Playoff Enthusiasm Not Drowned Out By Weather

A damp, windy and cold autumnal day in North Dublin. What else would you rather be doing than playing softball??

Following the ecstasy of watching Ireland hammer the Wallabies in the Rugby World Cup, the eight teams involved in the Leinster League Playoffs were all hoping for a similar performance, knowing that their destiny in this year's league was to be determined by a one-off game. The playoff format adds a little spice to the end of the season for players and spectators alike, and it was great to see that despite the dreary weather hanging over Dublin Airport everyone was looking forward to putting a glove on for one last time. At stake on the day; for some teams Promotion, the others safety with their place in the same Division assured!

First up the Division Two and Division One playoffs, pitting the bottom team of the higher division against the runner-up from the lower division. Oddsox Black were hoping to keep their place in Division Two against one of the league's new teams for 2011 Kielys Chuggers, while 1Z Blazers were looking to join their club colleagues in Division One by upsetting the Base Devils. Both games started tentatively, with the scores evenly matched in the first couple of innings. Oddsox Black however started to apply the pressure in the fifth inning and eventually ran out 11-6 winners. A two run HR from 1Z Blazers, also in the fifth inning, gave them the breathing space they required to eventually end the game victorious 8-3. Oddsox Black remain in Division Two, Kiely's Chuggers remain in Division Three, 1Z Blazers are promoted to Division One and Base Devils relegated to Division Two

The second set of matches involved teams that had finished tied in the regular league season, from both the Premier Division and Division One. Sluggers and Kielys' Kegs were battling for sixth place, the loser facing a second game to keep their place in the top division. In Division One, the title of Champions had yet to be determined given that Marlay Mayhem and Castleknock Bearcats both finished with a 10-2 record, and 1-1 head-to-head. Sluggers started spritely with five runs in the first inning, and kept this momentum going leaving Kegs with a thirteen run deficit by the halfway stage of the game. The gap was always going to be a tough one to pull back, and despite some late hits from Kegs they eventually lost the game 15-9. Sluggers stay in Prem while Kegs would have to beat the loser of the Mayhem Bearcats game to avoid relegation. After three innings, the Bearcats had built a lead of four runs, and Mayhem's dream of joining the Mavericks in Prem looked to be fading. But the hits finally appeared, and seven runs in the fifth and sixth inning, to which the Bearcats had no response, gave Mayhem the lead heading into the last inning. Bearcats needed four runs in the final inning of the game to win Promotion, alas they could not score any. Marlay Mayhem were confirmed Division One Champions with a 13-10 win.

The last game of the playoffs therefore was between the losers of the previous games with the right to play in the Premier Division in 2012 at stake; Kielys' Kegs and Castleknock Bearcats last season were promoted and relegated respecitvely, and an immediate reversal of fortune was on all the players' minds. In the end the Kegs ran out winners, and will remain in Prem for a second year. Bearcats' performance on the day had not matched that of the regular season, but they can be proud of their contribution to a very exciting Division One regular season.

2011 Leinster League Playoff Results

And so the Leinster League 2011 has reached an end. Many of you have commented that this year was certainly one of the most exciting with three of the four divisions needing final gameweek results to determine teams positions. We hope that 2012 can provide the same if not better, and we look forward to welcoming our members back onto the softball field early next year

2011 Leinster League Roll of Honour