Month: May 2019

Ireland to Host USA in inaugural Atlantic Challenge Cup

Ireland to Host USA in inaugural Atlantic Challenge Cup

Softball Ireland are delighted to announce that the Irish Women’s National Team will host the World Number 1 USA Jr Women’s National Team in Dublin on June 24, 2019 at 7.00pm for the inaugural Atlantic Challenge Cup.

Ireland will play World Number 1 USA as part of final leg of their short European tour having played France and Japan in Paris prior to arriving in Dublin.

For Ireland, ranked 12th in Europe and 22nd in the World, the game forms an important part of Irelands preparations for the European Championships and Olympic Qualification tournament which will held in the Czech Republic and Poland from June 30 – July 6, 2019.

Speaking on the opportunity to play USA in Dublin, Head Coach Melanie Cunningham (Director of Fastpitch) said “We are excited for this opportunity. Playing such a strong opponent will be sure to focus the team prior to travelling to the European Championships. Like the hockey team in 2018, this summer is softballs chance to showcase what a high performance women’s programme can accomplish.”

Softball Ireland President added “We would like to thank USA Softball for agreeing to extend their tour to include Ireland. There is a special relationship between both our countries and in particular between our two Softball boards. This is a great opportunity for us to showcase Softball to the wider community in Ireland and we hope to see a lot of fans on the night wearing green and supporting the team.

Team Ireland will be hoping to replicate the success of 2018 during which the Under 19 Women’s Team won silver and Under 22 Women’s Team one bronze at their respective European Championships.

The Ireland v USA game will be streamed live globally and will be available in the USA on usasoftball.com.

Sponsorship and advertising opportunities will be available for interested partners.

Media Queries

Please contact  – Colum Lavery

E: president@softball.ie

T: +353867708576

https://youtu.be/JQPTyRkGM94

Major League Baseball Logo

Irish Coach to attend MLB Coach Development Programme

Jonathan Spielberg to attend MLB Coaches Camp

Softball Ireland are delighted to announce that Jonathan Spielberg will attend the MLB Coaches Development Programme in London on May 25/26, 2019.

The MLB camp is part of the legacy programme being ran by MLB in advance of the RedSox v Yankees London Series in June.

Jonathan is currently an assistant coach on the Slowpitch National Co-ed team that will travel to Hungary for the European Championships in July and was Head Coach of the Mens National Team in 2018.

Speaking on the invitation, Softball Ireland President Colum Lavery said, ” We would like to thank BSUK for the invitation to send coaches to the programme, we are delighted that Jonathan is attending and are delighted we can fund it through a development grant.”

Co-Ed European Championship Squad Announced

2019 Co-Ed Slowpitch European Championship Squad Announced

Dublin May 8, 2019

Co-ed Slowpitch National Team manager Senan Dormer has announced the final squad for the 2019 European Championships which will take place in Budapest, Hungary from the 15 July to 20 July 2019.

                              Women

                                  Men

Ruth Casey

Kegs

Barry Casey

Kegs

Ruth Concannon

Ori-ginals

Brian Franks*

Renegade Reapers

Caryn Elmes

Batpak

Frank Geoghan

Dodder

Andrea Kavanagh

TNT

Brian Hehir

Ori-ginals

Emma Kilbride

Batpak

Eric Kelly

Ori-ginals

Norma McIntyre

Batpak

Simon Lewis

TNT

Julie Trundle

Dublin Bay Packers

Gary O’Shea

Batpak/Thunderbolts

   

Ben Reilly

Batpak

   

Sal Rizo

Batpak

* Denotes New Cap

 Management Team

Senan Dormer – Head coach

Jonathan Spielberg – Assistant Coach

Declan Burke – Assistant Coach

Paddy Donnelly – Assistant Coach

Karen Brady – Strength & Conditioning Coach