The Brawlers Report

A year ago this weekend, 4 inexperienced people travelled from Belfast to Dublin to get an introduction to the game of softball under the guise of a Belfast team; Carrie, Maarten, Terry and Damian. With help from other teams the Dublin Bay Packers, Wildcats and Base Devils, we learnt loads from the day and went back to Belfast to build our own teams; Belfast Brawlers and Smokin’ Aces.
This weekend the Belfast Brawlers returned to Dublin, this time arriving with a pack of 17 softballers.

After seeing the schedule of the day there was one thing on my (Carrie) mind. We must beat the Packers! (i.e. Steve, my brother).

Game 1: Belfast Brawlers vs. Deadly Suspects.

Although it was a chilly start the first inning opened with some good defence and pitching by Maarten, keeping the runs for the suspects down to 0. Some good hitting by Damian, Terry and Meghann brought Diane and Malachy home setting the Brawlers in the lead 2-0 at the end of the first inning. Terry and Etain fielded a great 2nd inning keeping the score down to 2-0 but the Suspects shut us down. At the top of the third the Suspects took the lead 2-3, but some skilled ball watching by Diane and Malachy got them walks and again were brought home by the heavy hitters – Terry, Meghann and Myles (4-3). Despite, Etain becoming an Ace on 2nd base some overthrows at 1st let the Suspects take the lead in the 4th , and with only Maarten getting home on a superb hit to RC the 4th inning ended with the Suspects in the lead (5-7). In the last inning, the infield played great defence and Carrie, to the shock of herself and everyone else caught one in the air at RC, keeping the Suspects at 7 runs. Terry (T-Bomb) and Myles then brought the Brawlers to their first win of the day with some great batsmanship.

Game 2: Belfast Brawlers vs. UCD

With our rookies having watched the first game we set them to the test in this next match against our arch rivals UCD J. But UCD bats were on fire (0-3). In the top of the 2nd inning the Brawlers' infield held a very tight defence, 3 up – 3 down with Damian, Lauren and Terry doing what they do best. But UCD did the same back (0-3). In the third, Heather and Nicky were run off their feet but got the ball into Myles and Aisling on second to keep the score at a respectable (0-5). It seemed there was no end to the amount of home runs they could get in the fourth inning. Brendan of UCD had a lovely hit to the bleachers bringing the loaded bases home. Despite the Brawlers attempt to fight back in the top of this final inning, with a great HR from Myles, a lovely 3B hit by Terry and great contact by Neil, the game ended with a 2-12 loss.
1-1 Baby!

Game 3: Brawlers (Carrie) vs. Dublin Bay Packers (Steve)

After 30 years of sibling rivalry, the Trundles (Carrie and Steve) went head-to-head in the 3rd game of the day. With all bets on the more experienced team, the Packers, to win, the Brawlers were in for a fight. Well! At least I was. In the first inning, the Packers showed their strength in their hitting and reading of the pitches and took a 4-0 lead. Rookie Neil opened the top of the 1st showing he could make great contact with the ball, which he continued to do throughout the day. Then Carrie came to the plate with one thing in mind, do not hit it to Steve at short. So what did she do – yep! Great contact straight at his glove… but nooooo he fumbled. Was it sympathy or fear?? Only he knows. Some great base hitting by Myles and Lauren closed the bottom of the first with a (4-2) lead by the Packers. In the 2nd , the Packers went striking ahead with 8 runs. Paddy nearly knocking out mother and child in the far left field after telling the umpire he couldn’t hit out of the infield. With Carrie expecting another beating by her older brother, the Brawlers went to bat. Terry got his first HR of the day and Diane and Owen batted Maarten home but the packers defence was tight. (4-12) With the Packers in the lead, the Brawlers defence woke up and Damian and Meghann had found where the Packers liked to hit. The Brawlers came to bat with the score still at (4-12), Carrie got to base with a fumble by Paddy – did she pay them all off! And Myles got his second HR of the day batting Carrie and Damian home tightening the game by (7-12) at the end of the 3rd inning. With no change in the score, by the top of the final and fifth inning, due to some excellent defence by pitcher Terry and the outfield duo Meghann and Damian, this was the last chance for the Brawlers to take a lead but with 6 runs needed…could it be done? Oh and did I say Steve got caught out by a girl! With bases loaded, Damian got his first HR of the day bringing the game to 11-12 and no outs. Can the Brawlers keep their cool for a win… Lauren and Myles both get out, with 2 down Meghann takes a walk, to get on base then Terry hits a whopper bringing himself and Meghann home. Its 13-12 to the Brawlers, can you believe it! Steve got beaten by his sister. Well done Brawlers I couldn’t be prouder.
2-1 Baby!

Game 4: Homers Krusty vs. Brawlers.

In the first inning of this game the Brawlers came out fighting, with some great hitting by Martin and Maarten getting to 2nd and Myles getting his 3rd HR of the day. But the Homers have some strong hitters and the first ended in a tie (4-4). Terry got home in the bottom of the 2nd inning. (4-5) Then the rain came in and the outfielders Heather, Kevin, Neil and Carrie, played a good game getting the ball back into the infield but while they slipped around in the muddy outfield the Homers sped ahead with a 12-5 lead. As we tend to do the Brawlers came back in the last inning, Myles getting his 3rd and Terry his 2nd  HR of the day tightening the gap to 12-11 but that brought us to the end of the game.

So not a bad show from the Brawlers for the start of the season, fun was had by all but the rain had set in for the day and thunder and lightning was on its way, I think that’s the Pub calling!

Game results:

Team stats:

Pictures will come as soon as we can read the card of Aisling's camera.