Standings

Standings calculated automatically from results. For Official Results and Standings please visit the Baseball Ireland website at [Results and Standings References: 1]

Playoffs

Regular Season Results

For Official Results and Standings please visit the Baseball Ireland website at [Results and Standings References: 1]

Weekly Recaps

About

About Softball Leinster Division 3 2023

The 2023 Softball Leinster season features nine teams: Bottom club in Division 2 in 2022, Marlay Mustangs have been relegated to Division 3 and Division 3 Champions 2022, Average Joes, and third-placed Ashbourne Antlers have been promoted. Four teams remain from 2022: Hippety Hippos, Thirsty Camels, Wicklow Cubs and Deadly Suspects. New teams for 2023 are Ashbourne Comets (fourth team of Ashbourne Antlers), Brewers (third team of Kegs), G&Ts, and Stoneballerz.

Ashbourne Antlers represent Co. Meath and Wicklow Cubs from Charlesland represent Co. Wicklow, both Leinster. Hippety Hippos (fourth team of Hippetys), represent Co. South Dublin, Dublin, and are based in Stannaway Park, Kimmage, Dublin 12. Marlay Mustangs and Deadly Suspects are both based in Marlay Park, Dublin 14, representing Co. Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown, Dublin. Brewers are based in Wanderers FC, Dublin 4, and represent the Southside of Dublin City, Dublin. Thirsty Camels are based in St. Anne’s Park, Raheny, Dublin 5 and represent Co. Fingal, Dublin.

ABOUT Softball Leinster

The Leinster Softball League has its’ origins in the Dublin Softball League (1982-1989) which became a founder member of Softball Ireland in 1990 after teams were discovered also playing Softball in Limerick and Cork. Now known as Softball Leinster, the Leinster Softball League is one of three Provincial Softball Organisations in Ireland – Softball Ulster and Softball Connacht Munster are the other two – with the winners of each Provincial League competing for the Softball Ireland National Club Championship.

Softball is like Baseball but the major differences are the Pitching is underarm in Softball as opposed to Overarm in Baseball; there are 10 players Fielding Defence in Softball as opposed to 9 in Baseball; and the Infield where the players run around bases in an attempt to get back to homebase in smaller in Softball than in Baseball.

Softball has three main variations: Fastpitch Softball where the Pitching can be as fast as in Baseball is primarily a Women’s Sport with a Professional League and College League in USA being the top leagues in the world; Slowpitch Softball where the pitching is underarm also but in a soft arc and much slower; and Indoor Softball which is as its’ name suggests played indoors. In the Indoor variation if the ball is hit off the far end wall and bounces back onto the ‘field’ without being touched it is a home run. Also in the Indoor variation a team loses a point for each player out and gains a point for each base reached without an out and getting home. The other two variations on Softball the scoring is very like Baseball with a point (called a ‘Run’) scored when a player makes it all the way around the four bases back home.

Scoring and Rules

The object of the games of Baseball and Softball are to hit the ball pitched at the batter and advance around four bases back home. Teams take turns Batting (Offence) and Fielding (Defence). The team that scores the most runs over 7 innings in Softball and 9 innings in Baseball is declared the winner. Each time a team takes turns batting it is an inning. The away team (‘road’ team) bats first (this is called the top of the inning) and the home team second (bottom of the inning) in each inning. An inning is over whenever the batting team has three players caught, run, or struck out.

A player does not have to get all the way around the four bases back home in the one play (‘at bat’) but can do so over a number of plays (players ‘at bat’). When a player makes it all the way around the four bases back home on the one play (in other words when the player ran all the way around four bases back home on their own hit) it is called a Home Run. Players may be struck, caught or run out. In addition when at home plate attempting to hit a pitch players have three strikes to be out but four ‘balls’ pitched (in other four bad pitches). If four ‘balls’ are pitched before three strikes the player may advance to first base. A player must run to first base when they hit the ball. If the ball passes over home plate within the ‘strike zone’ (an area the width and depth of home plate and from the batters chest to their waist). For an explanation on the Strikezone and its’ evolution over time please see the Major League Baseball page on the subject: https://www.mlb.com/official-information/umpires/strike-zone

Map of Ireland 2022 Counties, Boroughs and Districts showing logos and locations of Softball Leinster teams

Softball Gear Stock Image

References

Scoreboard References

[1] Softball Leinster (2023) 2023 Division 3 [Internet] Available from: https://www.softballleinster.ie/table/2023-division-3/ [Accessed 6 May 2023]

[2] Softball Leinster (2023) Ashbourne Comets [Internet] Available from: https://www.softballleinster.ie/team/ashbourne-comets/ [Accessed 6 May 2023]

[3] Softball Leinster (2023) Brewers [Internet] Available from: https://www.softballleinster.ie/team/kielys-kegs/brewers/ [Accessed 6 May 2023]

[4] Softball Leinster (2023) Deadly Suspects [Internet] Available from: https://www.softballleinster.ie/team/suspects-softball-club/deadly-suspects/  [Accessed 6 May 2023]

[5] Softball Leinster (2023) G&T [Internet] Available from: https://www.softballleinster.ie/team/g-ts/ [Accessed 6 May 2023]

[6] Softball Leinster (2023) Hippety Hippos [Internet] Available from: https://www.softballleinster.ie/team/hippty-hippos/  [Accessed 6 May 2023]

[7] Softball Leinster (2023) Marlay Mustangs [Internet] Available from: https://www.softballleinster.ie/team/marlay-softball-club/marlay-mustangs/ [Accessed 6 May 2023]

[8] Softball Leinster (2023) Stoneballerz [Internet] Available from: https://www.softballleinster.ie/team/stoneballerz/ [Accessed 6 May 2023]

[9] Softball Leinster (2023) Thirsty Camels [Internet] Available from: https://www.softballleinster.ie/team/stormriders/thundergades/ [Accessed 6 May 2023]

[10] Softball Leinster (2023) Wicklow Cubs [Internet] Available from: https://www.softballleinster.ie/team/wicklow-cubs/ [Accessed 6 May 2023]

LOGO REFERENCES

IMAGES

[1] Baseball Ireland (2017) Baseball Ireland Logo Car Sticker [Internet] http://www.baseballireland.com/images/carsticker.jpg [Accessed 1 May 2017

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

Thanks to Marlay Mustangs and Marlay Martyrs

ABOUT THIS DOCUMENT

Researched, compiled and written by Enda Mulcahy for the

Eirball | Irish, North American & World Sports Archive

Last Updated: 6 May 2023

(c) Copyright Enda Mulcahy and Eirball 2023

You may quote this document in part provided that proper acknowledgement is given to the authors. All Rights Reserved. The Logos and Photos used in this article remain the property of the organisations and individuals which own the copyright and are used here for educational and information purposes only.

Standings

Standings calculated automatically from results. For Official Results and Standings please visit the Baseball Ireland website at [Results and Standings References: 1]

Playoffs

Regular Season Results

For Official Results and Standings please visit the Baseball Ireland website at [Results and Standings References: 1]

Weekly Recaps

Week 1

About

About Softball Leinster Division 2 2023

The 2023 Softball Leinster season features six, as in 2022, however, 2022 Champions Wicklow Wolves and second-placed Hippety Hipsters have been promoted to Division 1 for 2023, with no team relegated from that division. Bottom team in 2022 Marlay Mustangs have been relegated to Division 3 for the 2023 season and Homers and Base Devils have merged to become Homer Devils. 2022 Division 3 Champions Average Joes and third-placed Ashbourne Antlers have been promoted to Division 2. New teams for 2023 in Softball Leinster, and placed in Division 2 are Navan Dragons and Hypnotists.

Ashbourne Antlers and Navan Dragons both represent Co. Meath, Leinster; Average Joes, Homer Devils and Hypnotists all represent Co. South Dublin, and are based in Stannaway Park, Kimmage, Dublin 12. Castleknock Wildcats are based in Castleknock College, Dublin 15, and represent, Co. Fingal, Dublin.

ABOUT Softball Leinster

The Leinster Softball League has its’ origins in the Dublin Softball League (1982-1989) which became a founder member of Softball Ireland in 1990 after teams were discovered also playing Softball in Limerick and Cork. Now known as Softball Leinster, the Leinster Softball League is one of three Provincial Softball Organisations in Ireland – Softball Ulster and Softball Connacht Munster are the other two – with the winners of each Provincial League competing for the Softball Ireland National Club Championship.

Softball is like Baseball but the major differences are the Pitching is underarm in Softball as opposed to Overarm in Baseball; there are 10 players Fielding Defence in Softball as opposed to 9 in Baseball; and the Infield where the players run around bases in an attempt to get back to homebase in smaller in Softball than in Baseball.

Softball has three main variations: Fastpitch Softball where the Pitching can be as fast as in Baseball is primarily a Women’s Sport with a Professional League and College League in USA being the top leagues in the world; Slowpitch Softball where the pitching is underarm also but in a soft arc and much slower; and Indoor Softball which is as its’ name suggests played indoors. In the Indoor variation if the ball is hit off the far end wall and bounces back onto the ‘field’ without being touched it is a home run. Also in the Indoor variation a team loses a point for each player out and gains a point for each base reached without an out and getting home. The other two variations on Softball the scoring is very like Baseball with a point (called a ‘Run’) scored when a player makes it all the way around the four bases back home.

Scoring and Rules

The object of the games of Baseball and Softball are to hit the ball pitched at the batter and advance around four bases back home. Teams take turns Batting (Offence) and Fielding (Defence). The team that scores the most runs over 7 innings in Softball and 9 innings in Baseball is declared the winner. Each time a team takes turns batting it is an inning. The away team (‘road’ team) bats first (this is called the top of the inning) and the home team second (bottom of the inning) in each inning. An inning is over whenever the batting team has three players caught, run, or struck out.

A player does not have to get all the way around the four bases back home in the one play (‘at bat’) but can do so over a number of plays (players ‘at bat’). When a player makes it all the way around the four bases back home on the one play (in other words when the player ran all the way around four bases back home on their own hit) it is called a Home Run. Players may be struck, caught or run out. In addition when at home plate attempting to hit a pitch players have three strikes to be out but four ‘balls’ pitched (in other four bad pitches). If four ‘balls’ are pitched before three strikes the player may advance to first base. A player must run to first base when they hit the ball. If the ball passes over home plate within the ‘strike zone’ (an area the width and depth of home plate and from the batters chest to their waist). For an explanation on the Strikezone and its’ evolution over time please see the Major League Baseball page on the subject: https://www.mlb.com/official-information/umpires/strike-zone

Map of Ireland 2022 Counties, Boroughs and Districts showing logos and locations of Softball Leinster teams

Softball Gear Stock Image

References

Scoreboard References

[1] Softball Leinster (2023) 2023 Division 2 [Internet] Available from: https://www.softballleinster.ie/table/2023-division-2/ [Accessed 4 May 2023]

[2] Softball Leinster (2023) Ashbourne Antlers [Internet] Available from: https://www.softballleinster.ie/team/ashbourne-antlers/  [Accessed 4 May 2023]

[3] Softball Leinster (2023) Average Joes [Internet] Available from: https://www.softballleinster.ie/team/average-joes/  [Accessed 4 May 2023]

[4] Softball Leinster (2023) Castleknock Wildcats [Internet] Available from: https://www.softballleinster.ie/team/castleknock-softball-club/castleknock-wildcats/  [Accessed 4 May 2023]

[5] Softball Leinster (2023) Homer Devils [Internet] Available from: https://www.softballleinster.ie/team/homers/  [Accessed 4 May 2023]

[6] Softball Leinster (2023) Hypnotists [Internet] Available from: https://www.softballleinster.ie/team/stannaway-softball-club/hypontics/  [Accessed 4 May 2023]

[7] Softball Leinster (2023) Navan Dragons [Internet] Available from: https://www.softballleinster.ie/team/navan-dragons/ [Accessed 4 May 2023]

LOGO REFERENCES

IMAGES

[1] Baseball Ireland (2017) Baseball Ireland Logo Car Sticker [Internet] http://www.baseballireland.com/images/carsticker.jpg [Accessed 1 May 2017

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

Thanks to Marlay Mustangs and Marlay Martyrs

ABOUT THIS DOCUMENT

Researched, compiled and written by Enda Mulcahy for the

Eirball | Irish, North American & World Sports Archive

Last Updated: 11 May 2023

(c) Copyright Enda Mulcahy and Eirball 2023

You may quote this document in part provided that proper acknowledgement is given to the authors. All Rights Reserved. The Logos and Photos used in this article remain the property of the organisations and individuals which own the copyright and are used here for educational and information purposes only.

Standings

Standings calculated automatically from results. For Official Results and Standings please visit the Baseball Ireland website at [Results and Standings References: 1]

Playoffs

Regular Season Results

For Official Results and Standings please visit the Baseball Ireland website at [Results and Standings References: 1]

Weekly Recaps

Week 1 (26 April 2023)

There were opening day wins for Usual Suspects (27-12 at Wicklow Wolves) and Chuggers (21-12 at Renegade Titans). Dodder Dynamites received a walkover from Dublin Bay Packers. [References: 1-9]

Week 2 (3 May 2023)

Renegade Reapers opened their season with a close 17-16 victory versus Dublin Bay Packers in St. Anne’s Park, Raheny, while Hippety Hipsters also gained a close win, 9-8 versus Wicklow Wolves in Stannaway Park. Usual Suspects defeated Renegade Titans 15-7 to move to 2-0 and Dodder Dynamites also continued on winning ways, going 2-0 with a 26-run victory over Chuggers. [References: 1-9]

About

About Softball Leinster Division 1 2023

Softball Leinster Division 1 features eight teams for 2023, up two on 2022 with the promotion of Wicklow Wolves (Charlesland, Co. Wicklow) and Hippety Hipsters representing South Dublin (Stannaway Park, Kimmage, Dublin 12). All six teams from Division 1 2022 returned with none relegated or promoted. Renegade Reapers and Renegade Titans represent Dublin City, being based in St. Anne’s Park in Raheny, Dublin 3 on the Northside of the Liffey. Dodder Dynamites represent the Southside of Dublin City, based in ETB Sports Grounds in Terenure, Dublin 6W. Usual Suspects (Marlay Park, Dublin 14) and Chuggers (Wanderers FC, Sandymount, Dublin 4) represent Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown and Dublin Bay Packers (Castleknock College, Dublin 13) represent Fingal. Division 1 is the second level of four Coed Slowpitch Softball Leagues in Leinster Province, Ireland, coming below the Premier Division.

ABOUT Softball Leinster

The Leinster Softball League has its’ origins in the Dublin Softball League (1982-1989) which became a founder member of Softball Ireland in 1990 after teams were discovered also playing Softball in Limerick and Cork. Now known as Softball Leinster, the Leinster Softball League is one of three Provincial Softball Organisations in Ireland – Softball Ulster and Softball Connacht Munster are the other two – with the winners of each Provincial League competing for the Softball Ireland National Club Championship.

Softball is like Baseball but the major differences are the Pitching is underarm in Softball as opposed to Overarm in Baseball; there are 10 players Fielding Defence in Softball as opposed to 9 in Baseball; and the Infield where the players run around bases in an attempt to get back to homebase in smaller in Softball than in Baseball.

Softball has three main variations: Fastpitch Softball where the Pitching can be as fast as in Baseball is primarily a Women’s Sport with a Professional League and College League in USA being the top leagues in the world; Slowpitch Softball where the pitching is underarm also but in a soft arc and much slower; and Indoor Softball which is as its’ name suggests played indoors. In the Indoor variation if the ball is hit off the far end wall and bounces back onto the ‘field’ without being touched it is a home run. Also in the Indoor variation a team loses a point for each player out and gains a point for each base reached without an out and getting home. The other two variations on Softball the scoring is very like Baseball with a point (called a ‘Run’) scored when a player makes it all the way around the four bases back home.

Scoring and Rules

The object of the games of Baseball and Softball are to hit the ball pitched at the batter and advance around four bases back home. Teams take turns Batting (Offence) and Fielding (Defence). The team that scores the most runs over 7 innings in Softball and 9 innings in Baseball is declared the winner. Each time a team takes turns batting it is an inning. The away team (‘road’ team) bats first (this is called the top of the inning) and the home team second (bottom of the inning) in each inning. An inning is over whenever the batting team has three players caught, run, or struck out.

A player does not have to get all the way around the four bases back home in the one play (‘at bat’) but can do so over a number of plays (players ‘at bat’). When a player makes it all the way around the four bases back home on the one play (in other words when the player ran all the way around four bases back home on their own hit) it is called a Home Run. Players may be struck, caught or run out. In addition when at home plate attempting to hit a pitch players have three strikes to be out but four ‘balls’ pitched (in other four bad pitches). If four ‘balls’ are pitched before three strikes the player may advance to first base. A player must run to first base when they hit the ball. If the ball passes over home plate within the ‘strike zone’ (an area the width and depth of home plate and from the batters chest to their waist). For an explanation on the Strikezone and its’ evolution over time please see the Major League Baseball page on the subject: https://www.mlb.com/official-information/umpires/strike-zone

Map of Ireland 2022 Counties, Boroughs and Districts showing logos and locations of Softball Leinster teams

Softball Gear Stock Image

References

Results and Standings References

[1] Softball Leinster (2023) 2023 Division 1 [Internet] Available from: https://www.softballleinster.ie/table/2023-division-1/ [Accessed 4 May 2023]

[2] Softball Leinster (2023) Chuggers [Internet] Available from: https://www.softballleinster.ie/team/kielys-kegs/chuggers/ [Accessed 4 May 2023]

[3] Softball Leinster (2023) Dodder Dynamites [Internet] Available from: https://www.softballleinster.ie/team/dodder-softball-club/dynamites/ [Accessed 4 May 2023]

[4] Softball Leinster (2023) Dublin Bay Packers [Internet] Available from: https://www.softballleinster.ie/team/dublin-bay-packers/ [Accessed 4 May 2023]

[5] Softball Leinster (2023) Hippety Hipsters [Internet] Available from: https://www.softballleinster.ie/team/hippty-hsters/ [Accessed 4 May 2023]

[6] Softball Leinster (2023) Renegade Reapers [Internet] Available from: https://www.softballleinster.ie/team/renegades-softball-club/renegade-reapers/ [Accessed 4 May 2023]

[7] Softball Leinster (2023) Renegade Titans [Internet] Available from: https://www.softballleinster.ie/team/renegades-softball-club/renegade-titans/ [Accessed 4 May 2023]

[8] Softball Leinster (2023) Usual Suspects [Internet] Available from: https://www.softballleinster.ie/team/suspects-softball-club/usual-suspects/ [Accessed 4 May 2023]

[9] Softball Leinster (2023) Wicklow Wolves [Internet] Available from: https://www.softballleinster.ie/team/wicklow-wolves/ [Accessed 4 May 2023]

LOGO REFERENCES

IMAGES

[1] Baseball Ireland (2017) Baseball Ireland Logo Car Sticker [Internet] http://www.baseballireland.com/images/carsticker.jpg [Accessed 1 May 2017

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

Thanks to Marlay Mustangs and Marlay Martyrs

ABOUT THIS DOCUMENT

Researched, compiled and written by Enda Mulcahy for the

Eirball | Irish, North American & World Sports Archive

Last Updated: 6 May 2023

(c) Copyright Enda Mulcahy and Eirball 2023

You may quote this document in part provided that proper acknowledgement is given to the authors. All Rights Reserved. The Logos and Photos used in this article remain the property of the organisations and individuals which own the copyright and are used here for educational and information purposes only.

Standings

Softball Leinster Premier Division 2023

Pos	Team	W	L	FF	TP	GB	RS	RA
1	Dodder Dynamoes	4	0	0	20	0	64	24
2	Batpak	3	2	0	19	0	76	57
3	Kegs	2	3	0	16	0	70	82
4	Hippies	2	3	0	16	0	55	74
5	Castleknock Bearcats	1	4	0	13	0	58	86

Standings calculated automatically from results. For Official Results and Standings please visit the Baseball Ireland website at [Results and Standings References: 1]

Playoffs

Regular Season Results

Softball Leinster Premier Division 2023

Match Day Week 1
April 25, 2023 (Week 1) 14 - 24 N/A Castleknock Bearcats vs Kegs
April 25, 2023 (Week 1) 12 - 24 N/A Hippies vs Batpak
Match Day Week 2
May 2, 2023 (Week 2) 17 - 2 N/A Dodder Dynamoes vs Castleknock Bearcats
May 2, 2023 (Week 2) 9 - 13 N/A Kegs vs Hippies
Match Day Week 3
May 9, 2023 (Week 3) 25 - 10 N/A Batpak vs Kegs
May 9, 2023 (Week 3) 10 - 23 N/A Hippies vs Dodder Dynamoes
Match Day Week 4
May 16, 2023 (Week 4) 14 - 6 N/A Dodder Dynamoes vs Batpak
May 16, 2023 (Week 4) 11 - 10 N/A Castleknock Bearcats vs Hippies
Match Day Week 5
May 23, 2023 (Week 5) 11 - 14 N/A Castleknock Bearcats vs Batpak
May 23, 2023 (Week 5) 6 - 10 N/A Kegs vs Dodder Dynamoes
Match Day Week 6
May 30, 2023 (Week 6) 21 - 20 N/A Kegs vs Castleknock Bearcats
May 30, 2023 (Week 6) 7 - 10 N/A Batpak vs Hippies
Match Day Week 7
June 6, 2023 (Week 7) 7:00 pm N/A Castleknock Bearcats vs Dodder Dynamoes
June 6, 2023 (Week 7) 7:00 pm N/A Hippies vs Kegs

For Official Results and Standings please visit the Baseball Ireland website at [Results and Standings References: 1]

Weekly Recaps

Week 1 (25 April 2023)

Batpak traveled to Stannaway Park, Kimmage, to take on the Hippies on opening day 2023, winning 24-12. The other Premier Division game on opening day witnessed a 24-12 victory for Kegs in Castleknock College at Castleknock Bearcats. [References: 1-6]

Week 2 (2 May 2023)

Dodder Dynamoes opened their season with a 17-2 win at home in the ETB Sports Grounds in Terenure versus Castleknock Bearcats, who suffered their second loss of the season in the game. Hippies improved to 1-1 with a 13-9 defeat of Kegs at Wanderers RFC. [References: 1-6]

Weeks 3-6 (9-30 May 2023)

Dodder Dynamoes remained unbeaten through May, with wins at Hippies (23-10, week 3), 14-6 versus Batpak in week 4 and 10-6 at Kegs in week 5. In second at the end of May on 3-2 and a game and a half behind were Batpak, who after the loss in week 3 to Dynamoes recovered in week 4 to triumph 14-11 at home to Castleknock Bearcats before a shock loss at home to Hippies (7-10), in an increasingly competitive Premier Division. Hippies and Kegs were both 2.5 games back from leaders Dodder, with Kegs joining Hippies on 2-3 after a close 21-20 win at home in Wanderers FC to Castleknock Bearcats in week 6. Bearcats picked up their first win of the year in an 11-10 home win over Hippies in week 4 before two close losses to Batpak and Kegs left them at the foot of the table on 1-4. [References: 1-6]

About

About Softball Leinster Premier Division 2023

The 2023 Softball Leinster Premier Division features five teams: Dodder Dynamoes (ETB Sports Grounds, Terenure, Dublin 6W) and Batpak (St. Anne’s Park, Raheny, Dublin 3) from Dublin City; Castleknock Bearcats (Castleknock College, Castleknock, Dublin 15) from Fingal; Hippies (Stannaway Park, Kimmage, Dublin 12) from South Dublin; and Kegs (Wanderers RFC, Sandymount, Dublin 4) from Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown. TNT did not return from 2022, otherwise the same teams line outb for 2023 as 2022 with Hippetys Hippie Monsters returning to the Hippies name. The Premier Division is the highest level Coed (Mixed) Slowpitch Softball League in Leinster Province with the Champions representing Leinster in the Softball Ireland National Club Championship.

ABOUT Softball Leinster

The Leinster Softball League has its’ origins in the Dublin Softball League (1982-1989) which became a founder member of Softball Ireland in 1990 after teams were discovered also playing Softball in Limerick and Cork. Now known as Softball Leinster, the Leinster Softball League is one of three Provincial Softball Organisations in Ireland – Softball Ulster and Softball Connacht Munster are the other two – with the winners of each Provincial League competing for the Softball Ireland National Club Championship.

Softball is like Baseball but the major differences are the Pitching is underarm in Softball as opposed to Overarm in Baseball; there are 10 players Fielding Defence in Softball as opposed to 9 in Baseball; and the Infield where the players run around bases in an attempt to get back to homebase in smaller in Softball than in Baseball.

Softball has three main variations: Fastpitch Softball where the Pitching can be as fast as in Baseball is primarily a Women’s Sport with a Professional League and College League in USA being the top leagues in the world; Slowpitch Softball where the pitching is underarm also but in a soft arc and much slower; and Indoor Softball which is as its’ name suggests played indoors. In the Indoor variation if the ball is hit off the far end wall and bounces back onto the ‘field’ without being touched it is a home run. Also in the Indoor variation a team loses a point for each player out and gains a point for each base reached without an out and getting home. The other two variations on Softball the scoring is very like Baseball with a point (called a ‘Run’) scored when a player makes it all the way around the four bases back home.

Scoring and Rules

The object of the games of Baseball and Softball are to hit the ball pitched at the batter and advance around four bases back home. Teams take turns Batting (Offence) and Fielding (Defence). The team that scores the most runs over 7 innings in Softball and 9 innings in Baseball is declared the winner. Each time a team takes turns batting it is an inning. The away team (‘road’ team) bats first (this is called the top of the inning) and the home team second (bottom of the inning) in each inning. An inning is over whenever the batting team has three players caught, run, or struck out.

A player does not have to get all the way around the four bases back home in the one play (‘at bat’) but can do so over a number of plays (players ‘at bat’). When a player makes it all the way around the four bases back home on the one play (in other words when the player ran all the way around four bases back home on their own hit) it is called a Home Run. Players may be struck, caught or run out. In addition when at home plate attempting to hit a pitch players have three strikes to be out but four ‘balls’ pitched (in other four bad pitches). If four ‘balls’ are pitched before three strikes the player may advance to first base. A player must run to first base when they hit the ball. If the ball passes over home plate within the ‘strike zone’ (an area the width and depth of home plate and from the batters chest to their waist). For an explanation on the Strikezone and its’ evolution over time please see the Major League Baseball page on the subject: https://www.mlb.com/official-information/umpires/strike-zone

Map of Ireland 2022 Counties, Boroughs and Districts showing logos and locations of Softball Leinster teams

Softball Gear Stock Image

References

Logo References

[SL-L1] Softball Leinster (2017) Logo-Dynameos-1-Blue-300×214 [Internet] Available from: https://www.softballleinster.ie/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/Logo-Dynameos-1-Blue-300×214.jpg [Accessed 8 May 2023][Adjusted – resized 90%]

[SL-L3] Batpak Softball Club Facebook (2023) Profile Picture, August 29, 2023 [Internet] Available from: https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=421540770071943&set=a.421540760071944 [Accessed 8 May 2023][Actual Logo Reference at: https://scontent-dub4-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.30808-6/287715591_2246807828806948_2753591446512609693_n.jpg?_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=09cbfe&_nc_ohc=sPhm0_yGekMAX_vo3rp&_nc_ht=scontent-dub4-1.xx&oh=00_AfDTwUAWv1W7NXIv1WJB-wyaUElzUoU5QyYik6KC1jk9Rw&oe=645E207D ]

[SL-L4] Kegs Softball Club (2023) kcb-kegs-softball-club-logo-v2 [Internet] Available from: https://kegssoftball.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/kcb-kegs-softball-club-logo-v2.png [Accessed 8 May 2023][Adjusted – cropped and background added]

[SL-L5] Castleknock Softball Facebook (2023) Profile Picture, January 25, 2023 [Internet] Available from: https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=548091157351671&set=a.548091147351672 [Accessed 8 May 2023][Actual Logo Reference at:  https://scontent-dub4-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.30808-6/319059812_6207920395908356_7543048416775587046_n.jpg?_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=09cbfe&_nc_ohc=VAOj8APCL8QAX-8k4EC&_nc_ht=scontent-dub4-1.xx&oh=00_AfCPgFcDVotoRVT_LdEvoQUELbjnN44kYnY3zZABoN3_PQ&oe=645F2820][Accessed 8 May 2023][Adjusted-resized]

[SL-L6] Hippetys Softball Club Dublin (2023) Profile Picture, January 19, 2023 [Internet] Available from: https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=852178959465197&set=a.740500827299678 [Accessed 8 May 2023][Actual Logo Reference at: https://scontent-dub4-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.30808-6/323422544_1024803738454010_5378804041562032332_n.jpg?_nc_cat=101&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=09cbfe&_nc_ohc=kT3G5st_hY8AX9R8Ttt&_nc_ht=scontent-dub4-1.xx&oh=00_AfAJJ8zggixDwFhfRQSRtD8bO9AtJz_rGQYhuJOuwUWhSw&oe=645DDC73 ][Accessed 8 May 2023]

Scoreboard References

[1] Softball Leinster (2023) 2023 Premier Division [Internet] Available from: https://www.softballleinster.ie/table/2023-premier-division/ [Accessed 4 May 2023][Last Accessed 6 June 2023]

[2] Softball Leinster (2023) Batpak [Internet] Available from: https://www.softballleinster.ie/team/batpak/  [Accessed 4 May 2023][Last Accessed 6 June 2023]

[3] Softball Leinster (2023) Castleknock Bearcats [Internet] Available from: https://www.softballleinster.ie/team/castleknock-softball-club/castleknock-bearcats/  [Accessed 4 May 2023][Last Accessed 6 June 2023]

[4] Softball Leinster (2023) Dodder Dynamoes [Internet] Available from: https://www.softballleinster.ie/team/dodder-softball-club/dodder-dynamoes/ [Accessed 4 May 2023][Last Accessed 6 June 2023]

[5] Softball Leinster (2023) Hippies [Internet] Available from: https://www.softballleinster.ie/team/stannaway-softball-club/temple-bar-hippetys-2/  [Accessed 4 May 2023][Last Accessed 6 June 2023]

[6] Softball Leinster (2023) Kegs [Internet] Available from: https://www.softballleinster.ie/team/kielys-kegs/kegs/ [Accessed 4 May 2023][Last Accessed 6 June 2023]

LOGO REFERENCES

IMAGES

[1] Baseball Ireland (2017) Baseball Ireland Logo Car Sticker [Internet] http://www.baseballireland.com/images/carsticker.jpg [Accessed 1 May 2017

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

Thanks to Marlay Mustangs and Marlay Martyrs

ABOUT THIS DOCUMENT

Researched, compiled and written by Enda Mulcahy for the

Eirball | Irish, North American & World Sports Archive

Last Updated: 6 June 2023

(c) Copyright Enda Mulcahy and Eirball 2023

You may quote this document in part provided that proper acknowledgement is given to the authors. All Rights Reserved. The Logos and Photos used in this article remain the property of the organisations and individuals which own the copyright and are used here for educational and information purposes only.