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The Bucks had a good tournament this year, coming away with a .500 win percentage. Day 1 saw the Bucks go down to Herts Baseball by a large margin, getting off to a slow and rocky start to the tournament. Later that afternoon saw the Bucks facing a French team built for the tournament, and some fine baseball was displayed, particularly defensively by both sides, hence the low score 4 - 2 France.
Our Japanese ambassador and
catcher, Tam Tachikawa, rolled out an unusual and pleasant surprise, he had
ordered in specially prepared Suchi!!
Most had never tried it, but were more than willing to sample the tuna, sea bass, salmon and king prawns that were prepared on rice rolls then dipped in soy sauce accompanied by slivers of ginger. Tam joined NBC this year, and has proven a great asset both with his defensive catching skills, his bat and his speed on the bases. He's never down, always has a ready smile and affable nature, and has fit in perfectly with the the club, proving that he likes a good time at this event!!
Tam imports saki to the UK,
and brought along some of Japan's finest! Pretty potent stuff!!
Two of the Birmingham Bulldogs finest joined NBC for the tournament this year. Aussie Dave was up for his second tournament with the Bucks, while Jon Reynolds came along to sample the weekend for the first time.
Both had a great time, both
on the field and around the campfire afterward! Here's hoping the Bulldogs
make it back to the league next year and join the midlands division. Next
year's tournament could see a midlands
Also attending with the
Bucks this year was former head coach , player and hall of famer Jacco
Kramer, who made the trip over with his family from his native Holland to
compete one more time and rejoin his old team mates. A little rusty after a
2 year lay-off, but the silky smooth skills and the power bat soon emerged,
Jacco blasting a long fly
Another Bucks hall of famer
and former shortstop who joined the team as he has for several years since
his retirement was Robbie Slough. It just wouldn't be the same without his
specialist beers, campfire jokes and warped sense of humour...oh, and he
plays baseball a little as well.. All in all, a great year for the Bucks, coming away with two wins over the weekend, and even in the games that we lost, we played some good defensive baseball, particularly against France, whose players agreed it was an excellent game on both sides. Here's to another year, and a huge vote of thanks to Dave Ward and the organisers for their efforts, we know it's not easy, and to the umpires who help the games run smoothly and on time!
Looking forward to '09! Go Bucks!!
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Herts
Falcons - 15
v
NBC - 5 
Later
that evening, the days baseball was behind the Bucks, and the usual evening
activities commenced...coolers were cracked open, and some cold beers were
put away. A car stereo was pumped up...and the atmosphere began to kick
back.
Tastes
great, but you gotta be careful!! A real eastern delight that was soon
polished off, leaving our resident southern Californian Jim Kerr to fire up
the BBQ! 
all-star
team entered as the idea was discussed around the camp fire...watch this
space!!
double
against the Metros and turning a slick double play at home after fielding a
grounder and putting out a runner at first! Always good to have the flying
dutchman on board, and we hope he returns for the tournament in the future.
