FIVE COUNTRIES TO COMPETE IN SLOVENIA
2006-08-18

While the countdown on the homepage today shows just nine more days until the first pitch at the International Softball Federation’s (ISF) XI Women’s World Championship in Beijing, the start of another championship is just five days away.

Beginning next Wednesday (August 23) and ending on the day before the big tournament in China starts, the 5th European Co-ed Slowpitch Championship will take place in Ljubljana, Slovenia. The team lineup is highlighted by Great Britain returning to try to defend its title, and Croatia & the host country making their European Co-ed Slowpitch Championship debuts. The Czech Republic and Ireland round out the field.

Sanctioned by the European Softball Federation, the event takes place every two years, and at its last edition saw Great Britain come from behind in the Grand Final to defeat Ireland, 6-2, in Austria, whose team was a late withdrawal from this year’s event. The defending champs will compete next week under a new Head Coach, Mark Saunders.

Ireland and Great Britain both competed last October at the II Slow Pitch World Cup at the ISF’s world headquarters complex in Plant City, Florida. Great Britain’s women’s national team will be competing in the (fast pitch) world championship in Beijing, August 27-September 5.

To review the final standings from the first four European Co-ed Slowpitch Championships, click here.