Previewing the 2023 BBF AAA season: Richmond Knights
By Alvin Michael | alvinmichael.com | @AlvinMicWrites | @alvinmicwrites
In 2022, Richmond Knights won the British Baseball Federation AAA South A pool with a 19-7 record. They started off the year in blistering fashion, winning their first nine games in a row before suffering their first defeat at the hands of the East London Latin Boys – who would be eventually crowned 2022 AAA National Champions. Knights were heartbreakingly knocked out in the Championship semi-final to South B Pool winners, London Metros.
Marianna Casal, 2B
Following a disastrous 2021 season where they finished dead last with only two wins and 20 losses, the ‘22 Knights was a rebuild year for everyone involved with the team, from the players to the coaches and managers. An influx of exceptional talent during the offseason brought flair, dynamism and a positive winning mentality that had been previously lost.
Knights combined power and speed to devastating effect. Marco Pestana was the joint AAA league leader with four home runs, whilst Luis Goncalves led the league with 30 stolen bases.
“Richmond Baseball Club is a great organisation with some awesome people from all over the world”
Jared Thomley, UTL
On the other side of the ball, Rei Martinez dominated the league with a 1.67 ERA in regular season play. Luis Ramey, Matt Kozlowski and Spencer Huet were stalwarts on the mound, pitching the bulk of the team’s innings and combining for ten of Richmond’s wins.
Defence was vastly improved and a critical part of the team’s success. Second baseman, Moises Vazquez, was the best of the bunch, converting 46 of 47 chances, including turning four double-plays. As a team, the Knights recorded a .937 fielding percentage, much improved from their .867 total in 2021.
Euan Shields, UTL
Looking ahead to the 2023 campaign, the goal will be to overcome that final hurdle and compete for the AAA Championship. Team captain, Luis Goncalves, believes the Knights’ priority will be to go one step further and win the trophy, “That is of course the biggest target for every team, but at a deeper level, for all of us to improve our level of game as a team and go up to the NBL next year.
“I hope that 2023 is a year that’ll be full of victories! You can’t win every game, but we’ll sure try”. He went on to say, “[Our] philosophy is, and always will be, that we all get game time, to pick each other up if one makes an error and to bet on your teammate.
“The 2022 season was incredible. Despite half the guys being new to the team, we all bonded well and had fun together on and off the field. Richmond Baseball Club is a great organisation with some awesome people from all over the world and at different playing levels”. Most of the ‘22 team will be returning for the new campaign, as will the sage and influential leadership of Humberto Goncalves and Carlos Casal.
Richmond Knights 2022 team photo
Spring training began in mid-January, and so far, the captain has been very impressed with what he’s seen. “Early observations are that we’re looking like we’ve not had an offseason! We’re always looking for pitchers. That’s the backbone of any team and the more we can get, the better!”
The Knights recently returned home from a pre-season tournament in Benamejí, Spain. They were narrowly defeated in their first two games by Essex Arrows from the BBF National Baseball League and hosts Benameji BC. However, they saved their best for last, defeating Madrid Brewers 11-6 to end a terrific tournament.
Registration for the 2023 season is still open, and places are still available on all rosters. Richmond Baseball Cub welcomes all players, whether you are a seasoned veteran or a complete novice, male or female, older or younger; if you have an interest in playing baseball, click on the register button below to begin your journey with one of the most fun, friendly and inclusive ball clubs in the UK.
Coming up in part 2: a preview of the British Baseball Federation AA League, Richmond Dragons.