Baseball/softball teams in Mayo?

Lepus

I understand there are a number of teams/clubs around the country, but I can't find any in Mayo (closest one is Galway I think, all others are a good bit further). Are there any enthusiasts around who would be interested forming a team? I'm far from an expert, just think it would be good craic and not really sure how to go about it.

finisklin

Best thing is to set a time and a venue. Give people notice and advertise it via here, facebook and other sporting org's (if possible) etc. May be worthwhile to have it in a central venue (maybe the mall Castlebar :rolleyes: )

The only thing is equipment - Balls, bats, gloves and protective gear. Your going to need this stuff as without it you can't play!

May be an idea to promote it within the manufacturing companies within the county - Bausch & Lomb, Ballina Beverages, Abbott, Baxter and Hollister. I am sure there sports and social clubs would love it. Plus I think softball teams can be mixed between male and female, which makes it more interesting and appealing.

Best of luck with it.

rusheen

finisklin wrote: »

Best thing is to set a time and a venue. Give people notice and advertise it via here, facebook and other sporting org's (if possible) etc. May be worthwhile to have it in a central venue (maybe the mall Castlebar :rolleyes: )

The only thing is equipment - Balls, bats, gloves and protective gear. Your going to need this stuff as without it you can't play!

May be an idea to promote it within the manufacturing companies within the county - Bausch & Lomb, Ballina Beverages, Abbott, Baxter and Hollister. I am sure there sports and social clubs would love it. Plus I think softball teams can be mixed between male and female, which makes it more interesting and appealing.

Best of luck with it.

Apparently cricket is the only sport allowed on the mall ,
maybe someone will know more about this ?

Would be a cool if there a softball team eventually league in Mayo. I used to love rounders in primary school and often wondered why there wasnt anything similar outside of primary school .

Softball is a great sport for people of all ages and fittness levels and be a nice way to socialise . males and females can play together .
Goodluck with it

Lepus

finisklin wrote: »

Best thing is to set a time and a venue. Give people notice and advertise it via here, facebook and other sporting org's (if possible) etc. May be worthwhile to have it in a central venue (maybe the mall Castlebar :rolleyes: )

The only thing is equipment - Balls, bats, gloves and protective gear. Your going to need this stuff as without it you can't play!

May be an idea to promote it within the manufacturing companies within the county - Bausch & Lomb, Ballina Beverages, Abbott, Baxter and Hollister. I am sure there sports and social clubs would love it. Plus I think softball teams can be mixed between male and female, which makes it more interesting and appealing.

Best of luck with it.

That's a lot of great advice, thanks finisklin. I really am no expert and would hope someone with a good knowledge of the sport would be interested in running it, or coaching or whatever. I'm sure there are people around who would be interested. It's probably a case of 'build it and they will come'. Hopefully some more folks will see this thread and chime in.

rusheen wrote: »

Apparently cricket is the only sport allowed on the mall ,
maybe someone will know more about this ?

Would be a cool if there a softball team eventually league in Mayo. I used to love rounders in primary school and often wondered why there wasnt anything similar outside of primary school .

Softball is a great sport for people of all ages and fittness levels and be a nice way to socialise . males and females can play together .
Goodluck with it

Yeah, rounders in primary school is what's making me want to start playing again as an adult (which is why we'd need someone with real experience in this - I'm just the idea guy!). I know it was so long ago but I absolutely loved it. Tried to get it going in secondary school but they were having none of it. PE teachers didn't know the first thing about how to play :rolleyes:


I'll keep ye updated anyway if this goes ahead!

Shiminay

I play softball in Dublin having played loads of rounders growing up in Mayo, I can talk to someone in Softball Ireland and see if they've got any details about Mayo/Connaught clubs. Might be no harm asking on the Baseball forum too.

tml73

There was a guy in killawalla (near Westport) who used to coach kids softball a few years back. I don't if they are still on the go anymore.
The nearest adult team I know of is in Galway.
You might get some info from this article
http://www.baseballireland.com/images/MAY_2403_Ed1_075.pdf

DerrewDawg

Hi,

I'm the guy from Killawalla/Derrew who tried starting up a youth baseball team to represent the Mayo area in the Baseball Ireland league. The team was called the Ballyheane Braves. Initially I had great interest from the kids, but eventually the more 'Irish' sports won out and the baseball took a back seat.

The big problem was that all the other youth teams were in Kerry and Dublin, so we really did not have opportunities to play games against other teams and the parents would not commit to helping commute the kids those distances, so the interest faded. I did bring the team down to Kerry for a tourament, but I had to hire a bus was was out of pocket for a few hundred euro. Kids had a great time though.

The other coach, Bill, helping me was an American (who was a fully qualified baseball umpire) who lives in Killawalla. Prior to this baseball team, Bill, tried getting softball started up. Not sure what happened with that.

I'm American too and played baseball my all through my younger years. It would be great to form a bunch of Mayo teams and create a small league. Softball would be a better option as this could be played in any flat field, soccer pitch or GAA pitch and with minimal equipment. With baseball you really need a properly dimensioned field and proper pitching mound.

I'd be glad to help out.

Shawn