First year of baseball in North Devon capped with player award

2025 was the first year of baseball in North Devon and the Torrington Riptides capped an eventful year with their player manager, Jess Cooper, winning the Women’s Player of the Year Award from the South West and Wales Baseball League.

Cooper and another Riptides player, Ed Willmott, were also nominated for ‘Golden Glove’ awards for performance as fielders, alongside experienced players from long-established teams in Bristol, Plymouth and Exeter, and even members of the GB national team.

“This is fantastic recognition for such a new and inexperienced team,” Cooper said. “Everyone has shown amazing commitment, and we’ve had such great fun playing as a team.”

The team is keen to build on their success in 2026 and welcome new players when they resume indoor training on January 26.

“Almost everyone in the team was new to baseball last year, and we still won two games and came very close a few other times,” Cooper explained. “It’s an easy sport to learn, and it’s so rewarding when you get a big hit or make a great catch.”

Baseball is growing in popularity in Britain, with the GB national team qualifying for the World Baseball Classic – baseball’s world cup, taking place in March this year – for the second time in a row.

For the Riptides, a new year also means a new home as summer training and league home games will now be hosted by Torrington Rugby Club.

“We’re so grateful to the Rugby Club for their support,” said Riptides Treasurer Mike Curtis. “Every bit of support we get – whether it’s financial sponsorship or new players joining – helps us represent Torrington and North Devon and helps us build a winning team.”

Indoor training will be in the Great Torrington School sports hall on Mondays, 7-8pm until April when outdoor training will resume at Torrington Rugby Club.

To join or sponsor the team, email Jess Cooper at torringtonriptides@gmail.com