Manchester Softball League Records and Archive

Records

Notes:
1. A recently discovered scoresheet from 20 July 1994, ie before official records began, shows Platt Field Pirates beating UMIST Hackers 62-2, a margin of 60.
2. Mavericks beat Greensox 3-1 on 16.8.06, but the game was abandoned after 3 inns due to lightning. Although the score was allowed to stand, technically the game was incomplete.
3. As measured by winning margin divided by aggregate score.
4. Home runs were first recorded in 2003, though it was not until 2005 that the full details were noted, which is therefore the start date for home run records.

Perfect or unbeaten seasons

The 1999 Growlers won the 2nd division unbeaten with a 12½-½ record, the tied game being due to a general cancellation of games.
In 2002 the Bounty Hunters went one better with a perfect 13-0 season in Division 3.
This achievement was topped by the 2004 Mutineers who had a 15-0 season in Division 2 and the Play-off division.
This in turn was bettered by the 2008 Greensox who had an 18-game perfect season to win their second successive championship.
However, the pinnacle of achievement was reached in 2006 when the Mavericks, having posted a perfect 14-0 record in the top division in 2005, went on to repeat the amazing feat the following year. Between the final day of the 2004 season (8th Sept) when they lost to the 2004 champion Greensox, and 30th May 2007 when again the Greensox beat them, the Mavs were undefeated for a massive 32 games, which will take some beating.

Games which have gone to extra innings

* Recently discovered scoresheet, predates official records

The 23 shutouts in the history of the league (plus 1 in the cup)

There were no recorded shutouts before 1998, and then only 3 (not including forfeits of course) in the next 4 years (2 in 98, 1 in 99, none at all in 00 and 01). 2002 saw the introduction of the "mercy" or "slaughter" rule ("run ahead rule" in ISF parlance), and with it an increase in shutouts to 3 per year for the next 3 years, perhaps because games are now ending before beleaguered teams can get their consolation late runs. However, there were none in 2005, only one in 2006, and only two each in 2007 (one of them in the cup) and 2008. The record 6 shutouts seen in 2009 was exceptional. 2010 saw a return to normality, with only one shutout. Official "slaughters" are marked "S" in the following list. 

Speeders 53 Eagles 0 (6 inns) - 20.5.98
Stingers 35 Spirits 0 (3½ inns) S - 7.8.02
Outlaws 31 Clangers 0 (4 inns) S - 22.7.09
Tribe 30 Spirits 0 (6½ inns) - 6.5.98 - the first recorded shutout
Greensox 27 Runners 0 (4 inns) S - 20.6.07 (mid-season Cup)
Hackers 26 Cubs 0 (3½ inns) S - 19.8.03
Bees 25 Vipers 0 (4 inns) S - 12.5.09
Thunder 22 Hackers 0 (3½ inns) S - 3.6.09
Griffins 21 Sonics 0 (1 inning, game conceded) - 25.6.02
Mavericks 21 Bees 0 (5 inns) S - 19.5.04
Greensox 20 Bees 0 (4 inns) S - 10.7.02
Mavericks 20 Runners 0 (4 inns) S - 10.05.06
Greensox 19 Mutineers 0 (5 inns) S - 27.5.09
Storm 19 Vipers 0 (5 inns) S - 25.8.09
Greensox 18 Speeders 0 (5 inns) S - 7.5.08
Mavericks 18 Renegades 0 (6 inns) S - 11.8.04
Mets AAA 17 Vipers 0 (5 inns) S - 28.4.09
Peelers 16 Hillbillies 0 (6½ inns) S - 1.6.04
Greensox 15 Runners 0 (6 inns) S - 21.5.03
Cubs 15 Centurions 0 (5 inns) S - 3.6.03
Thunder 15 More Lions 0 (5 inns) S - 5.8.08
Lions 15 Camels 0 (5 inns) S - 26.5.10
Greensox 8 Mutineers 0 (6½ inns) - 11.7.07
Mavericks 7 Piranhas 0 (7 inns) - 19.5.99

Cubs, Speeders and Bees are the only teams to have been on both ends of a shutout. Greensox have achieved most shutouts (6). Runners and Vipers have been shut out on most occasions (3 each; Runners have been shut out twice by the same team - Greensox).

All-time Champions' table

* play-off
** 3-game play-off

Various Cup competitions

Manchester Open Tournament

Manchester teams in bold. If you can supply missing details, please get in touch.