The second annual Chichester Softball Tournament, held at Chichester University on Saturday 19 April and hosted by Chichester Falcons Softball Club, featured six southern-based teams and raised over £700 for local charity Children on the Edge.
This year's tournament was significantly up-sized, and featured music, a raffle, a professional photographer, hot food and softball equipment for sale.
Vampire winners
The six teams – Brighton Beachcombers, Solent Sluggers, Vampire Batters, Chichester Falcons, Portsmouth Zombies and Southampton Spitfires – played through a round-robin and were then each placed into Cup, Plate and Spoon finals.
The Spitfires overcame their local rivals Zombies to take the Spoon trophy, while Sluggers managed to take the Plate from Beachcombers.
The Cup final was a fast-paced and dramatic game, pitting hosts Chichester Falcons against the Vampire Batters. The Falcons were attempting to reverse a drubbing suffered earlier in the day, but the Vampires’ quality showed through and they managed to claw the cup away from the Falcons by just two runs.
Newcomers welcome
Anyone who wants to try softball and join the Chichester Falcons should email chichesterfalcons@gmail.com or visit www.chichesterfalcons.com.
In addition to maintaining a co-ed slowpitch team in the Solent Softball League, the Falcons have plans to start up a youth fastpitch section later this spring, funded by the National Lottery and Sport England.
Photos by Solent Sports Photography.