​As we approach what would be the 2nd month mark of the summer softball
season, we have only very recently been given government guidelines in
relation to sport that we are working on. This is to make sure that
when we can give you the go ahead for training sessions, you have
everything you need to make sure you keep yourselves, teammates and
family safe!

I have been working alongside Jersey Sport to make sure our thoughts
and ideas are heard. That said, we are fully aware we have areas
within the sport where social distancing can't be adhered to so for
now, games are still off the cards.

That said, with the latest government advice, it will see us very soon
be able allow team training sessions.

We envisage this being run by your captains using the advice from us
and Jersey Sport. A proposal has been sent for them to review and I
should hear back very soon. I would like to think that by Monday, we
would be able to roll out the guidance for you to organise sessions
for your players.

Now to the bad news! We have decided that there will be no 2020 summer
season. Primarily because there is no sign of when we will be able to
play full games and the window to play all the games required for the
league has closed. Playing every week with no breaks, double headers
and impossible umpiring duties made it easier for us to make this
decision.

Based on that, I have advised the GSA that we will not be hosting the
Upton's and Muratti this year. It would not be fair for both islands
when we are at different stages of each island's own lockdown process.

Some good news though, we have a small (but affective) team working
behind the scenes planning a local tournament or two for when we are
able to play. This should give us the opportunity to get a decent
amount of game time before the weather turns. This is of course all
dependent on restrictions being lifted enough for us to play properly.

Please bear with us while we iron out the finer points to get us
training again. I would appreciate you feeding this information to
your team by way of forwarding this or posting the information on any
social media accounts you may have!

Best wishes and stay safe.

ChrisPresident 

Please be advised that the 2019 AGM will be held on Tuesday 26th November 2019 at 6pm, at a venue to be confirmed (we anticipate it will be at Fort Regent, as usual).  The Agenda and draft Minutes from last year's AGM will also be circulated in early course.
Should you have any items to be added to the Agenda, please email them to president@jerseysoftball.com.  Additionally, should any members be interested in standing for a position on the committee, please let us know as soon as you can – all positions are up for grabs.   Exec – if you are happy to remain in post for another year, please also let us know.
Agenda
1. Apologies
2. Approve minutes of the 2018 AGM 
3. Matters arising from the minutes
4. Presidents Report
5. Treasurers Report
6. Amendments to Constitution and/or Standing Orders
7. Election of Executive Committee
  President
  Vice-President
  Treasurer
  Secretary
  Fixtures Officer
  Umpire in Chief
  Development Officer
  Press Officer
  Corporate League Organiser
  Webmaster
  Island Coach
8. Date of next meeting
9. AOB

Huge congratulations to the travelling Gladiators, who went through their group undefeated, before winning a thrilling final against top level opposition.
The Gladiators team was the brainchild of Falcons captain Robin Tadier and JSA Vice President Lindsay Satchell, and contained a number of Jersey players, mixed in with a couple of friendly Irish guests thrown in for good measure.
The atmosphere was fantastic throughout, and we couldn't be prouder of the team for flying the flag for Jersey. Congratulations, Gladiators!

​http://www.britishsoftball.org/news/view/travelling-dodgers-win-grand-final-at-sweltering-edinburgh-festiball?fbclid=IwAR3bK4DxhcAcDi02QF4Q0exwcsJReGj6GjbLe28RKPShhUu6C-VocgXKSyY

dms Jersey Flyers have been crowned champions following one of the toughest seasons in 25 years of softball in Jersey.
The Jersey Softball League Division One title came down to the last game of the season with the Flyers gaining a crucial win over CPA Pirates to secure the top spot.
The 2019 season started with a round-robin stage, where Flyers only just made the cut into the top division phase. Playing the other top three teams twice in division one, Flyers finished the season strongly with 5 wins and 1 loss. 15 points meant Flyers finished top of the table above nearest rivals, Romerils Raiders and Jacksons Falcons.
Captained by Phil Bouchard, who first started playing softball in 1994, the Flyers is a co-ed softball team which includes players ranging in age from 17 - 45.
Bouchard re-joined the Flyers this season to team up with long-term players Chris and Michelle Le Lion, Javier Gomez, Candice Parsons, Jackie Davis, Nikki Gasulla-Sole and Fil Gouveia.  Also on the playing team this season we’re new team-mates Jessica Page, Jean-Paul Netto, Lauren Quémard, Adam Brandie, Charlie Noel and Siân-Louis Nobel. The squad was boosted by the availability of Tim Jones earlier in the season.
Bouchard said’ “I put this year’s success down to the level-headedness and teamwork of our experienced players combined with some great fresh talent coming through from the new faces in the line up. We stepped up in must-win games. I’d like to thank all the other teams and their captains for making the 2019 season so competitive and enjoyable.”
The Flyers is the JSA’s longest serving team within the Jersey league structure and has an ethos of playing hard but fair within a fun and friendly atmosphere on and off the field.
Next, the newly crowned champions of Jersey softball will take on their Guernsey counterparts on 7th September in Guernsey for the Channel Island title.

​Pictured: (back row L-R) Candice Parsons, Nikki Gasula-Sole, Jessica Page, Michelle Le Lion, Jackie Davis. (front row L-R) Jean-Paul Netto, Chris Le Lion, Adam Brandie, Javier Gomez, Phil Bouchard. (Front centre) Jenson Davis (bat boy).

The next meeting will go ahead next Thursday, 28th March.  A few points to mention now before Agenda etc is circulated:

• A few matters were discussed at the AGM which will be added to next week’s agenda, including the structure of the summer league/summer league rules and inter-insular games against Guernsey. If you are have any detailed comments/proposals to make on these matters or if you cannot attend the meeting and want us to consider your views, please send to us by email no later than cob on Tuesday;
• If there are any other matters which you would like added to next week’s Agenda, please let us know as soon as possible;
• If anyone knows of or has a meeting room which we might be able to use for this meeting, please let me know! 

Thanks all
Lauren

The 2019 AGM will be held on Tuesday 12th March at 6pm at the Vauban room, Fort Regent.
​All JSA members welcome.

Agenda
1. Apologies
2. Approve minutes of the AGM held in 2018
3. Matters Arising from the minutes
4. Presidents Report
5. Treasurers Report
6. Amendments to Constitution and/or Standing Orders
7. Election of Executive Committee
President
Vice-President
Treasurer
Secretary
Fixtures Officer
Umpire in Chief
Development Officer
Press Officer
Corporate League Organiser
Webmaster
Island Coach
8. Date of next meeting
9. AOB

This year will mark the 20th anniversary of the UK-based tournament, and an unprecedented five European National Slowpitch Teams will be flying in for the event to provide stiff competition for the local and ex-pat teams based in Great Britain.

Jersey has participated in the British Softball Federation’s event on past occasions but not for a number of years.

The JSA’s island coach Phil Bouchard said, “Our team is made up of many of Jersey’s most experienced softballers and this tournament will be a chance to evaluate where we are on an international level. The main target for most teams will be the ex-pat USA team. I think we may be a surprise package for some, as we do not get many chances to travel to events at this level. I firmly believe we will prove to be stiff competition for the other national teams attending and I know the whole squad is proud to be representing Jersey at this level.

The World Series is a competition involving "national” or “regional” teams – even though many of the teams are made up of players living in the UK.  There are English, Scottish and Welsh teams made up of players who come from or live in those countries, plus GB Masters and GB Futures teams, and there are British-based ex-pat teams representing countries or regions from around the world. 
Over the past decade, as the tournament has become better known in Europe, teams have flown in to represent Ireland, Belgium, Germany, Switzerland, the Czech Republic, the Netherlands and the islands of Jersey and Guernsey. 

The Jersey squad has been training hard under the JSA’s coaching team of Phil Bouchard and George Kellogg and selection for this travelling team has been tough.

The Teams

England
GB Development
GB Masters
Scotland
Wales
USA
Canada
Anzacs
Africa
Japan
Latin America
Belgian National Slowpitch Team
Czech National Slowpitch Team
Ireland National Slowpitch Team
Jersey National Slowpitch Team
Netherlands National Slowpitch Team
UCE Travellers (Germany)
Craicers (Ireland)

Jersey Squad
Phil Bouchard (coach)
George Kellogg (captain)
Dec Renouard
Chris Halford
James Marshall
Robin Tadier
Matt Dorey (ringer)
Amanda Halford
Claire Summers
Lauren Glynn (JSA President)
Lindsay Satchell (JSA Vice-President)
Beth Rosser
Jussie Smith (ringer)
Ali Wade (team manager/scorer)

Island Training Sessions have now begun and will be taking place every Monday in July at the back pitch at Jersey Rugby Club grounds. 

The ‘open sessions’ are running between 6 and 8 pm and will run to 6th August.

The sessions are a great opportunity for any Jersey softball players, from any league to participate in structured training that will definitely improve your game.

If you would like any more information about Island Training please get in touch with Island coach Phil Bouchard at ​jsaislandcoach@gmail.com

The Jersey Softball Association’s Summer league continued their second round of games at Les Quennevais over the weekend which saw the top four teams in the league flex their experience.

The DMS Flyers opened their double header on Sunday against Trinity Tyres Phoenix with a large lead after the first inning. Phoenix made some fielding changes and managed to hold the Flyers towards the end of the game but they couldn’t get their bats going against a strong Flyers defence resulting in a Flyers win 24 – 8.

Flyers continued their double header with a second game right afterwards against Watergate Warriors where they battled back and forth with a team of fairly new players to the sport showing their competitive edge. Flyers pulled together though and showed their experience with the bats and pulled out another win for the day 24 – 6.

Corefocus Cubs also had a double header and started their fixture off with a tough game against CPA Global Pirates. They found the competition tough with Pirates coming out strong and in full form early on. Pirates dominated the game and finished 27 – 4.

The Cubs were able to bounce back in their second game from their earlier defeat to put up a good defence against the hard charging Romerils Raiders. Each side traded blows across the six innings played, with both teams’ pitchers battling against difficult wind conditions. Raiders edged the Cubs with a few well-timed grand slams with bases loaded, creating a comfortable lead of eight runs by the end of the game, winning 13 – 5.

Finally, the last game of the day saw the seasoned Jacksons Falcons take on their sister team, Motormall Eagles in a friendly match. Their skilled fielding and expert batting proved too strong for the Eagles on this occasion who were suffering a key loss in players due to injury and absence. Falcons took the win 26 – 1.  

The Summer League continues its fixtures on the 17th June.