Baseball

Hanoi 29ers pose with their trophy after winning the first Hanoi Baseball Major Series 2023 on October 23. — Photos of News Sports

HÀ NỘI — Newbies Hanoi 29ers defeated the veteran team of Hanoi Archers 10-2 to win the Hanoi Baseball Major Series 2023 on October 23 in the capital city.

Although only established in February, the 29ers proved themselves a rising-star club with the participation of many players who grew from the Hanoi Capitals Club. Under coach Lucas Benenati, a former Major League Baseball player, the club took part in the Pony Little League, a world U12 event, in 2009-2011.

The Archers have been playing for more than a decade and were originally known as the Fishanu Club. The team, with a combination of experienced players and young stars, were the top side for long time.

But now there seems to be some new kids on the block.

After seven competitive innings, the 29ers won 10-2 and became the champions of the first Hanoi Baseball Major Series. They walked away with a VNĐ6 million bonus.

The Archers pocketed VNĐ3 million.

HUST Red Owls and Devil Bats shared the third places and earned VNĐ1.5 million each.

Đặng Đình Bảo of the 29ers was voted Most Valuable Player while his teammate Benenati was best hitter. Phạm Mạnh Chiến of the Archers was best pitcher.

Hanoi 29ers players celebrate after winning the final points to be champions of the first Hanoi Baseball Major Series 2023 on October 23.

The tournament featured six clubs with more than 200 athletes, both local and internationals. They competed from September 24 to October 22 at the Hanoi Dragons Rugby Field in Nam Từ Liêm District.

Many famous artists and athletes of different sports joined to cheer the matches.

Baseball has been played popularly in many countries around the world and become an Olympic sport in 1992.

Originated in the American countries, baseball spread and strongly developed in Asia, particularly in Japan and South Korea for a number of years. However, it is rarely known in Southeast Asia.

It was introduced to Việt Nam since 1990s but due to the shortage of coaches, players and expensive equipment and suitable venues, baseball has not developed as strongly as expected.

The Việt Nam Baseball Federation (VBF) was officially established in 2021 with the first two national championships held in July 2022 in HCM City and 2023 in Hà Nội.

The first Hanoi Baseball Major Series, organised by New Sports and VTVcab under the agreement of the VBF, was one of activities to attract people's attention and push the growth of the sport. It was also expected to find talented to represent Vietnamese clubs at international competitions.

New Sports focuses on developing and promoting the domestic sports movement. The company has been successfully with inspirational events that reached wide range of audiences such as the recent Vietnam Pro-Am Basketball Championship; and basketball championships in Hà Nội, Đà Nẵng and HCM City recently. — VNS