2023 British baseball season explained

2023 was the 94th season of competitive baseball in the United Kingdom.

This season saw the National Baseball League contract from 7 teams to 6, with BC Vetra and both Legends clubs (London and Lancashire) leaving, being replaced by the Herts Falcons (who last competed in 2021) and the East London Latin Boys.[1]

Three previously independent leagues, the British Baseball League (Featuring teams from the North West of England), the East of England Baseball League (Representing teams from the East Midlands and East of England) and the North East Baseball League all affiliated themselves with the BBF, being added to the pyramid.[2]

The BBF season had its opening day on 16 April, with the NBL season ending on 13 August. The Playoffs were held at the Farnham Park National Baseball & Softball Complex in Buckinghamshire, with the Single-Game Semi-Finals happening on 20 August, and the Final (reverting to a Best-of-3 series for the first time since 2018) being held across 26 and 27 August.[3] The London Mets won the NBL Final, besting the Capitals 2-1 across the 3 game series.

National Baseball League

Teams

TeamLocation
East London Latin BoysWaltham Forest, London
Essex ArrowsWaltham Abbey, Essex
Herts FalconsHemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire
London CapitalsHaringey, London
London MetsHaringey, London
Sheffield BruinsSheffield, South Yorkshire

Standings

PosTeamPldWLWin%GBQualification
1London Mets252230.880Qualify for Playoffs
2Essex Arrows252050.8002
3London Capitals221390.5917.5
4Sheffield Bruins197120.36812
5Herts Falcons234190.17417
6East London Latin Boys222200.09118.5
Source: BBF

Correct as of 13/08/23

Playoffs

British Baseball Federation and Affiliated Leagues

Triple A Level

BBF AAA

Teams
TeamsLocation
Bournemouth BearsFerndown, Dorset
Bristol BadgersKeynsham, Somerset
Croydon PiratesSutton, London
Herts Cardinals Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire
Kent BuccaneersHadlow, Kent
London MetrosHaringey, London
Essex RedbacksChelmsford, Essex
Richmond KnightsRichmond upon Thames, London
Standings
PosTeamPldWLWin%GBQualification
1Bournemouth Bears251960.760Qualification to Playoffs
2Richmond Knights261970.7310.5
3London Metros251780.6802
4Herts Cardinals2513120.5206
5Bristol Badgers2812160.4298.5
6Croydon Pirates2711160.4079
7Essex Redbacks2710170.37010
8Kent Buccaneers253220.12016
Source: BBF

BBL - Higher

Teams
TeamsLocation
Liverpool Trojans ArmySefton, Merseyside
Liverpool Trojans NavySefton, Merseyside
Manchester AsWythenshawe, Greater Manchester
Manchester BeesWythenshawe, Greater Manchester
Sheffield KodiaksSheffield, South Yorkshire
Standings
PosTeamPldWLWin%GBQualification
1Liverpool Trojans Navy221930.864Advance to Final
2Liverpool Trojans Army221750.7732Advance to Wild Card
3Manchester A's2212100.5457
4Sheffield Kodiaks205150.25014
5Manchester Bees221210.04518
Source: BBF

Correct as of 20/08/23

Playoffs

Double A Level

BBF AA

= Teams

=

TeamsLocation
Cambridge LancersCambridge, Cambridgeshire
Essex ArchersWaltham Abbey, Essex
Herts HawksHemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire
Milton Keynes BucksMilton Keynes, Buckinghamshire
Norwich IceniNorwich, Norfolk
= Standings

=

PosTeamPldWLWin%GBQualification
1Cambridge Lancers191540.789Advance to Playoffs
2Norwich Iceni191540.7890
3Milton Keynes Bucks171070.5884
4Essex Archers207130.3508.5
5Herts Hawks211200.04815
= Teams

=

TeamsLocation
East London Latin BoysWaltham Forest, London
Formosa IslandersOld Oak Common, London
Herts DucksHemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire
London MusketeersHaringey, London
London MeteorsHaringey, London
London SidewindersHaringey, London
= Standings

=

PosTeamPldWLTWin%GBQualification
1London Sidewinders2520500.800Advance to Playoffs
2East London Latin Boys2519600.7601
3London Musketeers25141100.5606
4London Meteors25131110.5406.5
5Formosa Islanders2351710.23912
6Herts Ducks2312200.04317.5
= Teams

=

TeamsLocation
Bracknell InfernoBracknell, Berkshire
Bristol BatsKeynsham, Somerset
Guildford MavericksGuildford, Surrey
Oxford KingsOxford, Oxfordshire
Richmond DragonsRichmond upon Thames, London
= Standings

=

PosTeamPldWLTWin%GBQualification
1Richmond Dragons2015500.750Advance to Playoffs
2Bracknell Inferno1912700.6322.5
3Guildford Mavericks1881000.4446
4Bristol Bats177910.4416
5Oxford Kings1831410.19410.5
= Teams

=

TeamsLocation
Brighton BrewersBrighton and Hove, East Sussex
Croydon PiratesSutton, London
Hurricanes BaseballHadlow, Kent
Kent MarinersRochester, Kent
Tonbridge WildcatsTonbridge, Kent
= Standings

=

PosTeamPldWLWin%GBQualification
1Hurricanes Baseball181530.833Advance to Playoffs
2Brighton Brewers191540.7890.5
3Tonbridge Wildcats197120.3688.5
4Kent Mariners155100.3338.5
5Croydon Pirates172150.11812.5
Playoffs

Single A Level

BBF Single A

Playoffs

Summer Cup

On the weekend of 22 and 23 July, the BBF hosted the inaugural Summer Cup, a 2-day Tournament run from Farnham Park. 24 teams from 22 clubs took part, with a variety of teams makeups, including representative teams from Baseball Scotland, Baseball Ireland, the South West and Wales Baseball League, and the East of England Baseball league, plus teams from non-BBF Clubs, such as the Long Eaton Storm, Stockton Grizzlies, and BC Vetra.

Initially, the 3 tiers (Gold, for AAA and NBL-level teams, Silver, for AA and high independent-level teams, and Bronze, for A and low independent-level teams) were split into groups of 4, each of which would play a round-robin, with positional playoffs. However, due to inclement weather over the weekend, this format was instead changed to a single-elimination knockout, with losing teams moving into a lower bracket to decide positions.

Teams

GoldSilverBronze
Baseball IrelandBracknell InfernoCroydon Pirates
Baseball ScotlandBristol BatsFire Breathing Kittens
BC VetraBournemouth BearsGuilford BC
Croydon PiratesFormosa IslandersKent Mariners
Essex BC Long Eaton StormLondon Mets
Liverpool TrojansNorwich IceniNew Forest Thunder Knights
London MetsNewcastle NighthawksSouth West & Wales League
Sheffield BruinsUniversity of NottinghamStockton Grizzlies

Gold Bracket

Consolation Bracket

Silver Bracket

Consolation Bracket

Bronze Bracket

Consolation Bracket

References

  1. Web site: Opening Day is the 16th April for BBF league . 2023-07-02 . British Baseball Federation . en-GB.
  2. Web site: Three Regional Leagues Affiliate to Baseball’s National Governing Body for 2023 . 2023-07-02 . British Baseball Federation . en-GB.
  3. Web site: METS AND CAPITALS MEET IN REMATCH TO DECIDE 2023 NBL CHAMPIONS . 2023-08-27 . British Baseball Federation . en-GB.

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