Ireland has got off to the best possible start at the Women’s Softball World Cup with a 7-0 victory over Botswana in the third game of the opening day of action in Balbriggan.
There were also victories for the World Number One USA and Great Britain.
Ireland’s was the biggest win with the US team winning 2-0 over Australia and Britain winning 5-0 against Chinese Taipei.
That set of results puts Ireland sitting proudly on top of the Round Robin league. Each team plays each other with the top four progressing to Play-Off games on Saturday. The winners of the effective Semi Finals play for a guaranteed spot in next year’s World Cup Final Final Stage. The runners up then play against the winner of a match between the third and fourth placed teams for the second spot at the Finals.
Two more Group phases will be played in Spain and Italy later this month to determine the final line up
Each team has one day where they play two group games and that is today for Ireland who will face Australia at 12:30 before taking to the field once more against Chinese Taipei at 6:30 PM.
Tickets are available in advance or on the day for the temporary stadium which has been built in the shadow of Braemor Castle in the North County Dublin town.
“Fingal is a county which is absolutely steeped in sport and we can now add softball to the mix,” said Mayor of Fingal Adrian Henchy before tossing a celebrity pitch.
“We’re a young, diverse county and it’s important that we have second-to-none facilities. That’s hugely driven by the local authority, in partnership with the sports clubs.”
“We wish everybody well and, obviously being biased, I hope Ireland do very well. It sounds like they’re in a tough pool but in order to be the best, you have to beat the best.”
All the games are being streamed live on GameTime.sport but if you get the chance it would be a great experience.
Ireland’s two remaining games after today are on Thursday at 6:30 against Britain and on friday at the same time against the United States.
