Oxford School Games celebrates exciting softball tournament
Mon 9 Jul 2012
On July 5th and 6th, BaseballSoftballUK helped launch the inaugural Oxfordshire School Games Finals, held at the famous Iffley Road Sports Complex.
Over 30 schools signed up to play softball, but due to the high demand and multitude of sports on offer for this Olympic-styled school games, only nine teams were selected for the L3 Softball event... and what an event it turned out to be!
Softball joins the Olympic celebrations
Three pools were formed of three teams each, and after the first round-robin of competition none of the teams was undefeated. Many of the games -- played by young, first-time softballers -- were close in score. Ultimately the standings had to be settled by run difference to determine who went to the Cup, Plate and Bowl semi-finals. One of the competition pools was so close that only could only the runs conceded statistic could be used to suss out the placings, and even then it was only settled by a single run!
It was a great day of softball all around. The students were progressively learning the rules of slowpitch softball and improving at the mechanics of the sport as the day went on.
A celebration of many sports and cultures
Both days began with a wonderful opening ceremony performed by pupils from a number of schools from across Oxfordshire. Following addresses from past and present Olympians, participants paraded around the track in their district teams under the banners of the five continents.
As well as the numerous competition finals, participants also got to try a wide range of sporting and cultural activities in the Active and Cultural Zones. In addition there was an Olympic Trail which provided schools with the opportunity to win a future visit from a top sporting celebrity. Some young athletes were even fortunate enough to meet and receive winners medals from legendary athlete Sir Roger Bannister.
Softball results
Bartholomew School won the final game of softball, beating St Gregory the Great by an incredible scoreline of 2-1.
Final Placings
- Bartholomew
- St Gregory the Great
- Wallingford
- Wood Green
- Cherwell
- Cooper
- Fitzharrys
- John Mason
- Warriner
Group One Round-Robin
| Cherwell | Warriner | Bartholomew | |
| Cherwell | 9-0W | 2-5L | |
| Warriner | 0-9L | 5-5D | |
| Bartholomew | 5-5D | 5-2W |
Group Two Round-Robin
| St Gregs | Wood Green | Fitzharrys | |
| St Gregs | 3-3D | 3-0W | |
| Wood Green | 3-3D | 4-1W | |
| Fitzharrys | 0-3L | 1-4L |
Group Three Round-Robin
| Cooper | John Mason | Wallingford | |
| Cooper | 3-0W | 0-4L | |
| John Mason | 0-3L | 6-4W | |
| Wallingford | 4-0W | 4-6L |
Championship Rounds
1st - 3rd Playoffs
| Bartholomew | Wallingford | St Gregs | |
| Bartholomew | 5-2W | 2-1W | |
| Wallingford | 2-5L | 2-3L | |
| St Gregs | 1-2L | 3-2W |
4th - 6th Playoffs
| Cherwell | Cooper | Wood Green | |
| Cherwell | 4-6L | 3-2W | |
| Cooper | 6-4W | 1-6L | |
| Wood Green | 2-3L | 6-1W |
7th - 9th Playoffs
| Warriner | John Mason | Fitzharrys | |
| Warriner | 0-2L | 2-6L | |
| John Mason | 2-0W | 4-5L | |
| Fitzharrys | 6-2W | 5-4W |
