The #roadtoherts: AAA 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
AAA
Likely starters
Martin Godsall (Trojans) vs Brett Curran (Royals)
Arno Hardeveld (Redbacks) vs Nate Erskine-Smith (Kings)
LIVERPOOL TROJANS (won the AAA North division yet again, although lost a couple of games this season, as well as picking up ‘Sefton Sports Club of the Year’)
The two losses the Trojans picked up over the season – their first defeats in regular season play for over two years – haven’t affected their preparations. If anything, they are now stronger, as catcher Dave Martin-Baez told me.
“It has been a real team effort this with everyone contributing. We have more competition this season than in previous years and our bench has been outstanding in terms of attitude, moral support and making an impact when brought on. Pitching once again has been the key with Martin Godsall and Rob Vondy dropping only two games between them. Batting has improved from last season with Ian Blease hitting well for average and Mario Escoebdo and Paul Smith providing the power.”
Godsall pitched 14 consecutive shut-out innings in last year’s NBC triumph, and will be required to do the majority of throwing again as Vondy has left to attend college in the States. But it’s nothing the old warhorse can’t handle, as he proved last time around.
“We are concentrating on what we are doing rather than other teams,” Martin-Baez continued. “At this level, all teams are decent so we know we have to prepare well and perform to a high standard in order to have a chance of winning. We’re not surprised by any of the sides who made the NBCs – Oxford and Essex were both here last season, and the Cambridge Royals strolled Single-A in 2011 and performed well this year.
“We’re looking forward to watching teams play that we don’t normally get to see as well,” he added.
Aside from Vondy missing, Andy Heap has also failed to shrug off an injury following his great form in the early part of the season, while a few other newer members didn’t quite make the eligibility element of the roster requirements.
“It’s a great privilege to make it to the NBCs. This is our fourth straight year and every year has been memorable whether we have won or lost. We are proud to be representing the North and hope to put in a strong performance for our supporters.”
If the Trojans defend their title, manager Rob Alger is in for a soaking from his players (if the weather doesn’t get him first!)
OXFORD KINGS (defeated the Bristol Badgers on the last day of the season to win AAA South Pool A. Will hope to reclaim their title, last won in 2010)
It’s likely that the Kings, whose batters have blown very hot and tepid all season, will send Nate Erskine-Smith to the mound on Sunday against the Essex Redbacks, as Masa Egawa, a veteran of the NBCs, has been their ace in the final each of the past two seasons.
Added to the fact that the Redbacks have unleashed for a number of big home runs off of Egawa during the past two seasons, it would seem a sensible decision to have someone else throw at the Essex Club!
Although no one was available to comment for the Kings, following their victory on the final day of the season to win the pennant they’ll be looking to make their third consecutive final at the expense of the Essex side. Their opponents in each of the past two occasions have been the Liverpool Trojans – the Kings won in 2010, the Trojans took the title last year – but they’ll need to blast by the Redbacks in order to be there on Monday.
Rumours abound that four key players could be missing following the end of the summer school season and the return to college in North America for some of the Kings’ American and Canadian players, but this will only be confirmed when the line-ups are swapped prior to the first pitch on Sunday evening (game starts at 5pm).
ESSEX REDBACKS (won Pool B in AAA South after finishing second in 2011 and going out in NBC semi-finals)
Like the Kings, the Redbacks are likely to save their ace for the final. Vince Warner has picked up eight wins this season, but it is probable that Dutch import Arno Hardeveld will take throwing duties for at least the start of the semi-final, with former NBL ace Richard Chesterton in reserve if required.
Chesterton has run out of form since his phenomenal start to the season, but in finishing third for strikeouts recorded in the 2011 NBL campaign for a sub-.500 Essex Arrows side, he’ll be confident of pounding the zone when required. If not to Chesterton, the Redbacks have at least three other strike-throwing pitchers within their ranks who also take up positions on the field during the games.
Matt Jennings’ side have been among the best power-hitting clubs in the country this year, led once again by catcher Franklin ‘Chicki’ Martinez. He’s knocked in nine home runs and at the hitter-friendly confides of Grovehill, Martinez will look to boost his numbers even more.
The Redbacks consist of players of all ages, with GB Junior Jamie Gregory, GB Under-23 Stuart Harper-Horn and former BUBA President Sam Rounce adding youth to a side that includes 20+ year veterans Jennings, Warner, Rob Yuille, John Read and Ian Colvin. Ageing they may be, but they play with the same passion and fire as they did when they were spritely teenagers trying to make it in the big-bad world of British Baseball.
CAMBRIDGE ROYALS (won a playoff game following their promotion into AAA South after going unbeaten en route to the Single-A title last year)
Duncan Jones remained tight-lipped about the likely pitchers for the campaign (Brett Curran and Raj Perera have been the one-two for most of the season), but was pleased to celebrate his team’s success following their big step up following their debut summer last year, which he admits raised a few eyebrows.
“To make the post season in our first year in AAA I think not only validates the BBF’s decision but more importantly reinforces our own belief that we could play triple AAA ball. It’s also good to see Cambridge playing once again at a senior level in British Baseball which will hopefully act as a local spur to develop the club further.”
Jones is also unconcerned by the task that lies ahead. “Every team can have its day. Some of our losses this year have been down to us getting in our own way. When we relax and forgot the occasion we, like all other teams, play good ball. It’s the finals anything can happen,” he said.
They’re also not surprised by the sides in their draw. This year they split 3-3 with the Redbacks and lost both times in the ‘Varsity series’ with the Oxford Kings, and while they haven’t yet faced the Liverpool Trojans, they are aware of the reputation their semi-final foes bring with them.
In the crowd rooting for them will be Jones’ wife and folks: “Last time my dad got involved in baseball he was umpiring a Cambridge home game in the 80’s and ended up calling me out at 1st after a perfect bunt! At least he shouldn’t be able to cause too much trouble as a spectator.”
But again he emphasised the team aspect of this season: “It’s been a long season considering I put them into the spring league to dust off the cobwebs. But they’ve never complained once about either the training, the miles covered to play baseball, the almost relentless bad weather or even my umpiring calls during home games! The senior guys have been great at helping those with less experience and as a result I seen them improve each weekend to the point where their play is instinctual. They’ve also put up with me! Seriously they’ve made Sundays really enjoyable this year – thanks guys!”
