Tag: news

Registration for Brian Walshe Cup 2019 Now Open

The 2019 edition of the Brian Walshe Cup will be held on April 27, 2019. Teams are now invited to register for the tournament through the registration link below. As with previous tournaments, the tournament will be used as a fundraising event for the Slowpitch National Team which is participating at the 2019 European Championships in July 2019. Entry fee is €150 per team Click Here to Register 

Schedule Confirmed for January 2019 DIST

The second of the off season Indoor Softball tournament will be held in DCU on Saturday January 26, 2019.

The teams for the tournament have been confirmed and the schedule released.

  • 2Pak – Dublin
  • Brawlers – Belfast
  • Dodder – Dublin
  • Galway Hookers – Galway
  • Kegs – Dublin
  • Marlay – Dublin
  • Megamix – Dublin & Galway
  • Originals – Limerick
  • Sliders – Belfast
  • Suspects – Dublin
  • Thirsty Camels – Dublin
  • Wicklow Wolves – Wicklow

A couple of teams still have room for a body or two so if you haven’t signed up to a team for the tournament and would like to play contact Julie Trundle through the Facebook page.

For real time details and scores on the tournament please follow the DIST Facebook page by clicking here

Softball Ireland are delighted to have partnered with DIST on the prizes which we hope will help promote the game.

 

DIST 2019 Prizes

Countdown to 2019 – #1

Dodder are 2018 National Champions

Our final moment of 2018 saw Dodder retain the Softball Ireland National Club Championships in September after beating Belfast Softball Club in Dublin. 

Dodder’s win sees the Leinster league continue its dominance over the tournament and Dodder will be one of Softball Ireland’s two representatives at the 2020 European Super Cup.

The full tournament report can be found by clicking here.

The Facebook live feed of the game can be viewed here.

 

Countdown to 2019 – #2

Two

Ireland U19 & U22 Women’s National Teams Shock Europe

2018 was the year the Irish women team announced to the European softball powerhouses that we were no longer there to just make up the numbers.

As the Irish team left Dublin airport on 7am flight to Venice on Friday June 13, 2018, nobody could imagine what was about to happen over the next 14 days. 

Under 19s take silver

Ireland started the tournament in a group containing defending Champions Great Britain, European super power Russia and Denmark. Two wins in the group stage were required to make the medal round of the tournament and nobody, other than the Irish Management team, at the tournament expected it to be possible

Ireland played some phenomenal softball over the next 6 days during which they beat such European softball royalty as Russia, Germany, Belgium, Netherlands and Czech Republic to name a few on its way to playing the host nation and European number 1 Italy in the final. The final was an amazing occasion under lights in front of a full stadium and streamed around the world. Italy proved too strong on the night but not before Ireland made the host nation work hard for 7 innings to claim the title. 

A silver medal won within 4 years of the programme starting, Ireland were proud!

As a result of coming second, Ireland qualified for the 2019 Jnr World Championships as one of Europe’s 3 qualifiers. 

Full report can be read by clicking here

Under 22s take Bronze

The Irish team at 6am on the morning after its U19 heroics got on its bus for its 8 hour drive to Slovakia for the U22 European Championships. Ireland had entered the tournament to give the younger players more experience at the higher level and keep senior players ticking over in a year of no WNT tournaments. As the tired U19 team, management and families settled in for the journey exhausted, re-enforcements had arrived for the U22 tournament in the shape of Claire Blount, Tess Griswold, Allie Monteleone and Sinead O’Leary all focussed and demaning a medal.

If Ireland thought its group the previous week was tough, life came even harder when we were drawn with Great Britain (again), Greece, Slovakia and Turkey. Ireland needed 3 wins to progress to the medal round and things) did not start out well by losing to GB (again for the third time in a week). The tournament got better from here on in with Ireland winning all its remaining group games. 

A tired Ireland team, had to work hard over the next 4 days beating Poland and Russia but losing to Netherlands to qualify for the super six. Ireland knew 1 win from 3 would qualify them for a medal game and first up was GB (again). In what developed into a classic game, Ireland led for six innings only for GB to tie the game up in the bottom of 7. Extra innings it was and after Ireland taking a two run lead on a Tess home run, GB once more came back to snatch an unlikely win. Ireland still controlled its own destiny and beat Czech Republic the following day to qualify for the Bronze medal final.

You guessed it, the Bronze medal final  saw Ireland play GB for the fifth time this week, and it became a very one sided affair of Ireland domination GB both defensively and offensively to win the game 6-0 and take bronze whilst breaking our GB hoodoo at the same time.

Ireland finished the summer with a shiny bronze to complement the silver.

Next up for Ireland in 2019 – Olympic Qualification Tournaments

Countdown to 2019 – #3

Countdown to 2019 – #3

Ireland Coed Slowpitch Team Finish 8th at World Series 2018

As part of its preparations for the 2019 European Championships, Ireland traveled to London to play in the annual World Series tournament hosted by the BSF.

Ireland just missed out on a top 6 finish losing in the bottom of last to England in the last game of the round robin on the Saturday. 

Ireland ultimately finished the tournament in eight place and the full tournament report can be found by clicking here.

The 2019 European Coed Slowpitch Championships will be held in Budapest from July 15 – 20, 2019 at which Ireland will be hoping to reclaim a medal.

Countdown to 2019 – #4

Countdown to 2019 – #4

Around the Regions

2018 was another busy summer in the Regions with competitive league tournaments through out.

In Leinster, Dodder regained the Premier Division title from TNT followed by their second team Dynamites winning a tightly contested Division 1 and Renegade Titans winning Division 2. Click here for details on Softball Leinster 2018 Season.

In Ulster, Brawlers from the Belfast Softball Club won their third consecutive league title, however, they didn’t have it all their own way with the Belfast Sliders pushing them all the way to the second last game of the season. Click here for details on Brawlers league win.

Congratulations to all the league winners during 2018.

Counting down to 2019 – #6

#6 – Dublin Indoor Softball Tournament is back

After too long of a break, November saw the return of the Dublin Indoor Softball Tournament under the stewardship of its founder Julie Trundle

Softball Ireland are delighted that Julie Trundle approached Softball Ireland and volunteered to resurrect a tournament that had unfortunately dropped off the softball calendar in Ireland.

DIST was held on November 17, 2018 in a new venue in Dublin City University with 12 teams taking part with former champions Ori-ginals reclaiming their crown.

Next tournament will be held on January 26, 2019 in DCU.

Click here for a full report on DIST 2018

Minutes of 2018 Softball Ireland AGM

Softball Ireland AGM

17 November 2018 / 12.00-2.00pm / ALSAA

Board Attendees

Colum Lavery (President – CL), Olwyn Barrett (Treasurer – OB), Conor Sayles (Secretary – CS), Erin Brown (ind. – EB), Melanie Lavery (FP – ML), Jay Slevin (SU – JA)

Apologies

Jonathan Spielberg (SL – JS), Galway Softball Club

Notes

  • Opening
    • CS confirmed that a quorum of members was present (50% of fully paid up teams). CL noted adoption of the standing orders.
    • CL asked for comment on the 2017 minutes, none received. Adrian Foster proposed the minutes and Massimo Lepri seconded.
  • President’s report
    • CL noted that the Presidents report was circulated in advance of the meeting and opened the floor to questions. None received.
    • CL offered further congratulations to Dodder Dynamoes and Belfast Sliders as the Leinster and Ulster league winners respectively. He also congratulated TNT, Dodder, Maarten Blanken and  Massimo Lepri for their participation in the slowpitch, club Euros. Finally CL noted the medal winning success of the U19 and U22 Women’s fastpitch teams at the 2018 European Championships.
  • 2019 priorities
    • Ruth Brady asked how the fastpitch efforts sit alongside the stated goal to prioritise slowpitch. CL explained that fastpitch is ML’s role similar to the regions for slowpitch, and that his contribution to fastpitch is as husband/supporter, not as SI President.
    • CL noted that SI is 30 years established in 2019 and that he plans to celebrate the anniversary, including setting up a hall of fame and tracking national team caps.
    • Massimo Lepri asked about a “grand slam” club. CL responded that once again something of that nature would require volunteers.
    • USA women’s team coach will visit next year for the Brian Walshe Cup (start of season) weekend. There will be a Friday night event, Saturday events at the tournament and Sunday with the national squad.
    • Ruth Brady asked about how it will be made real. CL explained that KPIs will be agreed for each of the priorities circulated in advance of the AGM, and RAG status will be recorded monthly. The board will hold themselves accountable and report on progress at the next AGM. Ruth suggested in response that volunteers could then be sought to take on individual tasks.
    • CL and ML noted that communication is a two way street.  Massimo Lepri complimented the comprehensive AGM pack, but made clear that the momentum needed to be maintained.
    • Massimo Lepri asked about adding a priority around umpire development. Muireann O’Farrell raised concern about requiring Leinster Div 2 teams to have umpires. CS noted this would be a regional decision for SL to pick up on before the new season, CL was simply stating the SI position.
    • Jordan Sylver asked about the intervarsities. CL pointed to players in a number of colleges, focus on restarting a structured competition and direct engagement with colleges.
    • Jordan Sylver complimented the recent open day, and asked about whether more were on the way. CL responded that SI hope to run an indoor open day in the new year plus an event in Galway.
  • Finances
    • CL recognised the contribution of OB as treasurer over the last 4 years.
    • OB circulated updated accounts at the meeting, she took the attendees through the key points and notes.
    • OB explained that €1800 is available for next year’s IOST following UL dates issue this year and a refund of the ground hire cost. Paddy Donnelly asked about the 2017 figures compared to 2018, OB acknowledged the point but decided not to restate last years accounts.
    • Massimo Lepri proposed the accounts and Adrian Forster seconded (subject to auditors).
    • The 2019 budget was circulated at the meeting. CL pointed to the marketing budget and the website improvements.
    • CL also explained the team fee approach for 2019. He noted the “development investment from reserve” balancing figure. He finally noted the merger costs contingency and budget for the additional open days. ML expressed hope that sponsorship will enable refund of the fastpitch grant.
  • Election of SI Board
    • No objection to the nomination of Conor Sayles to a two-year term secretary.
    • No nominations have been received for treasurer, even after the additional time allowed. No nominations were received at the meeting. SI will advertise the role again.
    • The regional representatives, JS, JA and ML, were ratified. EB was ratified as the independent board member.
    • CL noted that EB is leading a good governance group. Massimo Lepri asked what level and CL confirmed A level is the goal.
  • Constitutional Amendments
    • 6 amendments were proposed by the SL committee as set out as APPENDIX TWO. #1 was merged into #2 following feedback from the SI Board.
    • #2 was passed unanimously with one abstention. #3 and #4 were both passed unanimously.
    • Some discussion was had on #5. It was unanimously agreed to amend the wording to “ratified at SI meeting” and the amended version was passed unanimously.
    • CL noted that #6 was not constitutional, but that as previously communicated that an IOST committee is already  in place for 2019.
    • After detailed consideration, the constitutional amendments as set out in APPENDIX THREE were approved.
    • The AGM noted that in additions to the previously circulated amendments, Revenue will require SI to make amendments in order to avail of the tax exemption, the AGM AGREED to approve any such amendments as obligated by the Revenue Commissioner.
  • AOB
  • Jordan Sylver asked about progress with the proposed development working group. CL explained that SI are still waiting on nominations from SL to partake. SU have confirmed there nominations, and an external volunteer Katie Sadlier has agreed to facilitate. The working group role is to develop a plan and hold SI accountable for implementation.

Colum Lavery
President

November 17, 2018

Action Items for SI Board

  1. Review child protection policy in light of merger with Baseball Ireland.
  2. Circulate SI-BI merger MOU to team contacts after it is signed.
  3. Provide details of 2019 coed slowpitch national team trials.
  4. Roll out BSUK coaching programme in January 2019.
  5. Celebrate SI 30 year anniversary, including hall of fame and national team caps.
  6. Agree on KPIs for each priority, report RAG monthly to membership.
  7. Indoor open day in Dublin and open day in Galway.
  8. Update constitution on SI website following amendments agreed.
  9. Advertise the vacant SI Treasurer position again.
  10. Setup a development working group and implement agreed plan.

Coed Slowpitch European Super Cup

Coed Slowpitch European Super Cup

Ireland were represented by TNT and Dodder at the 2018 European Super Cup.

After pool stage of the tournament TNT finished 4th in Group B and progressed to the medal round whilst Dodder just missed out on the top 8 in Group A, finishing 5th and competed in the 9-16 ranking at the tournament.

Unfortunately for the Irish representatives, the tournament was dominated by the British teams with Pioneers taking gold, H2O Silver and London Chromies finishing third. TNT finished best of the two Irish teams with a 6th place finish overall with Dodder finishing 11th.

The next edition of the tournament will be held in 2020.