Tournaments 2007Lions step it up a level to B Comp and still manage to bing home silverware winning the Plate.
After losing the first 4 games on saturday, it was decided that the only solution was to start drinking!! After that we couldn't lose and even beat the 2 teams that ended up in the final of the Cup, which goes to show the lions are officially a B Comp Team.
It ended with an all Manchester final for the plate with the Lions beating the Dodgers convincingly for the second time that day.
It has to be said that we are certainly moving to the next level with everyone playing well on Sunday.
A special mention has to go to Whitty for playing brillantly on 1 and finding new power in her batting consistently making 2nd.
Vic for showing the blu and catcher what she was made of by toasting LF to hit a Home Run straight after Gordon.
Ed for making a home run after being beamed and still managing to play on in the final.
And most importantly Lins for doing a great job as Gaffa on Sunday and maintaining her 100% unbeaten record.
Write up by Gill
Photo's Coming Soon!
The Tartan tournament is one of the few that the lions have not played
before. We were hungry for it but had not seen many of the teams playing so
it was a bit of an unknown quantity.
Fresh (if a little wet) from having won Slough, undefeated, we got off to a
great start on Saturday Morning against the D-ohNuts. We went on take the
Fockers and the Pimpin Legends with comfortable run differences.
Throughout the day on Saturday everyone with the exception of no-one batted
like a dream. Ed did a valiant job managing, scoring, counseling, and
playing three different positions at the same time whilst base coaching.
Gill actually stayed on first base at one point, although she did look like
she was about to explode until the next ball was hit and Vicky hit the ball
as if some form of aggressive psychosis was setting in - which was great for
us coz she basically toasted every team we played. As ever, Lee was a
consummate professional at short throughout the day and a calming influence
on the infield. Derek and Darrel opted for taking out the opposition one by
one and did a fair job of crippling most of the 'pimpin legends'.
In our final game of the day we took the Souls to 12-17 in 5 innings but
they eventually pulled away and beat us 21-12. A valiant effort by the Lions
with everyone kept there heads up despite the Souls hitting around the
order, giving the outfield a lot of work. An education in base hitting was
noted and we went home Saturday in the knowledge that we had narrowly missed
going into A comp on Sunday. We were in fact 3 runs from knocking the Clan
down to B and staying up in A on run difference.
We began Sunday in inimitable Lions fashion with hangovers and a win! It may
be true that Nhan was the only soba person on the team which is why she was
the only person that didn't swing at 'loco' pitches. Up against the 'Fish',
another Manchester team, equally as hungover as us, we held it together in
the field to take the game with a fairly convincing lead. We then sent the
DC Legends into history, again educated the Pimpin Legends and finally beat the Yorkshire Puddings to sail
through to the final.
Gordon was a stalwart hero in the field facing down any number of big
hitters and carol was but of a grass muncher in right field, although her
hitting was as consistent and reliable as ever.
Despite the hangover and an injured arm Angie (aka motor mouth) did what she
does well at catch - put the batters off! and also batted hard and fast all
day. Michelle having recently discovered Jesus played softball had faith on
her side and played as if god was backing up 3rd base. Nothing got past her!
It was an enjoyable final in our second game of the day against the Fish.
The Lions had the opportunity to try some new things with there bats as we
went through the order in the first two innings a couple of times. The Fish
tried valiantly to catch up but being left in the rain for so long on the
outfield was very demorolising to the floundering fish. At one point steve
ashton looked like he'd given up completely. Ed's bat was truly impressive
with a number of home runs going to right field. In the end the mercy rule came into play and the Lions won after 6.5 inns. A very impressive trophy and a crate of beer were the prize!
Write up by Derek
Photo's now online!
The Lions travelled down to Slough in convoy for the Diamond Tournament held on May 12/13th. This was our first away tourney of the year and were hoping to go one better than last year at GS1 where we were beaten in the final by the Raiders. We were also hoping for better weather than GS1 which was miserable.
Upon arrival Adam and Ed managed to lock the keys in Adam’s car so he had to call the AA whilst we had a beer and laughed. Peanuts, monkeys and all that.
Of course the tourney really begins the night before, we checked into our glamorous 1 ½ star hotel and headed for the pub. Luckily they were still doing food so we didn’t have to move all night. Slowly the pride gathered until all were present and we were also joined by the Marvels enjoying a sweet sherry or two before their A comp adventures.
As usual, friends were made, two Lithuanian chaps wearing the national sleeveless uniform joined us in playing pool. Borat and Borat were good but no match for the might of Adam and Michelle who dominated most of the evening. We had a good boogie to The Hoggz who rocked like the bad boys they are, air guitar was played in a frenzy with Vic stealing the show as always. The sight of the guitarist jumping on the tables to do a solo as someone tried to eat their egg and chips was highly amusing. We eventually retired at 2am and decided that was enough.
Saturday morning and we were straight into it. The first game was against the Nottingham Sheriffs who had brought a good team and until last year were playing B comp. In addition to this we were playing on a pitch where the short-stop stood about 5ft higher than the batter due to a huge slope. It was also blowing a gale force wind, back to the batter! We played pretty well and our defence was strong which led to us taking a 5-4 lead into the final inning. The tone for the tourney was set when a Sheriff toasted left field and headed for a homer (which would’ve tied the game) only for the LF-SS-P relay of dreams to tag him out at home and seal the victory.
Next were the Raiders who beat us in the final last year. Not so this time, we ran out 11-0 winners as our defence remained tight and no amount of singing cabaret could spur the Raiders on.
As we began our game against Voodoo it began to rain, bigtime. One poor girl got a ball smack in the gob but played on like a trooper, we ran into an 18-3 lead before the game was called due to it pissing it down.
The toughest game of the day was against Clapham Thunder who were strong and played really well. We managed to win despite giving them a 5 run start and ran out 10-8 winners.
The Dirty Dozen were next and big thanks to the Marvels who walked to the other end of the ground (with beers) to watch us and cheered us on as we won 10-4.
The AA were happy to see us once again as this time Lins locked her keys in the boot, this time I’m really saying nothing.
That night was all kinds of fun, the Manchester posse hit Pizza Express in force, a nice civilized meal ensued. Sunburnt foreheads were compared, stats were discussed over garlic bread (Ali C!!) and Roxy (bom shtikka wow wow) did her utmost to get in every picture. Naturally shots followed this in the next pub, Gill tried to hide in the loo but was found and encouraged politely to have a shot. The results of this are now long gone but Slough precinct will forever bear a trace of the Lions Gaffa.
Gordon – “Ed you better go outside, Gill’s chundered”
Ed – “Do I have to?”
Some Lions stayed out for more and listened to another live band, ‘Death by Blackbird’ or something equally rocktastic.
Lee’s text to mate – “I’m going out tonight seeing if any ladies are out for some short-stop lovin’”. Surprisingly that didn’t work!
Michelle and Vicki found God that night, texting the boys’ room “We’re reading the bible, it’s well pertinent”, we were more amazed at the use of pertinent at 2am than the fact that they’d found religion.
We all found our own way of waking up…..Gill – “Ed boffed so loud it woke us both up”….and then onto face the Splitters who we had had a couple of spicy encounters with last year. We played well despite them having an early night and romped to an 11-6 victory.
The common people had a pitcher in jeans but still got beat 10-5 as by now we actually believed we could win the thing!
Then the rain thrashed down and several games were called off, many A comp teams went home (A comp shmA comp). Then the announcement came of who would play in the final due to cancellation of games and we weren’t in it! Despite beating everyone and both finalists! Understandably this caused some upset and chants of “I predict a riot” went around the room. We had a word and sent Lins in to give ‘em what’s what and lo and behold we’re in the final, against the Clapham Thunder.
It was equal all the way, their catcher made 2 excellent tags at home to peg us back and take the lead in the 5th. As the Thunder went into a lead in the 6th it looked as if we were doomed. The weekend had seen a few interesting slide techniques to say the least, Angie’s slightly delayed fall and Vic’s collapse to name two but it was another slide that would save the day. Bottom of 7th two outs and Vic on 3rd, ran home catcher went for tag to win the game and our Vic dived head first, through the mud and called safe to tie the game! Drama in the max! Derek was walked (they were scared) and then Michelle walked leaving Gordinho up to bat, bases loaded to win the trophy. Rings were twitching everywhere as it went to 1-3 then the next sailed past his head and over, as Gordinho walked away to celebrate the blue called strike! No way! (Note: over a beer later on the blue told me he couldn’t let us win a trophy on a walk, I laughed but wouldn’t have if I goobered it!). The final ball was always going to be hit and so it was, past a diving short stop and Ed ran in home to seal the victory.
We were covered in mud and tired as hell but collected a huge trophy, a waterproof each and a crate of beer which eased the pain. Lee deservedly won MVP for a great performance and was rewarded with a little man.
Home-time means KFC at the services and much discussion and laughs on the way back and Lee played with his little man all the way home, weeeeeeeeeeeee.
Next up Glasgow, let’s hope us or another Manc team can bring some silver back to Manchester.
Other quotes: “I bet there’s loads of interesting things in the middle of the motorway – like giant toilet seats” – Ed (Ed-world must be a beautiful place)
“Don’t worry Vic it was the wind that did it, the wind” – Mich
“Great hit you jammy bastard!” - Gordinho supports Ed
“Is Noah’s ark in the Bible” – Ed
Tunes: Mr Blue Sky – ELO; Mr Brightside - Killers
Write up by Gordon
Check out the photo's now!
The sun was shining and it turned out to be a great weekend for the Lions. Playing at B comp with some good teams was a big step for the Lions but the fought hard on although losing to the Greensox and Pyro's there were some excellent wins against the Mav's and the Sheriffs.
Day 2 started as expected with a grudge match against the Mets. Following a heavy night on the beer the Lions managed to scrape together a team and take a close win by 1 run. Losing to the Pyro's in the Semi meant a 3rd / 4th play off against the Mavs which was lost by 1 run leaving the Lions a respectable 4th overall.
The fourth annual Lions pre-season invitational tournament was held at Parrs Wood High School. The Green Sox emerged triumphant, sweeping all before them with some ease, an omen for the season to come perhaps ?
The Lions lost 3 games and tied one but apart from a drubbing by the Sox the games were competitive throughout and with a bit more luck we'd have nailed down a couple of wins.
