hello, we are the essex blades baseball & softball club
Baseball comprises 2 teams of 9 players each, aiming to score as many runs by hitting a homerun or scoring by running home. Defensively the aim is to get opposing players out by catching the ball off the bat, tagging them, or throwing it to base before they get there. A Softball pitch has 3 bases like Baseball, although in Softball it is under-arm slow pitching instead of over-arm fast pitching.
IMPORTANT
TRAINING RESUMES! Join us on the Astro on Thursdays and Sundays 12-2 pm. Check below to see how to book your place for training. You can book your place for up to 2 weeks in advance. Please ensure you take the COVID Self-Assessment to check if you show signs of COVID. If you do we ask you not to attend training and to take a COVID test while self-isolating. While travelling to the session, please wear your mask until we split you into groups for extra safety. If you have any questions use the "Contact us" button above to send us an email.
How many teams do we have?
Currently, we have 1 team for baseball which competes at BUCS; our aim for the year 2023/2024 is to continue winning the league and improve at the national cup. This year we are introducing a softball team that will compete both indoors and outdoor. Since it is the softball team's first year, our goals are growth and player development and look to be more competitive lin the future. The division that we play in is the South East Division.
Social media
We currently have 2 social media accounts: Instagram and Twitter. We will use these social media to post events, promote our club, answer questions, and other general posts.
Twitter: @uoebaseball
Instagram: uoebaseball
How TO BOOK FOR TRAINING:
Booking your place to go to training is vital, especially in these times due to COVID-19. We require all our members who wish to attend training to book their place. Details of how to book your place are down below.
- Go to: https://sportbookandpay.essex.ac.uk/Connect/MRMLogin.aspx OR Use the Essex Sports App on your phone/tablet
- Login in with your Essex email and your pin; the pin should have been sent to you automatically, but you can always reset it if you wish.
- Select the 'make a booking' tab (Select club bookings on the phone/tablet).
- Select the session you wish to attend and book it.
It should automatically display baseball sessions if you have the membership for it.
If you have trouble with this, please send an email by clicking the "Contact us" link above.
Recent honours?
Essex Blades Gold Standard Club - 2016/17 
Essex Blades Bronze Standard Club - 2017/18 
BUCS Baseball South East Tier 1 Winners 2021/22
BUCS Baseball South East Tier 1 Winners 2022/23
Do I need anything else before I get involved?
Although our team has the equipment, it is advisable to have a fielding glove that fits the size of your hand, Baseball pants, and footwear for playing on grass/turf pitches at the bare minimum. If you wish to further improve your abilities purchase a baseball bat. We strongly recommend you to invest in thermals; we will be training outside and it can get cold during Winter and Spring.
About the Baseball team
The baseball team is the more established and competitive of the teams. Players across the league come from all skill levels and often have more experience which may make it more difficult for newer players. However, we have helped new players join and learn the game and will continue to do so. The team will play 5 games across the year, with finals being at the end of March.
About the softball team
The softball team is making a debut this year! The softball team will focus on the basics of the game while teaching all the fundamentals. The softball team will play both indoors and outdoors, while they have slightly different rules, the basics remain the same. Softball plays 4 days, with multiple games a day across the year. The softball team will not require a playing membership, only a BUCS membership to play in games.