Phase 1 Standings

Standings calculated automatically from results in [1-12]. Please visit Softball Ulster and Belfast Sliders websites for Official Standings at: [References: S-1 and S-3]

Phase 1 Schedule

Results compiled from from results in References [1-12]. For Official Results please visit Softball Ulster’s website at Reference S-1.

Weekly Recaps

Week 1 (1-3 May 2022)

BSC Brawlers met Belfast Cubs in a game featuring the top two teams of 2021, when both finished on 34 points with 6-2 records at the top of the table, Belfast Cubs having a slight advantage on Runs Difference. The opening weekend of 2022 also barely separated the teams with BSC Brawlers winning 18-17 in an extra eighth inning after the two teams finished level after 7 innings. The other Sunday game saw 2015 Champions Belfast Sliders winning 21-13 versus the newest BSC team, Cyclones. Saturday’s games were good wins for Bangor Buccaneers (33-18 against the Belfast Angels) and the second BSC team Smokin’ Aces (35-6 versus Lisburn Hawks). [References: 1-4]

Week 2 (8-9 May 2022)

Week 2 in the Softball Ulster League witnessed a 51-4 victory for new Belfast Softball Club team the Cyclones, over another new team the Belfast Wolfhounds (Cubs second team). BSC’s second team the Smokin’ Aces also won, 28-3 versus the Belfast Angels and the Belfast Cubs also won, 51-0 versus a third new team Lisburn Hawks. On Monday 9 May in the only game which featured veteran teams, the BSC Brawlers triumphed 19-10 versus Belfast Sliders at Henry Jones Playing Fields. [References: 5-6]

Week 3 (15-16 May 2022)

The two Belfast Softball Club veteran teams the Brawlers (3-0) and the Smokin’ Aces (2-0) remained the only undefeated teams after three weeks of the 2022 Softball Ulster League season as Brawlers triumphed 34-5 at Lisburn Hawks and Smokin’ Aces had a bye week. The third BSC team, newly started Cyclones were 2-1 after defeating 43-24 at Bangor Buccaneers (1-1). Also on 2-1 were veteran teams Belfast Cubs and Belfast Sliders after they both won in week 3 – Cubs 19-9 at hosts Belfast Angels in Hydebank Park on Sunday 15 May, and Sliders the following Monday with a big 49-4 triumph over Belfast Wolfhounds over 6 Innings also at Hydebank Park. Angels and Wolfhounds were both seeking their first victories as were Lisburn Hawks. [References: 7-10]

Week 4 (22 May 2022)

By the end of week 4 the BSC Brawlers (79-1 winners over Belfast Wolfhounds) and stable mates the BSC Smokin’ Aces (17-11 winners versus the third BSC team the Cyclones) were both still undefeated. Belfast Cubs (bye week) and Bangor Buccaneers (shock 22-14 winners at home to Belfast Sliders) were both on 2-1 while the Cyclones and Sliders losses dropped both teams back to 2-2. The biggest news of the weekend however, was Lisburn Hawks maiden win, 16-12 at Belfast Angels, leaving the newcomers on 1-3. [References: 11-12]

Week 5 (29 May 2022)

By the midway point of Phase 1 BSC Brawlers and BSC Smokin’ Aces were both still undefeated on 4-0 as the Brawlers had a bye week in week 5 and the Smokin’ Aces won a close encounter with the Belfast Sliders 27-25. The race for a top 5 finish and therefore a Division A spot for Phase 2 (the second half of the season) became more heated as the Belfast Cubs triumphed 29-13 over the BSC Cyclones in a match-up between two mid-table teams, both on two wins coming into the game. Bangor Buccaneers cemented their position as a surprise package with a 33-6 defeat of the still winless Belfast Wolfhounds to go 3-1 and just one game behind joint-leaders Brawlers and Smokin’ Aces, an unfamiliar position for the North Down team at this stage of the season. [References: 11-13]

Week 6 (5-6 June 2022)

By week 6 the two Belfast Softball Club veteran teams, BSC Brawlers and BSC Smokin’ Aces had built up a 2.5 game lead over nearest challengers Bangor Buccaneers. Brawlers had gone to 6-0 after a 48-1 defeat of the Buccaneers while the Smokin’ Aces had won 18-13 versus Belfast Cubs and 60-4 versus Belfast Wolfhounds. Cubs also lost 12-13 to Belfast Sliders as the two teams sat in mid-table on 3-3 alongside BSC Cyclones, also 3-3 following a 23-12 victory over Lisburn Hawks who were now 1-4. There was now a mid-season break for the Softball Ulster Carrie Trundle Cup. [References: 14-15]

Week 7 (20-22 June 2022)

On Monday 20 June Smokin’ Aces suffered their first defeat of the season, 7-10 versus Bangor Buccaneers, who improved to 4-2, with the Smokin’ Aces dropping to 6-1. The same night Belfast Sliders improved their chances of reaching Division A in the second half of the season, winning 39-12 at home to Lisburn Hawks to improve to 4-3 as the Hawks fell to 1-6.

The following Wednesday Belfast Cubs and BSC Cyclones joined Belfast Sliders on 4-3 with victories over Wolfhounds (47-1) and Belfast Angels (16-6). The Wolfhounds (0-6) and Angels (0-5) both remained without a victory.

This all meant going into the Final Week and Rescheduled Games on Week 9 to come that the qualification places for Division A would come down to the games between Belfast Cubs and Bangor Buccaneers as well as Belfast Sliders v Belfast Angels, and BSC Brawlers v BSC Cyclones. [References: 16-18]

Week 8 (27 June 2022)

Belfast Sliders 18-12 victory over Belfast Angels was the only game completed in Week 8 as rainouts affected both Belfast Cubs v Bangor Buccaneers which was postponed in the fourth inning with Cubs leading 11-4 and Lisburn Hawks v Belfast Wolfhounds called off due to the weather. Both games were to be played in Week 9. [References: 19]

Week 9 (3-4 July 2022)

With BSC Cyclones finishing the first half of the season on 4-4 after their17-46 loss to BSC Brawlers the Belfast Sliders (5-3) and Bangor Buccaneers (5-2) were guaranteed places in Division A for the second half. Buccaneers had defeated Lisburn Hawks 49-1 the day before. Two hours later the Hawks played again, winning 17-8 versus the Wolfhounds in a double-header at Wallace Park, Lisburn to finish the first half 2-6. [References: 20-21]

Midweek 9 (7 July 2022)

The Week 8 rainout game between Belfast Cubs and Bangor Buccaneers which Cubs were leading 11-4 in the fourth inning when it was called off, was finished on Thursday 7 July with Cubs prevailing 18-10 to secure a place in Division A alongside Buccaneers and Belfast Sliders all of whom finished the first half on 5-3. Those teams joined BSC Brawlers (6-0) and BSC Smokin’ Aces (6-1) in the Top Division (Division A) for the second half of the season. [References: 20-22]

Week 10 (10 July 2022)

The two bottom teams were due to face each other looking for their first victories of the season, but Belfast Angels forfeited their game with Belfast Wolfhounds. [References: 23]

Unknown Dates

On two unknown dates the BSC Brawlers won 16-7 versus the Belfast Angels and 15-9 versus BSC Smokin’ Aces to finish the first half of the season undefeated on 8-0. [References: S-1]

The teams now split into Top and Bottom Halves (Division A and Division B) with Division A comprising BSC Brawlers (8-0), BSC Smokin’ Aces (6-2), Belfast Cubs (5-3), Belfast Sliders (5-3) and Bangor Buccaneers (5-3). Division B consists of BSC Cyclones (4-4), Lisburn Hawks (2-6), Belfast Wolfhounds (1-7) and Belfast Angels (0-7 and 1 forfeit). Two new teams Bangor Barracudas and Lisburn Eagles (Second Teams of the Buccaneers and Hawks respectively) joined in Division B for the second half. [References: S-1]

With two new teams joining Division B the teams only carried forward results from games versus teams in their own Division for the second half of the season. [References: S-1]

Softball Stock Image

About Softball Ulster League 2022

Softball Ulster was founded in 2007. The 2022 season is the 15th year of the Softball Ulster League and features a record 9 teams, with the addition of Belfast Softball Club (BSC) Cyclones, Lisburn Hawks and Belfast Wolfhounds and return of Belfast Angels after a Covid-Virus break. [References: 1-2]

After eight games each (Single Round Robin) the teams split into a Upper Division (Division A) of five teams and a Lower Division (Division B) of six teams including newcomers Bangor Barracudas and Lisburn Eagles – Second Teams of the Buccaneers and Hawks. With two new teams joining Division B the teams only carried forward results from games versus teams in their own Division for the second half of the season in both Divisions. [References: S-1]

References

Schedule and Standings References

[S-1] Softball Ulster (2022) Home Page [Internet] Available from: https://softballulster.com/ [Accessed 24 August 2022]

[1] Belfast Sliders (2022) The League [Internet] Available from: https://belfastsliders.co.uk/the-league/ [Accessed 7 May 2022]

[2] Belfast Sliders (2022) The Calendar – Belfast Sliders Games [Internet] Available from: https://belfastsliders.co.uk/calendar/belfast-sliders-games/ [Accessed 7 May 2022]

[3] Softball Ulster Facebook (2022) Post, 1 May 2022 [Internet] Available from: https://www.facebook.com/SoftballUlster/posts/5294538057231195 [Accessed 7 May 2022]

[4] Softball Ulster Facebook (2022) Post, 3 May 2022 [Internet] Available from: https://www.facebook.com/SoftballUlster/posts/5298664560151878  [Accessed 7 May 2022]

[5] Softball Ulster Facebook (2022) Post, 8 May 2022 [Internet] Available from: https://www.facebook.com/SoftballUlster/posts/pfbid02JXkMAytrtzzTh5s3oKbVcVKTDax6776TpjosKfN8wxmMhhVC6gcexiaLSYmH7GFLl  [Accessed 24 August 2022]

[6] Softball Ulster Facebook (2022) Post, 9 May 2022 [Internet] Available from: https://www.facebook.com/SoftballUlster/posts/pfbid0f2ifoQxHeZTJLqTgYAt4K1eirF2ux6LcLvXEaqYG6Eb6Zrgcfesm7LzJ3faBvzbQl  [Accessed 24 August 2022]

[7] Softball Ulster Facebook (2022) Post, 14 May 2022 [Internet] Available from: https://www.facebook.com/SoftballUlster/posts/pfbid0vLAHuXa1R6oMkMYjHsbNLC3iBYCyP7pmK6E6LRZfVR8eVwpWP6pEpRj7ozciT4xgl  [Accessed 24 August 2022]

[8] Softball Ulster Facebook (2022) Post, 15 May 2022 [Internet] Available from: https://www.facebook.com/SoftballUlster/posts/pfbid024syVqe4pDYRm2FvK1jDZQ9KFuuFf2hV27ydFbymBMnf6Vxy9mMxP7BKCjvjNg3ydl  [Accessed 24 August 2022]

[9] Softball Ulster Facebook (2022) Post, 16 May 2022 [Internet] Available from: https://www.facebook.com/SoftballUlster/posts/pfbid02uP1SgitZKcU26fSwzuuG5fQH3dTf8GLPzSoVBeWwuoHDDMufd6b1PcnEkefzYC38l  [Accessed 24 August 2022]

[10] Softball Ulster Facebook (2022) Post, 20 May 2022 [Internet] Available from: https://www.facebook.com/SoftballUlster/posts/pfbid01TyerBzUg3Aov7wjzShUA819BwUtKdgphSpAo2GgyRhmSZcNH6SjRbu7U9Ek4Yv3l [Accessed 24 August 2022]

[11] Softball Ulster Facebook (2022) Post, 21 May 2022 [Internet] Available from: https://www.facebook.com/SoftballUlster/posts/pfbid02JHDuG2WqRPqXRo5XyxeE1y7YznGqU7LG4pgsPVCWyzd7WW2ArevMGXZkcyfxeZXKl  [Accessed 24 August 2022

[12] Softball Ulster Facebook (2022) Post, 22 May 2022 [Internet] Available from: https://www.facebook.com/SoftballUlster/posts/pfbid02SxuAkjMR4YbhxyzWw5M7PRaxnKjs1BQLfbYZqYhdT8V7cv5JzAMVFz39pnci6vUml  [Accessed 24 August 2022]

[13] Softball Ulster Facebook (2022) Post, 29 May 2022 [Internet] Available from: https://www.facebook.com/SoftballUlster/posts/pfbid02QWi4LrgrKuxzcoqedVwUPkpvSGSvYco8rQnthL9YJ3aEa7TKXjoTjfy6UoQc2k9Sl  [Accessed 24 August 2022]

[14] Softball Ulster Facebook (2022) Post, 5 June 2022 [Internet] Available from: https://www.facebook.com/SoftballUlster/posts/pfbid0EUjDQpxvdqxBS1PXv1aLFpd6eTYaGJmJ1BimJTqYEGViH211xP5W6mqUEHjytUQzl   [Accessed 24 August 2022]

[15] Softball Ulster Facebook (2022) Post, 6 June 2022 [Internet] Available from: https://www.facebook.com/SoftballUlster/posts/pfbid028Yppve3ZcA84gK6qcAm6mhcbqd9pgrnntJQrz9K4zFj6GqHpcoVqJ9QQD9uxhkYNl   [Accessed 24 August 2022]

[16] Softball Ulster Facebook (2022) Post, 20 June 2022 [Internet] Available from: https://www.facebook.com/SoftballUlster/posts/pfbid02eNc1AhHt42ighcDPbRAnCGwyZPWPLduZwfxJeb45fi9pWqp98GbmiDHSc8mwm5NHl   [Accessed 24 August 2022]

[17] Softball Ulster Facebook (2022) Post, 20 June 2022 [Internet] Available from: https://www.facebook.com/SoftballUlster/posts/pfbid02NK9jE9A5zN6Tw4mcRxPZWY8pMtraJpUm8fDvj34szU3HwQ7EGCtPqRaMv7NsY2hJl   [Accessed 24 August 2022]

[18] Softball Ulster Facebook (2022) Post, 23 June 2022 [Internet] Available from: https://www.facebook.com/SoftballUlster/posts/pfbid0Gx83uQDDGGqLz9Td8TE81KfneZbfqj6C59ULPecNGJgRFNW3ztNSsf3i3LSykWsbl  [Accessed 24 August 2022]

[19] Softball Ulster Facebook (2022) Post, 27 June 2022 [Internet] Available from:  https://www.facebook.com/SoftballUlster/posts/pfbid02ZBczA9F1U9dsKKMx6e2ebMagJj6wsZbAUYcF6rmMkdRp4gFiXtu3XQXp1e1XVC7zl  [Accessed 24 August 2022]

[20] Softball Ulster Facebook (2022) Post, 3 July 2022 [Internet] Available from: https://www.facebook.com/SoftballUlster/posts/pfbid02wxBy2oVoK3xvkCtWQvUU4uLdnY7stQWkM7FfZ9Ei63FwMFKVXios3q3rMjmyYJFil  [Accessed 24 August 2022]

[21] Softball Ulster Facebook (2022) Post, 4 July 2022 [Internet] Available from: https://www.facebook.com/SoftballUlster/posts/pfbid0ZjHxe91p8GxbXxgC1eSa4x1H3BhvK9SuzCqT4R3Bq1KdnCnSSZHdXvRkHvyW14EAl   [Accessed 24 August 2022]

[22] Softball Ulster Facebook (2022) Post, 7 July 2022 [Internet] Available from: https://www.facebook.com/SoftballUlster/posts/pfbid0bJNhLQ6xE8wsCCpzyD9R9Z3qEqC1smuLTYqW5wGGcQ9c5cchKesStwymvneB3xGel   [Accessed 24 August 2022]

[23] Softball Ulster Facebook (2022) Post, 10 July 2022 [Internet] Available from: https://www.facebook.com/SoftballUlster/posts/pfbid02Mfumh2nwR1328kYmaYZNDdaxHeG499YcZfY6hVzPdqoDaoesCNZwEEbgnSAZn3x4l [Accessed 24 August 2022]

Logo References

[L-5] Twitter Softball Ulster Account (2017) Softball Ulster Logo [Internet] Available from: https://pbs.twimg.com/profile_images/606817177379958785/E6QIL96s.png [Accessed 27 May 2017]

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

Thanks to Andrew Craven, Belfast Sliders

ABOUT THIS DOCUMENT

Researched, compiled and written by Enda Mulcahy for the

Eirball | Irish North American and World Sports Archive

Last Updated: 1 September 2022

(c) Copyright Enda Mulcahy and Eirball 2022.

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.