The Chichester Falcons Baseball & Softball Club welcomed teams from across the UK and Europe for their sixth annual fastpitch softball tournament this September, with players travelling from as far afield as Paris to compete on the south coast.
Chichester, West Sussex is currently home to the only regular fastpitch softball tournaments in the UK, bringing together players from across the fastpitch community for indoor and outdoor competitions throughout the year. The tournaments have become a fixture in the calendar, attracting teams back to Chichester year after year for a weekend of competitive softball and a famously friendly atmosphere.
This year's tournament featured four teams – the Nomads, Sluggers, Bombers and Chichester Falcons – with players representing clubs from Chichester, London and Paris.
The competition got underway early on Saturday with a round-robin format, giving every team the chance to face each other in a series of closely fought games.
Away from the action on the field, the Falcons made sure there was plenty for players and spectators to enjoy, with refreshments, music and a relaxed home run derby using Chichester's own pitching machine. The derby proved a popular addition to the weekend, with Chichester's own Molly Rayner and Olly Howley crowned the women's and men's champions respectively. A fantastic achievement for both!
On Sunday, the tournament moved into the play-off stages, with longer 80-minute games raising the stakes as teams battled for a place in the final. The weekend culminated in a final between the Sluggers and Nomads, with the Nomads coming out on top with a final 6-4 score and taking the tournament title.
A special congratulations also goes to this year's Most Valuable Players, Jose Fermin of the Sluggers and Julie Eden of the Nomads. A huge well done to them both for their performances throughout the tournament.
While there could only be one winner, all four teams left with plenty to celebrate, and the tournament once again highlighted the welcoming community that has developed around fastpitch softball.
There is clearly plenty of love for the event, with many players returning year after year to take part. For the Falcons, hosting tournaments such as this provides an opportunity not only to showcase fastpitch softball in Chichester, but also to bring players together from across the UK and Europe and give them a chance to compete, connect and enjoy the sport.