Saturday, 3pm, ALSAA. Our home pitch seemed somewhat foreign given that the last league game was three weeks previous. Softball Ireland had deemed our 3rd Round tie against Dodder Dynamoes a 'catch-up' game, despite having not communicated anything about this tournament since the second round ties were held in June. So be it. The double elimination aspect of this year's tournament gave suggestion to tossing a coin to determine the result, heading to the ALSAA bar to watch Soccer Saturday instead. But the game was played, in good spirits despite howling wind and driving rain throughout most of the duration. 'Pak were without regular pitcher Drew, with JB standing in meaning a return to the infield for Niall Byrne. Caryn Elmes continued her run in the team in the outfield with Julie Trundle-Walsh playing on first base. The bench was strong and the crèche even stronger, with more children than can count on one hand on the sidelines. Most of the damage was done by the half-way stage, 'Pak having run in ten runs by the end of the third inning. Not one of Dodder's ladies managed to score throughout the entire game, with the McCarthy brothers Ken and John bringing in five of the team's eight runs. BatPak took the game 13-8, a home tie against Marlay Mavericks awaiting them on Sunday morning.

Sunday, 11am, ALSAA. The twilight zone or the bizarrely organised Brian Walshe Cup? BatPak had already played, and beaten, Mavericks on the very same ground in the second round of this competition. Yet fate, or someone's tournament software, determined that the two teams meet again in the Quarter Final. It must be said that each game between the two teams this year has produced at least one dispute, discussion or disagreement between players, this game was no exception. Mavericks lost their talismanic outfielder Lavery.C in the very first inning, forcing unwanted changes to the field. Brian Ebbs pleaded to be moved to the outfield alas he only got as far as catcher. BatPak continued their hitting form from the previous day, and had a 16-5 lead heading into the fifth inning. Marlay's batting was poor, while BatPak were scoring from throughout the whole line-up. A five run string of hits from Mavericks in the fifth inning brought a level of respectability to the score, but BatPak were too far ahead to lose the tie, making sure by adding four more runs in the sixth inning to move into the semi-finals with a 20-11 win.

Our 2Pak club colleagues the Dublin Bay Packers had been watching our game from the sidelines, how nice it was of them to show their support for us. Or so we thought! Due to a team not having enough players earlier in the day, DBP had, by way of walkovers, made it to the semi-final, and would be BatPak's opponents. The winners of Dynamoes/Renegades awaited the victors in the final. The game started very light-heartedly, with friendly banter accompanied by friendly hitting in the first couple of innings. Captain Mullen brought his troops in and gave them a dressing down, concerned that their intensity levels had dropped. Nothing to write home about the game as a whole unfortunately, and the score sheets have gone missing. BatPak won the game 7-3, and moved into the final.

There are of course competitions and tournaments in other sports where a team progressing plays another team twice. But TWO other teams? Dynamoes had defeated our north side neighbours Renegades in the other semi-final, and so a repeat of the previous day's game was the to be the final. Dynamoes had made two changes to their line-up with Ruth and Noeleen bringing strength to the batting line-up, and were this time the home team. BatPak players requested no warm-up period and to 'just get on with it'. The All-Ireland final had started, no mention of which until the end of this game. Dodder had a League and Cup double in mind, BatPak had retention of the trophy that has sat on the Mullen/Kilbride mantelpiece for the past two years. The first inning determined the shape of the rest of the game. BatPak started spritely with four runs, Dynamoes responding only with two. The rest of the game was a mixture of weak hitting and some strong defensive play. To note Captain Mullen's catch from Taz with the Dynamoes having bases loaded, and some clever pitching by Drew. Dynamoes went into the bottom of the last inning only needing four runs to claim the trophy, something that most players of this sport would accept as a very possible feat. But BatPak's mettle held, and JB's slow-motion out to first to get the last out signalled the start of the BatPak celebrations.

What could have been two games and the end of the 2011 season for the BatPak players has now led to another weekend of games. By winning the Brian Walshe Cup BatPak now face the three Regional League Champions in the SINCC (Softball Ireland National Club Champions). BatPak, dodder Dynamoes (Leinster), Belfast Sliders (Ulster) and the holders Originals (Munster) will battle it out for the title of Club Champion. Each team will play each other, with the top two teams making the SINCC Final. At least three more games, hopefully four, await BatPak on Sunday 25th September, with the first game against Dynamoes starting at 10am.

A big thanks to everyone who came out to show their support for BatPak last weekend, and to all the children for being so well behaved. Please come and join us this Sunday for more of the same, if you can't keep an eye on our site for Live coverage of our games in the SINCC.