Busy weekend for the BASA
Monday's victory of the Angels over the Aces (and their attendance at the Teddy Bear's picnic blitz) is
just the start of a busy week of action for the members of the BASA.
After a few weeks off, the Belfast Northstars will suit up again as they welcome the Dublin Spartans to Belfast.
A slight change of venue as the Stars and the crosstown Buccaneers await the imminent completion of the first custom-built baseball and softball diamond in the north of Ireland, the Spartans will have to travel a little further, up to Lough Moss Leisure Centre.
Regardless of location, Sean Shackley's men will be looking for payback from a few weeks ago after losing a slugfest in Dublin 22-13. In that game, the Spartans struck hard and early, getting out ahead 6-0 in the first inning. Constantly playing catchup, the Stars would cut the lead to as little as four before the Dublin side pulled away in the last inning in what was an untidy game that occurred immediately after a famous victory against the Dublin City Hurricanes. Belfast will no doubt be looking for a much tighter defensive effort as they will welcome back Sean McMahon to the lineup. With Stephen Hunter and Christopher Shields acquitting themselves very well at the top of the batting order in the previous games, Shackley will be able to provide a consistent batting order of power and speed as they look to stretch their lead out in the B league North.
To wrap up a packed week of events for the Belfast American Sports Association, the Angels and Northstars will move down to Newforge Lane to support the newest members of the BASA, the Razorbacks.
In a brave effort against the Donegal/Derry Vipers in their first ever game, the Hogs held an experienced Viper side to a 6-0 lead for over three quarters of the game before fatigue and the sheer depth of the opposition squad pulled away to finish the game 27-0 to the good.
Sunday's opponent will be no less of a handful as the Wexford Eagles fly into Newforge, already looking down at the Hogs the Irish American Football Association division 2. Two weeks ago they kickstarted their own 2016 season with a 34-8 victory over the North Dublin Pirates in Wexford.
With the Vipers topping the table with two victories already, the Razorbacks know they will need a good result to keep within touching distance of the division lead. They will hope for a noisy crowd to cheer them on in their inaugural home game.
If you'd like to know more about Angels softball, Northstars baseball and Razorbacks football, visit www.belfastbaseball.co.uk or follow the teams on Facebook and Twitter.
