National Softball League 2024 Preview
The National Softball League kicks off this weekend with a new structure. Eight Manchester based teams now play across the three NSL divisions.
The third division has gained 4 teams, selected earlier in the year from 12 hopeful applicants. NSL3 will now consist of two eight team divisions, based on final placings in 2023. Over the three NSL league weekends, teams will play all other teams in their own division home-and-away and will play once against teams in the other division. The top four teams in each division will qualify for the NSL3 Nationals, while the team that wins each division will be promoted to NSL2 for 2025. The bottom two teams in each division will be relegated out of the NSL structure and replaced in 2025 by four new teams from the waiting list. Teams that win the NSL Nationals at all three levels will receive a cash prize in the form of a refunded entry fee.
The Manchester captains give their hopes for the season.
Camels
Captain: Adam Hugill & Adam Brookbanks
Division: NSL1
Tenure: 5 seasons, joined NSL3 in 2018 (No competition in 2020)
2023 finish: 8th in NSL1, 7th in NSL Nationals
Spitting Camels achieved their aim for last season, finishing 8th in their first year in the top division and qualifying for the nationals. How do you feel about last year’s performance? What are your aspirations for this season?
“We’ve got two invigorating players in Matt Dorey & Charlotte Green coming back from injury.”
“We did really well last year, it was asking a lot for an inexperienced squad to adjust and it showed as we picked up more results in the final tournament than the first two combined. The development throughout the year was really exciting to see and leaves us really positive about the upcoming season. We’ve got two invigorating players in Matt Dorey & Charlotte Green coming back from injury and Manchester’s own Tom Russell joining as well.
What are the aspirations? It’s hard to say, we’re getting better and better and we’ll be looking to improve on last year’s finish, top 6 feels attainable and with a bit of luck, who knows! We definitely don’t want to go into our final game of the year needing to win to survive again!”
Travelling Dodgers
Captain: Jonny Huck
Division: NSL1
Tenure: 7 seasons, since 2016 (exc. 2020)
2023 finish: 6th in NSL1, 3rd in the NSL Nationals
Travelling Dodgers finished a modest 6th in NSL last season with 12 wins and a percentage of 0.57. How do you plan to reach the top spot again, as you did in 2019? You have been recruiting heavily for this season. Tell us about your new signings.
“After winning the NSL1 league in 2019 and NSL1 nationals in 2021, finishing 6th last year isn’t where, as a team, we wanted to be. We have addressed the issues that arose last year with some strong recruitment, adding depth to an already talented group of players. The likes of Shane Sharp and Hazel Kilduff have joined the NSL1 squad and will also feature in the Manchester league games over the season. It has been nice to strengthen that link between between our NSL and MSL teams and hopefully in the future that link will only become stronger.
“It has been nice to strengthen that link between between our NSL and MSL teams and hopefully in the future that link will only become stronger.”
The new players are already settling in well having already played together in Amsterdam and Dublin this year. It is fair to say that a lot of the NSL1 teams have also strengthened this year and the two promoted teams of Blitz and The Mob are two great additions for NSL1. They will certainly offer new and difficult challenges. However, I believe 110% in my players and know what we can achieve together this year. I can’t wait for this new NSL1 season to start!!”
Mavericks
Captains: Emma Carruthers & Peter Nightingale
Division: NSL2
Tenure: 7 seasons, since 2016 (exc. 2020)
2023 finish: 10th in NSL2*
We were unable to reach Mavericks for comment.
Meerkats
Captain: Sonia Hine
Division: NSL2
Tenure: 2 seasons (joined NSL3 in 2022)
2023 finish: 2nd in NSL3, did not play the NSL Nationals.
Congratulations to Meerkats’ promotion to NSL2 last season. A brilliant run with a percentage of 0.75. What are your aspirations for this year? How have you prepared the team for the step up into the second tier?
“Tina Turner is our mascot and she loves to make an appearance to get the team buzzing with a bit of Proud Mary.”
“We’re champing at the bit to get started in NSL 2 this season. As a team we love the challenge of playing at a higher standard and can’t wait to see how we fair against some of the best teams in the country. At the same time we are all very aware that we won’t have the same run as we did in NSL3 and as a team we will pick each other up, keep spirits high and play our best game. Tina Turner is our mascot and she loves to make an appearance to get the team buzzing with a bit of Proud Mary.“
Tempest
Captains: Nathan Barratt
Division: NSL2
Tenure: 5 seasons (exc. 2022)
2023 finish: 12th in NSL1*
Tempest were unfortunately relegated from NSL1 in their first season there last year. Will you be aiming for a comeback in 2024?
“Yes 100%, the aim is to rebuild after a rough year where the majority of our team experienced nsl 1 play for the first time and fight to get back to that level again.”
Sharks
Captain: Stephen Shearer
Division: NSL3
Tenure: 2 seasons (joined NSL3 in 2022)
2023 finish: 7th in NSL3, did not play the NSL Nationals.
Sharks finished a safe 7th in NSL3 last season. The table was pretty tight in the middle. Do you think you can make the push for a higher position this year?
“It’s an interesting year with NSL3 split into two groups of eight and only the top of each group promoted. It’s not ideal as, in my opinion, one group is definitely weaker than other. It should be one division with fifteen home and away games over three weekends, five games each day and the top two go up.
My wish is for promotion, however demoted teams Niños Privados and MK, along with Storm all very tough games. It is only going to take one bad weekend to halt to promotion chances.”
Tempest II
Captains: Dave Warren, Andrew Bogie
Division: NSL3
Tenure: 1 season (joined NSL3 in 2023)
2023 finish: 8th in NSL3, 2nd in NSL Nationals
Tempest II finished 8th in NSL last season, enough to make the Nationals where you finished 2nd. The mid-table was close last season. How much ground are Tempest II aiming to gain this year?
“We are a similar squad to last year with four Tempest II debutants at the opening weekend, all of whom have a connection to the Manchester Softball League. I’m really pleased that most of last year’s squad is returning for another NSL3 league season. We want to show our collective ability more consistently in 2024, while continuing to be a fun, fair and enjoyable team to play with. Our objective is to compete strongly with every other team at our level, giving MSL players, especially those outside division 1, the chance to play against the best teams at our level from around the country.”
“Our objective is to compete strongly with every other team at our level, giving MSL players, especially those outside division 1, the chance to play against the best teams at our level from around the country.”
“The structure of NSL3 is different this year, with two divisions of eight teams: we will play everyone in our division twice, plus one game against the teams in the other NSL3 division. Looking at the line-up of teams, I expect it to be very competitive and we will need to be at our best to improve on last year.”
Manchester Dodgers
Captain: Nicola-Jane Dyson
Division: NSL3
Tenure: New entry for this season!
Manchester Dodgers join the newly structured NSL3 this season. What are you aspirations for the Dodgers at NSL? Who are the team to beat and who are the ones to watch out for?
“Manchester Dodgers (under our tournament name Travelling Dodgers) started at Farnham Park back when it was the Diamond Series and we progressed all the way to where they are today in NSL1. Captains and players changed over time and the degree of separation from Manchester Dodgers became 100%. This year, our organically grown Manchester Dodgers (with a few friends) are finally taking up our start up spot again in NSL3 which for various reasons, we had deferred since 2019.
“Our aspiration, like all teams, is to play hard, have fun and gain promotion so let’s see how goes.”
We are really excited to get back to NSL and our aspiration, like all teams, is to play hard, have fun and gain promotion so let’s see how goes.
As we haven’t been around Farnham for a few years now, we are a little out of touch with the teams to beat and ones to watch. We’ll know more after the weekend! So for now we are just looking forward to playing them all and seeing where the three weekends take us. Our thanks go out to Liz G, Lesley, Jes (and all the Blus) and all involved, for organising it all. Your hard work is appreciated.”
There are many other Manchester players at NSL rostered for other teams. Keep an eye out for them on the diamond.
All NSL fixtures and results can be found at https://eurosoftball.org/
* The top 8 teams from each division qualify for the NSL Nationals. For 2024, the top four teams in each division will qualify for the NSL3 Nationals.
