One of the most exciting times of the baseball season is Spring Training. After a long and cold winter everyone connected with baseball is eager to get back to the ballpark. Teams start to put into action their master plans to win the league. Players are jostling for a position on the roster. Pitchers are competing for a starting spot in the rotation. It is a first chance for managers and players to see new players which have signed up with the club.

In 2008 Herts Baseball Club decided that it was time to add a new event to the British baseball calendar and the Herts Spring League (HSL) was devised.

Herts Newswire

Since We’ve Been Gone Random ramblings and reminiscences from your own correspondent, now that the baseball season has got under way on both sides of the Atlantic. RICHMOND AND MK WIN THRILLING HSL FINALS   Richmond clinched the 2011 Herts Spring League Championship in the Majors Division, while the Milton Keynes Bucks were crowned Champions of the Minors Division.   Twenty teams played 46 games over the last three weekends as part of the annual Herts Spring League competition. This was the final rehearsal for the teams from the [...] HSL GROUP GAMES END WITH TIE-BREAKS AND PHENOMENAL COMEBACKS      The group stage of the 2011 Herts Spring League was completed in dramatic fashion at the weekend with battles for positions in both the Majors and Minors Divisions.     In Majors A Richmond clinched first place after maintaining their unbeaten record with wins over Southampton (5-0) and Herts (1-0).  Herts Falcons’ 18-2 win [...] HSL WEEK 1 ROUND-UP   Before the battle – Herts and Southampton clash in the HSL Majors (Group A)     Baseball returned to ballparks around the South East with the start of the 2011 Herts Spring League (HSL).  18 games were played at Herts, RAF Feltwell and Richmond.     MAJORS (GROUP A)  First up were the teams in the [...] AUDIO: BBC RADIO PREVIEWS THE 2011 HSL Presenter Phil Parry previews this weekend’s Herts Spring League on BBC London Radio 94.9FM.  To listen to it play the audio below. BRITISH BASEBALL COMES OUT OF HIBERNATION AS HERTS ANNOUNCE 2011 HSL   The biggest pre-season baseball tournament in Britain is back. Commencing on 26 March, the Herts Spring League will see a record 20 teams travel from as far afield as Leicester and Southampton to hone their skills and compete for the title. Organised by Herts Baseball Club, it’s Britain’s very own version of the Grapefruit [...] SPRINGING BACK INTO SHAPE Ow, that hurts. But oh, it feels good." Rob Jones emerges from winter hibernation to experience the masochistic pleasures of pre-season baseball training.

The HSL is similar to the Grapefruit and Cactus Leagues in America. HSL will provide a competitive edge to spring training as clubs count down to Opening Day and hopefully will enhance the enjoyment of all participants and fans.

Invited teams are split into two divisions, Majors and Minors. The Majors include teams from the BBF National and AAA Leagues, while the Minors comprises mostly AA and A League teams. International teams have also featured in the HSL.