Softball in Ireland

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Softball in Ireland is governed by Softball Ireland, itself a member of the International Softball Federation. As of 2021, the Softball Ireland website noted that there were approximately 800 softball players and 40 teams in the country. [1]

Contents

History

The year 1982 marked the first softball league in Ireland, the Dublin Softball League. The Irish Softball Association was formed in 1989. It has been in various guises since then, including the Irish Baseball and Softball Association, the Irish Baseball and Softball Federation, back to the Irish Softball Association, and in recent years has been renamed Softball Ireland. Softball Ireland (SI) is the governing body of softball in Ireland. SI is responsible for the running of tournaments, leagues, development and international competition in both co-ed slowpitch and ladies fastpitch softball. [2]

Domestic competitions

Competition20242023202220212020201920182017201620152014201320122011201020092008200720062005200420032002
Softball Ireland National Club Championships (SINCC)Dodder Dynamoes (7)Dodder Dynamoes (6)Dodder Dynamoes (5)BatPak (1)Not HeldDodder Dynamoes (4)Dodder Dynamoes (3)TNT (2)Dodder Dynamoes (2)TNT (1)OddSox Green (2)Keily's Kegs (1)OddSox Green (1)Dodder Dynamoes (1)Inaugural Season
Irish Open Softball TrophyBelfast Softball Club (2)Belfast Softball Club (1)BatPak (4)TNT (2)Not HeldDodder Dynamoes (5)Limerick Originals (3)TNT (1)Dodder Dynamoes (4)BatPak (3)Dodder Dynamoes (3)Dodder Dynamoes (2)Limerick Originals (2)Limerick Originals (1)The Stingers UK (4)The Stingers UK (3)The Stingers UK (2)Batpak (2)Saints Stingers UK (1)BatPak (1)London Breakers UK (1)OddSox Green (1)Dodder Dynamoes (1)
Leinster LeagueDodder Dynamoes (11)Dodder Dynamoes (10)Dodder Dynamoes (9)BatPak (3)Dodder Dynamoes (8)Dodder Dynamoes (7)TNT (2)Dodder Dynamoes (6)TNT (1)OddSox Green (3)Keily's Kegs (1)OddSox Green (2)Dodder Dynamoes (6)OddSox Green (1)BatPak (2)BatPak (1)Dodder Dynamoes (5)Dodder Dynamoes (4)Dodder Dynamoes (3)Dodder Dynamoes (2)Dodder Dynamoes (1)Marlay Martyrs (1)
Ulster LeagueBrawlers (BSC) (10)Brawlers (BSC) (9)Brawlers (BSC) (8)Cubs (1)Brawlers (BSC) (7)Brawlers (BSC) (6)Brawlers (BSC) (5)Brawlers (BSC) (4)Brawlers (BSC) (3)Sliders (3)Brawlers (BSC) (2)Brawlers (BSC) (1)Sliders (2)Sliders (1)Smokin' Aces (BSC) (2)Aviators (1)Smokin' Aces (BSC) (1)Inaugural Season
Connacht Munster LeagueGalway Tribes (2)Galway Tribes (1)
Brian Walshe CupDodder Dynamoes (4)Kegs (2)TNT (3)Not HeldNot HeldLimerick Originals (1)TNT (2)TNT (1)OddSox Green (4)OddSox Green (3)Kiely's Kegs (1)BatPak (6)Marlay Martyrs (1)BatPak (5)BatPak (4)BatPak (3)OddSox Green (2)Batpak (2)Dodder Dynamoes (3)BatPak (1)Dodder Dynamoes (2)Dodder Dynamoes (1)OddSox Green (1)
Intervarsity championshipsRoyal College of Suregeons Ireland (1)University College Dublin (7)University College Dublin (6)University College Dublin (5)University College Dublin (4)University College Dublin (3)University of Limerick (7)University of Limerick (6)University of Limerick (5)University of Limerick (4)University of Limerick (3)University College Dublin (2)University of Limerick (2)University of Limerick (1)University College Dublin (1)

National team

The national team has competed with varied success in recent years. The main competition being the European Softball Federation CoEd Slowpitch Championship. [3] The event has been dominated by the Great Britain team winning all seven instalments. The venue for 2011 was Dupnitsa, Bulgaria. The record number of participants is eight at the 2010 event.

Position2019 - Budapest (HUN)2010 – Prague (CZE)2008 – Southampton (GBR)2006 – Ljubljana (SLO)2004 – Linz (AUT)2002 – Mladé Buky (CZE)2000 – Dublin (IRL)1998 – London (GBR)
1stGreat Britain Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Great Britain Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Great Britain Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Great Britain Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Great Britain Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Great Britain Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Great Britain Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Great Britain Flag of the United Kingdom.svg
2ndGermany Flag of Germany.svg Czech Republic Flag of the Czech Republic.svg Ireland Flag of Ireland.svg Czech Republic Flag of the Czech Republic.svg Ireland Flag of Ireland.svg Ireland Flag of Ireland.svg Czech Republic Flag of the Czech Republic.svg Czech Republic Flag of the Czech Republic.svg
3rdIreland Flag of Ireland.svg Ireland Flag of Ireland.svg Czech Republic Flag of the Czech Republic.svg Ireland Flag of Ireland.svg Czech Republic Flag of the Czech Republic.svg Austria Flag of Austria.svg Ireland Flag of Ireland.svg Ireland Flag of Ireland.svg
4th Czech Republic Flag of the Czech Republic.svg Guernsey Flag of Guernsey.svg Jersey Flag of Jersey.svg Slovenia Flag of Slovenia.svg Austria Flag of Austria.svg Czech Republic Flag of the Czech Republic.svg Guernsey Flag of Guernsey.svg Guernsey Flag of Guernsey.svg
5thNetherlands Flag of the Netherlands.svg Belgium Flag of Belgium (civil).svg Slovenia Flag of Slovenia.svg Croatia Flag of Croatia.svg n/aGermany Flag of Germany.svg Germany Flag of Germany.svg n/a
6th Belgium Flag of Belgium (civil).svg Slovenia Flag of Slovenia.svg n/an/an/a Slovakia Flag of Slovakia.svg n/an/a
7th Austria Flag of Austria.svg n/a Austria Flag of Austria.svg n/an/an/an/an/an/a
8th Bulgaria Flag of Bulgaria.svg n/a Slovakia Flag of Slovakia.svg n/an/an/an/an/an/a

European Club Championship

2007 saw the inaugural European Cup Co-Ed Slowpitch Championship. The event was held in Limeil-Brévannes, France, from 19 September 2007 to 22 September 2007. There were five teams competing with Dodder Dynamoes representing Ireland. The London Chromies were crowned champions beating Dodder Dynamoes 10–3 in the Grand Final. The 2008 Championships, held in Dupnitsa, Bulgaria from 2 to 6 September, were won by Baker Tomkins of Britain beating Dodder Dynamoes 16–11 in the Grand Final. The 2009 Championship saw an increase in the participants to 7, with the event is again being held in Dupnitsa, Bulgaria from 26 to 29 August. 2009 winners, Dodder Dynamoes, became the first Irish team, club or national, to win an ESF sanctioned championship. The London Chromies reclaimed the title at the 2010 event held in Ljubljana, Slovenia.

Position2018 – Riccione (ITA)2010 – Ljubljana (SLO)2009 – Dupnitsa (BUL)2008 – Dupnitsa (BUL)2007 – Limeil Brevannes (FRA)
1stPioneers Flag of the United Kingdom.svg London Chromies Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Dodder Dynamoes Flag of Ireland.svg Baker Tomkins Flag of the United Kingdom.svg London Chromies Flag of the United Kingdom.svg
2ndH2O Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Dodder Dynamoes Flag of Ireland.svg Dragons Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Dodder Dynamoes Flag of Ireland.svg Dodder Dynamoes Flag of Ireland.svg
3rdLondon Chromies Flag of the United Kingdom.svg BatPak Flag of Ireland.svg ASKOE Linz Stamm Bandits Flag of Austria.svg ASKOE Linz Stamm Bandits Flag of Austria.svg Sparks BAK Mlade Buky Flag of the Czech Republic.svg
4thBandits Witches Linz Flag of Austria.svg Longbridge Flag of Slovenia.svg Sparks BAK Mlade Buky Flag of the Czech Republic.svg Balkan Stars Sofia Flag of Bulgaria.svg ASKOE Linz Stamm Bandits Flag of Austria.svg
5thUCE Travellers Flag of the United Kingdom.svg SBK Golovec Flag of Slovenia.svg Balkan Stars Sofia Flag of Bulgaria.svg N/ALimeil Brevannes les Caribous Flag of France.svg
6thTNT Flag of Ireland.svg WBV Homerunners Flag of Austria.svg Baker Tomkins Flag of the United Kingdom.svg N/AN/A
7thMannheim Tornados Flag of Germany.svg N/AKrpan LL Novo Mesto Flag of Slovenia.svg N/AN/A

See also

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References

  1. "About Softball Ireland - What is Softball Ireland?". softball.ie. Retrieved 31 August 2021.
  2. Softball Ireland Website accessed January 2007
  3. European Softball Federation Website accessed January 2007