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Braintree Rays Baseball Club, supported by Braintree District Council, held two full day summer baseball camps during the summer holidays, offering children aged 8 - 14 the opportunity to try out baseball as a different sport.

Both days were fully booked and saw over fifty children attending for ten hours of various training activities which culminated in a match at the end of each day. The activities were designed to give the children an insight into catching, hitting, fielding and running in the context of a baseball match and tailored to the ages of those who attended.

Club Secretary Justin Davis said of the training days "It's been wonderful to see so many enthusiastic children who want to try a totally different sport. The real joy has been to see them throw themselves into the day and go from knowing almost nothing of the game to really enjoying the challenge of a competitive game by the time they go home; that sort of transformation takes real effort from the children and they didn't let themselves down".

The close links between the baseball club and the council continue to be forged to support sports development around the Braintree area and follow on from a successful Easter holiday baseball camp and a day of baseball activities with 240 children at Great Bradford's Infant school in Braintree .

Braintree Rays are now seeking to establish junior teams for ages 9-12 and 12-15 on the back of the successful camps and have the full support of the council - Councillor Lady Patricia Newton, Cabinet Member for Housing and Well-Being said: “It’s been a pleasure to work in partnership with the Braintree Rays to give local children the chance to try out this exciting sport. We are delighted that the children’s enthusiasm has inspired the club to start a regular junior team. We wish them all the best and look forward to following their progress from their new ‘home ground’ at Notley Sports Centre.”

If you'd like to know more about Braintree Rays Baseball Club, whether at a junior level of as an adult, then please contact us via the website, baseball is played by boys and girls, men and women of all ages and the club is hoping to extend the opportunities to play to as many people as possible.

Latest News – 25 July 2009

The season so far has not been kind to the team and we have lost several players who have moved on to other clubs, that being said, the tremendous interest and arrival of new players has acted as a real positive force for the development of Braintree Rays Baseball Club and baseball in general.

As Club secretary I am delighted that we have so many keen new players supporting us and that we are beginning to take the initiative in local community engagement with the recent success of our baseball day at Great Bradford’s Infant School in Braintree and with four Summer Camps set for the summer holidays, starting next week.

Results this year have been mixed, when we have had the majority of players available we have played some excellent baseball, but the lack of availability of some key players has led us to throw games away rather than forfeit them; whilst we could try to rearrange them, the weather only holds for so long and we need to keep an impetus behind us in relation to games. Thus, the games against Bracknell & Essex recently, where we had no regular pitcher available, were particularly bad results – but the experience gained cannot be underestimated and I was impressed by the fortitude shown by the players.

One of the key issues for us this year has been a lack of ability to undertake sufficient practice sessions and with players from across an area of about 100 miles, it’s clear why the logistics of extra meetings in the week are so difficult. We will be addressing this in the off season and I am very hopeful that when we have finished this season and are into 2010, we will have a very much stronger and tighter knit team than we have been able to field this season. There are many strong players who’ve recently arrived or taken up baseball with us and the opportunity for development of the club is clear. So if you’ve never tried your hand, or want to come back to the game after years away contact us, we’ll be happy to hear from you and have you on board!

Justin Davis

Secretary BRBC

Braintree Rays Baseball Club - Children's Summer Camps

Braintree Rays Baseball Club have teamed up with Braintree District Council & Notley Sports Centre to offer children the opportunity to try out baseball over four activity days in the 2009 summer holidays.

Baseball is open to boys and girls aged 8 - 15 years and there is no previous experience necessary.

On Wednesday 5th August and Wednesday 26th August in conjunction with Braintree District Council we will be running a day of activities at Notley Sports Centre; bookings can be made by email to csc@braintree.gov.uk or on 01376 552525. The day runs from 10:00 to 15:00 and costs £5 per child, but second siblings are half price!

On Tuesday 28th July and Tuesday 11th August, in conjunction with Notley Sports Centre, we will be running a course from 13:00 to 16:00. The cost is £8 per child and bookings can be made through Notley Sports Centre on 01376 323873.

Braintree Rays gives school coaching sessions!

Great Bradfords Infants School in Braintree ran a health week during June this year, dring which they promoted healthy food and activities. As part of this, Braintree Rays Baseball Club were invited to provide some baseball related activities for children from reception classes and years 1 & 2.

During the day, almost 240 children (aged 4-8), teachers & teaching assistants took part in a range of baseball related activities, offering a simple insight into baseball, from throwing and catching to base running and batting from a tee-ball stand.

Club Secretary Justin Davis said of the day "From the reaction of the children, they've really enjoyed the opportunity to try a new sport and I think that it's been a very positive day for our club and our efforts towards bringing baseball to children through engaging with our local community".

"The day was a great success and Braintree Rays Baseball Club thanks the staff of Great Bradfords for their support in offering the opportunity to children to try out a totally new activity."

More details about this event will appear on our club website shortly!

Braintree Rays Baseball Club is committed to supporting baseball as a fun activity for boys and girls of all ages and to giving the opportunit to ayone who wants to try something different, to participate in an activities event. If your school would like to discuss a possible baseball day or training session as part of your sporting or educational activities, please contact us via our website; www.braintreerays.com