Kraken clubbed a home run, Suzi Q legged out a triple, and Doc racked up six K’s, as the first place Hypnotists rolled to a 19-3 victory over the Devil Homers.

The Brains have been struggling for numbers this year due to multiple absences. This week was no different as nine Brains were out. Jack came up from the Hippos to play right to fill the void, and it was game on.

The Hypnotists usually start fast, but with a re-jigged line up, it took a while to get going. The DH’s led off the game with a fly ball home run to take a 1- 0 lead.

Chips got the bats going in the second, with a sledge hammer double to centre. Suzi Q moved the slugger to third with a slashing single to right. Jack brought home a run with a grounder. The Prez and Pat the Bat walked. Kraken stepped in, with the bases jammed, wiggled his hips, and uncorked a base emptying double. Debbie, playing right, bashed a single to end the inning. It was a ten batter, mesmerizer, scoring five to make it 5-1 after two.

Doc and the gloves put up back-to-back goose eggs with Suzi Q and Doc making the plays and racking up the K’s. In the bottom of three the Brains plated a quick three. Chips lashed a double and scored on a Suzi Q single. Jack kept it going with a double moving Suzi to three. The Prez invited both home with a clutch single to right. The Brains were up 8-1 after three.

The Devil Homers burned the Brains for two in the fourth. The Mind Melters came right back. The dangerous Kraken worked a walk. Aoife, playing catcher, moved the sea monster to third with a nifty single. Doc, eyeballed the pitcher, and roped a ball to right, for a two run, two bagger. Hannah worked a base on balls. After a fielder’s choice, Chips and Hannah rounded the bases on a Suzi Q, run like crazy, triple. The Hypnotists were comfortable after four, 12-3.

Doc and the gloves kept the HD’s off the board in the fifth and sixth, closing the game with back to back zeros. At the plate, in the fifth, The Prez rocked a double and scored on a Pat the Bat single. In the bottom of six, the Brainiacs broke out for six. Hannah, Chips, Jack, and Gomo, all singled. Pat the Bat, with two down, smashed a single. Kraken chased Pat all the way home as he destroyed a see ya later, it’s outta there, home run.

Those runs brought the game to a close. The two teams stuck around to play another inning for fun. Great spirit and a fab way to end the night.

Devil Homers: 1 / 0 / 0 / 2 / 0 / 0 / x = 3

Hypnotists….: 0 / 5 / 3 / 4 / 1 / 6 / x = 19

Mind Over Batter

The MVP’s of the game were Suzie Q and Kraken…The Prez made his debut at 1b, 3 hits, 2 runs, 2 RBI’s, 1 BB …Pat, debut at 2b, 2 hits, 2 runs, 1 rbi … Doc pitching, 1 hit, 2 rbi’s, 6 K’s…Debbie catcher, 1 hit, 1 BB, 1 play at home…Aoife, catcher, 1 hit, 1 run… Suzi Q, shortstop, 2 hits, 2 runs, 3 rbi’s, 1 BB … Hannah, debut in left, 1 hit, 3 runs, 2 BB’s…Chips, 3b, 3 hits, 3 runs, 1 rbi … Jack 2 hits, 4 rbi, 3 runs … Gomo, debut right centre, 1 hit, 1 rbi … …Debbie and Aoife split duties as catcher and both played error free ball…Chips was a magnet at 3b, getting drilled four or five times… The Prez was nimble at 1b coming off the bag to tag a runner…There were no plays to left field or right field… The win raised the Hypnotists record to 5-1 and keeps them in first place.

Next Up: The Hypnotists travel to Mt. Titan to take on the Titans.

Until next week… Don’t forget to use your brain!

Under a steel grey sky, alternating between rain, mist, and drizzle, the first place Hypnotists mashed 35 hits, including six ding-a-lings, in a spirited win over the Beverage Joes, 23-11.

The BJ's, a new team in Softball Leinster, have been having a great debut season, winning two games already, despite starting in Division 2. The reason why became apparent quickly; they have some very good players. Adventurous fielding helped the Joes put up five in the first.

The Brains shrugged off the early deficit with a barrage of hits. The Prez, a very pesky lead off hitter, got on base to start things off. Cool Breeze, looking calm and confident, tomahawked for a touch ‘em all, homer to deep, deep, left. Doctor K rocked a triple then scampered home on a Kraken single. Suzi Q, playing shortstop, sliced another single to put runners on the corners. It was great to welcome Emilio back to the Club. Showing no rust, the third baseman lasered an rbi double. Add it all up and at the end of one, the BJ’s led 5-4.

The second inning saw the Beverage’s pour in another run with a solo shot to deep right. The two teams then left the field to huddle under a tree as the rain turned into a deluge. After the brief break, the Brains brought out the bats, surfing a brain wave for seven runs. Varun, the hard hitting rookie, opened the frame gashing a single to left. With two outs, the Mind Melters ripped off five straight hits. Back to back doubles from Cool Breeze and Doc, a single from Pat, a monster home run from Kraken, and a double from Suzi Q, plated seven runs. Score it 11-6 to the Brains.

The ice cool Beverages served up another run in the third with the Hypnotists matching that to keep the lead at five, 12-7 after three.

Doc and the gloves began to get a hold of the game in the fourth, keeping the Joes off the board with a goose egg. The Brain's were flashing more leather than a biker gang. Great defensive play by Suzi Q at shortstop and good gloves from Kraken and Doc accounted for the outs.

You can’t spell Brain without rain, and the Mind Melters shook off the wet weather plating five in the fourth. Kraken, Suzi Q, and Emilio kicked off the inning with hits. Hannah, making her 2025 debut, looked smart, with a two rbi single. After an out, The Prez, Cool Breeze, and Doc all blasted hits and it looked like another big inning was on. But, the Beverage Joes' shortstop, Yuki, was a defensive wizard, turning two double plays on the night, this one snuffing out the Hypnotists rally. But the Brains were looking smart after four, 17-7.

The newbies weren’t ready for last orders just yet, as the Beverages uncorked shots, and shooters, to mug the Brains with four. Looking to stop the flow, Doc led off the inning with a line drive single to right. Pat the Bat, strode to the plate. The lanky catcher smiled and laughed as she put the bat on her shoulder. The Beverages came with a good pitcher, Aido, who nodded, then tugged his cap down over his brow. On the first pitch, Pat pounded a ball to deep centre. Doc, running from first was comical as he tiptoed around the bases in an effort not to slip. Pat’s long legs gobbled up the ground as she went into third standing. On a dry night it was easily a home run but in these conditions the runners were slow and cautious. (At least that is Doc’s excuse.) Kraken, having a great year batting, racked up another rbi, with a single to centre. Emilio, looking frisky, emphatically, drilled a round tripper. A batter later, Varun, launched his first ever home run and was mobbed at the plate for high fives. Chips, subbed into the game for the President, and slotted into second base. The brawny basher made an instant impact, hammering a two run ding-a-ling, bringing in Hannah, to extend the Hypnotist lead to 22-11.

With a light rain still coming down, Doc and the gloves slammed the door, ending the game with back to back goose egg, scoreless innings. Chips clubbed another home run in the sixth to produce the final score of 23-11.

After the game, Doctor K dedicated the win, and the remainder of the season, to hard hitting Stroker, who was unable to make the game.

Beverage Joes: 5 / 1 / 1 / 0 / 4 / 0 / 0 = 11

Hypnotists….....: 4 / 1 / 1 / 5 / 1 / 1 / x = 23

Mind Over Batter:

The MVP’s of the game were Suzi Q and Doc…The President made his debut at second base, 2 hits, 2 runs …Cool Breeze (Kristin), left field, 4 hits, 1 home run, 2 rib’s … Doc pitching, 4 hits, 5 rbi’s, 2 runs, 3 K’s…Pat, catcher, 3 hits, 2 RBI’s…Kraken, left centre, 4 hits, 3 Rbi, 4 runs…Suzi Q, shortstop, 3 hits, 4 runs, 1 rbi … Emilio, 3b, 3 hits, 3 runs, 4 rbi, 1 home run…Hannah, right, 3 hits, 2 runs, 1 rbi…Varun, right centre, 2 hits, 2 runs, 1 home run…Stinger, left, (Pauline) 2 hits, 1 run…Chips, second, 2 hits, 2 runs, 2 home runs, 3 rbis… Great to see a new team in SL. The Joes have a rising star in their new shortstop Yuki, who turned two double plays. The Brains, not to be outdone, turned one of their own… Suzi, playing her first game this year at ss, was sharp, making every play that came her way…The Hypnos limited their adventurous fielding … Both team’s run counts were down as the rain caused very cautious running… The win raised the Hypnotists record to 4-1 and keeps the Brains in first place.

Next Up: The Hypnotists host the Devil Homers @ The Mind Palace.

On a perfect night for softball, the Hypnotists made the long journey to Navan to face the undefeated Dragons. The two teams went toe to toe for seven innings with the Dragons trailing up to the last swing, when the cold blooded reptiles snatched the win, in a dramatic 28-27 victory.

The Brains got off to a great start as Kraken and Stroker walked. That was just the start as Aberd and Gomo singled with Aberd getting tagged out at three. Chips then sent a two run, dinger, past the Aran Islands, and the Brains were looking smart. Aoife and Doctor K both singled and the Brain Wave was on, as the Hypnotists batted everyone in the inning scoring seven.

With Doc on the mound, the Brains came out with synapses firing, shutting out the Dragons, putting the Brains up 7-0 after one.

The Brains added one in the second and the Dragons countered with three.

Each inning both teams plated runs. The Dragons would score to make the game close and the Brains would then build the lead back up. At one point the Mind Melters stretched the lead to 10 runs as Chips delivered another tasty home run. But the Dragons kept scaling back the lead, adding more runs each inning.

There were a few key plays in the game with the Dragons making several sensational fielding plays while the Brains were a little looser with their chances.

The Brain’s kept adding runs as Debbie picked up her first ever Softball Leinster hit, then added another, as well as a walk. The rookie catcher, Aoife, picked up two hits and a walk, blasting a ball out of the infield like she had been playing for years. Dutch Gold brought her can-do spirit from the Hippos and delivered two hits and a walk. Not to be outdone, Gomo slashed a couple of hits and had a slew of stops at 3B. Stroker joined the hen party with double after double as the runs just kept coming.

The turning point of the game came in the sixth. With the Brains holding a slim lead, Chips came to the plate. The burly slugger had already hit two home runs. The shortstop stepped to the plate, surveyed the field, hunched his shoulders and waited. On the third pitch, he extended his arms to uncoil a swing that sent an exocet missile screaming into left. The left fielder was already playing way back, but the ball sailed over his head and was moving fast. Undaunted, the Dragon sprinted back a good 20 feet, the ball still carrying past him. At the last second he threw up his glove up, on the dead run, to clasp it in the top of his webbing, tumbling to the ground as the catch was made. He held on despite the fall and both teams burst into applause. It was a take your breath away, jaw dropping catch, that robbed the Brains of two runs, but more importantly, it took away the Mind Melters’ momentum.

As the game wore on the Dragons slowly clawed their way back to enter the ultimate frame, down one. After a base hit and a fly out the Dragons brought home the winning run on a bloop hit to centre. The two top of the table, undefeated teams had played a classic. Despite the controversy, this was a fantastic game with many great plays and a ton of memories made.

Hypnotists: 7 / 1 / 4 /10/ 4 / 2 /0 = 27

Dragons G: 0 / 4 / 6 / 4 / 9 / 4/ 1 = 28

Mind Over Batter:

The MVP’s of the game were Stroker and Chips. Stroker crushed three doubles and a single while Chips, looking snacky, had two home runs, two doubles, and a single. The rest of the stats are currently unavailable but the Brains had at least two Brain Waves, where they batted at least 10. Fab catches by Stroker in left and Kraken in left centre.

Next Up: The Hypnotists play the Beverage Joes in W-Town.

Until next week… Don’t forget to use your brain!

Kraken hit three monstrous home runs while Cool Breeze and Aberd each added round trippers, as the Hypnotists pounded 42 hits on the way to a 31-16 win, in six innings. Every Brain had a multi-hit game and every Brain scored. 

On a beuatiful sunny night, both teams came into the game undefeated and carried themselves with the swagger of invincibility. The Cats started the game with their tails up, plating seven runs in the top of the first. Doc was having issues with the tape on his shoulder, which led to a few walks. After a quick re-tape, between the first and second, things settled down. However, tape or no tape, the Cats had marked their territory with a massive first inning.

The Brains shrugged off the deficit and began to hit, hit, and hit some more. Kraken led off with a towering home run that has yet to come back to earth. The hits just kept coming. Hold onto your beer for this. Cool Breeze singled, Aberd doubled, Aoife doubled, Chips doubled, Doc singled, Gomo singled, Varun singled, Pat the Bat singled. That brought Kraken back up with the bases loaded. The slugging left centre fielder walked to the plate, surveyed the field, tapped his shoes twice, and launched his second home run of the inning, a moon shot to bye-bye town. This one a bases clearing grand salami. The Brains didn’t stop there. Cool Breeze slashed another single and came waltzing home on an Aberd triple. Chips banged a double, Suzi Q singled and Doc drilled a double into right. By the time the bats had been put down the Mind Melters had erased the seven run deficit to lead 13-7 after one.

The Cats scratched out two runs in the second while the Brains cooled off with one, courtesy of Kraken’s third ding-a-ling of the night. Scored it 14-9, at the end of two.

Castleknock kept the pressure on in the third, as the Furry Ones plated another three. This time the Brains didn’t have an answer and it was game on after three, with The Brainiacs lead cut to 14-12.

The Hypnotists put their minds to hitting, pouring it on with five runs in the fourth and 11 in the fifth. Meanwhile, Doc and the gloves gave the Cats paws for thought, putting up back to back goose eggs, shutting out the Cats in the fifth and sixth.

In the bottom of six, needing only a run to end the game via a mercy, Chips kicked things off with a double. Suzi Q moved the Chipper one to third with a single. Doc ambled up to the plate, delivering a laser line drive, walk off double, ending the game. 

Both teams exchanged high fives and on such a lovely night there wasn’t a frown to be had. The win improves the Hypnotists to 3-0 and puts them into first place. Next week, for the fourth week in a row, the Brains will face an undefeated team in a battle to top the table. Can’t wait. 

Wildcats…: 7 / 2 / 3 / 4 / 0 / 0 / x = 16

Hypnotists: 13 / 1 / 0 / 5 / 11 / 1 / x = 31

Mind Over Batter:

The MVP’s of the game were Cool Breeze (Kristin) and Kraken … The Brains collected 42 hits along with two walks…Kraken, patrolling left centre was 5-6 with 7 RBI’s, and 5 runs scored…The Prez, playing in left centre, had 3 hits, scored 3, and had an RBI… Kristin Cool Breeze, playing left, had 5 hits, a home run, scored 4, with 3 RBI’s…Aberd was 4-6, had a home run, 3 RBI’s…Aoife, playing in right, had four hits, scored 2 runs, and played error free …. Chips, playing shortstop, was 4-6, scored 4 runs, and 4 RBI’s… Pat the Bat was 3-5, scored 2 runs, and had an RBI…Doc went 5-6, scored 2 runs and had 6 RBI’s. On the mound the Doctor got off to a bumpy start but closed strong. Docs perfect hitting on the season came to an end when a Cat made a sliding catch in centre…Varun went 1-2, with a double, made a catch in right centre, scored 1, 1 RBI…Gomo, playing second was 3-5, scored 3 runs, and had 2 RBI’s… The Brains batted around twice racking up 2 more mesmerizers… Cool Breeze made another great catch in left.

Next Up: The Hypnotists travel to Navan to face the Dragons. 

Until next week, don’t forget to use your brain!

Pat the Bat went five for five and the Brain’s four new players contributed eight hits as the Hypnotists improved to 2-0, with a 22-19 victory over the Wicklow Wolves. This was an especially satisfying win as it’s always good to see new players doing well.

The Hypnotists made the long journey to the scenic and crime free Den. With only time to launch a few bubbles and play two tunes, the Brains started off slowly, laying an uncharacteristic goose egg. The Wolves opened the bottom of one with two runs to take the early lead. As the game went on, the Brains settled and the hits started flying.

In the top of two, Chips and Pat opened the frame with singles to put runners on first and third for Doctor Crazy Legs. The pitcher ripped a single to centre to put the Hypnotists on the board. Varun, making his first ever Softball Leinster at bat, smashed a single past the outstretched third baseman’s glove. Gomo, also making her debut, brought a run home with a slashing ball to second. The Prez brought in two runs with a well worked walk putting the Brainiacs up 4-2. The Hypnotists had batted all the way around for a mesmerizer.

On a gorgeous night, the sun was shining brightly, right into the batters eyes, making the hitting challenging. Doc, invoking his softball savvy used the elements to his advantage, holding Wicklow to a lone wolf run. The second ended with the Hypnotists leading 4-3.

The Brains built on the advantage with another mesmerizer. (When the teams bats 10 or more in an inning.) Chips, Pat, and Doc rinsed and repeated the second inning as Chips and Pat singled putting runners on the corners and Doc brought home Chips again with another single. Suzi Q bashed the Brain’s fourth straight single to left. The rookie, Varun, stepping to the plate, blinked into the sun, and clobbered a ball to right for a double. Gomo then notched her first ever SL hit with a crazy leg triple. Despite another walk for the Prez, Gomo was stranded at three. Score it 9-3 to the Brains after three.

Doc and the gloves were rolling by this point as the Brains slammed the door on the Wolves, shutting out the pack in the third.

Softball is a game of momentum, and the Hypnotists were riding the brain wave, plating six more in the fourth. Chips changed things up with a gap busting double. Pat the Bat ordered a home delivery, plating Chips with a single. Doc worked a four pitch walk and after two quick outs, Gomo brought the Doctor home with a line single to right. The Prez knifed a single to centre to put runners on first and second with two down. Stroker stepped to the plate, squinted hard, delivered some colourful language, and socked a muscle double to centre. Aberd joined the hit parade with his own two bagger bringing the fleet Stroker in for a score. The Wolves scavenged four runs in the bottom of four but the Brains were still comfy with a 15-7 lead.

Chips led off an inning for the fourth time in a row as the Brains just kept batting 10 in mesmerising fashion. The slugger worked a walk and the super consistent Pat the Bat ripped her fourth single. The Brains went into sprinkler mode, spraying hits all over the field. Doc, Suzie Q, and Varun, followed with three more singles. The Prez, showing some executive power, launched a kiss it goodbye, no doubt about it, ding-a-ling, home run. The Wolves stayed in the hunt, putting up four. As the fifth ended the Brains were looking smart with a 20-11 lead.

As crazy as this sounds, Chips lead off an inning for the fifth time in a row. The shortstop dinked a hustle triple over one. Pat the Bat nailed her fifth single. Doc then launched one over an outfielder’s head but was held to a double, putting runners on second and third. Varun, not looking like a rookie at all, lasered a single to left but the rally fizzled and the Mind Melters were held to two runs.

The Wolves, on the hunt for a comeback, scored five in the 6th and three in the seventh, but with the sun setting, time ran out on Wicklow and the Brains took the W. The two teams went off into the sunset for some well deserved liquid refreshment.

Hypnotists: 0 / 4 / 5 / 6 / 5 / 2 /0 = 22

W. Wolves: 2 / 1 / 0 / 4 / 4 / 5/ 3 = 19

Mind Over Batter:

The MVP’s of the game were Pat the Bat and Chips … The Brains collected 32 hits along with four walks…The Prez, playing in left centre, had 2 hits, 2 walks, scored 2…Stroker, playing her first SL game in 7 years, went 4-6 with a run scored… Aberd was 3-6 and stellar at third base…Debby made her SL debut. The rookie had six at bats and played error free in right…Chips, playing shortstop, was 4-5 with a walk, scored 4 runs… Pat the Bat was 5-5, scored 5 runs…Doc went 4-4 with a walk, scoring 3 runs. On the mound the Doctor mixed pitches and is improving as the games go on…Suzi Q was 2-5 with a run scored. The all around great glove, found herself at first base and dealt well with a number of high throws…Varun went 4-5, played right centre, and scored three times…Gomo, playing second was 2-5… The Brains batted around four straight innings racking up 4 mesmerizers… Due to injuries and holidays, every Hypnotist except Doc was playing out of position. This led to some gravity challenged fielding but the team did very well considering the upheaval.

Until next week, don’t forget to use your brain!

Next Up: The Hypnotists host the undefeated Wildcats at The Mind Palace.

The Brains ripped off 37 hits in four innings on the way to a 40-0 win over the Thirsty Camels. Kraken, Doc, Kristin, and Chips all racked up six RBI's as the Hypnotists opened the season with a convincing win.

Game one is always a good test to see where the team is at, and the Brains passed in style. Doctor K (Crazy Legs) always starts the year with a team talk and team gift to the team. This year each Hypnotist received a shark tooth that is over 10,000 years old. Doc used the teeth to explain that sharks must move forward to live and that is the goal this year. If the team falls behind, makes an error, or scores a run, keep moving forward. The tooth also symbolizes toughness and of course smiles.

The talk must have worked because the Brains bats had bite, plating 11 runs in the first. The Mind Melters didn’t let up there, as last year Hypnotists scored 16 in the first only to lose the game. With that in mind the Brains chewed threw the line up adding 16 in the second to lead 27-0 after two.

At the plate, the Brains had more hits than a Vegas blackjack dealer. Aoife, who was making her Division 2 debut, started as catcher and was on base in all five at bats. Cool Breeze (Kristin) made her return to the team after a three year break. The slugger was razor sharp with five hits in five at bats. In all, every Hypnotist got on base at least four times. Aberd supplied the power with a ding-a-ling. Doc crazy legged two triples while Chips had two doubles while going 4 for 4.

On the mound, Doc pitched a gem, allowing only one hit on the night with no runner reaching second base. Only three balls made it to the outfield as a ton of balls went to the shortstop or right back to Doc. This is Doc’s second league shut out.

Of course to pitch a shutout the fielding has to be fab, and it was. Kraken made a running catch in left centre and Cool Breeze snatched a sure home run in right. At shortstop, Chips delivered a tasty performance, and Suzi Q caught everything that came her way at first. Doc even managed to amble off the mound and throw out four runners.

While it’s only one game, if Doc can buy enough tape to keep his shoulder attached, and the gloves keep looking good, this could be a good year for the Brains.

T. Camels…: 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 = 0

Hypnotists: 11 / 16 / 3 / 12 / x = 42

Mind Over Batter:

The MVP’s of the game were Suzi Q and Doc …16 runs in one inning tied last year’s total for the most in an inning… All the Way Annie played left field as three Brains were missing due to exams. The sassy one had 3 hits and a Walk … The Prez (Shane) had four singles and made a good play in the outfield… Emma Believer sliced three hits and took a walk … Kraken was late to the game but made up for it with 3 hits and two walks … Chips was stellar at short stop and was 4-4 with a walk …. Suzi Q, playing with a banged up finger, collected four hits and was rock steady at first base … Doc raced to two triples, a double and a single but the best news was that he is coming back into form after so many injuries. This was Doc’s second ever shut out and the fewest hits he’s ever allowed in a game … Aberd, playing 3b, mashed two doubles, a home run, and a single. Cool Breeze marked her return to the Brains with 2 doubles and three singles while also robbing a Camel of a home run.

Until next week, don’t forget to use your brain!

Next Up: The Hypnotists travel to The Den to face The Wicklow Wolves.