Field: Shorts Sports Club

Sliders welcomed the newly crowned league champions to Newforge last night. The Brawlers were aiming to go a second season in a row undefeated whilst a win for Sliders would have all but guaranteed 3rd in the league. Unfortunately, the home team were very much in end of season mode putting in a pretty hapless performance and were punished by some big hitting. Sliders took to the field with a new combination at short stop and 3rd of Dave and James (playing his first game back this season). Unfortunately, a series of simple mistakes from both the infield and outfield let the Brawlers score 21 in the first 2 innings.

At the weekend 5 Sliders and a baby joined with 6 members of Belfast Cubs Softball Team to venture down to Carlow and take part in the Irish Open Softball Tournament as the Sliding Cubs. First up was a 9am game against one of the tournament favourites, Dodder. After a decent start (3-1 at the 1st) it all fell apart as simple catches were dropped and too many overthrows made as the Sliding Cubs lost 19-2. Next up were the Wicklow Wolves. A slow start cost the Northerners with too many people getting stranded on base. A rally of 4 in the final innings made the score respectable but Sliding Cubs were disappointed to lose 8-6. Things improved in the next game against the Suspects. The infield tightened up as Chris dived around to stop anything coming his way and Jenny made an outstanding catch on one knee. It was 5-5 going into the last and getting tense when Chris smashed a homerun to get the win by a point.

Sliders welcomed the Cubs to Newforge last night hoping to avoid a repeat of the 28-5 hammering they received in the reverse fixture. It didn't bode well that the home team were once again playing short handed whilst the visitors had turned up with a full roster (so much purple!). Sliders' mood didn't improve much once play began. The Cubs have batting quality throughout their line-up and it showed as they relentlessly got on base scoring 7 in the first. Sliders' response improved the mood somewhat. Patient batting got players on base, finding gaps in the Cubs defence as they scored 4 including a homerun from Dave that saw him chase Kirsty around the bases in the process. Then the Sliders defence got to work with the infield pulling out all the stops stranding Cubs runners on base time after time. Kirsty pulled off a fantastic clean stop from a line drive for an easy out at first, John seemed to be everywhere making catches and plays at shortstop and Jay got in the act with a long throw to 1st from 3rd. Despite the outfield seeming huge with only three out there little got past and Paul took a great catch on the run calling off his captain at the last minute. Jonny was enjoying one of his best games pitching in green picking up nimerous of high profile strikes. Suddenly there was hope of an upset.

On Monday night Sliders welcomed the Smokin' Aces to Newforge. It was the second meeting between the two in as many weeks and the fixture was much anticipated after last week's tight game. The Aces made a good start getting 4 in the first innings. Sliders defence had a more familiar feel to it this week and it showed with some sharp plays. Sliders first innings, as in the previous two games, was a big one, taking advantage of some wayward pitching by demonstating patience atthe plate and dispatching anything hittable into the outfield as they ran in 11. Aces scored 2 in the second innings which proved to be their last until the sixth but the numbers don't tell the whole story. In each of the following three innings Sliders found themselves facing multiple runners on bases with outs to get but each time shut them out including one by John with a streching over the shoulder pressure catch. Meanwhile at bat, the scores kept coming in with everyone who batted getting round at least once. In the fourth Sliders ended any hope of a come back with an innings of 9 with Kirsty smashing a triple on her last at bat to take the score to 29-6. Dan's last innings 3rd base batting woes against the Aces continued this week when he got to see how good Emma's hitting was up close. Showing phenomenal bat speed she lined one to left field but the Sliders captain was slow to respond taking the full force on the wrist. To add insult to injury, in an attempt to get out of the way he left the base and was called out! All in all, it was a return to form for Sliders with a very polished performance. Final score: Sliders 34 – 8. Next up the Buccs at the end of July Highs: Home runs for Dave, Jonny and Dan. Emma making her return in green. A whole team performance with everyone contributing to an out and scoring a point.  Edit: Andrew did not score any runs!

The Bangor Buccaneers pretty much sailed straight up to Newforge to face Sliders in conditions that can only be described as very wet! But the Sliders always seem to play well in the rain and last night was no exception. After conceding just 1 in the first innings Sliders bats turned up in dramatic style. Dave opened as he always does with a homerun. Not to be outdone, Tim launched one for a grandslam a few minutes later. The Buccs seemed to have no answer to the Sliders big hitting and at the end of the inning the score was 11-1. A shutout in the 2nd was followed by more excellent hitting and 7 runs. The weather got worse and bodies got colder but the Sliders infield continued to deliver (the outfield stood and watched getting cold!). As the game wore on the Buccs gradually found their rythym and put in some scores of their own whilst the Sliders concentration dropped. Jonny pitched a blinder in the last 3 after a mid game wobble and a couple of walks and then got his first homerun in green. Final score 24-14 to Sliders. Next up are the Aces next Monday. Hopefully we'll have dried out! Highs: Grandslam homerun for Tim, homeruns for Dave and Jonny, the entire batting lineup getting on base at least once, solid defence from the infield in tricky conditions including several diving saves from Dave on 1st.

A new look Sliders made a slow start to the season on Sunday as they were well beaten by an impressive Cubs performance. After getting of the mark with a couple of points in the first innings the Sliders' bats dried up completely. Meanwhile a combination of uncharacteristic fielding errors and good batting let the Cubs race into an early and ultimately unassailable lead. Despite a couple of solid innings in the middle the Sliders never really got going. Final score 28-5. High points: Jay and Tina making their league debuts in green, a home run for Dave, Paul taking a catch over his shoulder and birthday cupcakes. Next up: Sliders welcome the Angels to Newforge on Bank Holiday Monday.