WBSC Global Newsletter - September 2020

October 3, 2020

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Mark Porteous may be one of the top umpires in the softball world, but he was still surprised to have been selected by the World Baseball Softball Confederation (WBSC) to work at next year's Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games.

 

 

 

Beng Choo Low Op-Ed: Baseball-softball must channel unifying power of sport to shape a more peaceful world


As the world marks the International Day of Peace, World Baseball Softball Confederation (WBSC) Secretary General Beng Choo Low echoes a timely reminder on the role the baseball-softball community can play in shaping a healthier and more peaceful society. Beng Choo Low urges the global WBSC family to "continue to grow and nurture our sport around the world, and live by the Olympic values of friendship, excellence and respect".
 
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WBSC hosts GAISF and ARISF Council meetings at its new headquarters   


The WBSC hosted Council meetings for the Global Association of International Sports Federations (GAISF) and Association of IOC Recognised International Sports Federations (ARISF) at its new headquarters, 'Home Plate', in Pully, Switzerland.  
      
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WBSC discusses new strategic plan to ensure continued growth of baseball-softball             

The WBSC recently began discussions for its new strategic plan which will help guide the International Federation's efforts for the upcoming four-year period between 2021 and 2024, ensuring the continued growth of baseball and softball worldwide.
      
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Asian Games 2030 and Baseball5 headline WBSC video call with Asian baseball, softball leaders   


The WBSC continued its meetings with continental confederations on Tuesday 15 September, when WBSC President Riccardo Fraccari held a video call with representatives from the Baseball Federation of Asia (BFA) and Softball Asia (SA).
       
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#OneYearAgo: Softball Australia earns Tokyo 2020 Olympic berth         


On 28 September 2019 Australia became the sixth and last qualified nation for the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games softball competition, with a 9-3 win over China. Australia participated in the previous four editions of the Olympics, and has won a medal at each Games in which softball was held.
        
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Aussie players return to Blacktown Olympic Park 20 years after Sydney 2000 Games


To mark the 20th anniversary, former Australian Olympic softball and baseball players, Fiona Crawford and Glenn Williams, returned to the 2000 Sydney Olympic site and reflected on the Games. Softball was played at Blacktown Olympic Park in Blacktown, located 26 kilometres from the Sydney Olympic Park (SOP) at the western Sydney area. The complex also included the second stadium of the baseball competition.    
 
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20 years ago today: USA wins Olympic softball gold medal at 2000 Sydney Games

On 26 September 2000, USA pulled off an eight-inning, 2-1 walk-off victory over Japan in the tightest Olympic softball final to date. The Gold Medal Game capped off a successful softball tournament at Blacktown Olympic Park, in the sport's second appearance on the Olympic programme.

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Italian National Team already in training for 2021 WBSC U-18 Softball Women's World Cup        

The Italian U-18 Women's National Softball Team recently gathered 28 of the nation's top players in Bologna to play an intrasquad game. The youth team is looking ahead to the 2021 WBSC U-18 Women's Softball World Cup and the U-18 European Softball Championship.  
 
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One year ago: Mexico, Canada earn Tokyo 2020 tickets as top teams in WBSC Olympic Softball Americas Qualifier     


On September 1st, the WBSC Americas Softball Olympic Qualifier came to an end in Surrey, British Columbia, Canada, with two new qualified nations for softball's historic upcoming return to the Olympic Games. Mexico and Canada joined Japan (Tokyo 2020 Olympic hosts), USA (World Champions), and Italy (top team across Europe/Africa) in next year's six-team Olympic softball competition.  
       
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Kiwi Mark Porteous "surprised" and "honoured" to be an umpire at Tokyo 2020 Olympics     

#BlueCrew #Fastball



Mark Porteous may be one of the top umpires in the softball world, but he was still surprised to have been selected by the World Baseball Softball Confederation (WBSC) to work at next year's Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games. "I was surprised, and honoured, to be selected, especially considering New Zealand aren't represented there,'' he said. "To have two Oceania umpires, it was quite special.''
 
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Chinese Softball Assoc. and fashion institute ink deal to develop new line of national team softball apparel


The Chinese Softball Association (CSA) and the Beijing Institute of Fashion Technology (BIFT) signed a strategic cooperation agreement to jointly develop softball apparel in the country. The two entities agreed to establish a softball apparel design team to achieve innovative development.        
 
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Olympic champion Cat Osterman crowned first-ever Athletes Unlimited champion        


The inaugural Athletes Unlimited pro softball season finished on Monday with the last two games of the 30-game season. Left-handed pitcher Cat Osterman earned the most individual points among the elite players and was crowned champion after five weeks of competition.
 
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Softball Canada names new U-18 men's national team head coach          

#Fastball



Softball Canada has appointed Mark Quinn as the new head coach of the U-18 men's softball national team programme for the next two years. Quinn served as Canada's junior men's national team coach for the last three WBSC softball world championships.
 
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Softball Peru National Teams set to return to the field   


Peru's Senior and U-23 Men's National Softball Teams resumed training on Wednesday, 23 September, at La Videna field, with the nation's top softball players having all tested for COVID-19 at a lab in Lima. The Peruvian Men's and U-23 National Teams started their preparation for the upcoming Pan American Championships, which serve as qualifiers for the corresponding WBSC Softball World Cup category.     
 
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Softball South Africa: Players, teams to return to action in October     


Softball South Africa Compliance officers will be trained to ensure that all softball teams, players and fields in the nation are ready to start with practice sessions and games.
 
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2022 Asian Games: Chinese Taipei women's softball squad names head coach, prelim roster


Hsin Lin Han, a former pitcher who appeared in three games at the Atlanta 1996 Olympics, was named Chinese Taipei women's softball team head coach. Han will lead the squad in the Asian Games Hangzhou 2022 softball tournament. It will be her first stint as head coach of the island's top softball team.
 
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Japan Women's Softball League opens with pitchers Goto, Ueno in clash of generations         


In the featured Opening Weekend game, sophomore left-hander Miu Goto outdueled legend Yukiko Ueno, in a pitching matchup that might symbolise a changing of the guard at the top of the Japanese national team pitching staff in the near future.
 
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