Bean Machine Triumph at Solent Lastball Tournament

One of Jersey’s travelling softball teams, Bean Machine, capped off their season in style by claiming the championship title at the Solent Lastball Tournament. The team returned to the event alongside 15 other sides, including two from Guernsey, and produced an impressive run of performances to lift the trophy.

The tournament began with a narrow 8–6 defeat to the Wales Wander Bears, but the Beans quickly found their rhythm. They responded with a dominant 18–0 victory over the Chichester Falcons before defeating Guernsey’s V1 Rookies 19–7 in a fiercely contested inter-island clash. The day ended on a high as Bean Machine powered past the Solent Seals with a commanding 20–4 win.

Sunday’s action saw the team continue their strong form. They opened with a 10–3 win over the previously unbeaten Solent Sluggers, followed by further emphatic victories against the Hurricanes (20–7) and Krakens (19–4). Those results left Bean Machine in a three-way tie for top spot, but with the fewest runs conceded, they secured first place and a semi-final meeting with the Vikings.

A confident 13–5 win booked their place in the final, a rematch with the Solent Sluggers. The final proved a dramatic affair, with the Beans falling behind 2–10 before mounting an extraordinary comeback. Relentless pressure at the plate and solid defence turned the game around, and Bean Machine surged ahead to seal a 15–10 victory and the tournament title.

Bean Machine captain and founder Ricardo Sousa said: “The team did a great job this weekend, the morale was high throughout and it is fantastic to return with the trophy. It’s been an incredible year for the team and this was a great way to finish the season at a really well organised tournament with games being played in great spirits by all teams we came across.“

Team voted MVP’s went to Cat Sousa and Oscar Smith. It was a fitting end to a remarkable season for Bean Machine, who demonstrated consistency, determination and quality across every game of the tournament.