Medal Winners

'Ex-Captain Dan'




















'Our Pitching Machine'




















'And of course Amy'

Partners vs Carat [39-18]

Although we had already been awarded league champions there was still a little unfinished business to take care of, and that was the long long overdue re-scheduled and often debated Carat game.

The build up undertaken by captain Dan and a host of ringer scouts had been ongoing for a few weeks down to the simple fact we are a bit of a social jet set bunch, and trying to get a team together has been tough at the best of times let alone one on a Friday night. I figure this is an opportunity to say thanks to Dan B for all his efforts and good luck scouting Bankok for new talent. Any volunteers to step into the stress and strains of those boots for next season, perhaps a sweepstake when we all head out for beers and the end of season party?

Anyway, a team we had, and it looked strong. The sun was shining and the atmosphere surrounding a Friday game for a league already in the bag; win, draw or loss, was almost too relaxed. The ability to remember equipment was the first failure so the bottom of a bag was used for 3rd base and a beach towel for the inevitable slides into home.

A couple of beers later and we had also lost the ability to keep the score, keep track of who was batting next, and that one of our own players was playing for Carat as back stop. Regardless we had not forgotten the fundamentals and ignoring the fact their pitching was being taken in turns by anyone fancying a go, we racked a comfortable score and declared the game at the end of the Sixth.

Congratulations to all, a clean sweep, 10 wins vs 0 loss. Next stop the quarter final, weather permitting this Wednesday!

Thanks to Amy, Dina, Sue, Trish, Dan W, Chris, Dom, Jon B, Jon G and Pau

Partners vs The Economist [24-20]

Tense does not do justice to last night’s game. We were on Pitch 10, would it be unlucky again? would The Economist turn up? Or would we end up playing guess the pitch? It could have gone either way.

It was a characteristically slow start from us, and to their credit The Economist bankers were really good despite some interesting rule observations on their part. However we upped the anti and by the third innings we had got back into the game and were scoring some amazing runs. By this stage it was proper heart in mouth stuff, who would crack first us or their rather rubbish pitcher? Am pleased to say then that by the 6th innings we were winning thanks to some great saves and dogged determination.

Highlights included:

• Two fantastic home runs from Jon G – I would never have believed you could run so fast and whippet like
  
• Amy – for her ‘shove to base’ tactics – if I was on base and saw you aggressively hurtling towards me I would just weep
  
• Great catch by backstop Becs M
  
• Ed’s return to home via the coats & bags slightly unorthodox but very entertaining (though you were still out)
  
• Bethan for 3rd base coaching
• Pau and all the outfielders for some amazing catches
  
  
  
  
  Only injury (only one!) was Jon B with hip issues, fingers crossed you get better soon. To sum up in JG's words ‘we should have invited The Economist for a drink, we could have bought them a pitcher’ Nice.
  
  
  Next match Carat Friday 10th …if they turn up.
  
  Thanks to Amy, Job B, Pau, Chris, Dan B, Dan W, Becs, Bethan, Ed, Jon G and Nats

Partners vs Raging Bulls [9-6]

It was a touch and go as to whether we’d actually end up playing our penultimate pool game down at Primrose hill last night. When we discovered that all of the other punters lining the pitch were not our new fan-club, and that in fact they were there with the intention of playing their own match on our pitch – we were a bit disgruntled to say the least.

After a quick round of summit-style negotiations amongst the captains and co-captains and various other team-members and hangers-on etc etc, we managed to find a win-win resolution. Phew. The other 2 teams would play 3 innings each and then we would take the field in our match against the mighty Raging Bulls. Probably one of the most intimidating team names we’ve come across to date. We learnt pretty quickly though that their bullish name wasn’t really going to be a problem for us.

It’s becoming a bit of a trend for us to start off slowly and then come back later in the match. This week, however, our fielding was outstanding which meant we kept the score very even (0-0) for 2 innings. So, if you read between the lines our batting effort wasn’t the greatest.

As ever though there were some top performances and classic highlights:

• The top one being when Dan Wright pointed out that the bases were loaded with all 3 Dans! The challenge was on for Pau, who was up to bat, to get a ‘Dan trifecta’ and bring all of the Dans home. We figured this might be a first in Softball history (!). Under pressure, a cracking hit ensued and all but Dan Bowpitt got into home base – a truly memorable ‘Dan-cubed situation’.
• Amy put her foot on the gas to do some brilliant base stealing - getting home all the way from 2^nd when it didn’t even look like she was going to make it safely to 3^rd.
• Becs H and Bethan both caught great catches at crucial times – as I say our fielding was supreme.
• Nats proved to have a trusty glove at 3^rd base when she caught a ball from JB to get a guy out.

All in all, our match against the Raging Bulls was a raging success with yet another win for the well-oiled ‘Partners-Fuel’ machine.

The final score was 9-6 to us.

Bring on The Economist.

Thanks to: Jon B, Pau, Chris, Dan B, Dan A, Dan W, Amy, Nats, Rebecca H, Becs, Bethan, Ethne