MSC Review of the Year Part 11. A look back at Hit and Run 3

We have come to the penultimate post for the year and we’ve come to the final games for the club of 2015. This year saw the third Maidenhead Softball Club Hit and Run tournament. this annual tournament is aimed at teams and clubs with new and youth softball players, with MSC themselves fielding 8 under 18s in their squad. The tournament comprises 8 teams, playing in two groups of 4. The teams this year came from as far as Solent and Redhill, as well as local teams from the Windsor and Maidenhead League.

While running later in the year than the past, the weather was again friendly and perfect for some late summer softball. After 6 hours of round-robin action, the competition split into Plate and Main Cup competition. Last year’s winners, BA Flyers were matches against Bracknell Scorchers, while last year’s Plate Winners, Vampire Batters were looking to go one better this year, faced Richings Park Hawks.

Two hard fought semi-finals resulted in Vampire Batters meeting BA Flyers in the Cup Final. In the Plate Competition, the London based Piranhas, faced Slough based Lonza, while Maidenhead Rebels faced Solent based Redbridge Raiders for a place in the Plate final. With three of the four teams making their first appearance at Hit and Run, a new team would be guaranteed a final slot, this year that was Piranhas, would ended up facing the Maidenhead Rebels team. Unfortunately for the Rebels, for the second time in three years, they fell at the last with Piranhas taking their first plate award.

The main final, ebbed and flowed and eventually went the way of the Vampire Batters 20-11 for their first Cup win. The whole day was another huge success for the Maidenhead head club, with over 100 people visiting the tournament, enjoying the weather, the facilities and the competition. Planning is now well under way for Hit and Run 4.

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Missed Parts 1 to 10?

• Club Review of the Year Part 1. Where 2015 Began – Maidenhead Royals Indoors
• Club Review of the Year Part 2. Introducing Softball via the MSC Newlands Satellite Club
• Club Review of the Year Part 3. MSC Development Team at the Raiders Tournament
• Club Review of the Year Part 4. Maidenhead Rebels Season Review
• Club Review of the Year Part 5. Marlovians break top four
• Club Review of the Year Part 6. Royals Rollercoaster League Year.
• Club Review of the Year Part 7. Rebels win their 1st BA Tournament Cup Final
• Club Review of the Year Part 8. Rebels at the 2016 Diamond Series
• Club Review of the Year Part 9. Royals Win 2015 Diamond Series
• Club Review of the Year Part 10. Diamond Squeezers take 3rd Place at Nottingham

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What is Softball?

Co-ed slowpitch softball is a social and enjoyable game that’s easy to learn and play, even for people who are not “athletes” or don’t have much experience of team sports.

Softball is a lot like baseball in terms of the rules, but because the ball is pitched slowly to each batter (as the name implies!), it’s easy to hit the ball and succeed at the sport’s central skill. The fact that men and women play together in the same team and on an equal level gives the sport a social buzz, and most softball games are followed by sessions at the local pub!

Come and Get Involved

Maidenhead Softball Club runs weekly sessions every Friday at Newlands Girls School in Maidenhead. Sessions from 6pm until 7:30pm and are open to anyone 11 and up.

All sessions are free, no experience needed and all equipment to get you going is supplied.

For all under-18’s attending, a parent must be in attendance at the beginning of the first session to sign permission paperwork.

For more information, email maidenheadsoftballclub@outlook.com or visit www.maidenheadsoftballclub.co.uk