MEDWAY Mariners face a tough pre-season schedule ahead of their first season in the British Baseball Federation Division 1. The Mariners travel to face Hertfordshire Falcons in a doubleheader this weekend, then face Milton Keynes Bucks on March 29 then round off with a game against the Brighton Buccaneers on Easter Monday.

But the Mariners will be without key players Tony Smyth and Ruben Cruz for the first two fixtures. The club play 16 BBF Division One fixtures, and a number of tournaments including the 2002 Delft Cup, in the Netherlands in May and are on the look out for additional players to boost their current squad, which currently numbers 13. The Mariners have signed partnership agreements with uniform suppliers The Cap Factory and French-based equipment manufacturer Barnett Sports.

*For further information on playing baseball - all ages welcome, - you can contact Robert Kingsland on Tel 07752 521 924 or e-mail robert-claire@kingsland75.freeserve.co.uk