International Softball
Ireland enters teams into the World Baseball-Softball Confederation (WSBC) Women’s World Softball Championships, European Softball Federation (ESF) European Softball Championships (both Fastpitch) as well as the Coed (Mixed) and Men’s Slowpitch European Championships. Club teams also enter the Coed Slowpitch Club Championships.
World Baseball & Softball Confederation
WBSC
Women’s World Softball Championships (Fastpitch) (Years): 2016
Canada Cup International Women’s Fastpitch Tournament (Years): 2002
Picture Credit: [5] Sportswave (2016) Womens World Softball Championship Logo [Internet] Available from: https://sportswave.ca/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/womens-world-softball-championship-300×300.png [Accessed 21 November 2016]
European Softball Federation
ESF
Women’s European Softball Championships (Fastpitch) : 2017
Coed Slowpitch Softball | National Teams:
European Softball Federation | European Coed Slowpitch Softball Championships 2011-2019
European Softball Federation | European Coed Slowpitch Softball Championships 1998-2010
Coed Slowpitch Softball | Club Teams:
European Softball Federation | European Cup Coed Slowpitch 2007-2012
European Softball Federation | European Coed Slowpitch Super Cup 2014-2018
Picture Credit: [1] European Softball Federation (2017) ESF Logo [Internet] Available from: http://www.europeansoftball.org/data/articles/229.jpg [Accessed 26 June 2017]
American Softball Teams in Ireland
American Softball Teams in Ireland
American Softball Teams in Ireland:
International Softball – USS Fresno 20 USS Johnston & USS Rush 5 – Croke Park Dublin 1948
Picture Credit: Pexels Free Photos
Fastpitch Softball Leagues
Fastpitch Softball is basically a Women’s Competitive version of Baseball, and differs from the Coed / Mixed version of Softball played in Ireland since the 1980s, as the pitching is fast and not in a soft arc, as in the recreational version of the sport (hence the name softball). There are 9 players in a Fastpitch Softball team, like in Baseball as opposed to 10 in Co-Ed (Mixed) Recreational Softball.
The Fastpitch Ireland programme dates from the early 200os, when two Women’s teams were created, and then in the 2010s, the Softball Ireland National team (who played in both the World Championships and European Championships) was started.
In 2019-20 the first Softball Ireland Irish National Fastpitch League began, playing all its matches on the turf pitch at the National Indoor Arena in Blanchardstown, Dublin 15. Unlike the earlier Fastpitch Softball in Ireland, this is Coed / Mixed, with an equal representation of Men to Women (5:5).
Here are links to various Fastpitch competitions in Ireland and Internationally, involving Ireland teams:
Irish National Fastpitch League
Fastpitch Ireland
Softball Ireland Irish National Fastpitch League Coed (Seasons): 2019-20
Irish Baseball & Softball Federation Ladies Fastpitch (Seasons): 2000
Picture Credit: [4] Softball Ireland (2019) Ireland Catches Fastpitch Fever: Teams A and B [Internet] Available from: http://fastpitchsoftball.ie/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/Team-A-B-300×225.jpg [Accessed 25 April 2020]
Softball Intervarsities
This is the Eirball index page to the Results and Standings of the Irish Softball Association / Softball Ireland Intervarsities, held annually from 2001 to 2010-11.
Softball Intervarsities
The Irish Softball Association Intervarsities were first played in 2001. They continued until 2010-11 under the name Softball Ireland. There were also CUSAI Intervarsities in 2015-16 at RCSI.
Softball Ireland Intervarsity Winners
Softball Ireland Intervarsities Winners 2001-2011
Softball Ireland Intervarsities Results
Irish Softball Association:
Softball Ireland:
2003-04 2004-05 2005-06 2006-07 2007-08 2008-09 2009-10 2010-11
Colleges & Universities Sports Association of Ireland:
Picture Credit: [2] UCD Wayback Machine (2020) 2007/2008 Squad for Waterford Intervarsity Competition [Internet] Available from: http://web.archive.org/web/20200407134000im_/https://www.ucd.ie/softball/old/photos/WIT0708/Squad.jpg [Accessed 23 February 2021]
Softball Business Leagues
Businesses and Corporations have been involved in Irish Softball since the first Leagues in the 1980s, with teams such as Fat Cats made up of american Businessmen. In the 1990s, Computer Companies got involved in a big way, and since the 2000s, there has been a separate Business House League or Corporate League in the Area. (see the Leinster Softball page on Eirball for more on the Leagues in the 1980s and 1990s: https://eirball.ie/leinster-softball/
The Business House League was run directly by Softball Ireland in the 2000s, and then, the Corporate League as it was now known, was run by Softball Leinster in the 2010s.
Indoor Softball
Indoor Softball is played – as its name suggests – indoors, with soft ball (a softball is inspite of its name usually hard) and bases taped onto the floor. Innings are timed and it is one point for getting on base and one point for getting home, however, a team loses a point for an out. Home runs are scored when the ball hits the back wall and bounces back off the floor without being caught – this enables all players on base – as well as the hitter – to advance back to home plate.
Indoor Softball
Dublin Indoor Softball Tournament; Winter Indoor Softball Tournament; Midlands Indoor Softball Tournament; Katie Long Indoor Softball Tournament
Indoor Softball Tournaments (Overviews):
Softball Ireland | Dublin Indoor Softball Tournament 2008-2015
Softball Ireland | Winter Indoor Softball Tournament 2011-2017
Indoor Softball Seasons:
2011-12 2012-13 2016-17 2017-18 2018-19 2019-20
Picture Credit: [7] Dublin Indoor Softball Tournament Facebook Group (2018) Photo by Julie Trundle24 January 2020: [Internet] Available from: https://scontent-dub4-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/83074076_10159437350349778_1705633102103052288_n.jpg?_nc_cat=102&_nc_sid=825194&_nc_ohc=HgZcro7QGL0AX-iH7pX&_nc_ht=scontent-dub4-1.xx&oh=4d27295d3a5092fbf411d1e474dc2aad&oe=5F9E14A4 [Accessed 4 October 2020]
Softball Blitzes
Softball Blitzes are usually single day tournaments, played in order to raise money for charity. The events have timed innings, usually matches last 50 minutes, and have a 1-1 count when the batter steps up to the plate to bat (i.e. there is already one strike and one ball).
Softball Blitzes Finals
Softball Blitzes Finals
Softball Blitzes Finals (Seasons):
2006 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019
Picture Credit: [7] Softball Leinster Facebook (2013) Post, June 16, 2013: “Congratulations to Oddsox Softball Club on winning the Suspects blitz yesterday.” [Internet] Available from: https://scontent-dub4-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t31.0-8/1015920_493799514024990_290563225_o.jpg?_nc_cat=107&_nc_ohc=KE2aN-CYK7MAX9BWlwg&_nc_ht=scontent-dub4-1.xx&oh=7cd14c30041271b83261f35602103157&oe=5EC27A16 [Accessed 23 May 2018]
Leinster Softball Blitzes
Budweiser Challenge Trophy; Castleknock Invitational Blitz; Flyers Invitational Blitz; Suspects Pink Blitz;
Budweiser Challenge Trophy, UCD, Dublin 4 – Hosted by Dodder (Seasons):
Castleknock Invitational Blitz, Dublin 15 (Seasons):
Flyers Invitational Blitz, ALSAA, Co. Fingal (Seasons):
Suspects Pink Blitz, St. Mary’s RFC, Templeogue D6W (Overview):
Softball Leinster Suspects Pink Blitz (St. Mary’s RFC Templeogue D6W) 1999-Present
Picture Credit: [5] Softball Leinster Facebook (2020) Photo, August 24, 2020 [Internet] Available from: https://scontent-dub4-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/118524536_4222436274494610_2747628189672713847_n.jpg?_nc_cat=111&_nc_sid=8bfeb9&_nc_ohc=7hbPFfHaNNwAX8ku3ul&_nc_ht=scontent-dub4-1.xx&oh=6ab7444656188964fa1ef2d8b01b0e52&oe=5F87BC1E [Accessed 17 September 2020]
Ulster Softball Blitzes
Add your job title
Softball Ulster | Start of Season Blitz
Picture Credit: [11] Belfast Softball Club | Facebook (2019) Photo | 13 April 2019 | “Belfast Softball Club started the season at the SU SOS Blitz today. “ [Internet] Available from: https://www.facebook.com/BelfastSoftball/photos/a.590660004301640/2385490998151856/?type=3&theater [Accessed 16 April 2019]
Munster & Connacht Softball Blitzes
Aughinish All-Ireland Challenge (Co. Limerick); Munster Invitiational Softball Tournament (MIST, Limerick);
Aughinish All Ireland Challenge, Aughinish, Co. Limerick (Overview)
Aughinish All Ireland Challenge (Softball) 1986-1988
Munster Invitational Softball Tournament, Limerick (Seasons):
Longford Development Blitz:
Connacht Softball Association | Longford Development Blitz 2000-2001
Picture Credit: [2] University of Limerick | Softball (2004) Slammers Win the Cup [Internet] Available from: http://www.csn.ul.ie/~softball/slammers.jpg [Accessed 14 January 2020]
Softball Teams
Team Histories, including All-Time Results and yearly rosters
Leinster Softball Teams
Softball Leinster Teams
Leinster Softball Teams History [Results and Rosters]:
Marlay Martyrs | Leinster Softball Team 1988-Present [ 2001 ][ 2002 ]
Marlay Martyrs B | Leinster Softball Team 1999-2004 [ 2001 ][ 2002 ]
Picture Credit: [22] Marlay Softball Facebook Page (2018) Photo | May 18, 2014 | “Congratulations to the Martyrs who won the Niall Mellon blitz in Castleknock on Saturday” [Internet] Available from: https://www.facebook.com/Marlaysoftball/photos/a.437902872915719/711137512258919/?type=3&theater [Accessed 8 December 2018]