AMERICAN SAMOA FULL OF ACTIVITY
2006-07-21

There's no shortage of developments in American Samoa of late as it relates to the growth of softball. In early March, the American Samoa
Softball Association (ASSA) held a men’s and women’s fast pitch league. ASSA President Larry Sanitoa said that, “it was a great success, as we had new teams from the community college as well as one private school.” In all they had a total of nine men’s and three women’s teams competing. Some of the equipment that was being used had been sent by the International Softball Federation (such as gloves, catching gear, and softballs).

More recently, Oceania Softball Development Officer Andrew Purdon arrived last Wednesday (July 12) on the island for a three-week stay to assist with coaching and players clinics. Later this year he will be back in American Samoa to, among other tasks, work closely with the ASSA in planning and preparation of their national teams (men and women) for the 2007 South Pacific Games.

In the meantime, the ASSA’s new Elementary School Softball League, done with help from Purdon and in conjunction with the Department of Education, is set to debut when school starts up this fall. However, to begin with, clinics will take place next week (July 24-28).

In addition to the High School Girls Softball League (tentatively scheduled for October), the new elementary school league was among the topics to be discussed during the ASSA’s general membership meeting scheduled for yesterday at the American Samoa National Olympic Committee office in Tafuna.

The ASSA was also scheduled to have talk shows on local television and radio yesterday and today to promote their softball projects and next week’s clinics.