There's more than just soccer???
Here at Southern Pitch we love the beautiful game... But sometimes beauty comes in other forms. We will endeavor to highlight everyone bringing their "A" game no matter the shape or size of the "Pitch".
It's Steeplechase Y'All
By John Clayton:
The Queens Cup took place this Saturday April 28th just outside Charlotte, NC. Taking place on the last Saturday in April every year since 1996 (minus CoVID issues) awards over $200,000 in purse money and is one of just 27 sanctioned events each year in the US. The sport originated in Ireland as riders would race from one town's steeple to the next. This meet features five races, with the Queens Cup being the penultimate of the event. This year Freddie Flintshire edged out Cool Jet to win the Cup
It's an Ace Y'All
By Renee Connolly:
The Savannah Challenger running April 24-30 at The Landings Club, in Savannah GA. Qualifying began this past weekend and Southern Pitch was there as Dmitry Popko (KAZ) takes Bruno Kuzuhara (USA) in two straight sets for the win and to move on. This is the 13rh year for the clay court tournament on the Challenger Tour.
It's A Win Y'All
The 2023 Major League Rugby season is in full scrum! The season runs from mid-February through the end of June. The Dallas Jackals finally etched their first franchise victory midway through their 2nd season. Catch a match throughout the south, with teams based in Atlanta, New Orleans, Houston, or Dallas (Miami is looking to add a team for 2024)
Describe your image
Describe your image
Describe your image
Describe your image
It's Spring Training Y'All
What does Minnesota, Boston, Detroit and even Toronto have to do with the "South"? Easy, those four clubs and 11 others all call Florida home during March every year. While temperatures in their regular season homes during March are often 50, 40, and lower, fans can gather in sunny and warm ballparks to see their favorites (and future favorites tune up for the regular season.
Our friends at Spring Training Online keep an up to date schedule that makes fitting a few games around soccer matches (and maybe a beach day) easy.
It's Hurling Y'All
Hurling is a traditional Gaelic (Irish) sport played for over a thousand years (the helmets are new). There are teams throughout the southern US. They were on the pitch March 4th at Camden's Irish fest.
The objective of the game is for players to use an ash wood stick called a hurley (in Irish a camán, pronounced /ˈkæmən/ or /kəˈmɔːn/) to hit a small ball called a sliotar /ˈʃlɪtər/ between the opponent's goalposts either over the crossbar for one point or under the crossbar into a net guarded by a goalkeeper for three points. The sliotar can be caught in the hand and carried for not more than four steps, struck in the air or struck on the ground with the hurley. It can be kicked, or slapped with an open hand (the hand pass), for short-range passing. A player who wants to carry the ball for more than four steps has to bounce or balance the sliotar on the end of the stick, and the ball can only be handled twice while in the player’s possession.
Check Out one of your local clubs:
Columbia Hurling Club
Augusta Gaelic Sports Club
Charleston Hurling Club
Greenville Gaels
The USFL 2023 Schedule
The USFL released their 2023 schedule. Birmingham, AL and Memphis, TN will will be two of the 4 host cities this year as the league continues to grow its presence. The season kicks off on April 15 and will run for ten weeks.
WNBA Free Agency Opens
Free Agency opened Saturday night January 21st for the WNBA. Breanna Stewart is the top prize and four teams including the Storm, Lynx, Mystics, and Liberty are in Istanbul trying to sell her on joining their squads. There has been plenty of high profile trades leading up to signing period: including Dallas sending gold medalist and former South Carolina Gamecock Allisha Gray to Atlanta, and 2 time sixth woman of the year Dearica Hamby moved from Las Vegas to LA.
Photo Southern Pitch
Major League Rugby on Fox Sports
Courtesy of MLR: Major League Rugby (MLR) and FOX Sports today announced their national television schedule for the sixth season of competition. The premier North American rugby league will nationally broadcast select matches beginning the weekend of February 18 on FS1 and FS2.
Opening weekend of the 18-week regular season will feature San Diego Legion hosting the Utah Warriors at Snapdragon Stadium on Saturday, February 18 at 7:00 PM ET on FS2. The Seattle Seawolves will host the New York Ironworkers at 9:30 PM ET on FS1.
“Having FOX Sports as the national television broadcaster for Major League Rugby this season is an exciting opportunity, allowing us to meet the demand of growing interest in rugby and introduce the sport to entirely new fans,” said MLR Commissioner George Killebrew. “We are excited about the extensive reach and coverage MLR will have through FOX Sports, making for an unforgettable sixth season.”
Photo Southern Pitch
Credit One Charleston Open April 1-9
The WTA is returning to clay courts on Daniel Island, South Carolina with one of the top tune-ups for the French Open.
The players include 4 top ten players including last year's runner-up and world #2 Ons Jabeur and returning 2021 champion Veronika Kudermetova
Photo Southern Pitch
Not All Willows Weep
Did you know the bat used in Cricket is made of willow? If not I also bet you also don't know how many balls bowled are in an over... No worries, all this is easy to learn, and there is no better way than heading to the Cricket grounds in Atlanta, Raleigh, Ft Lauderdale, Orlando and throughout the nation. That's right, Cricket is played in the south and it is played at a high level.
