2022 Great Britain Fastpitch League

The final GBFL outing on October 2 and 3 finds the league in good health. 113 games were successfully completed with 1537 runs scored – the result of countless pitches thrown, thousands of hits and walks drawn, strike outs, home runs and plays made. Stolen bases and runners thrown out stealing (how many Trent?). 113 games professionally umpired, teams kitted up, coached and managed by selfless individuals who mostly remain nameless and we play on well maintained, purpose built dirt fields with outfield fences (thanks Liz!). 

Life is good!

The Men’s league

Back in April the Season began with a bang! Game one: Meteors v Stags. In his first at bat Brendan Batten jacked hard throwing pitcher Gareth Yooste deep into the trees on the way to a 12-3 route of the Meteors. It wasn’t all like this of course but the Stags turned up ready to play – their sights set firmly on the league title at the end of the season and on representing the GBFL at the Super Cup in September. And they did win. In the league they didn’t drop a game until June and charged on to take the title in October as expected, dropping just 5 games on the way. But as always it’s only half the story. Experienced and with plenty of talent of their own the Meteors picked themselves from that first loss and battled on to re-take the second place they had lost to GBu23 in 2021. Below that, The Heat emerged from last position after day one to over take the Eagles on the final weekend and chase the Meteors all the way to the final out for 3rd. 

The men’s league is particularly healthy. The 6 teams boast 19 capable pitchers between them and the top 4 teams are competitive in every game. Plus commitment to stabilise and develop the Strays next year should see them a useful outfit capable of challenging those 4 and competing opportunistically for wins. The Hawks will of course be back – a year older, wiser and with facial hair. Without doubt they will surprise us as did the GBu23 team just a year or two back!

The Women’s league 

The Mix ran away with the women’s league again this year, winning the title without dropping a single game. Solid and well drilled they simply don’t allow many opportunities for other teams to capitalise. And it’s not that the Angels and Barbarians don’t have the skills, it’s that the season for the women is so small – The other teams just don’t spend enough time together to develop into really competitive units. This is particularly true of the Free Agents who have youth and talent that is slow to develop due to the lack of playing time. The Angels are good – their experience keeps them in the game and makes their games enjoyable for players and spectators. A little slow to start, they come through in the second half of the season to play some exciting fastpitch. And of course there were great games. Every Mix / Barbarians matchup for instance is eagerly anticipated. Surely it’s just a matter of time before the spirited Barbarians prevail. The Free Agents are waiting to happen and they surely will. More than any other team their youthful squad would benefit from more games. Cardiff need to be supported and coaxed toward those first tantalising wins. And winning is habit forming – but so is losing!

2022 GBFL Awards

Men’s League MVP: Amit Aswani

Women’s League MVP: Jade Yerex