NEW LEAGUE: OXFORD UNIVERSITY CHAMPIONSHIP
The line-up has now been confirmed for England's first university baseball competition, the Oxford University Championship. Organised by baseball enthusiasts at the university, the hope is that players may go on to appear in the Metropolitan League once they have completed their studies.
Initially, eight of Oxford's constituent colleges have entered teams, these are
Balliol,
Brasenose,
Christ Church,
Magdalen,
Merton,
New College,
Trinity and
Worcester. It may be that more colleges will wish to participate if the competition is a success.
Because of the proximity of each team's home field in and around the city of Oxford, there will not be far for teams to travel. Indeed, the outfield boundaries of Balliol and Trinity's fields at Cowley Marsh, as well as the fields of Merton and New College, are less than fifty feet apart.
It could therefore be the case that a well hit ball in one game may disrupt the other if those pairs of teams happen to be playing at home on the same day. From a practical viewpoint, it is believed that teams may be able to play two games on different fields on the same day should postponements make that necessary.
As the students do not have the same work commitments as the Metropolitan League players, there will be games scheduled in midweek enabling a longer programme. It is planned that the league will begin in March, on the same day as the Metropolitan League, and end in late-June, weather permitting. There will be a twenty-eight game schedule, allowing the teams to face one another four times.
LOGOS AND UNIFORMS:
Top Row (L-R): Balliol College, Brasenose College, Christ Church, Magdalen College
Bottom Row (L-R): Merton College, New College, Trinity College, Worcester College
MAP OF TEAM LOCATIONS:
