Month: July 2014

by Colum Lavery

Melanie Cunningham Appointed Fast Pitch Head Coach – Dates Confirmed

Softball Ireland Fast Pitch Programme Confirmed

Softball Ireland Fast Pitch Head Coach Announced

Softball Ireland have confirmed the appointment of Melanie Cunningham as Ireland’s first Fast Pitch programme. Ms Cunningham will be responsible for the development of Fast Pitch Softball and leading Ireland’s first national team in 2015. Ms Cunningham has over 30 years experience of playing both Fast Pitch and Slow Pitch Softball at the highest level of the Game in the USA, Ireland and the United Kingom.

Introduction to Fast Pitch to be held on Saturday August 9, 2014

Saturday August 9, 2014 will see the first introduction to Fast Pitch Softball Session. Coach Cunningham intends the session to be fun and cover the basic differences between Slow Pitch and Fast Pitch Softball. Coach Cunningham has extended an invitation to all Female Softball Ireland Players to join the session from 1100 am on the 9th. An all male session will be ran later in the Autumn.

It is also with great pleasure that Softball Ireland can confirm that it has accepted Baseball Irelands kind offer to use the small field at Corkagh Park. Softball Ireland has also extended an invitation to Little League Girls who may be interested in joining the session to learn about a different variation of the sport.

Speaking on Baseball Irelands offer. SI President Colum Lavery said “we are overwhelmed by the generosity of Baseball Ireland in making their field available to us” he added ” this is another small step towards working with Baseball Ireland on joint projects and provides Softball Ireland players an opportunity to learn Fast Pitch on an excellent surface. We look forward to welcoming Baseball Ireland Board Members and Little League Players to our introduction day”

Players planning to attend are requested to email president@softball.ie in advance

About Corkagh Park

Irish-American Peter O’Malley, former owner and President of the Los Angeles Dodgers Baseball organisation, first met with the Irish Baseball & Softball Association in 1994. Havingalready developed baseball fields in the Dominican Republic, Nicaragua and China, O’Malley pledged $140,000 to the building of an Irish Baseball facility.

Building on the site began in June of 1997 and both fields were officially opened for play on July 4th, 1998. The facility incorporates a regulation sized adult field and an international standard Little League field. The fields are located in Corkagh Demesne Park in Clondalkin, West Dublin.

The fields are the centrepiece of Baseball activity in Ireland and play host to regular season league games for adult and youth teams as well as international fixtures.

How to get there
 

Take  the N7 (Naas Road) West. Make a right turn  at Newlands Cross Intersection – there is a Bewley’s Hotel on the right hand side. Go through two intersections with traffic lights
and make the first left hand turn AFTER a pedestrian crosswalk that has a small set  of lights. Follow that road (St Johns Road)  To the right and it will lead you straight to the entrance of Corkagh Demesne Park.

Follow 
the signs to the car park. After parking, to the right of the car park, there is a MAP of the park and where the baseball diamonds are located. Follow the footpath into the park. When you come to a fork in the road, go to the right. Walk for about 5 minutes and the fields will be located to the right past a row of trees. If all else fails, ask someone in the park and they will undoubtedly know where the baseball fields are.

by Colum Lavery

Kegs Progress – Day 3 Schedule – Link to Streaming

Kegs hold on to qualify for elite stage

Kegs made hard work of Day 2 of the ESCCS but held on versus German team Hangarounds to win 17-16 and qualify for the elite stage of the tournament. In Kegs other game of the day they lost 17-16 to a powerful Chromies team. Kegs finished third overall in their group and have progressed to the elite stage of the tournament.

Kegs will open the Elite stage playing current BSF champions H2O. H2O is managed by Oddsox Green’s Stephen Patterson, with Ireland’s Brian Connolly, Jenny Patterson and Muireaan Grooms. H2O have had a powerful start to the tournament and progress to the elite stage on a 5-0 record and omniously only conceding 5 runs in total as they progressed. Kegs second game is against the stronger of the two German Teams UCE Travellers (GER).

To follow Kegs click the video link, alternatively follow @softballireland for updates

Today’s Schedule

1345: Kegs v H2O (GBR)
1645: Kegs v UCE Travellers (GER)

How the Elite Stage Works:

Each teams takes their head to head results against the two teams in from their Group who have qualified for the elite stage. This means Kegs start Day 3 on 0 and 2 record (having lost to Chromies and Linz) and need 3 wins to guarantee their way to the Page System. Below is the table as it currently stands.

photo

 

 

by Colum Lavery

Kegs Have Solid Start

Ireland’s Kegs have had a solid start to the ESF ESCCS in Mlade Buky sitting 2 & 1 after Day 1.

The day started with a close 13-12 victory over tournament hosts Sparks Mlade Bucky and was followed by a comprehensive 26-11 win over Belgiums Champions Mortsel. After such a strong start to the tournament, tiredness caught up with the Kegs in the final Game as the lost 12-7 to Austrian Champions Linz in a game the Kegs were good enough to win.

That said 2 wins on day one put Kegs in a position to control their own destiny as they move into day 2 of the tourmanet. The schedule for day 2 is tough starting off with 2012 UK Champions and Ireland Coach Moe Flett’s Chromies (1130 Irish Summer Time). An added spice to this game is that a number of the Kegs play for the Chromies in the UK. Kegs then finish the Group stage with a game versus Germany’s Hangarounds (1545 Irish Summer Time)

All to play for the Kegs to ensure they stay in the top 3 in their Group and make sure they qualify for the medal tournament on Thursday & Friday.

You can follow Kegs progress here on the Official ESF Play by Play website

Or watch it live here on the streaming

Day 1 Standings

ESCCS Standings Day 1

 

by Colum Lavery

Kegs In Czech Chasing Gold – Watch Live

Watch Kegs Live Here

2013 Irish National Champions Kegs start there quest for gold at the European Super Cup Coed Slowpitch tournament from July 29 – August 2 in Mlady Buky, Czech Repubic.

Kegs have taked an experienced team mixed with youth and would be expected to challenge for a medal in what should be a tough tournament.

The ESCCS has grown in size since its inception and 12 teams will compete for the title at the end of the week. Kegs have been placed in Group A and will play tournament hosts Sparks Mlade Buky in their first game on Tuesday July 29  at 0900.

Speaking before leaving for the tournament, team Captain Barry Casey commented on how relaxed the squad was on departure. Barry Casey said “Kegs intend to travel and be competitive whilst at the same time enjoy the experience”

On behalf of Softball Ireland, we wish the Kegs all the best over the next number of days.

Softball Ireland also wish James O’Farrell Umpire in Chief , Brian Connolly, Jennifer Patterson and Steve Patterson representing H2O and John “Panda” Leonard representing the Slovenian Champions the best of luck.

Kegs progress can be followed on a live stream by clicking here

The officical tournament page can be reached here

by Colum Lavery

Ireland Finish Sixth at Diamond 3

Team Ireland fought their way back from a slow start on Saturday to finish strong and take sixth place and Plate Runner-Up at the Diamond 3 Softball Tournament held in Slough, England on July 26/27.

Showing a number of changes from the 2013 World Series squad, the team took on the best the UK had to offer over two very warm days at an outstanding facility. Ireland finished Day 1 of the tournament on a 1&4 record but had been competitive in the four losses. As ever Ireland’s defence was strong but the bats appeared to have been left in the hotel as Ireland left a number of runners on bases. This all changed in the last game of the day v Manchester Thunder as Ireland jumped out to an 8 run lead in the first and held this lead to the end to record an 8-5 victory.

Sunday monring saw Ireland with their final two group games. After dominating the Manchester Maniacs for the majority of the Game, Ireland found themselves chasing 4 runs at the bottom of the last.  A two out single from debutant Marian Neill followed by a 2 RBI Home Run from Senan Dormer gave Ireland the tie which put them fourth in the Group final standings. Ireland lost the last Game of the group stage against NSL Runners Up Pionnerrs after a spirited bottom of last fight back saw Ireland score 6 but come up one short.

At the end of the Group Stage Ireland finished on a 1-1-5 record which was good enough for fourth in the Group and a Plate semi-final spot against Manchester Maniacs who finished third in the other Group. The Plate semi final went to plan as Ireland took and early lead and built on it to win comfortably 10-5 and book a place in the final v Slammers. The final proved to be one game too far for Ireland as the experienced Slammers team jumped out to an early lead that was too much for Ireland and eventually Slammers went on to win the final 21-6.

A top 6 performance is Ireland’s best result at a Diamond series in a number of years. Speaking after the tournament Ireland Head Coach Pat Reddy congratulated the Players on their performance and commented on how valuable the experience  gained would stand to the Players in the future.

Final Results

Ireland 3 v Warriors 7

Ireland 1 v Blue Steel 9

Ireland 3 v H2O 11

Ireland 1 v Slammers 11

Ireland 8 v Manchester Thunder 5

Ireland 9 v Maniacs 9

Ireland 12 v Pioneers 13

Plate Semi Final

Ireland 10 v Maniacs 5

Plate Final

Ireland 5 v Slammers 21

by Colum Lavery

Baseball & Softball Shop announced as official ball supplier

Softball Ireland are pleased to announce The Baseball & Softball Shop as the Official Game Ball supplier to Softball Ireland for the remainder of 2014. The IOST, Brian Walsh Cup and National Championships will all use Worth .50 COR and a compression of 300lbs supplied by the Baseball & Softball Shop.

Softball Ireland President Colum Lavery said: “The appointment of an Official Ball Supplier will see considerable savings for the Softball Ireland membership and ensure that quality game balls are available for the remaining tournaments of 2014”.

About Baseball & Softball Shop UK

The Baseball & Softball Shop has Ireland and the UK’s largest choice of Baseball and Softball equipment ranging from gloves through to pitching machines. The Baseball & Softball Shop ships to Ireland and has a broad selection of products.

by Colum Lavery

Team Ireland to Play in Diamond 3 Tournament

The build up to Euro 2015 begins with a Team Ireland Selection coached by Pat Reddy travelling to Diamond 3 in Slough, England this weekend.

The tournament forms an important part of Ireland’s preparations with a second selection of players travelling to the World Series in early September.

The squad is a mix of youth and experience with 7 of the 2013 European Championship squad included and will play some of the best teams in the UK in what promises to be a challenging weekend.

The tournament is also a special moment for Jan Carroll and Marian Neill as they represent Ireland for the first time.

Updates will be posted on the Softball Ireland Twitter Feed @softballireland throughout the weekend. I hope you will join us in wishing the Irish Squad all the best.

We would also like to extend our best wishes to Bernie who had to withdraw due to injury.

Squad
Olwen Barrett (Oddsox)
Cliodhna Sharpe (Dodder)
Sarah Jane Walsh (Oddsox)
Ruth Davey (Marlay)
Jan Carroll (Thunderbolts)
Marian Neill (Sliders)
Colum Lavery (Oddsox)
Conor Sayles (Marlay)
Senan Dormer (Oddsox)
Andy Molloy (Marlay)
Marc O’Fathaigh (Marlay)
Jon O’Flynn (BatPak)