Great Britain youngsters are British Baseball’s saviour

After asking the rain to come again another day earlier in the season, on many occasions, we hadn’t specified not to return on a weekend and wipe out another densely-packed British Baseball schedule. C’est la vie. One day we’ll build a dome.

In the meantime, the one (yes, ONE) match in the BBF leagues that survived the weather was between the Tonbridge Bobcats and London Marauders in mid-Kent.

The Bobcats weren’t expected to lie down easily, but the Marauders – unbeaten this season – made sure of their run with a comprehensive 32-12 mauling. With only a few weeks remaining for games to be fulfilled, they lead Pool B in Single-A South by half a game and will hope to stay there. 12 runs in the second and eight more in the third were plenty to scupper the Bobcats’ hopes of an unlikely victory, consigning them to a 2-7 record.

So with the other…need to find my calculator…carry the one…FORTY games rained off – or forfeited in three cases – this week’s round-up threatened to look a little thin.

Until, that is, you remember than not all British Baseball is played in Britain.

Last week, the GB Under-23s set off to take on some of the best baseball talent at college level in New England. The New England Collegiate Baseball League and Futures League have both seen a number of MLB draftees come from within their ranks – most famously, perhaps, Dodgers right-fielder Andre Ethier.

The games, as you can imagine, weren’t easy for the GB 23U, and in the six-game trip they got close to winning only a couple of times. But the revolution tour was just that – a chance to start something new, and in developing the GB 23U programme the squad acts as a platform for older junior players to mature into younger seniors.

Most of the players are lighting up the British leagues, with the Pearson brothers – James and Ben (Cartmel Valley Lions) representing AAA North, Stuart Harper-Horn (Essex Redbacks) and Gian Jimenez (Bristol Badgers) representing AAA South and Gary Davison (Southampton Mustangs), Luke Foley (Essex Arrows), Michael Trask (Bracknell Blazers), Jamie Ratcliff (Harlow Nationals) and Sam Sproule, Jonathan Cramman and Josh Rapaport (London Mets) all coming from the NBL.

The additions to the dynamic roster were Brett Rosen and Shaun Slenko, both at college in North America.
For the home-based players, their involvement is a step up from their usual opposition, and the experience of playing top-class players in front of large crowds on great ball parks will certainly bring an extra appetite to kick on and help develop the game here. Firstly, by playing under Liam Carroll and picking up the good habits of his time playing and coaching in America. Secondly, by consistently applying a professional attitude to their leisure activities, driving them to be more successful, and then by positively influencing others at their clubs to do the same.

Though they didn’t secure a win, they did make friends and, importantly, bond well as a side. There were many, many positives to take away from the trip, once again proving that success cannot be measured purely on results in these instances.

The GB Juniors have begun, and by the time you’re reading this, probably finished, their qualifying for the European Junior Baseball Championships. Over the weekend they lost late against the hosts, France, while beating Sweden – perennial rivals to the GB squads – with a walk-off 8-7 win in their preparations.

Like the Under-23s, most of the Juniors are based here in the UK and, despite only being under-19s, are already plying their trade at the top leagues in Britain.

In winning their opening game against Poland (10-8), the Juniors gave themselves every chance of going the distance. Harry Pickup (Halton Jaguars) earned the win in relief of Jordan Edmonds (Bracknell Blazers), while offensively two hits from Luke Looney (Bristol Badgers) and two RBIs from Joe Taylor (Horsham Hornets) were the stand-out performances. Four runs in the final frame threatened to derail GB’s hopes, but Poland’s late rally was put down with the potential tying run going down swinging.

In the second fixture, things seemed more straight-forward. A plethora of runs early on gave the Juniors a 15-2 lead by the fourth inning against Croatia, and two hits apiece from Taylor, Edmonds and Cailean Madden (Bracknell Blazers), each with multiple RBIs, set them on their way towards a big win. Stronger defence and patient batting did the real damage in the 19-4 mercy rule win.

This weekend, the main activity will be over in Croydon. Why? Three big words in British baseball: The London Tournament.

13 sides will compete in three pools for two trophies, with the host Croydon Pirates looking to retain their title despite a disappointing league season.

The weather this season has a lot to live up to; traditionally there is a little rain at this baseball bonanza, but the festival season’s climate is looking to inflict some serious damage with no Glastonbury to have appeased the mighty weather gods, so those travelling down had better brace themselves for some of the traditional thunder and lightning. Teams from France and the Netherlands are again joining the party, with other clubs from across the UK looking to get some important baseball action in. The Guildford, London, Essex Redbacks and Herts baseball clubs are putting forward their bids alongside two teams from Croydon and two from Milton Keynes. The Essex Arrows round out the top group, while the Richmond Dukes and Stourbridge Titans will hope to pick up their first ever wins during the weekend.

Money would be on the Guildford Mavericks winning Group 3, entering the main competition on Sunday, alongside the Croydon Pirates, London Metros and Dutch side Zuidvogels from Group 2 and Essex Arrows, Essex Redbacks and Caribe Tribu from Group 1. Although it’s a festival weekend, and form shouldn’t be counted on, it could be the Arrows’ year to shine. The MK Bucks would be best-placed to win the Frank Brady Trophy on day 2, should they not progress from Group 1 into the main competition, while the Croydon Pirates III could be an outside bet given their form this season.

Unfortunately for the Tournament, all eyes won’t solely be on Croydon. Due to the weather this season (three scheduled rain dates have themselves been rained out in some cases!), many teams will be looking to get as many of their games in as well, so the playoffs could yet take twists and turns.

The Herts Falcons and London Mets go toe-to-toe in an important clash at the top of the NBL, while in the North, the Liverpool Trojans and Halton Jaguars, Cartmel Valley Lions and Bolton Robots of Doom and Manchester As and Menwith Hill Patriots square off in double-headers to decide some of the positions in AAA.

One down, the Harrogate Tigers take on the Manchester Torrent, Hull Scorpions travel to Oldham North Stars and Sheffield Bladerunners play the Newton Aycliffe Spartans in AA North, while games between the Southampton Mustangs II and Richmond Dragons, Kent Mariners and London Mammoths and Essex Redbacks and Herts Hawks will decide some of the playoff positions in AA South.

The Old Timers take on the Herts Raptors in a potential playoff decider for Pool A in Single-A South, while Pool B’s title is on the line when the London Marauders welcome Hove Tuesday to Finsbury Park on Sunday. Both sides are unbeaten, so one will have to concede ground.