CRUK plays hard ball to mangle VSO in softball final

By Paul Jump, Third Sector Online, 22 August 2008

CRUK plays hard ball to mangle VSO in softball final

"We could be the China of the Charity Softball League," declared one gleeful Cancer Research UK employee at the Charity Softball final in London's Hyde Park.

And it was hard to argue with that assessment as the UK's biggest charity surged into a 12-2 lead after just two innings of the five-innings game, powered by its roster of sprightly, well-drilled and quite possibly under-age scientists and administrators.

To hear the groans of disapproval that met the announcement of the scoreline, you'd think the 200 spectators at the match on 21 August were all Tibetans, rather than representatives of 28 of the 33 charities that took part in this year's tournament. Then again, everyone loves an underdog and CRUK's impressive qualifying record, as well as the charity's sheer size, was guaranteed to get the neutrals joining in with the VSO cheerleaders' chants of "Go, go, VSO".

"They're the Manchester United of the charity sector, aren't they?" giggled one spectator, who had taken more advantage than most of the free beer laid on by the event's sponsor, Michael Page marketing.

Speaking of Manchester United, that infamous picture of a bulging-veined Roy Keane, plus assorted teammates, bawling at referee Andy D'Urso came to mind when tournament organiser Leo Visconti of Help the Aged mentioned how he had been confronted by a snarling pack of disgruntled wolves from one unnamed charity when refereeing a game several years ago. Thankfully, though, there was no such tastiness on show this time – partly, no doubt, thanks to the respect naturally commanded by the authentic-looking uniform and incomprehensible hand gestures of umpire Mike Jennings (pictured), president of the European Softball Federation.

Nor did VSO's slow start dampen the atmosphere on a miraculously sunny evening in west London. Things reached fever pitch when the reds rallied in the third innings to bring the score back to 12-6, but the fairytale ending was not to be. VSO (pictured) managed just one more run in the last two innings, compared with 11 from CRUK, making the final score 23-7.

CRUK's gritty professionalism was exemplified afterwards by the team's confession that the neutrals' lack of support had only inspired them to "ram their cheers down their throats" – despite the lack of five star names who apparently regarded a summer holiday as a more important commitment.

But how did CRUK's crushing victory rate in the pantheon of great softballing performances? "Some of the fielding was quite good," was umpire Jennings' diplomatic verdict. Still, as China has proved, anything is possible with determination and lots of resources. A CRUK team representing Britain at London 2012? Remember where you heard it first.

Picture gallery

Top: CRUK celebrate their win. Left: VSO in bat. Right: CRUK slog to victory. Bottom: CRUK collect the trophy.

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