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Dominion Niners and DMS Jersey Flyers make it 3 for 3

26/5/2015

The sun shone for the Jersey Softball Association Corefocus Summer League games this Bank Holiday weekend.

In the first of the day’s matches on Sunday, the DMS Jersey Flyers took on the re-vamped Tigers in a division 2 clash. Quick to take an early lead in the first 2 innings, the Flyers worked through their batting order to secure themselves 8 runs whilst simultaneously shutting out the Tigers to prevent them from getting on the scoreboard. However the Tigers, who were down a player, launched an attack in the third innings, shutting out the Flyers by claiming 3 outs for 3 batters and then going on to score 2 runs of their own. The Flyers re-grouped in the 4th and 5th innings, scoring a further 4 runs, including home-runs from Chris Le Lion and Sharon McGrath. With their opponent’s defences proving to be impenetrable, notably the Flyers left-fielder, James Marshall, who took two impressive catches in a row, the Tigers struggled to score any further runs. As the umpire called ball-game at the end of the 7th innings, the final score swung in the DMS Jersey Flyers favour, 14-2.

The Dominion Niners then took on Jacksons Phoenix for the only division 1 game of the day. The Niners took an early lead and showed their experience and knowledge of the game, whilst Phoenix battled hard to prove their place in the division. Final score 28-9 to the Dominion Niners.

In the late afternoon, Corefocus Cubs took on newcomers Jacksons Eagles. With some experience in their ranks, the Eagles fought hard against the seasoned Cubs, however they were unable to contain the ever growing score. The final total came in 47-3 in the Cubs favour.

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Close games in the second weekend of the Corefocus Summer League

19/5/2015

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The second games in the season for the Jersey Softball Association Corefocus Summer League got underway this Sunday, with some nail biting action on the pitches at Les Quennevais.

In the first round of games for the day, Division 1 teams, Jacksons Falcons - arguably the most improved team over the past 2-3 seasons - took on the reigning division champions, Dominion Niners. Both teams started off hitting strong, with the score 5-5 after the 1st innings, however the Niners tightened their field and at the same time continued to find gaps in the Falcons defense, hassling runs continually. At the end of the 4th innings the Niners had taken firm control 22-7, in large helped by 2 amazing home runs from Ronnie McAllister and 2 massive home runs from Dan De Oliviera. The Falcons rallied in the 5th innings, scoring 7 runs - including a home run from Gabriel Anzla – and although the teams were squarely matched for most of the game, the Niners closed the Falcons out 25 - 15 with a bat in hand. For the Niners - there were notable performances by Russell Wynn, who was forced play out of position at 3rd base, and Matt Satchell, who played as a "ringer" pitcher due to the Niners being one short and strong performances all round from the Niners females, Ronnie McAllister, Sam Duffy, Lynette Ferguson, Tammy Simpson and Harri Southern.

At the same time, Division 2 teams, DMS Jersey Flyers’ came up against newcomers to the league, Jacksons Eagles. The Flyers’ batting line-up began this game in good form by going half way around their order and scoring three runs in total. The Eagles, however, found the Flyers’ defence in a miserly mood and they shut-out the Eagles, with only four batters making an appearance at the Plate. The Flyers’ second innings was an improvement on their first and five runs were driven in. Although the Eagles managed more base-hits in their at-bat, they were still unable to pierce the iron cordon of their opponent’s infield, and no runs were scored. The Eagles’ defence then came to the fore in the Flyers’ third innings, as they shut them out for the first time in the game. However, their bats remained cold as the Flyers’ defence continued to keep a firm grip on their opponents’ batters, dispatching them for another shut-out of their own. The Flyers’ batting form returned in their fourth innings, with nearly every player in the line-up making an appearance at the Plate, and another six runs were scored. In contrast, the Eagles’ first three batters were out in order, for another scoreless innings. The defensive highlight of this innings for the Flyers was a double-play executed by Left Fielder, James Marshall, and Michelle Thomson at First Base. The fifth and sixth innings saw the Flyers’ batters continue to drive runs in, fifteen in total, going around the order in both. Although the Eagles threatened to score, the Flyers’ defence refused to let the ball pass the infield and executed the necessary plays. The Flyers’ scoring rate fell in their seventh and final innings, although Javier Gomez hit the first Home Run of the game. This achievement, along with his 6 for 6 batting performance, earned him the Flyers’ Player of the Match accolade. As a result, the Eagles went into their seventh innings thirty three runs in arrears. Determined to achieve a rare shut-out, the Flyers maintained their defensive form displayed throughout the game, dispatching the Eagles top order without a run scored, and they ran out 33 - 0 winners.

In the second round of games for the Corefocus Summer League, CPA Global Pirates came up against Jacksons Phoenix for a Division 1 clash. The Pirates started slowly against newly promoted Jacksons Phoenix and appeared to be deep in slumber, struggling to get their bats and gloves working. This allowed Phoenix to aggressively run the bases and take a 6-2 lead into the bottom of the 5th innings. The Jacksons team maintained a strong defense throughout the game, with left-fielder Jake O’Toole taking some vital catches, whilst also securing his first home-run of the season. For the Pirates though, a solo home run from Darren Hodges sparked them to life and this was then followed up with 6 runs in the 6th. The Pirates retired 6 consecutive Phoenix batters over the 6th and 7th innings to record a victory over the resilient Jacksons team, with the final score 10-6.

The final match of the day pitted the division 2 sides of the Tigers against the Corefocus Cubs. Both sides were evenly matched throughout the game, keeping the score close during each innings. The Cubs appeared to waiver at one point and made a quick decision to switch their fielding positions, but this did not deter them. The score was tied during the 7th and final innings, and after one last push from the Cubs during their at-bat, the Tigers were unable to follow suit and pierce the fielding armor of their opponents. Final score 17-13 to the Corefocus Cubs.

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Jersey Sunday League Kicks -off

12/5/2015

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The Jersey Softball Association Corefocus Sunday league kicked off this weekend, with all 8 teams taking to the diamond.

In the first of the division one games, the CPA Global Pirates, fresh from their tournament win the previous weekend, took on last years division winners, Dominion Niners. Both teams were eager to grasp their first win for the season, but after 7 innings the Niners had stretched out a convincing lead, with the final score 19-9.

At the same time on pitch 2, the newly formed Jacksons Eagles took on their fellow division two team, Tigers. With each team equally matched for the number of experience and new players, it was inevitably a close game. Eagles started well, reaping the benefits of their pre-season training regime and scored their first run before shutting out the Tigers offense in the bottom of the first. Tigers hit back with some great batting and by the top of 4 had opened up a 5-1 lead. Eagles rallied in the fifth, scoring 4 runs including a home run from Jordan De La Perelle and an excellent triple from Tom Menard. The 6th was another strong innings for the Eagles and saw them into the 7th leading by 11 runs to 6. Tigers did not lay down and finished strongly scoring 4 runs before a final ‘glove-tipped’ catch by Short-stop Leah Cunningham which brought the game to a victorious end for the Eagles. A close, keenly fought contest between the two sides suggests this will be a great rivalry for their remainder of the season. Final score 12-10 to the Eagles.

In the second slot of the day, DMS Jersey Flyers and Corefocus Cubs met on pitch 1 for their first division 2 meeting. These two teams have been competing against each other over many seasons and they are usually close encounters. As it turned out, this game was no different. After shutting-out the Cubs in their third innings, the Flyers managed to score the first runs of the game, with Second Baseman, Javier Gomez, hitting a Home Run to score two runs. The fourth innings was almost a repeat of the third, with the Flyers shutting-out the Cubs once again and scoring another two runs, albeit by less powerful hitting. The Cubs did manage to get on the score-sheet in their fifth innings, with a Home Run of their own, which they repeated in the sixth innings. With the Flyers only able to score a single run in each inning in reply, the score-line remained very close. The Cubs went into their seventh and final innings only three runs in arrears and their middle-order due up to bat. However, the Flyers’ maintained their defensive form displayed throughout the game, with their fifth shut-out, and they ran out 6–3 winners. As well as the Home Run hitter, there were good batting performances for the Flyers from Candice Parsons, and Phil Bouchard. In the field for the Flyers, Chris Le Lion had an impressive game from the Pitching position. However, the stand-out performer for the Flyers was James Marshall, with both the bat and glove, and it earned him the first Flyers’ Player of the Match Award of the season.

Back over on pitch 2, the experienced Jacksons Falcons took on their newly promoted sister team, Jacksons Phoenix. It was a closely fought game, with each team striving to prove their worth in division 1, however the Falcons pulled out an early lead as experience in their rank shone through with Ric Pedro sending a deep outfield ball past the Phoenix gloves in left field. A tentative start from 2014's division 2 champs, Phoenix, on the field allowed the Falcons to advance round the bases, racking up 13 runs in the first 2 innings before Phoenix could shake off the early nerves. The Falcons proved difficult to contain throughout the 6 innings played, and excellent placement hitting from Pedro, along with home run hitters Scott Roberts, Gabriel Anzla and Sam Lempriere (HR on unforced errors) tested the Phoenix defenses, but the Phoenix team improved over the course of the game, with flashes of last seasons excellent on field pairings coming through between infielders Cameron Ramsay, Alex Kilpatrick, Jason Boschat and Chaz Cunningham. By the dying stages, Phoenix were starting to show much more confidence and aggression both defensively and at bat, but the Falcons had cruised to a comfortable victory, with 22-4.

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Jersey Slowpitch Tournament makes a roaring come-back

6/5/2015

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Jersey Softball Association hosted a spectacular tournament this weekend, welcoming teams from the UK for 2 days of competitive softball.

Even though Jersey holds the crown of the ‘the sunniest place in the British Isles’, on Saturday morning the competing teams were met with a deluge of driving rain and gusty winds. As the first of the batters stood in the box and blinked through the elements, it soon became clear that no amount of soggy socks and soaking shirts would put a dampener on the players spirits.

Thankfully the grey clouds parted on Sunday in the late morning to reveal beautiful blue skies and scorching sunshine, just in time for the final games to be played. Jacksons Falcons took on the Honey Badgers Werewolves for the title of Plate Champions, with the Falcons shutting out their competition in the final innings to beat them 15-11.

In a highly competitive Trophy final, the Werewolves’ sister team, Honey Badgers Lycans, took on the CPA Global Pirates, with each team eager to win. The game went into the bottom of the seventh tied, with a score of 13-all. On the counter-attack, and with the Lycans looking for the last out to win the game, the Pirates slowly placed runners into scoring positions. As the next batter swung for the pitch and sent the ball sailing over the heads of the outfield, the Pirates realised that victory was now theirs as the winning run touched the home plate to take the final score in their favour.

After the umpire signalled ball-game, all of the competing teams gathered on the diamond to watch the winners receive their trophies from the Jersey Softball Association’s president, Ali Wade. Female MVP was awarded to Chelsey Warner, from Jacksons Phoenix, and Chris Le Lion from DMS Flyers was named Male MVP.

Despite the unsavoury weather to begin with, it was the true spirit of softball that shone through this weekend.

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Dominion Niners and DMS Jersey Flyers make it 3 for 3

Close games in the second weekend of the Corefocus Summer League

Jersey Sunday League Kicks -off

Jersey Slowpitch Tournament makes a roaring come-back

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