Blazzers Update

Hey again!

A while since I’ve updated so my apologies on that! First off, Blazzers reports! There have been 3 games for each team since my last reports. The 1Z’s, despite battling hard, lost out to the division 1 Dublin Bay Packers by 20-7 in the 2010 cup competition. Not a bad scoreline considering we had 9 players, one of which was someone who’d never played the game before. This was followed by a walkover victory against the Mockingbirds, and a 13 – 3 defeat against the Renegades Black (on a side note, ex-Blazzer John Corkery now plays SS for the Renegades and had a great game, despite the stick we were giving him ). These results leave us on 14 points for the season, one win back from the top of the table.

I’ve pitched in parts of all of these games, and man is it tough! I’ll have a good inning or two, then start to get creamed. It can be quite disheartening, but all I can do is keep working on it and hopefully get into the habit of varying my pitches a bit more. I’ll get there!! We also need to get the bats going, as you’ll never win a softball game scoring only 3 runs

The Blazzers team has faired a bit better. They went over the All Sinners 23-4 in the cup, and have a 1 and 1 record in the provious 2 league games, losing 6-5 to the Sluggers before winning on the road against castleknock. These were all away games, so I couldn’t make the trip, but the first team is progressing along nicely, given the scarcity of numbers they currently have.

Next week is a make-up week, meaning there is no game for the 1Z’s, while a decision has to be reached regarding the Blazzers – Marley game from week 1. I’m going to have to head down to see the conclusion to that one, it should be interesting!

Blazzers Week 2 – New Pitcher and Extra Innings

It was a big week for the Blazzers this week, possibly the biggest week in the club’s history (though I could be blowing that completely out of proportion ). A rookie pitcher took to the mound to begin what is hoped to be a multi championship winning career.

In all seriousness though, I played my first competitive game at pitcher on Monday night, when the 1Z Blazzers took on Marley in our opening home game of the season. To say I was nervous was an understatement, I’m lucky my pitches were even going near the batters in the beginning. First pitch, and I got clobbered in the chest by their opening batter, and have the bruise to prove it! However, I was able to keep my pitches on target, and together with some good fielding from the whole team, we kept the Marley bats quiet and won out 19-9.

I’m really excited to be trying my hand at pitching, being involved in every play and having more responsibility is pressure I can’t wait to have on my shoulders again. Everyone is finding their rhythm, and this week saw the debut of Jim in right center, making several catches and looking very composed.

The first team had another home game this week, taking on the Dodder Dynamoes. They added John Austin to their roster at pitcher this season, and a Blazzer, who I shall keep nameless, saying “God, I HATE his pitches!!” let me know this was a quality addition.

This game started a lot more like a premier league game than last weeks hit-fest. It was a back and forth game, with a lot of exciting plays and close decisions. The Blazzers, on the back of an eight run 4th inning, had a 10-9 lead, before Dodder leveled it up in the last to make it a 10-10 game. I thought this meant a Blazzers win on count-back (a rule I personally despise), but the umpire let us know we’d have EXTRA INNINGS. Dodder ran in two runs to have a 10-12 lead, and with the Blazzers then losing two outs, it looked done and dusted. However, the Blazzers fighting spirit (well, some kind of spirit, possible alcohol fueled) kicked in, and along with some errors in the normally solid Dodder fielding, the Blazzers ran in three to take the game 13-12.

This game was one of the most exciting I’ve watched in my (admittedly short) softball days, and I’m hoping the entertainment factor keeps up. Next week sees the start of the cup competition, with both teams going away from home. Keep up with the blazzers at the blazzer’s website, and pray I don’t mess up next time

Blazzers – Opening Day

So opening day has come and gone Both the Blazzers and 1Z’s were in action this week to kick off the 2010 season.

Before I get into the games, I need to bring up the concept of the “Blazzers Inning”. This is an inning, usually occurring once a game (towards the end), where the Blazzers defence becomes as watertight as a sieve in a rainstorm. It usually ends with us turning what would be a comfortable win into a nervous last few outs.

With that in mind, first up is the 1Z Blazzers vs the Wildcats of Castleknock. Personally, travelling to that game was a nightmare. I ended up being 15 minutes late, and as such not in the starting lineup. After a 3-run first inning for the 1Zs, we then proceeded to have the Blazzers Inning, conceding 14 runs to a castleknock team who seem to have had their bats working right from the start. Anything hit into the outfield would carry due to the pitch, and there was not much that can be done when a team is in that mood. After that, it was very hard to get back into the game, the 1Zs eventually losing 37-15 after 6.

Alot of positives can be taken from that match though. The new players are settling in very well, and will only get better with each game. We’re working the bats quite well considering the amount of BP we’ve been able to get in due to our training ground being mostly unavailable; Steve and Dan in particular hitting home runs in our defeat.

I also went to watch (and eventually track the stats of) the first team when they took on Marley on Tuesday night. I couldn’t believe my eyes when they too had a Blazzers Inning the first inning of that game, conceding 13 runs. Of cource, we were playing with only 9 at the time, with Ruth running late. What made it worse was that all 13 runs came after two outs had been attained, which, I know from experience, is painful.

The game was quite even after that, with both teams exchanging runs. That was until the Blazzers had a superb  4th inning, getting in 13 runs of their own and almost batting around the order twice. Special mention has to go to Ruth, who hit her first league home run (after what must be at least 20 years of trying I assume ) and couldn’t believe she was being told to round third. I thought of telling her it was an error in the outfield, but I couldn’t be that cruel. It was 25 – 20 blazzers after 4. (Apparently, premier league games are supposed to be low scoring affairs, but that certainly didn’t seem to be the case)

There was controversy when the game was not being called for light, even though the normally steady Jens and Conor both made errors that wouldn’t have happened under normal conditions. Eventually, time was called with Marley leading 30 – 25 in the middle of the top of 6, and will have to be continued (decision reached after a rulebook lookup – who knew) apparently it should have been brought back to the last full inning played, which would mean a 25-23 Blazzers win. We shall see how this unfolds.

I’m going to try get to alot more games than I did last year, and bring my camera next time. All those embarrassing moments have to be documented

Blazzers – Start of season is upon us

What a weekend!!!

I have a new found appreciation for gingers after Paul Scholes took that last minute header to seal the win against city.

Blazzers Logo

Tomorrow, the 1Z Blazzers take the field for the first time this season. That’s right, the Leinster Softball League starts back up, and I for one can’t wait. We had the Start of Season Blitz last Sunday. As usual, it was a blast. I pitched my first game (getting hammered 18-1, I’ll really have to work on that), and we had a good few victories to start the year off.

This is now when the serious business starts. We play a 14 game season over the course of the summer (not including cup games, IOST and other Blitz tournaments). I expect the usual bedding in issues we have each season, but we have a good team and should be competitive, if not vying for the league title.

Anyone can feel free to come down and take a look at our home games, which take place in Eamon Ceannt park on the Sundrive Road. It’s entertaining to watch, and you with the good weather, is a good place to have a few cans (along with the team, of course).  Our home fixtures are:

• April 26th – Braves
• May 10th – Mockingbirds
• May 17th – Renegades Black
• July 12th – Wildcats
• July 19th – Suspects
• July 26th – Beachers
• August 9th – Homers

You never know, you might want to join up afterwards Not too serious, and drinking is encouraged

To get you prepared, I’ll leave you with something every softball player and fan needs to know: