Thunder Set for Step Up, as Club Secures Sponsorship
With the 2024 British Baseball season just around the corner, the New Forest Baseball Club is gearing up for another year of growth, on and off the field. Following a successful debut season, which saw the Thunder Knights make the South West and Wales League playoffs, the club has seen membership nearly double over the winter. A second team has been formed, and the ‘New Forest Thunder’ will play as a team separately to the ‘New Forest Knights’. The majority of last year’s squad are staying together and playing for the Thunder, but the club have also made a couple of experienced additions. Shannon Hall brings a long history of success in British Baseball to the team, as well as his knowledge of the game, which has led to his appointment as Head Coach of the club. Steve Steele and Simon Schwarz have also joined, along with a number of Southampton University’s high performing team. Following these additions, the British Baseball Federation has seeded the Thunder as a AAA team for the 2024 season. This means that the majority of the team will perform at two levels above any standard of baseball they’ve played before, presenting both a huge challenge and an opportunity for growth. New Forest Thunder Manager, Warren Doyle, said: ‘The number of new players we’ve taken on over the last few months is a testament to the positive ethos and welcoming nature of our club. ‘I’m really pleased to see so many people getting involved with the sport for the first time, and we’re really looking forward to getting the season underway.’ Off the field, the club has been sponsored by local Engineering firm, Calcinotto. The Poole based company provides expert services across the public and private sector, with a portfolio that includes some of the most impressive buildings across the south coast. Their generous support will enable the club to invest in the equipment needed to support the ever growing team. Alongside this, the Twin Bill have continued their game ball sponsorship with the Club for the year. The US baseball magazine will sponsor the balls that the Knights use on match days throughout the year, an incredibly generous gesture which helps cover the ever increasing cost of baseballs in the UK. The season gets underway for both teams in April, with the Knights set to play teams from Cardiff, Bristol, Bournemouth, Weston, Taunton and Cornwall in the South West and Wales Single A division. With the Thunder being promoted two levels, they will play against Cardiff Merlins AAA, the Bristol Badgers and Bracknell Inferno in the BBF South West division this season.
Thunder Knights Launch Second Team for 2024
After a successful first season in the South West and Wales Baseball League (SWWBL), the New Forest Thunder Knights are entering a second league team for the 2024 season. With the team’s name being a combination of two initial ideas, the ‘Thunder’ and ‘Knights’ will be separated into two teams, both competing at the Single A level of British Baseball. Capitalising on the success of Team GB on the diamond, British Baseball continues to grow in popularity and the New Forest based team have seen a good amount of interest from local people since the club was founded in 2022. In order to meet that interest, and give everyone a chance to play competitively, members of the Thunder Knights voted to establish a new team at the club’s annual AGM. Sam Williams was voted in as the Manager of the new team, who will play as the New Forest Knights, with Warren Doyle continuing as Manager of the New Forest Thunder. Given the launch of the new team, the Thunder Knights will be recruiting players ahead of the new season. New Forest Knights Manager, Sam Williams, said: “We’re really happy with how quickly the club has been able to grow in the space of a year. This new team will allow us to stick to our ethos of developing baseball in an environment that is inclusive and fun for people, whilst also fielding competitive teams.” The Thunder Knights finished second in the SWWBL’s Severn Division at the end of the 2023 season, falling in the playoffs to eventual National British Baseball Single A champions, the Cardiff Merlins. As well as that, the Hampshire club also entered a team at the inaugural BBF Summer Cup and arranged development games for new players to gain experience. Work is ongoing to grow the club, with the long term aim to be the establishment of a baseball facility with complete diamond in the local area. As part of this, the club will also launch an appeal for sponsorship in the coming weeks. Given the club’s emphasis on local community the team will train in the heart of the New Forest, at Brockenhurst College, from the start of 2024. Anyone interested in giving baseball a go, or playing for the team next year should contact the club via email at newforestbaseball@outlook.com or via any of the social media accounts (Twitter, Instagram or Facebook).
Knights Go Down Fighting in Cardiff
The New Forest Thunder Knights fought hard in their playoff semi-final matchup with the Cardiff Merlins but eventually fell to a 7-2 defeat. For large parts of the afternoon the scoreline was within one run as a pitching duel between the Knights’ Chris Lawson and Merlins’ Saliyah Wijesinghe kept the game moving at a frantic pace. Both pitchers sat the opposition side down in order in the first inning, recording a strikeout apiece in the process. With a combination of power and movement Lawson and Wijesinghe kept both side’s hitters guessing between fastball and their curveball throughout the game. The home side scored the first run of the game in the second inning, as Wijesinghe doubled, stole third base and then scored on a passed ball. Jamie Cunningham and Ben Davies then drove in two more in the third inning, capitalising on a couple of errors from the Knights. However, the away side came to life in the top of the fourth. Mitch Sullivan led off with a well hit single into shallow centre field, Alex Frampton followed him with a broken bat infield single to put runners at first and third. After Frampton stole second, Marcus Senior drove in Sullivan with a hit into right field – Frampton then scored on a wild throw into the catcher. The game went back and forth for a couple of innings following the Knights rally, Andy Moore recorded a hit through the left side of the infield, Senior took a fantastic grab over his shoulder and Eddie Donald pulled off two excellent catches to keep the score close. Lawson also got himself out of a bases-loaded jam with help from Rob Holbrook and Andy Swann and a strikeout. After throwing 130 pitches and eight strikeouts, Lawson was relieved by Senior in the seventh inning. Following a strikeout and a pop up to Swann, the Knights’ Manager was unlucky to give up a couple of runs as the Merlins moved out to a 7-2 lead. Despite the best efforts of the New Forest side, they couldn’t quite get the bats going against Wijesinghe who closed out a complete game and booked the Merlins a spot in the South West and Wales League playoff final. The defeat draws a successful first season to a close for the Thunder Knights, as they finished with a winning record, gave competitive debuts to a number of players and reached the playoffs for the first time.
Sponsorship Boost as Grove Sales back the Knights
After an exciting start to their first ever season as a club, the New Forest Thunder Knights are delighted to have secured the backing of another local business. Grove Sales Ltd have agreed to sponsor one of the team’s home games during the season, providing much needed support for equipment and hire costs in return. So far this season the Knights have gone 2-2, sitting tied for second place in the Severn Division of the South West and Wales Baseball league. A tough opening slate of games has already seen the New Forest team travel to Bristol and Taunton, with another difficult day in Cardiff looming. All the support from sponsors like Grove Sales is put straight back into the running of the club, with matchday sponsors able to throw out the first pitch and have their branding displayed on social media and game days in return. Team Manager, Warren Doyle, said: “It’s fantastic to get this backing from a company of the size and reputation that Grove has. We’re incredibly grateful to them, and everyone else in the New Forest and the surrounding area that has supported us so far.” Grove Sales Manager, Luke Ramsier, said: “All of us at the Grove love our local sport, and we’re more than happy to support the Knights in their first season. We’re looking forward to watching the club grow and wish them success going forward.” Following on from some great early coverage of the team, the Knights welcomed their first new players to training recently as the popularity of baseball in the UK continues to grow after Team GB’s participation in the World Baseball Classic. Grove Sales Ltd are a national distributor of various electrical goods. Based in Christchurch, with a wide reaching network, they supply to all over the United Kingdom and Europe. Along with a range of other products, they specialise in goods such as Weller soldering stations, Bofa fume extraction units and the G-Tek range of ESD products. Further Information:
Knights Secure Sponsorship as Schedule is Released
The New Forest Thunder Knights are delighted to have secured sponsorship for the upcoming season from the New Forest Academy of Dance and Kings Computer Recycling. Both organisations have sponsored one of the Knights’ home games and will see their branding displayed across the team’s social media and banners on game day. With three months of winter training under their belt, the Knights have also received their schedule for the season. A league debut away at Bristol Buccaneers kicks things off on April 16th, road trips to Taunton and Cardiff follow, before the home opener against the Bournemouth Bears on May 14th. The Knights will host the Cornish Claycutters and the Weston Jets in interdivisional games alongside further divisional matchups with the Bristol Brunels and both Cardiff Merlins’ teams. Team Manager, Warren Doyle, said: ‘Getting the team set up for our first season has been an incredibly exciting process. I’m really proud of everything we’ve achieved so far and there’s a lot more to come. ‘The support of local partners is vital as we seek to grow both the Thunder Knights and British Baseball in general, so we’re very thankful to the Academy of Dance and Kings for their very generous support.’ New Forest Academy of Dance Owner, Kayleigh Sargeant, said: ‘Our ethos is very similar to that of the Knights, as we’re both looking to help people unleash their full potential. We’re excited to see a new sport in the New Forest, and we believe this partnership will benefit both organisations.’ Kings Computer Recycling Owner, Trevor Herbert, said: ‘I’m delighted that we’re able to support an up and coming local sports team. I know that the Knights are a family club, much like our business here in Christchurch, which is why it made perfect sense to agree to this partnership.’ Ahead of the season, the Thunder Knights will also host a session for players new to the game of baseball. On Saturday April 8th, the club is inviting anyone who wants to give the sport a try to join them at Ellingham Cricket Club to learn the basics and have a throw with some of the current squad. A preseason game against Warwickshire Baseball Club is also scheduled for March 26th, alongside a South West and Wales League tournament in Bristol on April 2nd. The New Forest Academy of Dance is based in Lymington and offers dance and musical theatre classes to all age groups in a fun and positive environment. The Academy recently held their Lower School Show, highlighting the talent and hard work of a host of students in front of a captivated audience at Brockenhurst Village Hall. With a host of experience in servicing and repairs, Kings Computer Recycling is regarded as the best recycling option for schools, companies and individuals on the South Coast. Based in Christchurch and run by Trevor Herbert, the company helps local organisations with their IT needs, with no job too big or small. Further Information:
Thunder Knights Backed By Local Business
The New Forest Thunder Knights baseball club are delighted to announce their first sponsorship agreement with a UK firm. Ringwood based agriculture and machinery specialists, Merlo, have provided funding for the new team – enabling them to purchase vital equipment ahead of their debut season. Given the inclusive nature of baseball in the UK, the funding will go towards providing equipment that enables those who are new to the game to learn the sport in the best possible environment. Knights’ General Manager, Andy Moore, said: “We’re incredibly thankful to Merlo for their support as we go about setting up the club. “The Thunder Knights ethos is all about community, so to receive the backing of a company based in the New Forest is a major win for us. “Every bit of support allows us to grow baseball on the South Coast, helping beginners and experienced players alike to fall in love with the sport.” James Knight, Marketing Coordinator at Merlo UK said: “During Merlo’s thirty years in the UK, we have prided ourselves in our support of sports teams, charities and community groups local to our offices in Hampshire. “The commitment and tenacity demonstrated by the Thunder Knights embodies the audacious spirit of our founders in 1964 and 1997 across Italy and the UK. “We look forward to supporting the Thunder Knights in their efforts to grow the game of baseball in the New Forest area through 2023 and beyond.” The news comes after the club also received the backing of the AFC Bournemouth Community Fund on ‘Cherry Monday’. US based baseball journal, the Twin Bill, have also funded the team’s match balls for the 2023 season. With baseball continuing to grow across the UK, every element of support from local organisations, like Merlo, is incredibly valuable to start up clubs. As well as helping with the purchase of equipment, the funding will allow the New Forest based team to build on the interest they have received from potential new players after a recent appearance on BBC South Today. Like the game of baseball, Merlo themselves are an international institution, with their UK base in Ringwood. The company specialises in rotating telehandlers, patented cab suspension and hydrostatic transmissions, and it is a mainstay of the international agriculture and machinery industry. In 2022 the company invested in its Ringwood premises, allowing for the construction of a bespoke training centre on site. More than 250 Merlo specialist trainees have undertaken courses at this facility since its development. As part of their commitment to their staff and the local community, the company readily supports local endeavours, particularly to help boost health and wellbeing. Further Information:
Press release
Click to read our press release! “We’re really excited to bring baseball to the New Forest and Southampton this year. There’s huge potential for the sport both in the local area and across the United Kingdom. Our aim is to enjoy ourselves on and off the field and to create an atmosphere in which everyone feels happy, safe and supported to play this fantastic sport.” Sam Williams, Assistant General Manager Sam was also interviewed on BBC Radio Solent about the new team. Listen to the interview via our Twitter or Instagram. Bring the Thunder!