Following the success of the last year’s tour to the Netherlands, the TourCats, the touring arm of the Birmingham Bobcats Softball Club, recently embarked upon another European adventure, this time to Cologne in Germany for a slowpitch tournament on Saturday, May 26.
Open door
The TourCats were established in 2011 with the
intention of visiting a different country each year to introduce slowpitch softball to other nations. In 2012, however, there was not enough interest to field a team from the Bobcats alone and so TourCats’ Manager Kate Page-Smith issued an invitation to other softball leagues. There was an overwhelming response, principally from the Leeds Softball Association.
So a new precedent for future TourCat tours has been established, whereby any BSF-registered player can be included.
European contacts
Contact was first made with the Cologne Cardinals/FunCards in October 2011 – with the help of Google translation – and a tournament was soon devised by Simon Thull (Cologne FunCards) and Kate Page-Smith (TourCats) for May 26 at Circlewood Stadium in Cologne.
In addition to the TourCats and the Cologne FunCards,
two other German co-ed fastpitch softball teams agreed to take part: the Mulheim Mavericks and the Aachen Aixplosives. Prior to the tournament none of the German teams had played slowpitch softball, but all were keen to try it.
Apart from introducing slowpitch softball in Europe where it hasn't been seen before, the TourCats also aim to strengthen team bonds, enhance player skills and confidence and give all club members the opportunity to represent their country – an opportunity which is not often available to those who are not extraordinary and experienced athletes. The TourCats' achievements on their tours, both on and off the field, is living proof that success is not just about athletic prowess.
Extended tour
To enhance the team experience, the TourCats set off from Birmingham on Thursday, May 24 in two cars for an extraordinary evening in Ghent involving pirates, barges, gnomes, castles and fruit gins.
Unsurprisingly, it was a rather slow start the next day, but after some sightseeing the TourCats resumed their journey to Cologne. Once checked in, the team headed to a fantastic mineral spring water spa in the centre of the city in preparation for the big day.
The big day
The day of the tournament had finally arrived,
and kitted out in their new uniforms, the TourCats headed to Circlewood Stadium to meet their opponents. As none of the German teams had played slowpitch before, TourCats’ pitcher Dylan Crosby gave each team an introduction to slowpitch pitching, while Elli Lane and Steph Bicker provided some useful tips on batting and catching.
This was a wonderful moment in the progression of slowpitch softball in Europe, and the willingness of the German teams to learn and teach this variant of the game was a highlight of the tour.
Although half of the TourCats had never played together before, it did not affect their performance. In temperatures averaging 36°C, their first game against the Mulheim Mavericks ended victoriously at 21-2.
To provide a “level playing field”, it was decided that the next game against the Cologne FunCards would consist of half fastpitch and half slowpitch. This was certainly a game-changer and the end result was 9-6 to the FunCards. Reverting back to slowpitch, the final game of the day was against the Aachen Aixplosives, who played some astonishing slowpitch softball, especially considering it was their first attempt. After a tense, exhilarating game the TourCats won by 10-6.
Party
In honour of the TourCats, the FunCards held a party that evening, providing the perfect end to a fabulous day. The atmosphere throughout the entire tournament was one of friendship, mutual respect, willingness to learn and good humour.
The openness between the teams was inspiring and at the end of the day there were no divisions between teams or nationalities; it was just a group of like-minded, enthusiastic softball players.
Future plans
A bond has been established between these four teams and plans are under way for repeat tournaments in Birmingham this autumn and Cologne next spring.
However, the world is literally the TourCats' oyster and in a few months the destination for TourCats 2013 will be announced.
A big thank you must go to the organisers of the tournament, principally Simon Thull, Monika Caspers and Michael Paffrath. Finally, the tour would not have been a success without the TourCats: Jim Kent, Chris Williams, Elli Lane, Pete Burgess, Steph Bicker, Dan Smith, Dylan Crosby, Joe Cybaniak, Ed Jones and Kate Page-Smith. They were great ambassadors for the sport and for their country.
For further information about the TourCats, please contact .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address).