The slowpitch softball season started for most leagues around the country at the beginning of May, and the race for league and divisional titles is now in full swing. Below are reports on how the season is going so far in a number of key leagues.
Manchester Softball League
by Harry Somers
If the rest of the season is anything like the first month, we're in for an exciting summer in Manchester.
In Division 1, Lions and Greensox share the lead with 4-1 records, and will play each other next. Half a game behind on 4-2 are Dodgers, who had a dream start with four straight wins but have now tailed off, and Outlaws, also on 4-2, who conversely started slowly but have now picked up. In fifth place are Thunder, but only one game behind the leaders. Former powerhouse Mavericks are way off the pace at 1-4, along with newly-promoted Mayhem. Bullfrogs bring up the rear with no wins from five games.
Unlike previous seasons, when a larger Division 1 lost its bottom three members after one rotation, the eight teams this year play two full rotations before splitting into top and bottom fours. So the fight to avoid fifth place is going to be very tense.
The nine-team Division 2, in contrast, has all the teams nicely spread out behind the unbeaten Meerkats on 6-0, already 1-1/2 games ahead of second-placed Speeders.
To complete the league restructure, only one team will be promoted from Division 3, while two come down. Leading the pack are last year's relegated Storm on 4-1, with Pirates and Hackers both one game behind. The top teams are evenly matched, and it is early days.
In Division 4, two teams are clearly better than the rest. Hurricanes are 5-0, with the newly arrived Sefton Sharks from Merseyside half a game back on 5-1 (that single loss being to the 'Canes). The Scousers have brought a level of organisation and skill to the league which suggests that they will quickly climb the MSL ladder and face more taxing opponents in years to come.
Manchester softballers spent the first month of the season looking forward to the 11th Alex Hall Charity Tournament in aid of cancer research on 31 May, an event traditionally marked by fancy dress, colour-coded picnics, and fun softball in mix-and-match teams. If past years are anything to go by, it will have been a fabulous day out for a splendid cause.
.jpg)
Solent Softball League
by Sefton Chatfield
Division Two
The Hursley Hurricanes have lived up to their billing as favourites to go straight back up to Division One after winning their first four games of the season. With wins over The UPSU Shafters (twice), the Baffins Brewers and the Southsea Zombies, the Hurricanes will be the team to beat this year if anyone else is looking to get promoted.
However, the Portsmouth University team, the UPSU Shafters, are currently sitting on top of Division Two as they try to cram in as many games as possible before the end of the summer term. They have already played eight of their 10 games, which will apply some pressure to the other teams looking to knock them off the top spot.
The league's two newest teams, the Southampton Spitfires and Southsea Zombies, are both enjoying life in their first season in the Solent Softball League. Although neither team has picked up a win as yet, both teams have impressed with their commitment and ability. New teams always struggle in their first few seasons, with wins hard to come by, but these two teams won’t be waiting long if they stick together.
The Baffins Brewers are enjoying a good season so far, with two wins from four games, and are sitting in third place. With strong performances in their two losses, the Brewers could be a dark horse for promotion as they canter below the radar.
The Chichester Falcons have got off to a slow start to the season and have only played one game, which was a 12-10 loss to to the UPSU Shafters. So it's unclear as yet what their season holds and what they can bring to the table.
Division One
The OAPs, favourites to take the title (again), are currently sitting in third place although they have only played two games, and they remain in a good position to take the title for a fourth (or is it fifth?) year in a row. Meanwhile, the Itchen Knicks will be looking to hold on to the top spot they currently hold after three wins from their four games so far. But with their only loss being to the OAPs, the OAPs currently hold all the cards – though there is always the return fixture and the hope of a banana skin.
The Portsmouth Dodgers are sitting in second place after a tidy win against the Southsea Sharks, but this came after the Dodgers dropped their previous three games, including a heartbreaking loss in the last inning agains the Knicks. The Dodgers will be looking to stay in Division One after promotion from Division Two last year.
Another team currently on two wins out of two are the Killa Whales. Possibly a threat to the OAPs and the Knicks, the Whales are a consistent team, scoring 33 runs in their two games and conceding 19 in return. Maybe this will be their year.
The other promoted team from last year are the Solent Sluggers. Having played two games, they beat the also-promoted Dodgers in the first game of the season for both teams, but then fell to the Killa Whales by a score of 12-6. Also looking to finish the season in Division One, the Sluggers will be a difficult team to beat as they have strong batters and run the bases hard.
The Southsea Sharks have also only played two games so far, suffering defeats in both. Facing possibly a tough season, the Sharks will look to bring it back from the depths and keep afloat for the rest of the summer and keep themselves in Division One for the following year.
Of course, all this could of course all change by the next SSL report at the end of June!
Windsor and Maidenhead District Mixed Softball League
by Andrew Scott
Fresh from their victory in the Windsor First Ball Tournament, Windsor Knights set out their title credentials in Division 1 with a resounding 17-2 victory over 2013 champions BA Jets. The Knights followed this up with another convincing 26-11 victory over the Wildcats to post a 100% record after two games. They are not the only team with a 100% record, however, and having played an extra game, the team currently at the top of the table is Chalfont Phoenix. Phoenix started the season on a high by claiming bragging rights over local rivals Chalfont Flames with a closely-fought 20-15 victory, and this was followed up by wins over Richings Park Eagles and BA Jets.
BA Jets appear to be still suffering a hangover from last year’s title win, with two defeats from two games leaving them rooted at the foot of the table. In fairness to the current champions, however, those two games were against two of the favourites for this year’s title, so they will no doubt be back to winning ways before long.
Richings Park Hawks will also think of themselves as potential title challengers with two wins from their opening three games, including a close 21-20 victory over Maidenhead Royals and a win over Chalfont Flames. Despite the agony of that narrow defeat, the Royals bounced back straight away with an 18-13 victory over Chalfont Flames to keep themselves in contention.
In Division 2, RG Blue Sox have developed a new lease of life since their recent club restructuring, with three wins out of three. The Blue Sox, now a single team rather than a club, and based in Reading while playing out of Farnham Park, scored comfortable wins over Bracknell Scorchers, Chalfont Firebirds and Richings Park Hawks. They are not on their own at the top of the table, however, but are joined by Rattlesnakes, now based in Cox Green rather than Farnham Park, who also have three wins from three games. Rattlesnakes recorded victories over Maidenhead Rebels, Marlow Mariners and BA Flyers. Both teams are clearly favourites for the title and promotion to Division 1.
As with Division 1, the 2013 champions – Chalfont Flames – seemed to be struggling to reach the same heights that they achieved last year. With defeats in the two opening games against BA Flyers and RG Blue Sox, the club have only just started to find their form with a win over Maidenhead Rebels.
At the bottom end of the table, league newcomers Marlow remain winless despite having produced some great performances so far, and are certain to beat last season’s record of one win from 16 games.
With a view to raising the standard of softball in the region even further, the Windsor and Maidenhead District Mixed Softball League has set up a new development league that takes place on Wednesday evenings at Farnham Park. The league is for anyone aged 14 years or older and new to the game. It provides a chance to develop softball skills in an informal yet competitive environment, with qualified coaches to provide training and support to bring the best out of new players. For more information about the development league, contact: info@wmsoftball.com.
Norfolk Softball Association
by Mark House
The early-season Norfolk weather has mostly been kind and three of the first four weeks of the season have been completed to schedule.
The eight competing teams continue to chase the winners from the last two seasons, the Wolves, who already look like formidable opponents. Of the other seven teams, the Masterbatters have made a solid start and could be the surprise package.
Norfolk'n'chance, the Norfolk travelling team, head to USAF Mildenhall at the start of June to take part in the Recon Invitational against 15 US base teams. If last year was anything to go by, it will be another learning experience.
The Norfolk junior programme got going on Tuesday 27 May. It is anticipated that numbers will be even higher than last summer's successful season. The programme attracts boys and girls aged 5-13 years, and has practice and competitive elements. Much of the programme is run by young leaders from the local high school.
Full details at www.norfolksoftball.com.