The comedy sunburn is fading, the muscle aches are easing and the kit has just about dried out -- which can only mean that Tartan Tournament, which ran on the weekend of 3-4 June at Cartha Rugby grounds in Pollok Park, Glasgow, is over for another year!
Twelve teams entered this year, which meant the organisers could run three levels of competition, bringing back the Cart Trophy to join the Clyde Cup and Kelvin Plate. The tournament welcomed the Sons of Pitches back from Dublin and two new teams from Leeds – the Yorkshire Dales and the Firecrackers.
Saturday
Saturday presented a mixed bag as far as weather was concerned, with sunshine, torrential rain, thunder and lightning -- but that did not deter the players from getting on with the games!
At the end of Saturday, the Hairy Coos led Group 1 with the Souls second, both qualifying for the Clyde Cup.
The Yorkshire Dales took third place with the Rocks doing well to place fourth, so both took their spots in the Kelvin Plate.
The Vandals narrowly missed out on a place in the Kelvin Plate, but multiple tie-breakers meant that they finished fifth, having conceded four more runs than the Rocks, having drawn with them earlier in the day. The Fockers joined the Vandals in the Cart Trophy.
Sunday
Group 2 played out their final games on Sunday morning, with the Legends of Filth finishing top and the Sons of Pitches second, taking both into the Clyde Cup. The Honeybadgers went on to take third place with the Doh’nuts close behind, sending both to the Kelvin Plate, leaving the AJ’s and Firecrackers competing in the Cart Trophy.
The weather on Sunday thankfully stayed dry, with a bit of a breeze picking up in the afternoon, which helped carry the smell of freshly-cooked burgers around the grounds when Cartha put on an impromptu (and very welcome) BBQ!
Finals
The Cart Trophy final was played between the AJ’s and the Firecrackers.
The Firecrackers made a great start and led by 11-5 going into the top of the third inning, but the AJ’s fought back in style, scoring 10 runs in the third inning to take the lead.
The Firecrackers came back with one run in the fourth inning but they couldn’t stop the AJ’s scoring a further three runs to take the silverware by a score of 18-12.
The MVPs were Jennifer Meighan and Chris Graham.
The Kelvin Plate final pitted the Doh’nuts against the Honeybadgers, and two teams with some very strong players started the game quite slowly, with the score standing at only 1-0 to the Badgers after two innings.
The Doh’nuts scored four runs in the top of the fourth inning but couldn’t prevent the Badgers from doing the same in their half of the frame, so the Badgers still led 5-4. The Doh’nuts hit back with a solo home run in the top of the fifth inning to tie the score, but the Badgers replied with another four runs, stretching their lead to 9-5.
The Doh’nuts scored two in the sixth inning, but the Badgers finished the game 12-7 winners, taking home the Kelvin Plate.
MVPS were Jodi Moore and John Irving.
The Legends of Filth kept their unbeaten record to go into the Clyde Cup final as the home team, taking on the Hairy Coos, who had edged out the Souls in a closely-fought semi-final.
The Coos started well, scoring two runs in the top of the first inning, but the Legends overtook them in the bottom of the first and continued that form throughout the final, while the Coos managed to get runners on bases but couldn’t convert them into runs.
The big hit was a three-run home run by Peter Nightingale in the bottom of the fifth inning, bringing the game to a close with the Legends of Filth ahead by 19-2.
MVPs were Natalie Moir and Peter Nightingale.
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Thanks
The tournament was lucky enough to have a fantastic photographer taking snaps, which can be seen here: https://duncolm.smugmug.com/Softball/Tartan-Tournament-2017/.
The Tartan Tournament would like to thank all the teams for their continued support, and all those who helped with the set-up and clear-up of the fields and the schedules, kit and running the tournament. Without the teams and the volunteers, the tournament would not be the success it is today.
Until next year!