Despite the impending wintery weather, Newton Aycliffe Spartans Baseball Club has already got back to action in preparation for the 2014 season.
Under the guidance of new Team Manager and Head Coach Mike Holton, the team has been undertaking a number of practice drills and game scenarios at their indoor training facility at Woodham Academy in order to get a head-start on teams in the British Baseball Federation AA Northern Division as the Spartans look to build on last season’s improved performances.
Those improved performances saw the Spartans improve from 1 win in 2012 to 7 wins in 2013 and they were in the playoff picture up until the last couple of weeks of the season.
Manager of the Spartans, Mike Holton said: “We felt it important to continue with the momentum we achieved during 2013 and whilst training indoors can’t replace the training on the diamond, there is much we can do with the time and our weekly training sessions will prepare us well for facing the top teams in our division in 2014.”
Spartans founder John Johnston has stood aside to focus on running the expanding Junior Spartans Baseball Club, that introduces baseball to U16’s and Mike Holton is excited with taking the senior team forward. “We want to continue to grow baseball in the North East and it is pleasing that we continue to see new people turn up to try baseball for the first time.  We have applied for funding through the Great Aycliffe and Middridge Partnership (GAMP) Community Grant Fund and we would welcome the good people of Great Aycliffe to support helping moving our club forward by voting for us this weekend at GAMP Event at Newton Aycliffe Youth Centre this Saturday between 11am and 3pm. We would love people to come down on this day and see what we are about and If successful we will use any funding to promote baseball through community engagement and look to introduce local people to baseball by putting on ‘taster’ sessions early in the New Year and to fund the purchase of training equipment”
“One of the best aspects of the club is that we’re able to support players of all ages and abilities and the Spartans would welcome anyone wanting to be part of our future in 2014 and beyond.”
Winter Training is currently held on Tuesday evenings  between 7pm and 9pm at Woodham Academy in Newton Aycliffe so If you fancy trying Baseball, new players, female or male, experienced or inexperienced are invited to come along and try one of the fastest growing team sports in the UK.  Please visit www.newtonaycliffespartans.co.uk for details on how to contact us and get involved.