Softball in Ireland

Summary

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]

History edit

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 edit

Competition 2023 2022 2021 2020 2019 2018 2017 2016 2015 2014 2013 2012 2011 2010 2009 2008 2007 2006 2005 2004 2003 2002
Softball Ireland National Club Championships (SINCC) Dodder Dynamoes (5) BatPak (1) Not Held Dodder 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 Trophy Belfast Softball Club (1) BatPak (4) TNT (2) Not Held Dodder 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 League 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 League 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 League Galway Tribes (1)
Brian Walshe Cup Kegs (2) TNT (3) Not Held Not Held Limerick 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 championships Royal 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 edit

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.

Position 2019 - Budapest (HUN) 2010 – Prague (CZE) 2008 – Southampton (GBR) 2006 – Ljubljana (SLO) 2004 – Linz (AUT) 2002 – Mladé Buky (CZE) 2000 – Dublin (IRL) 1998 – London (GBR)
1st Great Britain   Great Britain   Great Britain   Great Britain   Great Britain   Great Britain   Great Britain   Great Britain  
2nd Germany   Czech Republic   Ireland   Czech Republic   Ireland   Ireland   Czech Republic   Czech Republic  
3rd Ireland   Ireland   Czech Republic   Ireland   Czech Republic   Austria   Ireland   Ireland  
4th Czech Republic   Guernsey   Jersey   Slovenia   Austria   Czech Republic   Guernsey   Guernsey  
5th Netherlands   Belgium   Slovenia   Croatia   n/a Germany   Germany   n/a
6th Belgium   Slovenia   n/a n/a n/a Slovakia   n/a n/a
7th Austria   n/a Austria   n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a
8th Bulgaria   n/a Slovakia   n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a

European Club Championship edit

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.

Position 2018 – Riccione (ITA) 2010 – Ljubljana (SLO) 2009 – Dupnitsa (BUL) 2008 – Dupnitsa (BUL) 2007 – Limeil Brevannes (FRA)
1st Pioneers   London Chromies   Dodder Dynamoes   Baker Tomkins   London Chromies  
2nd H2O   Dodder Dynamoes   Dragons   Dodder Dynamoes   Dodder Dynamoes  
3rd London Chromies   BatPak   ASKOE Linz Stamm Bandits   ASKOE Linz Stamm Bandits   Sparks BAK Mlade Buky  
4th Bandits Witches Linz   Longbridge   Sparks BAK Mlade Buky   Balkan Stars Sofia   ASKOE Linz Stamm Bandits  
5th UCE Travellers   SBK Golovec   Balkan Stars Sofia   N/A Limeil Brevannes les Caribous  
6th TNT   WBV Homerunners   Baker Tomkins   N/A N/A
7th Mannheim Tornados   N/A Krpan LL Novo Mesto   N/A N/A

See also edit

References edit

  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

External links edit

  • Irish Softball Association
  • European Softball Federation