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Many BSF slowpitch leagues had their seasons extended this year because of the appalling weather that hit the UK in the middle of the summer – but their seasons turned out well nevertheless.  See below for end-of-season reports from leagues around the UK.

NORFOLK SOFTBALL ASSOCIATION

by Mark House

The worst summer has produced the best softball season to date in Norfolk.

The seven-team adult league reached a thrilling conclusion in late July when the final six games were played on a single evening at Fakenham High School, with over 100 players taking part. Ultimately, the Wensum Wolves held their nerve to take the title.  The win was a remarkable transformation for the team that came bottom of the 2011 league and much credit must go to new captain Ryan Hugo.  The evening concluded with a presentation ceremony where the league All-Star Team was announced.

The Norfolk Softball Association has also launched a successful junior programme which has run throughout the summer holidays.  This has been an aspiration for a couple of years and a grant from the Norfolk Community Foundation provided the means.  Approximately 30 young players aged between 6 and 12 years of age have attended weekly sessions which continued through to early September and the intention is to build on the good work next summer.

All players in the NSA have benefited from a further upgrade in playing facilities.  Early in the season, the main playing diamond had dirt added to base cut-outs, the pitcher's circle and running paths.  At the end of the season, Diamond 2 had dirt added to batting and pitching areas.  This is part of the Association's ongoing commitment to provide the very best playing facilities to its members in order to compete against the offer provided by other sports and activities in the area.  A new store and seating area is due to be installed to further enhance the provision.

We have been thrilled to see the progress made by GB Under-16 pitcher Aimie Huchison from Fakenham who is showing such great potential in the GB set-up.  Our 2012-13 Development Plan will see a strategic focus on elite junior player development to give more of our youngsters the opportunity to take part in the National Academy programme.  This will involve the relaunch of a Regional Academy programme and will also form part of our bid to achieve Clubmark status by the end of this year.

So, a busy but rewarding year.  Energy and enthusiasm levels remain high and a continued sense of forward momentum remains.  There are exciting times ahead in Norfolk.

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MANCHESTER SOFTBALL LEAGUE

by Harry Somers

Manchester Softball League celebrated its 20th anniversary this year by expanding to four divisions for the first time ... actually five divisions (see below!).  Now, with 31 teams and over 600 rostered players, the league is certainly in good shape.

League champions for the third successive season, and the sixth time in total, were the Greensox, with a 16-2 record.  Two games behind were the perennial Mavericks, while the Outlaws surprised many by coming third.  The heavily-tipped Lions faded badly to end the season with a 9-9 record.

In the MSL, the nine-team 1st and 2nd Divisions split into three groups of six after a first rotation, and the so-called Playoff Division was won this year, as last year, by Lightning, who beat Mutineers in a fortuitously-scheduled winner-takes-all final game of the season.  In losing, Mutineers actually slipped into third place behind the Spittin’ Camels; all three will begin next season in Division 1.

Division 2 was again won by Outlaws II, two games ahead of the Speeders, with whom they tied in a dead-rubber final game shortened by fading light.  Relegated Storm and Blue Gnus, with four wins out of 18, will switch to Tuesday night ball next season.

In Division 3, two teams were promoted in only their second seasons.  Mossley Mayhem had a perfect season, their 20th win coming thanks to a forfeit by second-placed Sale Bluesox, six games behind.  Having joined the league only last year, and without recruiting ringers, Mayhem are a real advert for dedication and team spirit, and should do well in Division 2.

The first-ever Division 4 champions are the Aarmavarx, while last year’s Division 3 champions Drizzle, having declined promotion to Division 2 and with an almost completely different roster, recovered from a poor start to the season to end with 10 straight wins and an 11-9 record in second place.

In a year when softball’s exclusion from the Olympics meant that our enjoyment of the sporting summer was tinged with regret that we are excluded from the bonanza of increased participation and visibility, not to mention funding, that other sports (with far fewer adherents up and down the country) will no doubt reap, a highlight for MSL was the participation of League Head Harry Somers in the Olympic torch relay back in May.  More good news was that the torch was subsequently sold on Ebay, raising £3,500 which will go towards further development of Manchester’s purpose-built softball field.  So at least softball will have some sort of legacy from this Olympic year!

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BRISTOL SOFTBALL ASSOCIATION

by Brett McIntyre

Softball in Bristol this year was seriously affected by the rain, which saw many lost weeks and full use made of the scheduled catch-up weeks, along with the necessity to schedule games in an extra week at the end of the season.

All three divisions were hotly contested and it came down to the final week's play to decide the champions and the teams that will be promoted.

First Division
# Team Played Won Lost Pen. Points
1 Jets 14 11 3 -3 58
2 Real Flyers 14 9 5 0 55
3 Sliders 14 8 6 0 52
4 Bristol Creamers 14 7 7 0 49
5 Guppy Spotters 14 7 7 -1 48
6 TBolts 14 6 8 0 46
7 Crushers 14 5 9 -3 40
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