Two Manchester teams – the Greensox and the Lions – met in the Grand Final of the 23rd Edinburgh Festiball on the weekend of 24-25 August, and the Greensox triumphed 5-3 on a massive late home run by Michael Lee. Other winners were Blitz and Finsbury Dazzlers from London and Honey Badgers from Glasgow.
Thirty-one teams took part on a weekend that produced drizzle on both mornings but sunshine later, and all eight finals on Sunday were played in glorious conditions.
Grand Final
The Grand Final was played in front of the usual enthusiastic crowd, and it was the third time the Greensox and Lions had met in a final this season, with the Lions having won on both previous occasions. Was this to be the Lions' year in their first-ever appearance in the Festiball's Pentland Cup Final, having secured the Manchester Division 1 title earlier in the week (thus becoming the first team other than the Greensox or Mavericks to win the MSL since 1999)?
The answer was no. In a thrilling game, Michael Lee hit a massive late home run to secure the win for Greensox by a score of 5-3.
Results
Calton Competition (D-grade)
Winner: Honey Badgers (Glasgow)
Runner-up: Inglorious Batters (Edinburgh)
Plate Winner: Vandals (Edinburgh)
Plate Runner-up: Bolts (Edinburgh)
MVPs: Deborah Wilson and John Irving (Honey Badgers)
Blackford Competition (C-grade)
Winner: Finsbury Dazzlers (London)
Runner-up: Camels (Manchester)
Plate Winner: Gogsy's Gorillas (Edinburgh)
Plate Runner-up: Touring Tarts (Birmingham)
MVPs: Bailey Vertovez and Isaac Howard.
Braids Competition (C+/B-grade)
Winner: Blitz (London)
Runner-up: Chargers (London)
Plate Winner: Kamikazi (London)
Plate Runner-up: Thundercats (London)
MVPs: Natalie Woolley and Nick Collins.
Pentlands Competition (A/B+-grade)
Winner: Greensox (Manchester)
Runner-up: Lions (Manchester)
Plate Winner: Maverick Souls (UK)
Plate Runner-up: Clan (UK/USA)
MVPs: Chloe Llewellyn and Michael Lee (Greensox)
