the Battle of Britain going after Messerschmitts, and power from around the field includes three Ortegas and a few other loud Latinos.
Having overcome the Sidewinders’ Tadaaki Sakurai, widely regarded as the best pitcher in AA South this season, Hall will be confident that no one can stand in the way of the Piranhas’ quest for a title. And having last competed at the NBCs as the Bournemouth Sharks in 2008, the Poole side have four years of catching up to do.
NOTTINGHAM REBELS (AA Midlands champions in only their second season, debut at NBC tournament. Looked strong in playoffs so far)
“Last season we came so close, but with some of our better players on vacation we were unable to put out our best side out in the first playoff game. We have a full first team squad now and our goal is to take home the trophy,” said Shannon Henry, who founded the Club and is currently the Rebels’ Chairman.
Ever confident, but not without reason, Henry is most looking forward to delivering the AA Championship trophy to the AA Midlands crown the Rebels won in 2012, in only their second season. As one of the leading pitchers in the division, Henry is joined on the rotation by Oscar Martinez and Seb O’Dell – the latter hitting a number of important home runs this season – as well as Richard Hu, who has delivered eight wins en route to their momentous title challenge.
Like the other sides, Henry hasn’t been overly surprised by the teams that will join them in the competition, or who’ve made the grade at the other NBC levels. However, with that knowledge also comes the respect that their attempt at going unbeaten in 2012 was busted by one of the other NBC sides.
One of our two losses was against Milton Keynes,” he added. “So if we have to play them in the final we will have to play our best to win!”
Although the holidays mean they’ll be without a couple of players, Henry hopes that it will still be an excellent opportunity to announce themselves on the British Baseball scene.
“We’ll mainly be supported by family and friends, but I have a feeling we may get some of our local fans down as well to make some noise at the weekend.”
HERTS HAWKS (best ever season to get to NBC and will have home advantage. Get their party started on Saturday afternoon with two playoff wins already)
Aspi Dimitrov is very excited that his Hawks will be at the NBCs following a great season and an excellent playoff run.
“This is the first time that two Herts teams reach the NBC event, so we are hoping for a good turnout especially as it takes place at our home ballpark.”
Though Dimitrov himself, Dave Hamilton and Matt Johnston will be unable to take the field through injuries, he is confident that the side who have delivered the Hawks’ best ever season will have enough to challenge for the title, although he’s wary of unknown threats, as well as modest about their chances of lifting the Championship on Monday afternoon.
“We know little about Nottingham and the MK Bucks, but it seems like they will be very difficult to beat. The Midlands is thriving at the moment and they are the only division which does not play at the AAA or NBL level which immediately implies that NBL and AAA-standard players living in the Midlands will feature for these two AA teams so they are going into the NBC as the favourites.
“Of course we have already faced the Poole Piranhas this season and they beat us deservedly so they will be quietly confident about their chances as well,” he said.
With no AAA side themselves, the better Herts players who were unable to compete in the NBL have also found themselves representing the Hawks this season. Stalwarts Louis Hare, Jon Lewys and co-manager Andy Cornish are among the batting leaders, while behind Nick Russell and Nic Goetz, the Herts side have amassed 10 combined wins in regular and post-season play, with more pitching available around the diamond.
Catcher Andy Fulford, one to watch for those following the AA competition over the weekend, has also been a driving force off the field: “Andrew lives in Hemel Hempstead and started various promotional activities around town and online, so we are gathering momentum as we get closer to the day.”
Although outsiders and with a tough draw, the Hawks will hope that home advantage, and the extra day rest if they are able to beat the Nottingham Rebels, will come in handy for Monday’s big finale.
MILTON KEYNES BUCKS (2010 Single-A champions, finished runners-up in AA Midlands in 2012)
Having lost their regional crown to the upstart Rebels, Bucks stalwart Jon Reynolds will be eager to win the bigger prize at the NBCs.
“We’ll have a big pileup on the mound,” he said should they pick up the top prize. “We had a slightly muted celebration after winning Single-A in 2010 and after last years playoff heartbreak we’re eager to take home the title this year.”
Former players Jarrod Pretorious (now of the Harlow Nationals) and Marius Urbanavicius (Southampton Mustangs) will be fighting out for the NBL crown. The Bucks will hope that they both do well, as the AA Midlands continues to be a division that produces talent beyond its limited team production.
Of the stars for the Bucks, though, Reynolds is adamant they can deliver. Tadashi Kawata and Ben Alexander have both hit over .500 this season, while in last weekend’s playoff decider Steve Miller threw seven frames for just one earned run. And Ryan Greeney hit the third most important grand slam in the AA playoffs against the Sheffield Bladerunners in that match too!
They’ll be without young star and 2010 MVP Chris White, though, if they make the final on Sunday. The GB Junior pitcher would have been a key addition to their tournament pitching roster as they have plans on going a long way. But others will step in.
Although they don’t know the Poole Piranhas all that well, they will bring their top game to the semi-final match-up. “We know very little about Poole Piranhas having never played them so will just have to play our game and hopefully we’ll have enough on the day. The possibility of meeting division rivals Nottingham Rebels in the final would be great and would really help put the AA Midlands Division on the map.”
Any surprises? “I guess seeing Guildford get knocked out after going 16-0 in the regular season was a bit of a shock, but anything can happen in single elimination games and Herts have always been a strong club.
“We’re delighted to be back at the NBC’s,” Reynolds added. “After winning the Single-A title in 2010, we were looking to go one better last year, only to narrowly miss out in the 2nd round of the playoffs in an extra innings game to eventual winners Bolton. We got off to a very slow start this year and lost the pennant to Nottingham, but we played well against the 2 best teams at the London Tournament and have been in good form since so we’re looking forward to the weekend.”
