Month: September 2019

by Colum Lavery

SPORTFEST 2019 a Success

Softball Proves Popular at SPORTFEST 2019

Softball Ireland’s exhibition at the 2019 Sport Ireland Family SPORTFEST went down a treat with over 500 adults and children and 1 Leo The Lion getting an introduction to the sport.

Softball Ireland created a Softball Village at the Family SPORTFEST demonstrating slowpitch softball and allowing those attending an opportunity to try the different skills of the game including throwing, hitting and pitching. The Softball Village was one of the more popular exhibitors on the day with a constant flow of willing participants trying to hit the target or hit the ball from a Batting Tee.

Speaking on the success of the Softball Village, Softball Ireland President Colum Lavery said:

“The SPORTFEST event for Softball Ireland was an amazing day with non-stop lines of children and adults looking to try out of the sport. We hope that everybody who tried the activities walked way knowing more about our sport and hopefully they will follow it up by getting involved with local clubs.” Lavery added “I was encouraged by the number of PE teachers who were interested in the coed nature of the game and this something we will explore further whilst developing our youth strategy with Baseball Ireland within BSI.”

The exhibition stand manned by Softball Ireland President Colum Lavery together with current and past Softball Ireland national team players and representatives from National Champions Dodder. Softball Ireland would like to thank Caitlyne De Lange, Brian Connolly, Jordan Sylver and Niall Lavery for volunteering their time on the day. 




by Colum Lavery

Softball Ireland to Exhibit at Family SPORTFEST

Softball Ireland are delighted to confirm that we will be exhibiting and promoting softball at the 2019 Sport Ireland Family SPORTFEST

Following a presentation of the case for the inclusion of Softball at the SPORTFEST event by Softball Ireland President Colum Lavery, Sport Ireland have allocated an exhibition space at the event.

Softball Ireland will have a Softball Village at the Family SPORTFEST demonstrating slowpitch softball and allowing people attending an opportunity to try the different skills of the game including throwing, hitting and pitching. The exhibition stand will be manned by current and past Softball Ireland national team players.

Speaking on Softball Ireland’s inclusion as an exhibitor Colum Lavery said ” I am delighted that we are able to exhibit at the SPORTFEST and would like to thank Sports Campus Ireland for including us. It provides us with an opportunity to demonstrate and promote all disciplines of our sport whilst hopefully expanding our database of players interested in playing softball.” Lavery added “We will also provided details to any potential players interested in Baseball as part of our shared commitment under Baseball Softball Ireland to promote and grow our membership.” 

This event, in association with the European Week of Sport, takes place on Sunday 22nd September from 12pm to 5pm in the national sports campus and tickets are sold out.

If you happen to be at the event please drop by and say hello!

More details on Family SPORTFEST can be found here.

Dodder win the Softball Ireland National Club Championship in 2019.
by Colum Lavery

Dodder are 2019 National Champions

Dodder Win Softball Ireland National Club Championships

Dodder Softball Club have retained the National Championships with a 17-5 win over Belfast Softball Club on damp day in Belfast.

SINCC is played annually between the winners of the Softball Leinster Premier Division and Softball Ulster League to determine the Irish National Champions. The 2019 game was  replay of the 2018 fixture and it was clear to see that BSC had learnt its lessons holding the powerful Dodder line up to a couple of runs in every inning bar the 4th. Unfortunately for BSC, Dodder had brought its “A” defensive game up the M1 to Belfast and held BSC to 5 runs over 7 innings though BSC did leave a number on.

Softball Ireland streamed the game live on Facebook and if you missed the the stream on the day you can click here to watch the full game.

The SINCC game was held as part of the Softball Ulster end of season tournament which saw 3 teams travel up north from Softball Leinster to participate. Softball Ireland would like to thank Softball Ulster for hosting the SINCC game.

With the completion of the 2019 SINCC tournament, Dodder Dynamoes and Belfast Softball Club have been confirmed as Softball Ireland’s entries to the 2020 European Softball Federation Slowpitch Club Championships.

SINCC 2019 Box Score

  1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Total
Belfast Softball Club 1 0 2 0 0 0 2 5
Dodder Dynamoes 4 2 2 8 1 0 X 17
by Colum Lavery

Carathon 2019

Carathon 2019

Carathon 2019 will be held at Wanderers Rugby Club in aid of the Alzheimer’s association and Enable Ireland on Friday September 6, 2019.

It is one of the most eagerly awaited events on the Softball calendar, Carathon, which is arranged by Kegs Softball Club and has raised over €115,000 in recent years and supported charities such as Crumlin Children’s Hospital, Pieta House, Focus, The Irish Cancer Society and the Irish Heart Foundation, etc.  Every year Carat nominates a different charity to support and for 2019 it’s two, the Alzheimer’s association, and also Enable Ireland. It is anticipated they will benefit to the tune of €15,000 from Friday afternoons softball activities.  

Speaking about the event this Friday, organiser in chief Peter Murnaghan said ” I would like to thank you all for volunteering your time. It is very much appreciated and reminds us about the great things that we can achieve for others with our sport. Carat very much appreciates our help in this too, in fact this couldn’t operate without your help.”

Kegs running of the event has been supported by numerous softball volunteers from the Softball Ireland community and Softball Ireland over the last number of years and once more Softball Ireland and the softball community has stepped up to support.

The event itself is starting at 14:00 pm in Wanderers rugby club on Friday September 6, 2019 with four diamonds running all day until 6:30pm followed by a BBQ. Umpires, Pitchers and team helpers as well as floating helpers to get the teams to the pitches on time and give them some initial advice on playing will be in attendance all day!

If you haven’t had a chance to volunteer but are still interested in doing so, please do note hesitate to contact Peter Murnaghan.

To Peter, all we can say is THANK YOU!


by Colum Lavery

Ireland Development Team Announced for World Series

Ireland Development Squad Announced for World Series

Following on from Ireland’s bronze at the European Championships, an Ireland development squad will once more compete at the 2019 World Series organized by the British Softball Federation.

The tournament consists of 18 team representing the country or region they are from in a weekend of Slowpitch Softball. The team will be led by the National Team assistant head coach Jonathan Spielberg under the watchful eyes of head coach Senan Dormer.

The Slowpitch National Team Management have announced a development roster for theCo-ed World Series to be held in London on September 7/8 as follows:

Women:
Jennifer Ó Buachalla
Allison Marano
Suzanne Hannon
Kayla Martell
Hazel Kilduff
Merilin Neiland
Meabh Hogan
Rachael Rogan

Men:
Ken McCarthy*
Niall Lavery
Paddy Donnelly*
Salvador Rizo*
Wayne Cullen
Kevin McGreevy
Dermot Donnellan
Gary O’Shea*
Jonathan Spielberg*
Timothy Healy

*Capped players

Munster will also compete in the tournament as part of their rotation with the Leinster Craicers.

Please follow our social media channels over the course of the weekend for updates.

Tournament Schedule

TIME

PITCH 1

PITCH 2

PITCH 3

PITCH 4

PITCH 5

PITCH 6

9.00

GROUP A:

Canada v Dutch

GROUP A:

Japan v Masters

GROUP A:

Heath v Ireland

GROUP B:

Waynes v Wales

GROUP B:

Belgium v USA

GROUP B:

England v Africa

10.15

GROUP C:

Munster v Latins

GROUP C:

Scots v Futures

GROUP C:

UCE v Anzacs

GROUP B:

USA v Africa

GROUP B:

Belgium v Wales

GROUP B:

Waynes v England

11.30

GROUP C:

Futures v Anzacs

GROUP C:

Scotland v Latins

GROUP C:

Munster v UCE

GROUP A:

Masters v Ireland

GROUP A:

Japan v Dutch 

GROUP  A:

Canada v Heath

12.45

GROUP B:

Wales v Africa

GROUP B:

England v USA

GROUP B:

Waynes v Belgium

GROUP A:

Dutch v Ireland

GROUP A:

Heath v Masters

GROUP A:

Canada v Japan
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

14.00

GROUP B:

USA v Waynes

GROUP B:

Africa v Belgium

GROUP B:

Wales v England

GROUP C:

Latins v Anzacs

GROUP C:

UCE v Futures

GROUP C:

Munster v Scots

15.15

GROUP A:

Masters v Canada

GROUP A:

Ireland v Japan

GROUP A:

Dutch v Heath

GROUP C:

Futures v Munster

GROUP C:

Anzacs v Scots

GROUP C:

Latins v UCE

16.30

GROUP A:

Heath v Japan

GROUP A:

Ireland v Canada

GROUP A:

Masters v Dutch

GROUP B:

Engl’d v Belgium

GROUP B:

Africa v Waynes

GROUP B:

USA v Wales

17.45

GROUP C:

UCE v Scotland

GROUP C:

Anzacs v Munster

GROUP C:

Futures v Latins

 

 

 
by Colum Lavery

SINCC Teams Confirmed

Softball Ireland National Club Championships

Softball Ireland are delighted to confirm that the Softball Ireland National Club Championships (SINCC) will be contested between the Softball Leinster Premier Division champions and current SINCC champions Dodder Softball Club and Softball Ulster champions Belfast Softball Club.

The SINCC game will be played during the Softball Ulster end of season tournament at 12 noon on  Sunday September 15, 2018 at Hydebank Playing Fields, Newtownbreda Road, Belfast BT8 6AS. Softball Ireland hope to be able to stream the game through the Softball Ireland facebook page.

Rosters for the tournament will be released on September 8, 2019.

Please follow our social media channels for updates in the build up to the tournament.