The 2012 Greater London Softball Mixed League 
season is heading into its final, tense few weeks, with teams (mostly) having played everybody in their divisions and weighing up their promotion hopes and relegation fears.
The weather has undoubtedly had a negative impact on the flow of the season, with unseasonal rain in April and May wreaking havoc on scheduling, compounded by the looming Olympic chaos. While many of these games are on their way to being made up (2012 might be remembered as the "season of the doubleheader"), the stutter start to the season undoubtedly affected the momentum of many teams out of the gate.
Will some of the less-favoured teams ultimately be able to take advantage? In this (slightly late) mid-season report we consider who will come up trumps in the business-half of the season.
Division 1
| # | Team | P | W | L | D | FF | FA | F | A | Dif | B | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mescalitos | 9 | 6 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 128 | 64 | 64 | 0 | 18 |
| 2 | Secret Agents - MI5 | 8 | 6 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 106 | 92 | 14 | 0 | 18 |
| 3 | Secret Agents - MI6 | 7 | 5 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 87 | 54 | 33 | 0 | 15 |
| 4 | Coyotes | 9 | 5 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 97 | 100 | -3 | 0 | 15 |
| 5 | SPAM | 7 | 4 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 86 | 90 | -4 | 0 | 12 |
| 6 | LNZ | 6 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 55 | 69 | -14 | 0 | 9 |
| 7 | Mighty Muppets | 8 | 2 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 68 | 92 | -24 | 0 | 6 |
| 8 | Comets Black | 8 | 0 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 71 | 137 | -66 | 0 | 0 |
The top flight always figured to be difficult to pick in 2012, with most feeling the division would go to one of four teams. This list usually gets shorter as the season progresses, but not this year! There are six legitimate contenders for the GLSML's highest championship and results in the second half are hard to predict. Forty percent of the division's first 26 games were decided by three runs or less, and four went to extra innings. It is tight at the top!
Comets Black – Record: 0-8, Current Position: 8th, Make-up Games: Mescalitos
The Comets have struggled in their first Division 1 season, having yet to taste victory. As mentioned in the Season Preview, no one doubted the Comets' capabilities with the bat, but their gloves were questionable. This now seems prophetic, as Comets are averaging a respectable nine runs a game, but have conceded a whopping 137 runs across eight games – by far the most in the division. It is too easy to say that Comets have hit their ceiling, as they are learning more about the Division 1 level of play with every passing week. They have, however, left themselves a mountain to climb in order to keep their Division 1 aspirations alive.
Coyotes – Record: 5-4, Current Position: T-3rd, Make-up Games: none
This wild card has come up trumps so far! Coyotes, spurred on by their frustrating 2011 campaign (5-9), have come out swinging (and fielding) and have already equalled last year's win total. After suffering a blowout in their first game (mercied 25-3 by Mescalitos), Coyotes have been on a tear, taking the impressive scalps of MI5, MI6 and getting vengeance on the Mescalitos on their home ground. Their core players have stepped up, and the continued improvement of middle-lineup players such as Aaron Lapworth and Taryn Harris has made the Coyotes a genuine 1 through 10 threat. Two of their three losses have been by one run and until recently they were undefeated at home, highlighting the advantage they hold at Boston Manor. Coyotes' fate is still very much in their capable hands. Any Division 1 teams that were hoping not to have to make the long haul to West London next season will be sorely disappointed!
London New Zealand – Record: 3-3, Current Position: 6th, Make-up Games: Mi6
LNZ started the season exactly as you would expect, sprinting to a 3-0 start against teams they would expect to beat. Since then, the Kiwi outfit has dropped three on the trot, including an eye-opening 15-6 home defeat to SPAM. It is difficult to explain this dip in form. Although the absence of veteran Dave Baird to injury is noticeable, one player alone cannot explain why LNZ's “runs allowed” have ballooned from 7.5 per game in 2011 to 11.5 per game in 2012. With upcoming games against the two new promotees (Muppets and Comets Black), LNZ will fancy their chances to get back to winning ways, but does this mighty team still have the ability to match it with the GLSML's best?
Mescalitos – Record: 6-3, Current Position: T-1st, Make-up Games: Comets Black
Pre-season favourites (garnering 47% of the GLSML “Pick-6” vote), the defending champion Mescalitos, to no one's surprise, sit atop the division alongside Mi5, against whom they have scored a mercy-rule victory. Two one-run losses to Mi5 and Mi6 (the former in extra innings, despite the winners having only having nine players), have prevented them from pulling away, but they still sport the best run differential in the division and cannot be considered underdogs in any of their remaining fixtures. Having won both the GLSML Firstball and the London Inter-League Tournaments this season, their team has showed itself capable of playing their best ball in the spotlight. With all of their remaining games at home, and a doubleheader against cellar-dwelling Comets to play at season's end, Mescalitos will be feeling confident that if they keep on pace through July, they'll be able to take first place in the end.
Mighty Muppets – Record: 2-6, Current Position: 7th, Make-up Games: Mi6
It’s been a difficult return to Division 1 for the Muppets. With the exception of their season opener against Mi5, each of their losses have been close-fought affairs, and not without controversy. The fact of the matter is that the Muppets are playing some serious ball despite what their record suggests. If luck begins to go their way for a change, this is a team that can pull out a string of victories, but the pressure is already on if this team wants to avoid yo-yo’ing between divisions again. The only question is – “Where did all the easy fixtures go?”
Secret Agents/Mi5 – Record: 6-2, Current Position: T-1st, Make-up Games: none
What a difference a year makes for the flagship of the Secret Agents softball club. So far this season, they are showing that 2011 was just a glitch precipitated by poor player turnout. This year their roster has grown impressively (Roddy Hill, Laura Brockman, Michael ‘Pieman’ Lee), and they seem rejuvenated with something to re-prove to the league. Their only losses this season have come at the expense of the Coyotes (away, in extra-innings) and Mescalitos, with teams rarely getting the better of them. They have a game in hand over their co-leaders at present, which means that if they just win out, the title is theirs. They do have the propensity to “chump” with the bats from time to time, but as the Agents’ team showed at Firstball, they have players who know how to claw back victories from the jaws of defeat. Despite how tight it is at the top, it still feels like it's Mi5’s title to lose.
Secret Agents/Mi6 – Record: 5-2, Current Position: T-3th, Make-up Games: Muppets & LNZ
Mi6 has been looking to re-assert themselves as a genuine title contender once again in 2012, and has been battling with Mother Nature more than any other Division 1 club. This may have been part of the reason for their 0-2 start to the season, losing in tight games to two of the teams vying for the title, Coyotes and clubmates Mi5. Since then, they have been on a roll with five victories in a row, including key ones over Mescalitos and LNZ – the only teams they lost to in 2011. It seems as though the Sixers are getting better with every passing game, which will obviously serve them well going into the latter half of the season. The new recruits are meshing seamlessly into the mix, and any questions of consistency in this side are being answered comprehensively, as they average 12 runs/game. They have games to make up against the Muppets and LNZ at the end of the year, which will definitely be X-factors in how the table settles. The rest of the division will likely be looking to Mi6 to call upon the motivational power of a derby match to do them a favour and take a win from Mi5, but with only two losses to date, they may only be helping themselves towards the title.
SPAM – Record: 4-3, Current Position: 5th, Make-Up Games: none
While the Coyotes are one of the big surprises of the 2012 season, none is bigger than SPAM's performance so far. Rocking a 4-3 record while having played only one home fixture, SPAM have had a wide variety of results but have only improved as the season has progressed. The most impressive scalps they have claimed are without question LNZ and Coyotes (two of their most recent games). As mentioned back in April, this team knows how to grind out results and play solid fundamental softball, and newcomer Tyler Parrot has added the pop that was missing from SPAM's middle order in recent years. With the vast majority of their home fixtures coming up in July and August, the situational advantage will swing in their favour. While their pre-season priority was to survive in Division 1, might this underdog outfit actually have a realistic shout at contending for the title?
Division 3
| # | Team | P | W | L | D | FF | FA | F | A | Dif | B | Pts |
| 1 | Spartans | 7 | 6 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 87 | 45 | 42 | 0 | 18 |
| 2 | Breakers | 6 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 95 | 69 | 26 | 0 | 12 |
| 3 | Comer's Homers | 6 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 63 | 60 | 3 | 0 | 12 |
| 4 | Meteors 1 | 8 | 4 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 79 | 93 | -14 | 0 | 12 |
| 5 | London Raiders Gold | 7 | 4 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 62 | 56 | 6 | 0 | 12 |
| 6 | Beyond Bermuda Guns | 8 | 3 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 80 | 85 | -5 | 0 | 9 |
| 7 | Mezcalitos Ninos | 8 | 2 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 70 | 88 | -18 | 0 | 6 |
| 8 | Odd Sox | 6 | 1 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 37 | 77 | -40 | 0 | 3 |
Beyond Bermuda Guns – Record: 3-5, Current Position: T-6th, Make-up Games: OddSox
The first half of BBG’s season has been a tale of two quarters – after dropping their first four games in heart-breaking fashion, they are currently enjoying a three-game winning streak that has risen them out of the Division 2 basement. But they have had to fight hard in all of their fixtures, as each of their games have been decided by four runs or less. Even more interestingly, their four losses to begin the year were all by less than two runs, with several inspired comebacks in the seventh inning along the way! With their impassioned team spirit and current run of form, one can expect BBG to continue to push for top-half contention at season’s end. They may struggle to catch the near-flawless Spartans, but as they have handed them their only loss of the season, it is well within their capability to make that big push for Division 2 glory. Definitely one of the teams to watch into July and August.
Breakers – Record: 4-2, Current Position: T-2nd, Make-up Games: Meteors 1, Comer’s Homers
Once again, the Breakers are right in the mix at the top of the table, two games behind with a game in hand on the Spartans. While several top-draw stars are no longer with the club, this team of veterans has still got what it takes to get results at this level. Add to the mix new recruit Prudence Cathaway and you have a “lights-out” female in the infield helping to solidify their defence and provide some firepower to their line-up. Despite only having six games in the books, Breakers have scored the most runs in the division with 95. They’ve shown that they can gut out the close results as well as break games wide open. While there are four teams currently tied in with four wins in second place in the division, their two losses put Breakers in the best position to challenge the surging Spartans. The Breakers are still odds-on to be promoted at this stage, but make-up games against the dangerous Meteors and the surprising Comer’s Homers make this far from a lock just yet.
Comer’s Homers – Record: 4-2, Current Position: T-2nd, Make-up Games: Breakers
A new dark horse has emerged from the pack in Comer’s Homers. Having started the year off with a “Welcome to Division 2” defeat against the first place Spartans, the Homers have been playing inspired softball ever since. Having won four of their last five games, the Homers have shown that plucky resourcefulness that top teams employ. In fact, they have scored the winning runs in their last plate appearances in three of those four victories, showing that they have a knack for coming right when it counts the most. While not completely unfavoured in the Pick-6 voting, this is still the Cinderella story of the division thus far. They finished in third place in the Red division in GLSML’s Firstball Tournament, ahead of several top GLSML teams. Will they maintain this spirit and momentum into the dog days of the season? Can they keep causing the old guard problems along the way? This team is filled with commitment and chemistry and is getting better individually and as a team with every passing game, so all signs point to “yes”. Can they find themselves in contention for a consecutive promotion to the top-flight? Far from impossible.
London Raiders Gold – Record: 4-3, Current Position: T-2nd, Make-up Games: OddSox
Raiders Gold have been consistent throughout the first half of the season, posting a respectable 4-3 record that keeps them right in the mix for a shot at promotion. With the exception of their opening loss against Meteors 1, they have taken part in very close games every week. Their last two losses have been by two runs or less, and they have shown they can just as easily win tight ballgames as well and they will not be a fixture their opponents will look forward to. Their depth in roster and club will certainly help their cause into the heart of the season, and historically this is a team that finishes better than they start. With a five or six-team race for promotion, every game will matter moving forward. This might be the best-equipped team to make it happen by August.
Meteors 1 – Record: 4-4, Current Position: T-2nd, Make-up games: Breakers
In a reversal of their 2011 script, the Meteors started the season out right by winning three of their first four games. This record has been turned on its head after that, going 1-3 since. Their results have ranged between the close-fought and blowouts, with some very interesting bouts along the way. While this team historically can blow hot and cold through their seasons, they have a more comfortable run of games in the anchor leg which could see them making a solid push for promotion. However, their four losses at present put them behind the other four-win teams in the division. Relegation should not be in the Meteors’ future by any means, but they will need to grind out some more results to make their lives more comfortable.
Mezcalitos Ninos – Record: 2-6, Current Position: 7th, Make-up games: none
These Division 2 debutantes started their season off the right way, winning two of their first three games (including an impressive close win against the Breakers on 17 May). Since then, they have struggled in losing their next five games, many of which were close results. Right now, it seems to be their bats that are letting them down, having scored a meagre 15 runs in their last four games. Saying this, their run differential for a 2-6 team is quite respectable (-18), showing that they are fighting in every game and that they have been doing the job in the field. Ninos have some winnable games on the horizon, and if they can get a few more results they will find themselves playing Division 2 ball once again in 2013. The team has the confidence and winning culture (from weekend tourneys) that is required to get this done, and could very well be king-makers by the end of the season.
Oddsox – Record: 1-5, Current Position: 8th, Make-up Games: Raiders Gold, BBG
One of the surprises of the 2012 season (and unfortunately not a positive one), the OddSox have suffered numerous rainouts and have struggled to get into a winning rhythm. They have only managed to score 37 runs in their six games (less than one run an inning), and right now are going to be fighting desperately for results to stay afloat in a loaded division. The loss of Steve Lime to the US has brought about makeshift infields and the loss of his powerful bat has certainly redefined their batting line-up. This is still an outfit that can put up runs in bursts, but they have only once managed to score more than five runs in a game. If the bats wake up, the wins will begin to roll in. If not, it might be the OddSox’s first foray in Division 3 in a decade.
Spartans – Record: 6-1, Current Position: 1st, Make-up Games: none
While Comer’s Homers may be the Cinderella story of the division, the rise of the Spartans as the perennial Division 2 threat and heir apparent to the title would be the surprise of 2012. While by no means a bad team last year, they have managed to play some fantastic and consistent ball throughout the first half of this season. There is no question that the addition of Bryan Tavarez has solidified their middle infield and batting lineup, as they are sporting a +42 run differential. They have shown themselves to be very good at getting early leads and holding onto them as opponents attempt to rally, with only a couple close games on their record. With this run of form, the Spartans (fancied by only 10% of the Pick-6 voting) are rolling with some serious momentum. There are no signs to suggest this run will not continue into August, but with four other teams on four wins, the job isn’t done yet. Still – they're the team to beat in Division 2.
| # | Team | P | W | L | D | FF | FA | F | A | Dif | B | Pts |
| 1 | Chargers | 9 | 7 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 165 | 111 | 54 | 0 | 21 |
| 2 | Oblivion | 9 | 6 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 146 | 104 | 42 | 0 | 18 |
| 3 | Finsbury Dazzlers | 8 | 5 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 108 | 103 | 5 | 0 | 15 |
| 4 | Italian Suede | 9 | 4 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 105 | 95 | 10 | 0 | 12 |
| 5 | London Raiders Blue | 7 | 4 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 115 | 83 | 32 | 0 | 12 |
| 6 | Barnes Badgers | 7 | 4 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 77 | 112 | -35 | 0 | 12 |
| 7 | Thundercats | 8 | 2 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 107 | 138 | -31 | 0 | 6 |
| 8 | Cheetahs | 9 | 1 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 77 | 154 | -77 | 0 | 3 |
Barnes Badgers – Record: 4-3, Current Position: T-4th, Make-up Games: Raiders Blue
Thus far, the Badgers have put forward some very respectable showings in their foray in Division 3 by asserting themselves against some of the old guard. While they have a couple of blowouts against their name, they have proven able to grind out close-fought victories which will serve them well moving forward in the season. They have shown themselves capable of beating teams in the top half of the table as well, which puts them in very good stead to make a push at promotion. With only three losses, their coming games will be crucial to their season’s success. Turnouts, as always, will remain key – but they'e definitely in with a shot, these Badgers!
Chargers – Record: 7-2, Current Position: 1st, Make-up Games: none
The heavily-favoured Chargers (garnering 47% of the Pick-6 vote) have started in a similar, yet upgraded way as in their 2011 campaign, sprinting out of the gates to win their first seven games, mostly in dominant fashion. Since then they have faced a couple of the division's contenders, making the race for the title closer than before. The rest of their schedule is filled with teams with winning records, so their final run-in will require the best of them, especially with Oblivion breathing down their necks . As mentioned in May, if the Chargers can continue to bring out their A-team, they should find themselves (at the very least) promoted back into Division 2 in 2013.
Cheetahs – Record: 1-8, Current Position: 8th, Make-up Games: none
It’s been a difficult season for the Cheetahs, currently sitting in Division 3’s basement, three games off the pace of avoiding relegation, and having suffered some large-scale defeats along the way. First glance makes this a nigh-impossible hole to climb out of, but the Cheetahs are not without talent. Unfortunately, for every run the Cheetahs score, their opposition scores two. The only way they will be able to turn their fortunes is with a heavy dose of defence. Cheetahs have definitely left themselves a mountain to climb, but crazier things have happened in the world of softball!
Finsbury Dazzlers – Record: 5-3, Current Position: 3rd, Make-up Games: none
The Dazzlers are moving onwards and upwards with their current run of form, already nearing their total points earned from 2011 at the mid-way point of the year. They have managed to take at least one win off of each of the other top-five teams in the division, showing that they have the talent to get the job done at the highest level in Division 3. Providing they can win their games in hand, they are in a great space to earn promotion, but as they have played Oblivion and Chargers twice, they will need other teams to take points away from those teams if the Dazzlers are to break into the top two. Fortunately for them, that means they play the sixth, seventh and eighth teams in four of their remaining games. The scene is set for the Dazzlers to make a huge push for promotion, and in this very competitive division they could not have set the scene better.
Italian Suede – Record: 4-5, Current Position: T-4th, Make-up Games: Thundercats
Italian Suede have had an uncharacteristically tricky season, with a sub-.500 record thus far. Many of their games have been very close (both in victory and defeat), so if nothing else they are keeping their fixtures interesting. They will need to win out their season to reach the 9-5 record they finished with in 2011. This will not be an easy feat as four of their remaining six games are against the top three teams teams in the division. They have proven that they can gut out tough wins and certainly have the ability to disrupt their opponents’ title aspirations, but they have yet to beat a team with a better record all season. Gut check time in Camp Suede!
London Raiders Blue – Record: 4-3, Current Position: T-4th, Make-up Games: Barnes Badgers
Raiders Blue are once again among the pack in the division, with only three losses to their name thus far. Similarly to Italian Suede, however, they have yet to beat a team that is currently ranked above them in the standings. While having played fewer games than most of Division 3, they have the lowest runs conceded and the third-best run differential, showing that they can play very tidy softball. Two of their three losses have been by three runs or fewer, meaning that they can give the top teams a run for their money regardless of table position. As is usually the case, end-of-season form will rely heavily on turnout and commitment. In this category, the Raiders are second to none. A strong run to finish the year could see them doing more than just staying afloat in Division 3 – they could end up joining Raiders Gold in Division 2!
Oblivion – Record: 6-3, Current Position: 2nd, Make-up Games: none
Oblivion are rising above their previous .500 mark in their last three Division 3 campaigns and are priming themselves for a shot at the title (or at the very least, promotion). Once again, they are sporting one of the best run differentials in the league with +42 and any games they have lost have been by threee runs or less. However, the division is still in a very tight race from spots 1-5, and with some tough games to finish off the season (Italian Suede, Raiders Blue) Oblivion will be fighting as hard as any other contenders to hold onto their current position. Fortunately for them, their fate rests in their own hands. Their bats have been working all season, so as long as they can maintain a tight defence they should have no problem finding their way into Division 2 for 2013.
Thundercats – Record: 2-6, Current Position: 7th, Make-up Games: Italian Suede
It has been a difficult return to the Majors for the T-Cats. While they have managed a couple of good wins, they have struggled to keep their opponents’ bats at bay. Four of their six losses thus far have seen their opposition rack up 20 runs or more. This is taxing the good work being done by their bats, as their 107 runs scored is on par with the rest of the mid-table teams in the division. An injury to key infielder James Boardman has proven costly, and as with all teams, turnouts by their top players and the reliability of their gloves make all the difference. Saying this, Thundercats have some new female bats who are getting on base regularly, which is the bedrock of any successful softball team. It is not beyond the realm of possibility for them to stave off relegation, but they'll have need to be clicking on all cylinders to do so.