BVI CONCLUDES SUCCESSFUL SEASON
2010-08-11

The first softball league in the British Virgin Islands was held almost 60 years ago (in 1952) and leagues are conducted on an annual basis. The numbers of teams vary each year and are considered club teams or recreation teams as they are usually comprised of a group of people from the same village or friends from throughout the country.

The recently-concluded regular season was considered one of the most competitive they have had in recent years. This is due mainly to the infusion of young players in most of the teams. Junior leagues were held in each of the past two years and this has heightened the interest of young people in the sport of softball.

The BVI Softball Association conducted its 2010 Fast Pitch Softball League regular season from April 11th-July 16th. Women’s and men’s division games were played at the same venue in the capital city, Road Town. There were nine men’s teams and six women’s teams.

End-of-season honors include Most Valuable Player, Outstanding Pitcher, Rookie of the Year, and, for each of the nine positions, Golden Gloves.

The league is conducted in a format whereby the top four teams in regular season play qualify for the playoffs. The first place teams face the fourth place teams and the second place teams face the third place teams with the winners squaring off in the Championship Series. The playoffs are best-of-three series for women and best-of-five for men. The Championship Series are best-of-five for women and best-of-seven for men.

The playoffs have concluded in both men’s and women’s play and the Championship Series will be underway in the next ten days.

BVI softball gets extensive coverage on local radio, newspaper, and online news. Games are aired on radio frequently and have been televised occasionally.

In a year in which the International Softball Federation marked the 45-year anniversary of the first-ever softball world championship, a league playing 58 years strong is another great testimonial for the sport’s global growth and popularity.

Special thanks to the BVISA for contributing this report