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GET YOUR PURPLE ON!
Highland Chargers Softball Team
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DAMP SQUIB ENDS AN ERA
The team had a good nights sleep (at least a good night!) and were ready to assault the BSF C Nationals Tournament when the worst possible news came through at breakfast... the ground staff at Keele University had said the grounds were too wet to play on and the event, for the C section, was cancelled.
The Teams spirit did not drop as a number of members stayed to make the best of a raw deal... in the swimming pool... with bikini's... including Dean and Neil... ew!
This news meant that the team Captaincy has now passed to Meerkat... or Mr Meerkat as he's now like to be known... and the current Manager will go and hibernate from softball, umpiring and petty drama queens who lie about good, decent people, for the forseable future!
HIGHLAND...
CHARGERS BOOK RETURN TICKETS TO THE NATIONALS IN 2009
In the gloom at the end of a, pretty typically horrid, Glasgow Summer evening the Chargers fielding shone through to take the team to the BSF C Nationals in 2009 by beating an inexperienced but determined Fokers by 1 run!
In a twist of fate the game meant so much to both teams at the start, as the Chargers had failed to beat the AJs the previous week, which meant that the team would have to take part in a Play-Off to determine second place had the Fokers won. So, certain nerves were jingling as the teams took the field!
The game had started off poorly, with the Fokers holding a 2 run advantage after the end of 2 innings. But the Chargers bats just kept nibbling away until we took a 5 to 4 lead in the 4th that then became and stayed at a 8 to 7 lead after the 5th.
The game was highlighted with a number of tag plays, or running errors from both teams, as well as an amazing twisting catch off a laser line drive from Rob Dickie, Captain of the Chargers, to Derick Turner, Captain of the Fokers. This would have almost certain made a 2 base hit and the catch kept the scores close.
In a moment of utter poetry, Rob Dickie, who had annouced his retirement from the CSSL only 48 hours before, took the game ending catch and his team to the most presigeous C Grade competition in the UK... again!
2RBI DOUBLE FROM OUZO SEALS THE WIN
In an extraordinary game against the Demons, John "Ouzo" Watt produced a majestic 2 RBI Double to take a close and hard earned win. In a defensive first half of the game no team could take an early advantage with the bats, but the Demons hit well in the 3rd and 4th innings to take a 7-5 lead. That lead would change 3 more times before the end as the Chargers took a 2 run 9-7 advantage into the 7th inning.
Excellent situational hitting from the Demons lower order gave their top order a chance to extend their lead, but the Silver and Purple held their nerve and held them to a 1 run lead for the bottom of the 7th.
With 1 out and nerves jangling Meerkat put the tying run on 3 and himself, the winning run, on 2nd base. Step up Ouzo and with total authority landed a flyball in centre field to allow the winning run to score!
Mention must be made of the effort everyone put in this week, especially Amy (with her great plays from 2), Jeff (scored everytime... with help from Martin's legs!), Martin (who took part and scored in his first game for the team), Saint (100% on base) and Pierre Dungee (who played with aching knees and still got the outs at first and second!)... great effort everyone... one more win and an apperance and we seal second place!
SPECIAL GUEST COACHING SESSION
On Thursday, July 31st from 6.30pm, a very special guest coach will be running a training session for the Chargers and invited guests, at the Auldhouse Fields in Thornliebank. Pierre Dungee is a founding member of the highly successful international Softball Club, Powersquad International and has coached at both junior and adult level... bottom line... he's a living Legend!
He will be covering a number of areas of play, but focusing on hitting technique. If you have any special requests please contact Rob.
Although this is not a manditory session, all team members are asked to make every effort to attend and not to guest for any other teams that night.
4 INNINGS AND 7 BASERUNNERS
A patched up Chargers team was no match for the Saltires this evening. Simple errors and poor hitting made the result all to easy for the oppo!
Let's hope the spirits and skill improve for the season run-in... they'll need to!
BIG 'D'
The Chargers managed to see of a determined and usefull 'Rocks team tonight in a very defensive and close game. Don;t let the score fool you... it was a close run 12-2! The Highlanders infield did seem to come of age though as each bag took multiple targets off the scoresheet. Of note was Liz "Assassin" Miller's performance (the spelling error was intended!) as she racked up 3 outs and was 3-4 on base!
A great team effort and an enjoyable night!
This puts the Chargers in their highest season split spot ever as we finish the round robin stage with a record of 6-2... that's more wins than our entire first season! Looks like we face a difficult second half against tough opposition in the AJs, Demons, Fokers and rampaging and mighty Saltires (well done for the win at Bristol btw guys!)
Bring them on!
ANDY MURRAY EAT YER HEART OUT
In a comeback worthy of at least 3 minutes discussion down the boozer, the fighting highlanders came back from losing the early lead to pip the AJs 20-14. It was a game of 3 halfs really, as first the Chargers scored big(ish) and then the AJs scored big(ger), but as the game went on so the nerves jangled and then crazy ravin' Pistol Pete stood at the plate with 2 outs and bases loaded and placed the prettiest line drive I have ever seen for the Grand Slam!
It was something of the heartbreaker for the AJs as they appeared to be more potent with the bats and more consistent with their infield defence. Some nice plays at 1 are more than worthy of note here!
The game was marred with the usual CSSL bitching, but this time including the sidelines from people not connected with the game... 2 of our players stood their ground though and proved their point. Maybe we'll see how they like bystanders shouting at them while they're batting and fielding... I think they need to visit www.itsabloodygamebeeeeeeatch.com and have a good read?
DEMONS KEEP US FIGHTING TO THE LAST
In yet more damp and very "Scottish" conditions a well organised and skillful Demons squad fell to the "luck" sword wielded by the Chargers.With both teams scoring plenty of runs at the start the defences of both teams woke up mid game to keep both sides very honest. The Chargers batters did ride their luck as a number of pop fly's were tipped off the ends of outfield gloves and the water must have been cloggling the baserunners ears as the basecoaches just didn't seem to get through to the runners.
However, in the end both the infield and outfield did their jobs well and the Chargers defence was able to withstand 2 shut out final innigs to keep the gap at 2 with a 15 - 13 win.
It was noted that the game was played with tremendous spirit and sportsmanship and goes down as the best game this year in that regard.
PLATE SEMI FINAL HEARTACHE AT LEEDS
Despite having a 4 run lead against the Manchester Mets the Chargers couldn't close out an extra innings plate semi final at the Leeds Tournament. The Saturday had been dissapointing, with only 1 draw in myserably wet conditions to show for the teams' efforts, but the Sunday saw new energy and verve in the squad with a quater final victory over a brave and determined Leeds Dinamite Team. The semi was a tetchy affair that saw the usual unique (and questionable legal) pitching style from the Mets Pitcher.
With winds gusting up to 60mph towards left field our batters constantly managed to get the ball up into the "Gulf Stream" and kept scoring triples and even a fly ball homerun! But where we played big ball, the Mets kept nibbling away with small ball and kept scoring off our stuttering infield. Game time ran out and the Mets scored 1 with their first at bat then with the winning run on 1st base our final 3 batters couldn't buy a hit and the brave comeback finished with dissapointment.
Was great to be back in Leeds and we look forward to various amounts of sweet revenge in 2009!
NOT A GREAT DAY AT THE OFFICE!
The Chargers didn't show up to the party on Tuesday as a refaced and energetic Pimps side wove their way through our fielding errors to march to a deserved victory. A big 14 run inning for them created too much daylight for the Highland bats in the end, as injuries and a no show forced a number of key fielding changes right before the start of the game.
Bright spots were Amy's "cool as ****" double play off the second batter of the evening and then, as hopes started to rise of a possible comeback win, a MASSIVE 3 base triple hit, that skipped under the gloves of 5 Pimps fielders! Captain J.B., on injured big toe and pride, managed to squeeze out a home run in the dying innings, but it was too little too late.
Mention has to be made of the atmosphere the game was played in too, with much that could have gone wrong, little did. There was a case of suicidal base coaching, double team fielding at home and a misunderstanding of the facts. Even this could not mar the good nature of banter between the teams.
Let's hope the Pimps make the top section so revenge may be sought!
BATS WAKE UP FOR BIG 6TH VS FOCKERS
After a cagey start the Chargers finally put big numbers up against a determined Fockers defence in the 6th to take the second run-ahead victory in as many weeks. It was an error strewn game up until the 4th inning, with both teams woke up and played 'ball! Some good hitting was matched with some good infield play and even a double-play was seen on the Chargers defence!
Fewer homeruns lay testimony to the quality of team faced and the holes in the gloves will need to be sewn up for the next game against the Pimps.
HOMERUN KINGS
News just reaching here indicates that Meerkat and Pimp Daddy both managed to score Homeruns on Tuesday night. It had first been thought that they were both 1 or 2 base hits, but saying as so many onlookers fell asleep waiting for them both to run round the bases no one was sure if they had even scored.
Obviously still exhausted from the effort, a tired a emotional Meerkat said "air, air *GASP* I need oxygen! Hey... ma nose is bleeding!", in a statement to the press later Mr Daddy was quoted saying "I'm really dissapointed you've not mentioned my first homerun of the season on the front page of the website!".
We caught up with all-star 3rd baseman and teenage heart-throb Stephen "how-you-doin'?" Saint-Coll and questioned him on his thoughts on his team mates heroics, he said "Who give a sh**?! Did ya no see me oot there... 3 ok... f***in' 3... count them... 1... 2... you paying attention... 3... I made it round the bases before the next eclipse as well... f***in' cheek... who do they think they are... w***ers!!!!! Now where's my personal masseuse gone?".
Long term team Catcher, and glamour model, Amie Carr said "Look at my new bat... it's lovely isn't it? Sorry did you ask me something?", prophetic words indeed!
3 GONE, 2 UP
With 3 games completed in the CSSL Round Robin section the Chargers are starting to make serious progress on gaining a place in the top group for Nationals Qualification.
A difficult win over a very competent Terror Watts side was offset by a dissapointingly large loss to the Saltires the following week. With a break in the schedule and a number of personal changes it was time to see how an energised league squad could capitalise on the weekend's antics... and how it was seen!
A look at some of the remarkable stats from various players shows how this game was played:
Score Chargers 34 - Giants 21
First outdoor win against Giants
First run ahead win against a longer established team
17 runs in the 1st inning
7 home runs
Saint - 3HR
Rowan - 1HR and 100% on Base
Giants held to 0 until the 4th inning.
AWESOME!
I can safely say, and Funky agrees, that was out finest team outing in the league we've ever had!
Keep up the good work!
SOLID 3rd PLACE AT TT
The Chargers placed 3rd in group at this years CSSL Tartan Tournament held in Cumbernauld on May 24th and 25th. Placed in the C-comp section they got off to a rocky start against the Dalriada Demons, but the bats and gloves soon started to sparkle as the day went on and they finished with a 4-1 record by the end of Saturday. The best single day performance by a Chargers tourning team. The day was tainted by yet more ugly scenes against the Legends team and there was confusion as they were placed only second in group after the round robin, even though they had beaten everyone else with the same record.
The Sunday did not start well as they were forced to play a harder game than expected which they ended up losing. 1 remaining win in the qualifying group was not enough to carry the team through to a final. However the weekend finished on a high as we saw off the spritly and reenergised Yorkshire Terriers for the 2nd runners up spot... I'm sure they'll be a significant force in the future!
A really great weekend which saw a team really start to gel... bring on the Nationals!
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