Flyers Blitz XXI, 16 May 2010.
Congratulations to TwoPack, winners
of the twenty-first Flyers Blitz held on 16 May 2010 at ALSAA, in what was the debut
tournament entry for the BatPak and Dublin Bay Packers combined team.
After a shaky start when Sporting Fingal turned up to train on a pitch we were using, and
a couple of teams turned up short-handed and had to pull out early, things settled down.
A three-way tie for second place in Group A between Marlay II, Marlay III and the Sluggers
was resolved with Sluggers going through to the semifinal to beat Marlay I and then go
home. TwoPack went 4-0 in Group A and overcame Galway in the other semi, the Tribes having
come out top on head-to-head results in a 3-way tie with Blazzers and Belfast Aviators in
group B.
The Aviators had the satisfaction
of earlier beating the Flyers 13-5 in the first All-Ireland "champions of the sky" game,
a cloud of volcanic ash holding west of ALSAA long enough for the game to go ahead.
Marlay I, made up of 3 Premier players and the rest from their Shutout7 and Braves teams
plus a newbie on 1B, were no match for TwoPacks ball whackers in the final. At 15-0 after
three innings the game was up but TwoPack were in no mood to ease off against their tired
opponents. Sinead Harding finally drove in a run for Marlay and together with her defensive
play earned herself the female MVP award, even the Devally kids were unanimous on this
and all wanted to give her the prize. Picking a male MVP wasn’t easy in such a one-sided
match but Peter Mullen took it just ahead of Paddy. Drew can decide who gets the best
ball-changer award.
Final score 31-1 to TwoPack.
2010 | TwoPack |
r/up | Marlay Martyrs I |
2009 | Marlay Martyrs |
r/up | Oddsox |
2008 | Marlay Martyrs |
r/up | Flyers! |
2007 | Marlay Martyrs |
r/up | Castletroy Dragons |
2006 | Dodder Dynamoes |
r/up | Marlay Martyrs |
2005 | Dodder Dynamoes |
r/up | BatPak |
2003 | Oddsox Green |
r/up | Dodder Dynamoes |
2002 | Marlay Martyrs A |
r/up | BatPak |
2001 | Marlay Martyrs A |
r/up | Marlay Martyrs B |
2000 | Warriors |
r/up | Diamond Dogs |
1999 | Oddsox |
1998 | Marlay Martyrs |
r/up | Oddsox |
1997 | Marlay Martyrs |
1996 | Marlay Martyrs |
1995 | Marlay Martyrs |
r/up | Oddsox |
1994 | BatPak |
1993 | Marlay Martyrs |
r/up | Oddsox |
1992 | Marlay Martyrs |
r/up | Oddsox |
1991 | Marlay Martyrs |
r/up | Oddsox |
1990 | Turtle Trotters |
1989 | Dodder Dynamoes |
Flyers Blitz XX
Congratulations to Marlay 1, winners
of the twentieth anniversary Flyers Blitz held on 9 May 2009 in ALSAA.
As usual, it was raining at 10 o'clock. And, as usual, it cleared up and was sunny and windy
for the rest of the day. And, as usual, Marlay won. Munster softball continued where the
rugby team left off and had a nightmare morning so didn't qualify for the semi-finals.
Marlay 1 defeated Diamond Dogs in one semi-final, in the other Oddsox defeated a Marlay 2
team who did very well to reach this stage.
In the final Oddsox took an early lead and maintained it thanks to some great defensive play
at 3B by Olwyn who took the female MVP award. After 5 innings it was tied 8-each. A HR by
male MVP Joe Leftfielder gave Marlay a 2 run lead which they squandered through a RF mix-up
in the bottom of six.
Rookie catcher Al restored Marlay's lead top of 7 but a 1-run lead didn't look like it was
going to be big enough to land Marlay their 12th title until Oddsox's batting fizzled out when
it mattered most.
FLYERS BLITZ XIX - 10 May 2008
Marlay Martyrs retain the Flyers trophy with a facile 19-0 win over the hosts. With 3 wins, and a tie we found ourselves tired and dazed in the final of our blitz for the first time ever. And an injury to Cora meant she couldn’t even play in the final.
The Flyers Blitz XVIII, 19th May 2007
Congratulations to Marlay Martyrs, winners of the 18th Flyers Blitz which took place on 19th May 2007 in ALSAA. Runners-up were the Castletroy team from Limerick who were making their first appearance at the blitz. Marlay hung in and came from behind when the wheels fell off the Limerick bandwagon in the closing innings. Thanks to those who came out, even the Bearcats/Kegs team that drifted home at lunchtime leaving us with a few hours to fill.
FLYERS BLITZ - 06 May 06
Flyers were a run up v Marlay with two out bottom of the last and 1 out from getting to the final. Luckily Marlay came through and gave Dodder a better game than we could have. Base Devils were also a bit shocked to find themselves in the semis. Dodder retain the trophy. Thanks to Blazzers for umping the final.
FLYERS BLITZ - 07 May 2005
Dodder wins. Weather held up. Windburn all round. Japanese emperor and his two 747 cargo jumbos of stuff fly by for a look. Must have heard about the sushi Sichul had brought.
Flyers Blitz. 23 May 2003
Somehow during the day the Suspects beat Marlay and Dodder. Sun came out for the final. Oddsox borrowed Michelle Quaid from Marlay and objected when Dodder with Paul McGrath borrowed Badger after Ken and Noeleen had to go. Dean rejected their objection. So either way Marlay would win a bit of the Flyers blitz. Again. Oddsox got winning run and Brian Walshe accepted the trophy and thanked us for keeping this long-running blitz going. Oddsox have won the trophy twice now, Dodder just the once but then again were banned for many years for some long-forgotten reason. Long night in the bar where Trevor from the Suspects provided the entertainment while Trisha tried to take photos with a phone, thinking it was a camera.
The Flyers Blitz, 11th May 2002
Congratulations to Marlay Martyrs A on winning the 2002 Big Al's Flyers Blitz. After beating Dodder Dynamoes in the bottom of the 7th in a 40-minute game to win group 2, the 'group of death', they proved too strong for BatPak in the final. Ten teams took part on what turned out a great day and AIB took the Sportsmanship trophy. FIFA have announced that Betty has been dropped from the World Cup organisational committee after re-checking the fixture list.
The Flyers Blitz, 26th May 2001
Congratulations to Marlay Martyrs A - winners of the 2001 Flyers Blitz.
And well done to Marlay Martyrs B for reaching the final and pushing the A team all the way to the 7th innings in an exciting final. A hint of team orders in the air perhaps? Crisis at Marlay? What crisis?
FLYERS GIRLIE BLITZ WINNERS 1993 - 2000
1993 Oddsox
r/up Lotus
1994 Oddsox
r/up WarrPak
1995 Oddsox
r/up Marlay/Kegs
1996 Marlay Martyrs
r/up Oddsox
1997 Brazen Hussies
r/up Oddsox/Troops
1998 No Blitz
1999 Easy Riders
r/up Oddsox
2000 Oddsox
r/up Marlay
FLYERS ALL-MALE BLITZ WINNERS 1996 - 2000
1996 Avid Angels
r/up Blazzers/Dodder
1997 Oddsox Green/Gold
r/up Oddsox Red/Blue
1998 No Blitz
1999 Oddsox
r/up Dodder
2000 Oddsox
r/up Marlay
And in case you're not sure what's supposed to happen, former Flyer turned umpire, Jaz put together some rough instructions based on what he remembers, what he's been told, and something he read on the side of crisp packet a few years ago.
The Flyers
Guide To Softball Tournaments
Instructions: