Newsletter - 1 April 2017
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NEWSLETTER - 1 APRIL 2017 Español Fukushima stadium added to line-up for Olympic baseball, softball at Tokyo 2020 Games PYEONGCHANG, Rep. of Korea -- Fukushima's Azuma Baseball Stadium has been added as an official venue for Olympic baseball and softball events at the Tokyo 2020 Games. The International Olympic Committee approved the 30,000-seat venue at its executive board meetings today in Pyeongchang, Republic of Korea. The Fukushima proposal was put forward in a collaboration between hosts Tokyo 2020 and the world governing body of baseball and softball, WBSC. The region was devastated by the 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake. Tokyo 2020 and WBSC will work together on a plan to stage Olympic baseball and softball matches featuring Japan's National Teams in Fukushima. "WBSC congratulates Tokyo 2020 President Mori and IOC President Bach on this great step taken with Olympic baseball and softball as a vehicle to inspire hope and highlight the regeneration in Fukushima," WBSC President Riccardo Fraccari said. "It is a tremendous honour and a duty we take very seriously to be a part of something so meaningful - to serve the Olympic Movement and to use the power of sport to shape a better world. It is in this wonderful spirit that WBSC held the U-15 Baseball World Cup last year in Iwaki, Fukushima." Read more... USA shuts out Puerto Rico to win its first-ever World Baseball Classic LOS ANGELES -- The United States -- USA Baseball -- Men's National Team has won its first- ever World Baseball Classic trophy. WBC 2017 MVP Marcus Stroman pitched six no-hit innings on his way to picking up the win, while Ian Kinsler slammed a two-run homer in the third inning to lead the U.S. to an 8-0 win over previously unbeaten Puerto Rico before a Dodger Stadium crowd of 51,565. USA joins Japan and Dominican Republic as countries to have captured the WBC world title. Puerto Rico claims its second-straight 2nd Place finish. Read more... FINAL STANDINGS 1st: USA 2nd: Puerto Rico 3rd: Japan 4th: Netherlands 5th: Dominican Republic 6th: Israel 7th: Cuba 8th: Venezuela 9th: Australia 10th: Korea 11th: Colombia 12th: Italy 13th: Mexico 14th: Chinese Taipei 15th: Canada 16th: China National Teams revealed for 2017 WBSC Men's Softball World Championship WHITEHORSE, YK, Canada -- Marking just over 100 days until the start of the 2017 WBSC Men's Softball World Championship, the World Baseball Softball Confederation today announced the nations that will compete in the men's softball flagship event. A near record-high of 20 nations -- the second largest in the event's history -- will be present for the 15th Men's Softball World Championship, which will be held in Whitehorse, Yukon, Canada from 7-16 July. Africa (2): World No. 19 Botswana, No. 14 South Africa Americas (7): No. 3 Argentina, No. 4 Canada, No. 11 Dominican Republic, No. 18 Guatemala, No. 9 Mexico, No. 6 United States, No. 7 Venezuela Asia (4): Hong Kong, India, No. 20 Indonesia, No. 2 Japan Europe (5): No. 8 Czech Republic, No. 13 Denmark, No. 10 Great Britain, No. 21 Israel, Turkey Oceania (2): No. 5 Australia, No. 1 New Zealand India and Turkey will be making their historic debuts in the men's world championship. Read more... WBSC reveals Groups, Branding for U-12 Baseball World Cup 2017 in Tainan, Taiwan LAUSANNE, Switzerland -- The World Baseball Softball Confederation revealed the groups and Official Look of the IV WBSC U-12 Baseball World Cup® 2017, which will be staged from 28 July to 6 August in Tainan, Taiwan. The 12 nations emerging from continental qualifiers have been drawn into two groups of six and will begin the tournament For the Title of World Champion with a round-robin. The newly unveiled Official Look and core visual elements of the WBSC U-12 Baseball World Cup build upon the recently designed Official Emblem and completes the suite of Baseball World Cup logos and looks (U-12, U-15, U-18, U-23, Women's and PREMIER12®) developed in partnership with mega-events branding firm, Leeds, UK-based WORKS. The youthful, high-energy colour palate and green highlighted 'U-12' wordmark were selected to reflect the bright future, evolution and excitement the next generation of baseball players will bring to the global sport. Read more... Nations, Groups announced for WBSC U-18 Baseball World Cup 2017 Thunder Bay, Canada LAUSANNE, Switzerland -- The World Baseball Softball Confederation announced the qualified nations and groups for the WBSC U-18 Baseball World Cup 2017 that will be staged from 1-10 September in Thunder Bay, Canada. Twelve nations have advanced via continental championships to earn the right to compete For the Title of World Champion in the U-18 category (born 1999-2001). The 12 qualified nations have been drawn into two groups of six and will begin the tournament with a round-robin. The top three finishers from each group will advance to the Super Round group stage. Read more... WBSC launches new Global Youth Baseball/Softball Commission and Development Programmes ROME -- The World Baseball Softball Confederation has launched a new Youth Commission to further position baseball and softball among the leaders in youth sport. The WBSC Executive Committee approved the establishment of the youth-centered commission at its recent meeting in Rome that was hosted at the headquarters of the Italian National Olympic Committee, where CONI President Giovanni Malago and International Olympic Committee member Mario Pescante warmly welcomed the participants. WBSC President Riccardo Fraccari shared his vision to create the WBSC Youth Commission: "The aim of the newly formed commission is to leverage the popularity of baseball/softball among youth to meet the objectives of WBSC and Members to connect with future generations of athletes while strengthening the presence and access to the sport in both traditional and new territories." Part of the first tasks of the Youth Commission will be to research, develop and recommend new innovations and programmes that attract youth participation. USA Baseball Executive Director Paul Seiler was appointed Chair of the new commission. Read more... Road to 2020 Olympics: Eight Australians sign with USA professional softball league Eight Aussie Spirit players are headed for the adventure of a lifetime when they join the Chicago Bandits in the U.S. National Pro Fastpitch (NPF) league. Softball Australia has announced the players who have recently signed professional contracts with the Bandit, following the partnership announcement in February. • Janice Blackman • Chelsea Forkin • Rachel Lack • Stacey McManus • Kaia Parnaby • Samantha Poole • Ellen Roberts • Taylah Tsitsikronis "The experience of training and competing at that level against top-quality opposition is an environment we can't create in Australia, and it will help us bridge the gap on the US and other countries whose players benefit from playing professionally," said Softball Australia High Performance Manager Andrew Utting. The players will receive a scholarship payment from Softball Australia, plus a per diem living and meals allowance. Read more... Sport for All: Belgium holds first Wheelchair Softball Tournament BRASSCHAAT, Belgium -- The first G-Sports Wheelchair Softball Tournament was held in Belgium with more than 75 athletes from all ages and skill levels, with or without disabilities competing against each other. The Royal Belgium Baseball and Softball Federation -- the national governing body for baseball and softball in Belgium and a WBSC member -- hosted the eight-team event in Flanders. The final of the Wheelchair Softball Tournament was played between a team of established baseball and softball coaches and an all-star team of wheelchair tennis players and athletes of Forest Wheels. Requiring extra innings, the eventual winner was Forest Wheels. Read more... No. 52 Sri Lanka shocks No. 24 Pakistan to win West Asia Baseball Cup for first time ever ISLAMABAD, Pakistan -- The world No. 52 Sri Lanka Men's National Baseball Team surprised No. 24 Pakistan, 4-2, to win the West Asia Baseball Cup for the first time ever and advance to the BFA Asia Baseball Championship 2017. Played at the Pakistan Sports Complex, the championship game was tied 2-2 in the 8th inning before Sri Lanka scored the decisive runs. In the battle for third-best in West Asia, Iran defeated Nepal, 10-6. Read more... FINAL STANDINGS 1st: Sri Lanka (3-0) 2nd: Pakistan (2-1) 3rd: Iran (1-2) 4th: Nepal (1-3) 5th: Iraq (0-2) Japan's Venus Stars win women's baseball's Phoenix Cup in Hong Kong KOWLOON, Hong Kong -- Japan club Venus Stars defeated the Kookaburras from Australia, 11- 9, in the final of the Phoenix Cup 2017, the WBSC-sanctioned Hong Kong International Women's Baseball Tournament. The Stars, now the two-time defending champions, featured players from the Venus League, the biggest women's baseball league in Japan. Ten women's baseball clubs competed in Hong Kong's annual championship, including teams from Australia, China, Guam, Hong Kong, Japan, Singapore and Taiwan, with the host nation's Allies claiming the bronze. Read more... EU-funded Softball project achieves success in Malta GHAJNSIELEM, Malta -- The implementation of the Erasmus+ Sports: Small Collaborative Partnerships project, Inclusion & Gender Equality Through Softball, commenced on Thursday, March 9. In the first of three segments, coaches from three clubs explored ways to get children as young as four years old to participate in sports. A series of activities were organised to exchange good practices in coaching softball. In order to promote the game and increase the rate of participation of children, especially girls, in softball, one activity was held at the Gozo College Ghajnsielem Primary School. At the conclusion, a softball starter kit was donated to the school to further help the development of the game on the island.