Manchester Lions – Platinum National Champions 2010

The Lions broke another softball record by becoming National Champions at the BSF Platinum Nationals in Bristol. The Platinum Nationals is the highest level "league teams" can compete at in the UK and the Lions are over the moon with the result.

The Lions team comprised of Gill Watkinson (Captain), Gordon Milson (Vice Captain), Michelle Norfolk, Lindsey O’Farrell, Michelle Watkinson, Angela Killion, Victoria O’Farrell, Chris Fulton, Andy Pfister, Adam Roberts, Ed Watkinson and a guest appearance from Zak Hak (in place of injured Lee).

It wasn't a walk in the park tho, competing against the best league teams in the country was always going to be tough.

The Saturday was a round robin where you played every team. This gave the seedings for the Sunday. After Beating the Mavericks, then Losing to the Nottingham Thieves the Lions got there act together and beat the Windsor Knights and the stacked Mescalitos team. We didn’t end the day well with a loss to the Sox but the game didn’t matter as after day 1 we were #1 seed (as standings table shows).

The Sunday was a double elimination. Our first game was against the Sox's who had already beaten the Mavs the hour before. Still hot from the game before the Sox managed to beat the Lions which put the Lions vs Mavs to play off to stay in the competition. The game was close and could have gone either way but it was the Mav’s who were sent home and out of the competition. The Windsor Knights then got knocked out in a close game. The semi final game was against the Thieves who, after a nip and took game were also defeated.

This left two Manchester teams in the final.. the Lions vs Greensox. The greenies were never really in the game, with the score 5-1 going into the top of the 7th innings (yes a awsome fielding performance ment the Sox had only score 1 run in 6 innings). The Lions promptly closed out the innings to win 5-3 with a bat in hand.

This means the Lions have won Silver, Gold and Platinum National titles in 3 consecutive years. If thats not a progressing team I don’t know what is!

Fantastic result.. well done to Manchester’s new National Champions!

Final Standings:

1) Lions (Platinum National Champs)
2) Greensox
3) Nottingham Thieves
4) Windsor Knights
5) Mescalitos
6) Mavericks

You puff that chest out Gordon and show them how proud you are!

LIONS ARE PLATINUM NATIONAL CHAMPIONS 2010!!!

A fantastic win over the Greensox in the Platinum Nationl finals means the Lions are officially the best league team in the country!

Full write up coming soon, but well done to everyone! Your all National Champions!

This is without a doubt one of the greatest achievements in UK Softball history! 3 National titles in 3 years at 3 levels!