News story

USA Teams Compete in Two Celtic Classics -- Ireland, Scotland Welcome Senior Softball

Sept. 1, 2003 – Senior Softball-USA

USA Red and USA Blue teams introduced senior softball to the Emerald Isle and the misty fields of Scotland during the first two weeks of July.

The two Senior Softball-USA teams placed second and third in the inaugural Irish-American Slow-Pitch Softball Championships in Dublin over the July Fourth weekend, then traveled to Edinburgh to win first and second place in the Scottish-American Slow-Pitch Classic. The USA Red and USA Blue teams also played a number of goodwill exhibition games to promote the sport in Ireland and Scotland, donated equipment to help local clubs build their programs and put on a hitting clinic for the Irish National Squad and Irish youngsters in Dublin.

"Our teams were excellent ambassadors for softball," said Terry Hennessy, chief executive officer of Senior Softball-USA. "We were surprised at the growing interest in both Ireland and Scotland."

The two USA teams and 14 Irish teams competed in the Irish-American Slow-Pitch Softball Championships in Dublin.º But festivities started the Friday night before the tournament on the Fourth of July with a couple of good-natured exhibition games and a presentation to the Mayor of Dublin to commemorate the occasion.

"The banter was good, the atmosphere was carnival, the field was set up with fences, and the stars and stripes were made proud by the play from the Yankees," said Jimmy Kilbride, president of the Dublin Softball Association.

"We could all see that the weekend ahead was going to be one to behold with the Senior Americans taking part in our tournament," said Kilbride. "These guys were something to be reckoned with, which became clear when they eventually made it to the final of the Cup Trophy on Sunday evening."

The USA Blue team won their exhibition game by a number of runs and USA Red lost a squeaker to the Black Sheep, a traveling team from England, 13 -12.

After the games, the Irish, English and American teams celebrated an Irish-style Fourth of July at the nearby Pembrocke Cricket Club. "The bar was buzzing, the food was good and the music was great," said Kilbride.

Over the next two days of the tournament, key teams started to come to the fore in the two divisions (recreational and premier).

"Dodder Dynamoes (a Dublin team made up of several members of the Irish National team) were on a roll, winning all before them and the Senior American teams dispatched the Irish teams with relative ease," said Kilbride.º "Again their pin-point batting proved to be their key strength."

In the championship game, Dodder Dynamoes beat the USA Reds in the Premier Division, with USA Blue finishing third.

A few days later, the USA teams left for Edinburgh for a second tournament with the Scots.

"On two beautiful nights in July the Edinburgh Softball League (ESL) hosted the first-ever visit by Senior Softball-USA to Scotland," said ESL"s Lesley Morisetti, who helped set up the games with Liz Graham, ESL coordinator.

"Playing a series of exhibition games against select teams from the ESL, the seniors proved that your softball playing days don't end just because your working days do," said Morisetti. USA Red and USA Blue played the top Scottish men's team, top women's team and two of the top co-ed teams.

"With the Men's team winning both their games and the Ladies losing them both, the stage was set for some close games in Thursday's co-ed competition and we were not disappointed. USA Blue managed to win both of their games," she said, "but the games against USA Red were much closer. Mr Blu's were unlucky one-run losers in the last inning, while Chaos won their match with the last hit of the game; made with two outs and the tying run still on third base. You don't get much closer than that!

"The Americans were very friendly and we must thank them particularly for their generous gifts of bats, balls and equipment," she said.

DeMarini / Wilson Sports and Louisville Slugger donated a number of bats and equipment, which was presented on behalf of Senior Softball-USA to the Irish Softball Association and the Edinburgh Softball League to help build their programs.

The USA Blue MVP was Dan Minnick of California, Best Defense went to shortstop Jimmie Lancaster of Arkansas and Best Offense was won by Marshall Cutsforth of North Carolina. USA Red MVP was Lannie Horton of Texas, Best Defense was second baseman Moon Mullen and Best Offense was John Tercheria, both of California.