THESE baseball enthusiasts braved the wind and rain on Saturday morning to start work on building a new diamond.
Such is the demand for the sport in these parts, the Essex Redbacks are expanding their Billericay-based youth section.
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TURF WORK: Volunteers from the Essex Redbacks set about building a new diamond at their Forest Glade Football Club home off Barleylands Road Photo by Andy Palmer
They already have one pitch off Barleylands Road but a second will mean the club's youth teams can play more home matches when the season starts in six weeks time.
The new facility alongside Forest Glade Football Club will also be a suitable size for senior baseball and should be completed within the next three weeks.
Club stalwart Michael Jones said: "I would say that in the last five years we've seen a massive growing interest in British baseball. I think that's benefited from people watching it on TV and when they come back from America saying 'actually let's try that'.
"Since the club started three years ago, it's gone from strength to strength. We've got three junior teams and three senior teams and we've got a baseball offer to anyone of any background coming through any rank. We're keen to offer softball too.
"This (new diamond) means the Redbacks Ponies, our under-17 side, can train and play their games at the same venue as the younger Bronco U14 team."
With a membership upwards of 110, the club has more qualified coaches in its ranks than any other side in British baseball and some very promising players are coming through the ranks.
Former Brentwood School pupil Stuart Harper-Horn has recently been selected for the GB Under 23 team while Conner Brown and Jamie Gregory have been named in the national Under-16s cadet roster.
Plans are afoot to send a youth team on a tour of Germany next year and last year the club welcomed teams from both the Netherlands and Germany.
Jones added: "I know it's March but people might have had new year's resolutions about getting fit that have fallen by the wayside.
"Baseball is a good opportunity to get fit in a team environment. On a weekly basis you get that atmosphere, that friendliness and you will see genuine improvements."
Senior training takes place on Friday at Chelmsford Sports and Athletics Centre in Melbourne Park.
The junior section trains at James Hornby High School, Laindon, from 2.30pm to 4.30pm on Saturdays.
For more information or if you want to sponsor the team contact Sean Briscomb at: sean@essexredbacks.com
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