NEW Forest Baseball Club are expanding to two teams ahead of the 2024 season with the New Forest Knights set to get their season underway on Sunday.

Expansion to two teams is a sign of how much the club has grown in the 18 months since their founding, in Autumn 2022.

Over the winter, 25 new players joined, allowing the club’s committee to make plans for teams at two levels of the British baseball pyramid.

The Knights will take on the Bristol Brunels in the South West and Wales ‘Single A’ division on Sunday.

Manager Sam Williams is heading into the season with a focus on developing new players and creating a team in which everyone has the opportunity to contribute.

Williams, said: “We’re very lucky to have so many enthusiastic new players on board for the 2024 season.

"The club is growing all the time, which mirrors how popular baseball is becoming in the UK. I’d love to see new players or anyone interested in baseball at a game this season, please get in touch if you think this is the sport for you.”

The new season also brings a new home ground for the Knights. They will play their games at Ballard School in New Milton.

With the scheduled games coming thick and fast, the Thunder will play the majority of their games at Wide Lane in Southampton as the club continues to search for a permanent facility to build an infield and mound.

Last season, the Thunder Knights reached the semi-finals of the South West and Wales playoffs, before finally falling to defeat against the Merlins.