Experience of UK sides proves the difference

By Aaron Scoones

Marceau Curry, of Tornados, starts to run after making a hit. (Picture by Adrian Miller, 0584581)

SOLENT team The Shafting won the 2008 Sarnian Roofing Slowpitch Open. They beat fellow UK outfit Solent Sharks 8-1 in the final.

It was the culmination of three days of action on the Beau Sejour diamonds.

‘The final really could have gone either way and 8-1 maybe didn’t do the Sharks justice, but it was a good final all the same,’ said Guernsey Softball Association committee member Matt Marquis. Along with the two visiting sides, five local teams were involved.

They were Condor, Mavericks, Rangers, Tornados and Blue Sox. Possibly the most exciting match over the weekend involved Tornados as they took on Solent Sharks in the semi-finals.

Sharks were 6-0 up going into the very last bat in the seventh innings.

Refusing to lay down, Tornados managed to score six runs to tie up the game.

An extra inning was required – which saw Sharks score three runs while Tornados managed two.

‘It was generally a very good tournament with a good standard of softball played throughout,’ said Marquis.

‘I think the UK sides’ experience shone through in the end. They play a very good standard week in week out and manage to go to more tournaments than local sides do and, come the end, I think this shone through for them.’