Baseball strikes a note in Stourbridge

It could be a sporting scene straight from America, but this pitch perfect setting is a lot closer to home – in the Black Country.

The not-so traditional local sport of baseball is proving to be a hit in Stourbridge.

The area's first club has been founded and already 20 players have signed up to take to the field.

They are busy training ready for when the British Baseball Federation's Midlands League season gets under way on April 15. Stourbridge Titans have been set up by policeman

Cory Millard and teacher Shaun Healey. Both have been playing the sport for around eight years and were formerly members of the Birmingham Maple Leafs side.

Their baseball diamond, Gibson Field, has been set up at Thorns Community College in Quarry Bank.

All the players have pitched in to get the field ready for the opening day of the league which will see them host Nottingham Rebels.

To help them with their training sessions, the team, which has both male and female members, were visited by the junior Great Britain team

Pitcher Mr Millard, aged 38, from Wollaston, said: "We used to play for the Birmingham Maple Leafs but we thought it would be good to have a side so people in this area could be introduced to the sport."

Mr Healey, 37, who works as a PE teacher at Thorns Community College said the school had agreed to them using the field and as a result some of the students had also got involved."

Anyone wanting to find out more about the club can contact Mr Millard on 07794 580567 or find them on Facebook.