2010 Finals and Player Awards

The end of the season is almost upon us. There are just a handful of games to play before the finals day on the 14th of August and the official end to the season. This year we are carrying on the successful player awards as voted by the players and captains!

The finals day is being played at our normal venue of Llandaff fields from 11:00 onwards in the form of knockout tournament. Teams playing will be seeded based on their final league positions and compete for the Llandaff Cup. After the final the Taff Trophy will also be awarded to 2010 league champions, the Pontcanna Pirates.

There are two sets of awards separated by who gets to vote in each. The Captains of each team have nominated players from their own teams for the ballots for the following awards: Female/Male MVP, Female/Male Rookie of the Year, Female/Male Golden Glove, Female/Male Silver Slugger and finally the Platinum Pitcher.

The Captains are voting for the MVP and Rookie of the year awards using a scoring system where they have to vote for a 1st, 2nd and 3rd place choice (without voting for their own players). 1st is scored 10 points, 2nd 5 pts and 3rd 2 pts. The player with the overall highest score is the winner. MVP votes from each league game in the season are also included, each being worth 5 pts.

The remainder of the awards are being decided by a public vote from all players that have taken part through the season. Players have until the 11th August to cast their vote by filling out the form supplied by their captain. The completed for can either be printed and handed to your captain or emailed to This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

All the winners will be announced at the finals day after the main final.

Taff Trophy winners!

Pontcanna Pirates Crowned League Champions and Taff Trophy winners!

With a game left to play, the Pirates clinched the 2010 league title and the Taff Trophy! There was a group of three teams able to catch them but only if the Pirates lost their remaining two games. With destiny in their own hands, the Pirates won their penultimate game against the MC Hammers crowning them this year’s champions. They have been in glorious form all year only losing two games to date.

First annual Cardiff-Bristol Friendly Day!

All players welcome!!

Plan to arrive for 11:00am, where players will be split into teams with volunteer Captains Mark and Holly.  Games will be played at 11:15, 13:00, and 14:45.

Games will be 90 minutes long or 7 innings.  Teams will need to provide their own umpires

After the games we will head to the Halfway, where the back room is reserved for Cardiff Softball to have a few drinks and watch the final of the World Cup.

You're encouraged to bring your own drinks and snacks - it should be a fun filled day with lots of softballing!

Please e-mail mail This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it with any questions

Who are the people that the organise the league? Read on to find out, tip, click on the images to see the full picture.

Sally Milliner - League Head

Our ever smiling, jet setting league head took the role after the completion of first season in 2006, taking over from Billy Cotton who got everything off the ground after Sally had spoken to him about her dream of setting up another Cardiff league after the demise of the previous Cardiff Softball league some years previously. She has many years of experience having organised and played for an Eversheds team in the original incarnation of the league. Ever since, she has strived to move the league forward into a strong position with stable teams. At times it has been a struggle as the great British summer time has battered us with some of wettest summers in living memory, but still she smiles happy in the thought of playing softball. Being Captain of Evershed Eagles for 4 years, she won two league titles before taking on a new challenge this year in captaining a new team – the Stealers. When she is not playing softball or jet setting around the world with work, Sally can often be found in training as she prepares to run a marathon later next year.

Matthew Insell – Webmaster/Communications/Fixtures

A fanatical baseball fan and a keen supporter of the Cleveland Indians, Matt was looking to play baseball somewhere in Cardiff during the summer of 2006. He never did find a baseball team, but he stumbled across an advert for Softball League instead. Along with his then colleague, Martin Holden, they formed a team in work called the Geldards Giants. They never did too well, but he just loved to play the game he so dearly loved. At the end of 2006 he was asked by the other captains to take over the role of webmaster, ever since he has been responsible for the website, communicating information through the league and arranging the league fixtures. The days of being a captain are gone, he just enjoys playing for his new team, the Sophia Gardens Red Sox and keeping the website fresh, with new ideas and updates. When Matt is not playing softball or on his computer watching baseball, he enjoys getting out on his mountain bike and spending time with his girlfriend.

Martin Holden - Treasurer

Martin formed the Geldards Giants along with Matthew Insell and after two seasons moved on to become a member of successful Evershed Eagles team due to a change in his employers! Before that however he had agreed to take on the role of Treasurer, ensuring that the pitches are paid (and marked out), the website is paid for and we have enough new balls to play with (a very important role)! When Martin is not playing softball or stuck in work, he can be found he can be found walking in the country and planning his next holiday.

Debbie Ford - League Secretary/Marketing Officer

A new member for the 2010 season, Debbie has taken on the role of League secretary, marketing officer and helping out with the new players and allocating them to teams. A member of the victorious Evershed Eagles teams, she is now part of the new Stealers team. When Debbie is not playing Softball she can be found in training for her expedition in July to Costa Rica with a bunch of teenage schoolchildren and also preparing with Sally to run a marathon later next year.

Rachel Shiner - Social Secretary

After some time travelling the world, our bubbly native of California joined the league playing for the Cardiff Cubs in 2009 - what a move it turned out to be as the Cubs ended up winning the Llandaff Cup! In the winter Rachel volunteered to help out with organising the league taking over the role of Social Secretary, hoping to generate a community spirit among the league. When she is not writing her dissertation or playing softball in Cardiff and Bristol, Rachel is often out exploring the UK for the best sights it can offer!

Dave Roberts - Coach

Dave was born (at a relatively early age) and dragged up in Liverpool where he was introduced to all sports American - and Baseball in particular - in School at age 7! His passion for the sport saw him play throughout his School Years - it was more fun than study! - and start a long standing love affair with the Red Sox - the real ones! -in the mid eighties whilst at University. After years of coaching Hockey, a move to Cardiff provided the opportunity to once again 'Flash the Leather' - albeit more slowly than before! - and 'Swing for the Fences' with the Celts before playing for the Eagles. He'll be a Stealer this season, along with his long suffering better half Sarah, and hoping his beloved Boston can overcome the 'Evil Empire' once again!

Merv Priest - Coach

Merv is the second coach for the league, his knowledge of the game is huge having been born and raised in Canada. Having stumbled across the league in 2008 he has become an important voice in how the league is run and coached. He has played for the Evershed Eagles and is now part of the Stealers. His playing skills are second to none in the league, this being recognised last year as he jointly won the Male MVP award and also solely the Male Gold Glove for the best fielding. When Merv is not playing softball or cricket he can be found spending time with the family and taking part in testimonial ice hockey matches, having played for the Cardiff Devils in a former life.