The #roadtoherts – where are they now? Last year’s finalists

While much will be made over the next few days about the success stories of this season, let’s have a reflection on the heroes of yesteryear (literally, last year) who came so far and achieved so much. A few of them will be fighting for the title again in 2012, but there are a few notable absences from the usual suspects.

NBL

2011 – Southern Nationals (Champions) – Lakenheath Diamondbacks (runners-up)

Richmond Flames (semi-finalists) – Southampton Mustangs (semi-finalists)

The Richmond Flames, 2010 National Champions, ran out of pitching against the Southern Nationals in the semi-finals last year, blowing a strong late lead to go down in just 8 innings. It turned out to be the last time they’d play together, with most of the side since joining the Herts Falcons, the London Mets or dropping down to help out the Richmond Knights in AAA South.

Lakenheath were almost here in 2012, but after a late-season comeback they, too, saw the wheels fall off their wagon as they went down to the London Mets in the one-game playoff.

The Southern Nationals changed their name to Harlow and will defend their crown at the 2012 NBCs, while Southampton will want to go at least one, if not two, better and make the final in this season’s tournament.

AAA

Liverpool Trojans (Champions) – Oxford Kings (runners-up)

Essex Redbacks (semi-finalists) – Bristol Badgers (semi-finalists)

But for the Bristol Badgers forfeiting their regional playoff game against the Cambridge Royals, it could have been the same quartet at the NBCs in 2012. The Badgers finished second in AAA South Pool A, beaten heavily on the final game of the regular season to the Oxford Kings, who won the title, to force that playoff game, which unfortunately they weren’t able to contest.

The Redbacks have good form against the Kings during the regular season, and their match-up on Sunday could see the Kings not make the National Final for the first time in three seasons, but it’ll be an exciting game between the two southern foes.

The Liverpool Trojans have looked very comfortable again in 2012 as they easily made their way to the NBCs to defend their title.

AA

Bolton Robots of Doom (Champions) – Latin Boys (runners-up)

Both sides stepped up to AAA baseball in their regions in 2012 after a pulsating extra innings final in fading light last season, but both have had different levels of success.

The Latin Boys were there or thereabouts for most of the year, starting relatively slowly before forging away to an 8-13 record against tough teams including the Redbacks and Royals. Not a bad effort considering the gulf in quality of the divisions, and in starting a second team which ate into their resources.

The Bolton Robots of Doom couldn’t win for love nor money in a much fiercer AAA North division than in 2011. The Menwith Hill Patriots regrouped, the Cartmel Valley Lions entered a senior side and both Halton Jaguars and Manchester As proved tough opposition for the Bolton side, who lost a few key players following their Championship-winning summer.

Accounting for the change to the NBC format, the regional finalists last year were the Guildford Mavericks (South) and Milton Keynes Bucks (North/Midlands). The Bucks will take the chance to fight for the AA National Championship in 2012, but the Mavericks again went out at the final regional stage, this time to the Herts Hawks. So technically last year they were better than having gone 16-0 during the regular season in 2012!

Single-A

Cambridge Royals (Champions) – Birmingham Maple Leafs (runners-up)

The Maple Leafs struggled a little more in 2012 than in 2011, but a resurgent Leicester Blue Sox side made it more difficult for the Birmingham club to win as regularly as last year. They went out after forfeiting their regional playoff match against the Manchester Torrent two weeks ago, having finished a distant fourth in the Midlands division, far further back than last time out.

The Cambridge Royals, conversely, are the side to look out for this year. Having gone unbeaten in their debut summer, winning the bottom tier comfortably, the Royals got going and will be in the AAA NBC bracket this time around. A few thought it was too big an ask to succeed at AAA South in the first place, so who will be doubting their chances when they take the field in the semi-final on Sunday morning?