[title size=”1″]Quick Interview #7 – Laura Hoey[/title]

When did you start Softball? 
I started Slow pitch in 2011 when I returned from the States after 6 years of living there.

Why Softball??
I returned from a soccer scholarship in America and new about fast pitch from living stateside. When I was jogging my local park I saw what looked liked softball but the pitching was under hand and there were men and women!! That grabbed my attention and curiosity, and now I’m entering my 5th season in a great sport.

Have you played any other sports?
I’ve always been a sports player but soccer was my heartbeat and I that was followed by GAA and cross country running.

What club do you play for?
I’m currently deciding what team my schedule will permitted me to join this year regarding training days and match days. I was previously a 2pak club member but a bit of a softball hoe really!

Do you have any pre match routines?
I usually try and get with a fast armed player mainly male to wake me up and shake of any rustiness or nerves. Have a hard throwing warm up!!

When was your first international game? 
My first international game was 2013 against an over 50’s American team in the Celtic classic before we traveled for the 2013 Euros.

How many caps do you have?
Em, I believe I have like 5 caps in slow pitch and 1 in soccer

What can we do to continue to get people interested in Softball? 
I’ve helped mu sister out in youth reach programs she does and I held softball camps during it, I reckon that’s a good place to start and schools sports days etc, the kids and teenagers coming up are out best bet!! We need to be targeting schools and colleges which I know some in SL and SI are already, if more people got on board….

Are you sponsored?
I am lucky that both my previous employer (Australian) and current (American) company are sponsoring me for the up coming trip, let’s hope it covers everything 😉

What’s your international Goal? 
My heart broke to lose by 1 run against Germany in 2013 for a medal position in slow pitch. We are the underdogs this year in Holland but my aspirations stay the same, give 110% and play for a medal!!

Who is your favourite female player?
Haha I have learned so much from various players over the years and would be unfair to name only one. I’ll go with Mrs Finch as my neutral choice and she needs no explanation!!

Who is your favourite male player?
Same goes for the men, lots have helped me mature and evolve as a player but there’s a small few that have helped me immensely and would be unfair to only name one.

Which countries have you played Softball in? Where was your favourite?
Hawaii being the most awesome place I’ve played slow pitch in just because it’s Hawaii, there have been some close seconds, Czech Republic, Italy, Scotland, London, and many more to come 🙂

[title size=”1″]Quick Interview #6 – Jenny Patterson (Bohan)[/title]

When did you start Softball? 
I started playing softball in 1998, Yikes that’s a few years!!

Why Softball??
I played Rounders competitively within the Community Games from the age of 8 winning lots of All Ireland Medals with Lakelands Rounders club. I absolutely loved Rounders and was introduced to softball by a friend of a Rounders friend who had been bitten by the Softball bug.

Have you played any other sports?
Yes, Rounders, Hockey, Soccer, Basketball, Athletics, Badminton. I love sport.

What club do you play for?
I play with the Oddsox Green in Ireland and we have won the league 3 times with a lot of frustrating runner-up years and with H2O in the UK where we have won the National League 4 times. Oddsox Green are due to play in the European Clubs next year and I played with H2O in the European Clubs in Prague last year.

Do you have any pre match routines?
A general warm up and jog to get the body limbered up. A throw to get the arms sorted and the eye in, and a few swings of the bat too. It’s also always good to take a few moments before the game starts to focus on your intent to win!

When was your first international game? 
In 2000-Maynooth.

How many caps do you have?
Not absolutely certain, I played for Ireland in the Europeans in 2000 and 2004, but also at many preparation tournaments in the UK. I imagine about 20+

What can we do to continue to get people interested in Softball? 
I think we could market the sport a little better than we do. There are plenty of people who don’t even know what it is or that it’s available in Ireland. I understand that we don’t have a lot of funds available but I think it would be worth it in the long run. Also grassroots programmes are essential to the growth of the sport.

Are you sponsored?
No, Self-funding.

What’s your international Goal? 
To win Gold would be awesome. I have a silver and a bronze in my pocket so there’s only one more I want!

Who is your favourite female player?
Melanie of course…. Ha Ha

Who is your favourite male player?
Well if we can include baseball I would say Dustin Pedroia, he is one serious player!

Which countries have you played Softball in? Where was your favourite?
UK, Jersey, Austria, USA, Czech Republic.
I would have to say Austria as I met my husband at that tournament!!

[title size=”1″]Quick Interview #5 – Sarah Walsh[/title]

When did you start Softball?
Started playing softball from age 5/6 with my dad think bout 1993

Why Softball??
Softball is in my blood my dad made name for himself among the Irish community and I loved it as much as he did so have been throwing a softball since I could walk. Also i played in the states for 7 years and loved every minute of it.

Have you played any other sports?
Yes I’ve played volleyball from age 10 and basketball from 11, also played soccer from age 15

What club do you play for?
I play for Oddsoxs Green

Do you have any pre-match routines?
I like to watch the other team warm up to get an idea of there skill set and hopefully find a weakness, also I like to plan what goals I’d like to achieve in each game.

When was your first international game?
In 2006 I traveled to the Europeans in Slovenia

How many caps do you have?
I don’t actually have a count but I’d say 15 or more between the euros and inter travelling years

What can we do to continue to getting people interested in Softball?
Best place to start is with the youth going out to the schools and talking to the kids, the younger we get them the better players they will become

Are you sponsored?
No, but if there’s anyone out there who’s interested we could do with as many sponsors as possible as we mostly fund ourselves

What’s your international Goal?
Strive for gold of course

Who is your favourite female player?
Jenny finch USA phenomenal player

Who is your favourite male player?
There’s too many to choose 🙂

[title size=”1″]Quick Interview #4 – Ruth Lillis[/title]

When did you start Softball?

I started softball in 2009

Why Softball??

I was in UL and my friends brother played and they were always looking for girls to play. She didn’t want to go on her own and asked me to go with her so I did. Had so much fun the first day with some great people and I’ve never looked back since!

Have you played any other sports?

I play golf. I played Camogie up to this year since I was 10 which certainly helped the hand-eye coordination! I also played badminton up to college level.

What club do you play for?

I play for the Kegs in Ballsbridge

Do you have any pre match routines?

Just the usual stretch, throw a ball and warm the arm and get a few hits in… Just to relax more than anything before the game starts

When was your first international game?

In 2011 I was picked to represent Ireland in Bulgaria… I think my first game was against Slovenia. I played right field and dropped the first ball that was hit to me! I’ll Never forget it! Thankfully things have improved since…!

How many caps do you have?

I’ve been lucky enough to make the last two international teams and have 10 caps

What can we do to continue to getting people interested in Softball?

Try and play in areas where there may be people around to see it
A number of softballers are teachers and could introduce into schools and playoff against each other’s

Are you sponsored?

Unfortunately no… It’s an expensive hobby and we have to fund ourselves but we do fundraise to try and ease the financial burden.

What’s your international Goal?

To be on the team that wins Ireland’s first Competitive fast-pitch game!

Who is your favourite female player?

Natasha Watley is pretty awesome…

Who is your favourite male player?

The only guys I know that play softball are my friends so I’m not going to give any of them big heads!

Which countries have you played Softball in? Where was your favourite?

I’ve played in the uk, the Czech Republic and Bulgaria. My favourite so far has been Paradubice in the Czech Republic.

[title size=”1″]Quick Interview #3 – Marian Neill[/title]

When did you start Softball?
I started in 2009.

Why Softball??
My dad saw an advertisement on Gumtree for an Introductory league run by Softball Ulster, so I decided to go along and try it out! We were split into 3 teams, trained in the basics like batting and throwing and then played matches over a couple of weeks. After the final week those interested in continuing with softball had a meeting with Softball Ulster who helped those of us start a team. We formed Belfast Sliders Softball Club and played the second half of the 2009 season – 8 of the original group still play!

Have you played any other sports?
I played Camogie until I was 18/19, and I currently play hockey for Pegasus and Baseball for Belfast Buccaneers.

What club do you play for?
I play for Belfast Sliders in the Ulster League.

Do you have any pre match routines?
No.

When was your first international game?
I played for Team Ireland at Diamond 3 in London in July 2014.

What can we do to continue to getting people interested in Softball?
I think things like social media and “word of mouth” help Softball as it’s one of the those sports locally a lot of people don’t realise exists, while events like introductory leagues or open days are a great way to boost participation.
I also think if we could get people involved from a younger age it would really help the develop the sport, as a lot of people are either established in a sport or are not longer interested in playing sport by the time they would be allowed to play softball.

Are you sponsored?
No – it’s all self-funded, so we also do fundraising to try subsidise the costs.

What’s your international Goal?
This summer I’ll achieve my first goal when we compete in the European Championships. I want to be part of a medal winning Irish squad.

Who is your favourite female player?
I couldn’t pick one, I’ve trained and played with some brilliant girls and it helps push me to improve my own game.

Who is your favourite male player?
Again I couldn’t pick one – you’re continually learning from the people you play with!

Which countries have you played Softball in? Where was your favourite?
Back in 2009, I travelled to Hluk in the Czech Republic to play in the Burcak (Young Wine) Tournament, up to that point I had only played a couple of games within the Ulster league so it was an brilliant experience.
In July 2014, I played in England at the Diamond 3 tournament. It was my first time playing on proper diamonds and the standard of softball was so different to my normal league. I couldn’t pick a favourite – both were great experiences for very different reasons!