A Bahamas pitcher about to release the ball in a slow pitch tournament. (Photo by John Dunagan)

HISTORIC DISCIPLINE CONTINUES ITS LEGACY
2010-02-12

The high profile that the four Olympic appearances brought to softball (1996, 2000, 2004, & 2008) created a worldwide awareness for women’s fast pitch play. But the International Softball Federation and the millions of boys, girls, men, and women that participate in almost 130 countries know that there are several other forms of the sport.

As the world governing body, the ISF oversees, promotes, and develops fast pitch and modified pitch, plus wheelchair, arena (indoor), and beach softball. And then there’s slow pitch.

A discipline that has been around for years and years from the recreational to the highly competitive international level, slow pitch softball has by no means gotten lost in the shuffle.

Four months from now the Senior World Cup will be underway in Salem, Virginia, marking the ninth straight year for the tournament that allows participants as young as 35 and as old as over 70 to compete in slow pitch play. That event annually has approximately 65 teams participating, with this year expected to draw significantly more.

One month later (July 5-10) the 7th European Coed Slowpitch Championship will take place in Prague, Czech Republic, with its largest participation expected. Reports are that ten to twelve countries may have a team in this year’s event.

Then in August softball – slow pitch – will once again be on the programme of the World Firefighters Games, happening this year in Daegu, Korea. This year’s is the eleventh edition of the multi-sport event that takes place every other year.

In the sport of softball there truly are disciplines for both sexes and all cultures, ages, and ability levels.