Portland Pirates

As we enter the second half of the season that can mean only one thing - time for the summer tournament. As some may have noticed there is another trophy on the shelves. Having been Plate finalists and champions last year - this year we improved - making it to the Trophy Final but unfortunately ended as runners up.

So what else happened on another glorious summers day at the Old Deer Park in Richmond?

The day always starts early - and usually a little too early for many. This year that included Panda who responded to my 8.30 am text (checking he was still buying refreshments and ice for the cool-box) with........ "Whoops! Thought it was Sunday for some reason. Will be be asap!"

As the rabble of Pirates arrived we tucked into the bacon sandwiches picked up the schedule of games and made our way to Pitch 1 where we were to camp all day (Thanks to Tina for that one), it really does make a difference not packing up after every game and trekking across the park to another diamond!

GAME 1 vs. DDB "Paddington Pirates"

I wasn't the only captain waiting patiently for late arrivals, our old friends and impersonators the Paddington Pirates were awaiting their pitcher for the first game of the day - scheduled to start at 9.30 - finally both our teams were ready to start at 10! Now a very short game, as no new innings was called within 10 minutes. However after only a 15 minute game we still managed to dominate DDB and take a first win for the day.

Coxy's performance at short stop was already receiving honourable mention but at this point he still was nowhere near getting the plays right, somehow the play in Coxy's head really could have been any base even when there were no runners. Is it really that complicated - have I forgotten?

With 5 minutes until the next game Jime aka Pesetas almost certainly took a quick power nap.

As with all summer tournaments we now know many of the players we face and Dunnhumby was no different with some fun banter on both sides, until the return of Captain Ed in his full softball samurai battle gear!

Now although we dominated the sharks and took a convincing win 20-5, facing this Samurai Pitcher was the beginning of the end for our top order batsmen who proceeded to fail for most of the rest of the day (we know who we are - but just don't know what happened - had I started on the beers by this point?)

At this point an honourable mention must go out to the middle and bottom batting order who carried us when "we couldn't even buy a base!"

Regardless of this iminent failing, before the arrival of their secret weapon we did manage to bat through the order twice in one innings!

Dunnhumby also received an honourable mention from Panda for having "the most honeys", and............... with the game won - Jime aka Pesetas almost certainly took a quick power nap. 

Even though JWT were led by my Guerrilla captain Shauna and were bolstered with some very solid weekend players in Dan, Gary (and more importantly Jen). I still believed we could take them. At the bottom of the last innings and with two down already we needed a single score to draw, and two to win. Both Ange and I had managed to get on base. As I was waiting on second base knowing my "Flintstone-like running (Yabba Dabba Doooo....!)" would tie the game - and Ange would be hot on my heels to take the win - unfortunately Phil 's solid hit was picked up and the game was lost. I think after two solid wins we were a little slow to get started and chase down their lead.

With the first loss of the day - Jime aka Pesetas almost certainly took a quick power nap..............................

............................I should probably mention at this point another honourable mention to Jime for making it out after celebrating her  "Life in the UK - 10 years drinks" the night before. And from the photos I have seen which included these three classics - it was an effort that clearly deserved a few power naps.

LUNCH

As finally a real break arrived - well a quick hour after 3 back to back games, we had drunk our initital supplies of beer and so a few pirates were sent ashore to pillage fresh supplies. With the heat of the sun quenched by more beer it was time to check out one of our remaining opposition in the week's ahead - the Coalition. 


GAME 4 vs. The Coalition

Win 19-9

A storming return to form after lunch with a first innings of 11-0 being a lead too far for the Coalition to reclaim - more so as their pitcher "Wheels" grew increasingly grumpy at some close calls from the blue. A replacement blue was requested. And I think his frustrations were vented when Panda turned into third base - Nick called for him to slow and look - slowing him just enough to let "Wheels" make the tag out unavoidable. and hard. Woops.

I think it was at this point that Coxy's general confusion at what the play should be began to come good. As the pressure and stress of calling the plays eased, his fielding stepped up and we began to see him diving in all directions to take some great catches.

Again probably stepped off the gas and took it a little too easy meaning there was just not enough time left to regain the lead. As I faced off against yet another team mate from the my weekend team - Bear proceeded to get in my head and call every one of my still failing batting perfectly - a ground ball to short, a pop fly to second - at least once I regained focus and powered it over the pitchers head. Phew.

So as we finished the group round with a second loss! It was time to wait our fate - had we done enough to make the Trophy final still? Yes both ourselves and the Coaliton had won 3 and lost 2 but since we beat them in the head to head we were through to show JWT what we could do.

With all this stress and waiting - Jime aka Pesetas almost certainly took a quick power nap. Haha.

So it was time to regain our honour and repeat last years performance, when having lost to Tequila in the morning shocked them with pure power generating a lead they could not recover from. Although the power had already been lost from our top order batters - the middle and bottom order continued to put the runs on. Whilst in the field everyone played solid with yet more superman diving from Coxy at short - and mostly getting the calls right - finally!

After the first innings we were down 1-4, but as the fielding tightened JWT scored zero for the next 4 innings! That was a great effort from everyone. And we had taken a solid lead. In the sixth innings we let them back in the game with a few errors and an improved batting performance from their star players. We still managed to stretch the lead and at the bottom of the 7th innings they needed an unlikely 6 to win....... Somehow the runs trickled in and eventually their MVP for the final - Ryan - stepped up and batted in the winning 3 runs with bases loaded.

A great game nonetheless and had I succumbed to their captains request for a timed game instead of a full seven innings we would have the win. My apologies - but it was a great learning for the younger players amongst us and locking those players out for 4 innings in a row was a great performance.

As we packed up our home for the day, to make our way over to tournament control for the awards ceremony - although the softball was over - the day had only just begun, but  before I get into the evenings entertainment it's time for one last thanks to everyone for making it a great day and a few more honourbale mentions and awards.

And now onto the post tournament entertainment. With all the party teams having won both trophies and more beer to drink, the cool-box was brought back into play for some rapid chilling and we proceeded to chill out in the evening sun to some smooth tunes as we polished every last drop of beer before heading to the pub and catching up with all the others.

Well that was the plan until the Liz Baines inspired call for some beer Olympics aka - games of tag, wheel barrow racing and three legged racing.

As the last drops of beer were finished and the beer Olympics ended it was time for the traditional time back at the Sun Inn. More photos can be found on the Facebook page or via the Facebook Photos link at the top of this page.

A few memorable moments for me were - as always - providing the tunes for everyone including Jason Leonard, accepting the challenge of an arm wrestle from Nick for the last Jägerbomb - and holding it to a draw. And finally for eveyones entertainment - Nick's impromptu Hip Hop Karaoke.

Again another fantastic day and night. Thanks to everyone there and I hope this tempts a few more of you out next year.

Next game is on Wednesday versus the Glove Muppets. C'mon the Pirates!

Captain Rubble.