And so the first half ends...

Hard to believe that just a few short months ago we stood on the threshhold of what was then the start of our very first season of participating competitively as a new member of the WPSF.  Harder still to take in that we've not only flourished in the first half of play, but accomplished so much and continue to grow in the spirit of the beautiful game. 

What an absolute delight then to have ended the first half on such a high note with a spectacular win over Tantasport at 12 - 5!  It is encouraging in the extreme to see the learnings garnered from training and discussion forums translating so positively onto the playing field. Where members have been pushed to step up to their potential, they have done so with aplomb and what we've now come to understand the zealous manner that has become synonymous of the Mighty Tities. Well done, you'll - I for one cannot wait for the second half of the season to commence so that we can take this momentum to even greater heights.

But we cannot rest on our laurels if we're wanting to achieve our goals of winning the league and knockout titles, and ultimately establishing our Club as one of note.  To this end, we will therefore continue with a weekly training session that will take place every Sunday afternoon as the holidays and family commitments allow.  More on this will be informed under separate cover by our Manager, Portia Williams.

As was stated in the previous posting, there's been a hive of activity in the first half of the season - some of which was detailed by way of fundraising events that took place.  Others have centred around birthdays and anniversaries, and on a more sombre note on members who have undergone injury or the like followed by various medical procedures to correct same.  To the latter, we wish those a speedy recovery and we hope to see our full complement of players back on the field come the start of the second half.

To those who will be taking time out with family and loved ones over the Festive Season and travelling to places of leisure, be safe and travel well. May the Festive Season prove to be a joyous and happy one all round.

From Ballgirl-2-the-T (aka as The Xmas Fairy) take care...

1-2, 1-2, 1-2 --------Boooyah!

Mighty Tities...

It's been a while since last Ballgirl2-the-T has posted a blog, but in her defence she's been kept out of mischief by her studies which thankfully has now come to an end. 

There's been lots that's happened since the last post in August. The Back-2-Skul fundraiser for starters saw the Club raise enough funds for the purchase of uniforms as well as a full set of equipment that have ensured its members were game ready at the start of the 2011/12 Season.

The Mighty Tities have played 7 of 8 games and won all but 1 - a tremendous feat for a new team that just made its debut this season.  So much so that we're leading the log with Blackheath trailing hot on our heels, followed very closely by Thistles. The challenge remains in not only staying ahead of the pack, but doing so in the spirit of good sportsmanship and without compromising the integrity of the Club and its vision, whilst providing our members with a platform for the holistic development of skills and person. To this end, we are constantly on the search for resources and means that will complement our objectives.  For instance, we have registered our coaches, scorers and base umpires with WPSF who regularly attend technical forums and clinics as well as take exams to ensure they remain abreast of all the rules, regulations and technical applications as they pertain.

But like any fledgling operation, we've also faced a few casualities along the way with some of our members being felled by injury, or being lost to work commitments and pasteurs more suited to their specific needs.

The Caribbean Gold Fundraiser in October was not as successful as we would have preferred, but at least we broke even and learned some valuable lessons about which pitfalls to avoid when planning future events.

Speaking of which, our next function will take the form of a Family Day on Saturday, 3 December with jumping castles, slip and slides, face painting, potjie and braai competitions, a beer and tea garden, a slow pitch softball tournament and loads more fun activities planned for the day. So book this 'not-to-be-missed-date' out in your calendars!

With all the happenings detailed above and just one week left to the end of the first half of the season, it can certainly be said that the Mighty Tities have shown their mettle and proven themselves to be worthy contenders in the fourth division. The latest notch on our belts being a narrow 9-8 win over Lansdowne Eagles on Saturday, 19 November, followed by a more convincing victory of 13-5 over Belhar Dolphins on Sunday, 20 November. The game on Saturday in particular was helped along by the able assistance of our 'super-subs' Natalie de la Cruz and Heather Alexander who filled in when our regular members were not able to play due to other commitments.  Big ups to these two ladies who really came through for us! And notwithstanding a home run by Nicolete, a three bagger by Lindy and some well placed batting by Vann that saw the advancement of runners to clock up a victory of note.

In closing, Ballgirl-2-the-T would like to encourage you to make every effort to attend as many games as you can of the upcoming JWWC tournament and offer support to our South African squad, who will be competing against teams from as far afield as the USA, Brazil, China, Puerto Rico, Canada, New Zealand, Japan, etc. Who knows, in time to come Titans may yet be the feeder of players who meet the international standards necessary to compete in tournaments of this ilk.

1-2, 1-2, 1-2....Booyah!!!

Back-2-School...

Vely spesil aanpassings kind

In the name of the Great Titanic, I baptise thee a Titanian

Linda Evangelista strutting her goetes

Meisiekind Lollipoppie

Upwards and onwards ye sistas

Nicky Hilton vat oor op die Ketwalk

Pappa Smurf and the sistas

Sssschwierharts

Twee Stoute Keboutes

Terrible Trio

Non-Japie sistas

Barflies

What an awesome event! Young and old, classroom clowns, bookworms, tarts for teachers, aanpassings kinders - you name it, one and all graced the first Titans fundraiser with their 'vely vely spesil' selves and a marvellous (read somewhat riotous) time was had for sure.

The evening saw some comic moments (um a Japie moment comes to mind, the unveiling of a dangling little blue bean, Cayote Ugly dance scenes, raffles that baffled, a certain Titan's member finding her ass plat op die aarde that even her royal bearing could not counter, some rather dubious looking mammas and pappas strutting there goetes determined to bag that Mr/Mrs Titans prize - amazing what the promise of a botty will get people to do - yes, there were many). Then the real comedian, Wayne McKay (not the wannabes mentioned before) had the crowd going with his guttural wit and side-splitting take on all those un-PC things that people are too scared to mention for fear of being lambasted. That dude Wayne, he sure knows funny.

Hats off to the events committee for all the time and hard work that was put into making the function such a huge success...the positive feedback received has been testimony to a job well done.  Sooooo, it's a great big brrrrrrrrr to those concerned - WE KEEP YOU, SILENCE!!.

'Watch this space' for more details of the official Club launch which a little birdie tells me is set for the end of September...can't wait!

Balls to a Gale Force!

Yep, that's how powerful Titans is - we smacked our balls into the wall of that blustering South Easterly yesterday. Skrik vir niks, that's us! And what with Vann's after-curry explosions blasting through, jinne that South Easterly didn't have a chance (lmfao)!!

Pappa Smurf and Marci Parci put us through our paces and wind or not, we rose to the task in that spectacular way that is now synonymous of the triple T's (Tempestuous Titans Tannies).  And those targets that Pappa Smurf made for us, oh bless your little blue heart.  We are humbled by all the time and effort both you and Marc are making for us; it has imbued a sense of "we can do this"! Thanks guys, we aim to make you proud come the season.  Those pegs will be spot on (after putting many a hole through those target boards, there'll be very little room for anything other), our batting will be strategically placed and we'll run those bases so spectacularly that an Olympic sprinter will look tame in comparison.

And then the comic moments. Odi, even though you tried to hand over that 'Calamity Ann' stick to some unsuspecting sucker, sorry love - you still hold the dubious honour.  That ball that hit you up the side of the head (you know, the side you said you don't use) had your name on it for sure. If it wasn't for T hitting on J (what's with this alphabet thing), that spot on the podium would have been yours alone.  T, stop that shit, hey - we need our players for the season, man.

Once again, our thanks to Mr Raisin, Jimmy and new accomplice Barrington (who bravely worked his way through the after effects of the night before - read moersie hangover) to provide us with a lekka braai and drinks after our workout.

The week ahead sees the focus shifting to the upcoming 'Back-to-School' event scheduled for Saturday, 30 July.  Dust those school togs off, get the word out there and sell those tickets, Titanians.

Till Saturday then...

The Magic of Throw-Around Sundays

Balls to the wall - yeah, baby!  Man, that was one awesome session on Sunday. Lekke mense, lekka weer, lekke kosies, ooooh and not forgetting the very lekka drinks. A glorious day that was just perfect; shared with friends and family over a good work out followed by that yummy braai that Mr Raisin and Father Abrahams provided with such aplomb.  Thanks guys, you and that Jimmy sauce really rock.

As can be seen from the link, Titans was out in full regalia - with blood pumping blue and looking nothing short of fierce [click on link to access some shots of the ladies in full motion (classic and comic) That's how we roll]!!!

Looking good, you'll.

Till next Sunday....

Mwah :)

Whoop Whoop - Titans has arrived!

"OMG, I'm so unfit!"

"F%&$k where did that muscle come from?"

"I can do this...er, ok I thought I could."

"I'm getting too old for this shit (uttered between wheezing breaths and sputtering cough)."
"Jy will mos."

"I need that ice cold Hunter's...now, already!"

Sound familiar? I'm not going to say what of the above applies specifically to yours truly, but damn if pushed I'd be hard-pressed to deny any, if not all. And that's exactly what we've done this past while, pushed to levels none of us thought possible when that little group of rather mad ladies first gathered round a table with the view to starting a new softball team. Not one of the senfabulous six envisaged the heights we have already reached in this remarkably short period of time. Nor will we hold captive the heights that we are spiraling towards.  That we are skyward bound leaves very little room for doubt.

Since 1 June 2011, the official date of establishing Titans Softball Club, we've seen our membership base grow from the founding six to an astounding sixteen members - a phenomenal growth of some 200%. The camaraderie and positive spirit that has unfurled amongst members is heartwarming, and has set the tone for the Club to entrench itself as an organisation that embodies family values and community upliftment through the development of softball.

We had our first AGM in May where the first Executive Committee was elected to office, followed by a few general and executive meetings, the incorporation of our constitution and code of conduct, the appointment of a coaching complement, and more excitedly the implementation of the now (in)famous Throw-Around sessions alluded to before.  The latter fast becoming synonymous with cementing relationships and imbuing the fantastic team spirit that's become apparent within the ladies team.  

So yes, we've come a long way in a relatively short time. And there is more to come, exciting stuff that I will leave for another post for to try and fill this page with it would not lend justice to the Events Committee who are hard at work with amazing feats that will leave you drooling and wanting for more.

Watch this space, me lovelies...

With love,

Ballgirl 2-the-T