Portland Pirates

After an incredible season where we will collect the Advertising League Champions trophy this Thursday following a run of 8 wins, 1 draw and 1 loss. It was time to continue our run for the double and the Playoff Champions Trophy. Having pressganged a team last minute to make it out and win our quarter final a couple of weeks ago, the victorious run of this years pirates ended with a fantastic and nail biting semi final against Cap Gemini.

Although Cap Gemini were bolstered by the return of Steve Rice at shortstop and we were missing Ange, Bridget and myself - everyone played a fatastic game where the combined might of Cap's international grade players only managed to wrestle the lead from us after a massive 8 innings!

Three times we were tied and twice we took and held a lead, but finally as the light faded and courtesy of some great diving catches from Staffie and Co - they took the lead in the 8th and held it to make the Final.

We now get to focus on the partying instead of playing this week. As always some memorable moments and (dis)honourable mentions.

“We had a fantastic semi final last night and we eventually beat the Pirates in extra innings 11-8. Chris, great game mate and it was good fun, you have an awesome bunch and congrats on winning the league!” - Staffie

"JB pitching with that wind - coped much better than Cap Pitcher" - Panda

Amy putting head and body on line stopping ball - and taking catch aimed straight at her despite Coxy trying to take it - let the girls play!

Jess second game and quick thinking pick and throw to first base for another out.

Bethan's left field hit just over top of 3rd base - and playing 2nd base for first time and making a great relay to JB to get Ricey out.

"Panda deserves a special mention for an outstanding performance in left field!! WOOO HOOO! He made me look good" - Jime

"Jime solid outfield and backing up infield" - Panda

Gray O and me for luring Capgemini's big hitting outfielder Goughie into a great out - having stood motionless watching a ground ball approaching him earlier, I made sure Goughie overheard me excusing it due to Gray O being completely blind! Goughie steps up and smack's a monster hit right field straight into Gray O's waiting glove.

So that's almost it for 2011, all we have left to do is - vote for the team awards (an email will come around shortly), dust off our best Pirate outfits and party hard on Thursday night. A massive thank you to everyone involved, I hope you all enjoyed it as much as me.

Captain Rubble.

The warning signs were there - our strongest batters had been faltering over recent weeks, a couple of regulars were missing and the pressure of maintaining our undefeated run was building.

And so the fateful evening arrived - beneath grey skies and threatening rain clouds - our defeat - to the bats and gloves of The Coalition, a newly formed alliance between RKY&R and The Dealbreakers. It took a Coalition to sink us.

There is something about defeat when it comes to match reports, there always seem to be far fewer memorable moments and (dis)honourable mentions.

Thanks to Helle and Jo for helping out last minute

Bethan maintaining her extreme catcher efforts, tripping over a bike and almost diving head first into the nettles to take a couple of catches..... even though they were foul ball / third strikes

Good backing up by Gray-O in outfield and hitting cut-off even if there was a little too much juggling going on..... again.....

A myriad of infield and outfield errors allowing balls through and catches to be dropped.... That being said - the Coalition batting was usually hard and low hit balls, so there was not much opportunity for glory catches.

Alex and Rosey, patiently heading in out to right field innings after innings, and just watching the action as there was not single ball hit in their direction.

Jo sending me home at 3rd base and into a sliding collision with Faisal resulting in some minor swelling of the shin..... Apologies for having posted the pictures on Facebook / Google+ but I was a bit surprised at my newly acquired mutant leg.

Well with the loss finally behind us, it is time to get up, dust off the sand and head into our final game next week..... with victory firmly in our sights. The last game of the season before playoffs is - The Engine Group Derby.

A win next week will secure our position at the top of the table and as League Champions 2011...... So no pressure........

Captain Rubble

After last weeks game to forget.... the Pirates sailed out onto Regents Park to face off against last years (to be honest almost every year...) league champions Cap Gemini.

Previous games against Cap have resulted in losses, 7-23 and 12-24. Although again this was a defeat every Pirate showed their intent and it was an incredibly close game losing by just 2 runs. In fact it was a game that was there to win, and if we had been full strength or were a little luckier with the bounce of the ball..... just maybe. A huge cheer for everyone, and as JB would say this will send a message to the rest of the league correcting last week.

Although as always everyone played great, a real team result, I have to admit memorable moments for me were Cap Gemini's young upstart and representative of the GB team stepping up to bat and being caught out by Pau repeatedly. And having their coach and captain stepping in to bat because he was worried they could not hold on to the lead and win. Well done everyone!

Come on Pirates! Lets get to the final again, and take this years trophy out from under these Cap Gemini, invaders to our advertising league from another sector.

Calling all Pirates.......

We'll just put this one behind us and move onwards and upwards, and I promise no more holidays.

Next its time to overcome the might of Cap Gemini.