Falcons enjoying their softball, but they're not flying yet...

Their strong start to the season was short-lived and the Falcons now have only one win but six losses to their names.

Most recently the Chichester side went down at home to the title holders Itchen Knicks.

With three debutants on the field, James Clarke pitched out his first game with a steady performance, but the Knicks swung away and battered through outfielders Amelia Peachment, Sam McGann and Ian Coleman with pinpoint accuracy.

Emma Brown was typically solid at third base while shortstop Jason Mitchell made his first start with aplomb, hurling to Belinda Cheetham at first base to stamp numerous 6-3 plays on the scoresheet.

At bat, the Falcons were stop-starting as base hits were littered with strike-outs, leaving the Falcons struggling to get around the diamond.

Harsha Desai went three for four, Dave Piesse hit his way to another MVP vote, but the loudest cheers were for Emily Skiggs and Vicky Reynolds, who both notched base hits in their first-ever game with the Falcons.

Catcher Vicky Cathie defiantly smacked herself on to first base late in the game but it was too little, too late as the Knicks came away 18-3 victors.

Before that, team captain Dave Morris took a squad to the Windsor invitational tournament in Slough to compete at C grade in searing heat.

The Falcons enjoyed several games both on grass and in the brand-new purpose-built ballparks against teams from Maidenhead, London, Ascot, Manchester and Portsmouth.

The highlight of the weekend was the demolition of league rivals Solent Sluggers, dropped down from their normal B grade, who went down 17-8 to a rampant Falcons side.

The Falcons continue to recruit and make progress, with plans afoot for a one-day tournament in August for drop-in players, plus a kickball tournament (softball meets soccer) to raise money for the currently-unfunded Great Britain softball teams.

Anyone who wants to try softball and join the Falcons should email [email protected] or visit www.chichesterfalcons.com