Following a successful trip to Cologne earlier
this year by the Tourcats, a travelling team from the Birmingham Bobcats Softball Club, the club invited the Aachen Aixplosives, a mixed fastpitch team from Germany, to the UK for a one-day international slowpitch tournament on September 29.
The invitation was part of a plan by the Bobcats and teams they have played during two recent trips to Europe to form an association of recreational teams around the Continent that want to compete across international boundaries.
The event was the first tournament hosted by the Bobcats, was also seen as an ideal opportunity to promote and encourage the Birmingham Softball League (BSL), which will officially begin play in 2013.
Eight teams
The international tournament took place in glorious weather in Edgbaston, Birmingham. In addition to the Aachen Aixplosives and four Birmingham Softball League teams (the Roosters, the Harborne Hammerheads, the Weasels and the Minotaurs), three other teams were invited from Bristol, Manchester and Cardiff to represent their leagues.
The tournament consisted of an initial round-robin format, with the eight teams split into two groups, followed by another round robin in the afternoon with the two higher-placed teams from the initial round-robins playing in the Cup Division and the two lower-placed teams in the Plate Division.
By midday, the Cardiff Warriors, Bristol, the Minotaurs and the Roosters were playing for the Cup and Manchester Fish, the Weasels, the Hammerheads and the Aixplosives were competing for the Plate.
The tournament was scheduled so that the teams would all be able to have lunch together. It was at this point that the Aachen Aixplosives presented the BSL with a large box full of German food, four barrels of beer, a team-signed softball and hats. The presentation was shortly followed by relay races, which were won by the Aachen Aixplosives.
Softball's the winner
After a successful afternoon of games, the Minotaurs and Bristol were tied for the Cup and in a head-to-head game the Minotaurs triumphed by 13-1. In the Plate division, the Aixplosives demonstrated that they were getting the measure of slowpitch and in the final two games beat the Weasels 24-2 and the Hammerheads 20-8 to win the Plate trophy.
Following the games, a buffet was provided to thank all the teams for participating. Each member of the Birmingham Bobcats donated a dish and it resulted in a feast. This was an excellent end to the day, as it encouraged all the teams to remain beyond the games and to socialise with each other.
The day was such a success that two similar tournaments have already been scheduled for next year – one in Aachen and the other in Birmingham. Due to the increasing interest in these international events, next year the tournaments will be formalised and referred to as the International Slowpitch Softball Series.
Comments
All of the teams that took part were enthusiastic about the event.
Holly Ireland from the Cardiff team said: "The Cardiff Dragon Warriors thoroughly enjoyed the day. It was great to play against some teams you don't usually see at tournaments. The Birmingham League are great fun and superb hosts – the buffet afterwards was wonderful. And thankfully, the weather cooperated! All in all, it was a fantastic opportunity to have one more swing of the bat this season. We are pleased to have been involved, and will be coming back to another one!"
GB Slowpitch Team coach and former GB pitcher Mike Ashley turned out to have a look at the tournament, and was impressed: “As I wandered between fields I was drawn back to my early days in softball. This was old school, players helping out when other teams were short and umpires' calls excepted without a murmur. But more important was that everyone there was on the same page, they were there to have a good time irrespective of their ability and experience. Everyone stuck around after the games for a beer and a quick recap on plays, hits, results or just a chinwag, which does not happen so often at the higher levels. It seems to me that the formula that grabbed me all those years ago is very much alive and kicking in the BSL.”
The best comment on the day, and on what the tournament could lead to, came from Bjorn Kramer from the Aachen Aixplosives.
“When the Aixplosives met the Tourcats for the first time in Cologne,” Bjorn said, “everybody thought: 'Such a huge trip for just a one-day softball tournament!? Why?' So we decided to take this trip on our own to find out. The answer is quite simple. Not only is softball fun, but it’s the unique atmosphere on and off the field that really left a big mark.
“We were shown so much hospitality and kindness by every single person,” Bjorn continued, “that we would love to come back any time just to be a part of the UK softball community again! Besides the fun everybody had at the playing grounds, the cultural exchange afterwards between the teams led to a point where there were no Minotaurs, Hammerheads or Aixplosives, just a bunch of like-minded softball enthusiasts having some quality time together. In the end, all I can say is: 'Thank you so much for letting us be your guests! Hope to see you soon!'”