The head table at the June 27, 2007 press conference announcing the Back Softball campaign details. (Photo by Erik Schaddelee)

YEAR IN REVIEW
“Back Softball” campaign launch highlighted 2007
2008-01-02

As the sport of softball heads into a year that will contain its fourth appearance in the Olympic Games, we look back on the many developments within the sport – on and off the field – in 2007.

Last year kicked off in grand fashion, with former International Olympic Committee (IOC) President Juan Antonio Samaranch in attendance at the first meeting of the Strategic Task Force (STF) in JANUARY. The Honorary Chairperson of the STF, Mr. Samaranch presided over the gathering in Lausanne, Switzerland, of the diverse group that is making recommendations for the International Softball Federation’s (ISF) Olympic reinstatement efforts.

Twenty four countries were represented at the beginning of FEBRUARY when the European Softball Federation held their annual Congress, this time in Croatia. On the field, the first of three Olympic qualifiers to be played throughout the year took place just a couple days later when Tainan City played host to the tournament for the Asia/Oceania region. The host Chinese Taipei team clinched their second consecutive Olympic berth with a sweep in the best-of-three finals series against New Zealand, including a dramatic 9-7 victory that sealed their ticket to Beijing. The month ended with an umpire certification seminar at the ISF’s world headquarters facility. In all, 23 umpires from ten different countries came to Plant City for the four-day session.

Development activity in and around Central America highlighted the goings-on in MARCH. The Guatemala Softball Association reported growth in their membership, while university play continued in Puerto Rico, where the national governing body for the sport was hoping to work toward organizing a National University team, in light of the ongoing work between the ISF and the International University Sports Federation (see AUGUST, below).

Chipola College won their 2007 NJCAA national championship title at the ISF's world headquarters facility. (Photo by ASPN)

In APRIL the Strategic Task Force met for a second time, with this gathering taking place at the ISF’s world headquarters in Plant City, Florida. At the same time, Guatemala was hosting – and winning – the VI Men’s Softball Champion Central American Championship.

It was a combination of the above two entries in MAY as the ISF headquarters was the setting for a championship. Chipola College won the National Junior College Athletic Association women’s Division 1 fast pitch national championship in Plant City. Just a few days later in the Dominican Republic, a signing ceremony took place that made Santo Domingo – like the world governing body’s facility – an international softball regional training center.

With the exception of the various “World Softball Day” celebrations around the globe on the 13th, most of the news in JUNE was made on the field. First, Italy won the ten-team XV European Women’s Championship “A” in Amsterdam, defeating the host, 9-3, in the Grand Final. Two weeks later, however, the tables were turned as the Netherlands defeated Italy on their home soil, posting a 3-2, eight innings victory in the Africa/Europe Olympic Qualifier, giving the Dutch their first trip to the Summer Games since softball’s debut on the world’s stage in 1996.

Also taking place in Europe was the first ISF Men’s Fastpitch World Cup. With a large crowd and a national TV audience looking on in the Czech Republic, Japan’s national team shut out Team USA, 2-0, to capture the crown. Coincidentally, the month would end with USA beating Japan in a tournament grand final – this the 19-and-under fast pitch team capturing the ISF’s VIII Jr. Women’s World Championship in the Netherlands.

Australia was close, finishing third out of 16 teams at the ISF Jr. Women's World Championship. (Photo by Erik Schaddelee)

It was during the Jr. Women’s World Championship that the ISF held a press conference (in Enschede) to announce a branding for their ongoing campaign to get women’s fast pitch softball reinstated to the Olympic programme, beginning with the 2016 Games. The name “Back Softball” and an accompanying logo and website (www.BackSoftball.com) were all part of the proceedings, which were carried live on the Internet. That same day, U.S. President George W. Bush said he is “100 percent” behind the effort to reinstate Olympic Softball.

Spain celebrated a European Women's "B" title, won last July in Croatia. (Photo courtesy of Croatia Softball Association)

The second half of 2007 began with the 119th IOC Session in Guatemala, where Strategic Task Force representatives gave legs to the Back Softball campaign. In the meantime, the Czech Republic national team was winning the VIII European Men’s Softball Championship in Belgium, which was a qualifier for the 2009 ISF Men’s World Championship.

JULY also saw the ISF’s membership grow to 130 countries with the addition of Jordan (Sierra Leone had come into the fold a month earlier as #129). There were also more events taking place, with Australia’s quest for a third straight Canada Cup title (women’s fast pitch) halted, as USA won the 14th edition of the annual event with a victory over Japan. The Americans also won the III World Cup of Softball over the same foe a week later in Oklahoma City, where the men’s U.S. team took the inaugural American Challenge Series. In Croatia, the 12-team VI European Championship Women “B” was won by Spain after six days of play in Zagreb. The month closed with Team USA claiming the gold and Canada & Venezuela each being awarded the silver medals at the weather-scarred Pan American Games in Rio.

A Chinese Taipei batter leans back from a pitch during the Grand Final against Canada at the World University Games. (Photo by Christian Pierre - FISU)

Following successful World University Softball Championships in 2004 and then 2006, softball (women’s fast pitch) made its debut at the World University Games in early AUGUST in Thailand. Canada won the gold in the ten-nation competition. Next up came the tournament that would determine who would get the eighth and final spot in Beijing in 2008. The Americas Olympic Qualifier was hosted – and won – by Venezuela, who earned their first ever Olympic Softball berth. Around the same time, Japan was winning the 9th Asian Women’s Softball Championship in Indonesia, where the top three teams clinched a spot in the 2010 ISF Women’s World Championship.

SEPTEMBER began with the end of two events. The South Pacific Games in Samoa included both men’s and women’s softball, with Papua New Guinea winning in both divisions. The International Coaching College for Asia/Oceania also wrapped up in Australia, with 80 coaches attending the course. The month was also highlighted by the return of competition to the 2004 Olympic Softball venue in Athens, where the X European Cup Winners Cup “B” tournament took place. Last but certainly not least was a Female Umpire Forum at the ISF world headquarters that brought together senior female umpires from the six ISF regions.

Asia was in the spotlight in OCTOBER as the month opened with the Special Olympics World Summer Games in Shanghai. That was followed by the China Cup in Beijing, which would be won by the host. Later, the XXIII ISF Congress convened in the Philippines, with a new record being set as representatives came from 77 countries.

Japan's pitching helped them go undefeated in round robin play at the 5th Japan Cup. (Photo courtesy of Japan Softball Association)

In NOVEMBER the ISF announced the umpires who will work the softball games at the 2008 Olympics in China. There was also competition in Yokohama where Team USA defeated Japan, 3-2, in eleven innings for the title at the 5th Japan Cup.

The year closed with a couple other tournaments, first in Australia where one of two entries from the host’s national team program won the 3rd Pacific International Men’s Softball Series, then in Thailand where the Philippines captured the gold medal in both women’s and men’s play at the 24th Southeast Asian Games. DECEMBER also saw the Americas session of the International Coaching College. Held in Plant City, Florida, 33 coaches from 17 countries took part in the course.

Now it’s time to look ahead as softball sets its sights on another productive year as a universal sport.

(For other and more detailed news on these and additional stories from 2007, visit the Latest News Archives as well as the Communications section, which has the full list of press releases and newsletters.)