Confederation of European Baseball | Confédération Européenne de Baseball

2012 national champions to be decided this weekend in Herts

By: Aspi Dimitrov

British baseball fans are on the edge of their seats in anticipation of the National Baseball Championships (NBC) this weekend. Year-after-year the NBC never seems to disappoint. By the end of the Bank Holiday Weekend we will know the identity of the champions in the four British baseball leagues. But before that we will be going through the emotions and excitement of at least 13 baseball games with enormous implications riding on every single one of them.
 
After Sunday’s playoff games, we now know the names of the 14 teams which will be heading to Grovehill Ballpark in Hemel Hempstead in the hope of making history.
 
NATIONAL BASEBALL LEAGUE (NBL)
 
The reigning champions, Harlow Nationals, booked their place in the NBC several weeks ago and they did it in style by finishing top of the NBL standings after winning one of the games in the doubleheader against the Herts Falcons on Sunday, which was enough to stay top. The Falcons stayed in second place as a result and go into the NBC as the second seed team. Southampton also secured an automatic entry finishing third and they going into the weekend with the wind in their sails after an impressive sweep away at the champions two weeks ago.
 
The final NBC place was taken by the London Mets who won the wild card battle with the Lakenheath Diamondbacks at Finsbury Park on Sunday.
 
NBL Schedule
 
Saturday, August 25
12:00, Game 1: Harlow Nationals vs London Mets
15:00, Game 2: Herts Falcons vs Southampton Mustangs
 
Sunday, August 26
10:00, Game 3: Winner Game1 vs Winner Game2
13:30, Game 4: Loser Game1 vs Loser Game2 (loser will be eliminated)
17:00, Game 5: Loser Game3 vs Winner Game4 (loser will be eliminated)
 
Monday, August 27
11:00 Game 6: Winner Game3 vs Winner Game5
14:30 Game 7: same as above (will be played if Winner of Game3 loses Game6)
 
A CELEBRATION OF BRITISH BASEBALL
 
The NBC is a unique opportunity for fans of baseball and those who are new to the sport to get close to the action and witness the crowning of the 2012 Champions. Of course it would not be a true baseball celebration without good food. A variety of traditional baseball food and drinks will be on offer.
 
Venue: Grovehill Ballpark, Hemel Hempstead (click here for venue address and other details)
 
Car Park: available at the venue free of charge
 

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