The BSUK Single-Sex Slowpitch Softball Series got off to a fine start
on Sunday, 20 May, when 20 teams from all over the country travelled to London to take part in the Spring Ball at Riverside Lands in Chiswick.
Although the sun was to stay hidden and the day started in what could only be described as “brisk” conditions, with swirling winds creating havoc for fielders, it would prove to be a real festival of men's and women's slowpitch softball.
The tournament was split into three competitions. The Women's Gold tournament consisted of six B-grade teams playing a round-robin format, with the top two teams competing for the overall title.
Women's Silver was played in the same format with six C-grade teams.
The Men’s Tournament had four B-grade and four C-grade teams spread evenly across two pools, with the top two teams in each pool progressing to the Gold semi-finals and final and the bottom two teams competing in Silver semi-finals and final.
Women's Gold
No Balls stormed their way through the
round-robin phase to top the group with a perfect 5-0 record and were joined in the final by The Chavs (4-1), whose only defeat in the group phase was a 12-6 reverse against No Balls.
A young team from ACS Hillingdon missed several of their star players but would no doubt have gained great experience from competing at the adult level.
Despite their earlier defeat, it was The Chavs who ran away with the title in the final, dominating from the start and easing to a 16-1 victory.
ROUND-ROBIN RESULTS
1 - No Balls (5-0)
2 - The Chavs (4-1)
3 - Muppets Girls (3-2)
4 - Quackers (2-3)
5 – Bristol Bluebirds (14)
6 - ACS Hillingdon (0-5)
Final: The Chavs 16, No Balls 1
Women's Silver
The Women's Silver competition would prove
to be a much tighter affair. Going into the last round of group games, Sticky Fingers was the only team to have secured a final berth, with Mad Cows waiting on the result of the Cupcakes' last games to decide the second finalist.
Cupcakes were to inflict a first defeat of the day on Sticky Fingers by a score of 15-10 to set up a rematch in the final.
The final was a closely fought contest all the way through, with the lead changing hands several times. But the Cupcakes held their nerve to secure a 17-14 victory and claim the Silver trophy.
ROUND-ROBIN RESULTS
1 - Cupcakes (4-1)
2 - Sticky Fngers (4-1)
3 - Pink Ladies (3-2)
4 - Mad Cows (3-2)
5 - Girls Next Door (1-4)
6 - Double Ds (0-5)
Final: Cupcakes 17, Sticky Fingers 14
Men's Tournament
Puppies turned on an astonishing offensive display during the group phase of the Men's Tournament, falling one run short of a ton in smashing 99 runs through their three games to top Pool B with a perfect 3-0 record.
Their record, if not their offensive prowess, was matched in Pool A, which was also won in undefeated fashion by the Cockney Rebels. They were joined in the Gold semi-finals by the group runner-ups, Japan Softball Godzillas and Muppets Guys, while the Silver semi-finals were contested by Bristol Brigands and London Knights/Pirates from Pool A and The Untouchaballs and Bristol Lucky Strikes from Pool B.
The Brigands took the all-Bristol Silver semi-final against the Lucky Strikes and met London Knights/Pirates in the Silver Final after the Untouchaballs had to forfeit the third place playoff due to travel commitments. The Brigands continued their winning ways to take the Silver trophy with a 16-8 victory over the team from the capital.
It was only fitting that the Men’s Gold Final would be contested by the two pool winners, although they didn’t have things all their own way in the semi-finals. Godzillas played fantastically on defence to restrict the free-scoring Puppies before succumbing 9-7 in one semi-final, while the Cockney Rebels had a similarly tough time and had to come from behind for a 10-9 walk-off victory against Muppets Guys.
It was Godzillas who recovered best from defeat to record a 14-7 victory over Muppets Guys to claim third place.
In the final, Puppies found their hot bats again with some monstrous home runs and stormed to a 18-6 lead through four innings and appeared to be easing to the crown. However, Cockney Rebels found the resolve that saw them come from behind in their semi-final with a 10-run fifth inning to bring them right back into the game.
The Rebels then managed to shut the Puppies out the rest of the way and completed a fantastic comeback victory to take the title, 23-18.
POOL A
1 - Cockney Rebels (3-0)
2 - Japan Softball Godzillas (2-1)
3 -Bristol Brigands (1-2)
4 - London Knights/Pirates (0-3)
POOL B
1 - Puppies (3-0)
2 - Muppets Guys (2-1)
3 - The Untouchaballs (1-2)
4 - Bristol Lucky Strikes (0-3)
SEMI-FINALS (GOLD)
Cockney Rebels 10, Muppets Guys 9
Puppies 9, Japan Softball Godzillas 7
SEMI-FINALS (SILVER)
London Knights Pirates 10, The Untouchaballs 4
Bristol Brigands 16, Bristol Lucky Strikes 9
THIRD PLACE PLAYOFFS
Gold: Japan Softball Godzillas 14, Muppets Guys 7
Silver: Bristol Lucky Strikes 7, The Untouchaballs 0 (forfeit)
FINALS
Gold: Cockney Rebels 23, Puppies 18
Silver: Bristol Brigands 16, London Knights/Pirates 8
OVERALL STANDINGS
1 - Cockney Rebels
2 - Puppies
3 - Japan Softball Godzillas
4 - Muppets Guys
5 - Bristol Brigands
6 - London Knights/Pirates
7 - Bristol Lucky Strikes
8 - The Untouchaballs