PLANT CITY, FLORIDA (USA) -- In 111 days 16 countries will begin vying to be called “number 1.” Thus, preparations are nearing a fever pitch in Caracas, Venezuela, which will host the International Softball Federation’s XII Women’s World Championship from June 23-July 2. A 2010 World Championship Coordination Commission has just returned from a visit this past weekend to the South American country. ISF Secretary General Ms. LOW Beng Choo (Malaysia) headed the group that visited for two days with Venezuelan Sports Minister Victoria Mata, General Alirio Ramirez, Colonel Benavidez, and several organizing committee representatives, along with ISF VP/Latin America Jésus Suniaga, who is also the president of the Venezuela Softball Federation. The meetings covered topics ranging from transportation and accommodations to security, and several other aspects of the event planning, including television broadcasts. The delegation also visited the playing facilities and another meeting has been scheduled in Caracas for the first week of May. The seedings have also now been set for the fast pitch tournament, in accordance with the ISF Competition & Technical Code. The teams will be in two pools, as follows: POOL A ...

(Surrey, BC.) With the recent announcement of the cancellation of the Women’s Division of the 2010 Canada Cup International Women’s Fastpitch Tournament, the original Host Team, the White Rock Renegades, will continue what the Canada Cup Host Committee worked so hard to achieve with their two youth divisions by forming a new committee to host the 2010 Canadian Open Fastpitch International Championship. This will include a Futures (U19) Division and a Showcase (16U) Division. The 2010 Canadian Open Fastpitch International Championship will be held from July 5 - 11 in Surrey, British Columbia and will carry on the Canada Cup spirit of promoting the development of the great game of softball by helping young female athletes reach for their personal best. “We decided as the Host organization that we would take on the challenge of continuing the Futures and Showcase tournaments for 2010 and give elite teams who wanted the chance to compete, the chance to do so,” stated Greg Timm, President of the White Rock Renegades and Chairman of the Canadian Open Fastpitch International Championship. “We’re doing so because we want to help the young athletes of today as well as honor Glen Todd’s vision and tireless work towards the ...

OKLAHOMA CITY – The Amateur Softball Association (ASA) of America is pleased to announce the roster and schedule for the 2010 USA Softball Women’s National Team, which will kick off the season with exhibition games in Ohio, June 16-17. The team consists of 14 members from the 2009 USA Softball National Team who helped capture the Canada Cup and World Cup of Softball Gold Medals during 2009. In addition to the 14 returnees, 2004 Olympic Champion and 2008 Olympic Silver Medalist Jessica Mendoza (Camarillo, Calif.) makes her return to USA Softball after taking a year off for the birth of her child. Eileen Canney (Paradise, Calif.) makes her first-ever appearance on a USA Softball roster while Tammy Williams (Roscoe, Mo.) is in her first year as a National Team member after representing the USA at the Pan American Qualifier last year. The complete roster includes: Monica Abbott (Salinas, Calif.) Chelsea Bramlett (Cordova, Tenn.) Eileen Canney (Paradise, Calif.) Ashley Charters (Beaverton, Ore.) Kaitlin Cochran (Yorba Linda, Calif.) Andrea Duran (Selma, Calif.) Jennie Finch (La Mirada, Calif.) Vicky Galindo (Union City, Calif.) Alissa Haber (Newark, Calif.) Ashley Hansen (Chandler, Ariz.) Ashley Holcombe (Fayetteville, Ga.) Lauren Lappin (Anaheim, Calif.) Caitlin Lowe (Tustin, Calif.) Jessica Mendoza ...

Surrey, BC – The 17th Annual Canada Cup International Women’s Fastpitch Tournament (Women’s Division) has been cancelled for 2010 due to a change in the International Softball Federation dates for the Xll Women’s World Championships. “It is with great regret and after much deliberation due to the changes made by the International Softball Federation schedule that I have decided not to proceed with the 2010 Canada Cup and have informed Softball Canada and the Canada Cup Host Committee of this decision,“ stated Chairman, Glen Todd. “We reviewed all of our options and in the end concluded that we had no choice but to cancel the Women’s tournament. We are exploring the possibilities of staging the Canada Cup once again in 2011.” The Canada Cup was to be held July 3 to 11 in Surrey, BC with many international teams then heading to the World Championships the following week. The 2010 ISF Xll Women’s World Championships will now be held in Caracas, Venezuela June 23 to July 2. It has recently been announced by the International Softball Federation and Softball Canada that the ISF Xlll Women’s World Championships will be held in July of 2012 in Whitehorse, Yukon. Dates are still to ...

OKLAHOMA CITY, Okla. – The Amateur Softball Association (ASA) of America announced today the 17 athletes that were offered a USA Softball Athlete Agreement for the 2010 season. The final roster for the 2010 USA Softball Women’s National Team will be announced in March with the team competing in the ISF Women’s World Championships, June 23-July 2, 2010 in Caracas, Venezuela as well as other events to be scheduled at a later date. The athletes below were offered a USA Softball athlete agreement for 2010: Monica Abbott (Salinas, Calif.) Chelsea Bramlett (Cordova, Tenn.) Eileen Canney (Paradise, Calif.) Ashley Charters (Beaverton, Ore.) Kaitlin Cochran (Yorba Linda, Calif.) Andrea Duran (Selma, Calif.) Jennie Finch (La Mirada, Calif.) Vicky Galindo (Union City, Calif.) Alissa Haber (Newark, Calif.) Ashley Hansen (Chandler, Ariz.) Ashley Holcombe (Fayetteville, Ga.) Lauren Lappin (Anaheim, Calif.) Caitlin Lowe (Tustin, Calif.) Jessica Mendoza (Camarillo, Calif.) Cat Osterman (Houston,Texas) Natasha Watley (Irvine, Calif.) Tammy Williams (Roscoe, Mo.) The following 13 athletes selected from the selection camp will be alternates on the 2010 USA Softball Women’s National Team: Valerie Arioto (Pleasanton, Calif.) Brandice Balschmiter (Newark, N.Y.) Courtney Bures (Haymarket, Va.) Molly Johnson (Lexington, Ken.) Megan Langenfeld (Bakersfield, Calif.) Brittany Lastrapes (Laguna Niguel, Calif.) Jenae Leles (Fair ...

PLANT CITY, Fla. - Whitehorse was named Wednesday by the International Softball Federation as the host city for the 2012 women's world championship. ISF president Don Porter said Whitehorse's track record in hosting a successful 2008 junior men's worlds helped its bid. “Whitehorse will do a terrific job hosting our women's world championship in 2012,” said Porter. “They proved as much when they organized our junior men's world championship in 2008. Plus the community's support for softball and their proven ability as a site for large sporting and cultural events assures us that our teams, the fans, and the media will all have a good experience that summer.” With longer daylight hours during the summer, the ISF will be looking at playing more than 60 games over a 10-day period. The event will take place in July of 2012, with the final dates to be determined. The 2010 event takes place from June 23 to July 2 in Venezuela. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The Fastpitch News Blog is sponsored by SportJunk.com Follow The Fastpitch News Blog on Twitter at Twitter.com/FastpitchNews Become a fan of the Fastpitch News on Facebook at Facebook.com/SoftballMedia Don't forget to check out our other softball websites Fastpitch.FM Home of the Fastpitch Radio Show. Fastpitch.TV Home of ...

PLANT CITY, FLORIDA (USA) -- The International Softball Federation’s XII Women’s World Championship will be held June 23-July 2, 2010 in Caracas, Venezuela. The official announcement follows ISF President Don Porter’s trip to the new host site last week. In Caracas the ISF president met with representatives of the federal government, including Sports Minister Victoria Mata, along with Venezuela Softball Federation President Jesús Suniaga, finalizing details on a contract for next year’s event, which marks the 45th anniversary of the first ever softball world championship. The sports minister expressed her pleasure at taking on the tournament and said that Venezuela President Hugo Chavez, who has two daughters that play softball, is personally supporting the event. The world championship had originally been awarded to the USA, however a decision was made to relocate the event due to a date conflict with the Central American & Caribbean Games in Puerto Rico that would have prevented three teams that had qualified for the ISF event from having the opportunity to play against the other 13 nations in Oklahoma City. Mr. Porter said the ISF was talking to three other potential new hosts before finally agreeing with Venezuela. The new organizing committee has already indicated that the ...

Canada's men's softball team named Saskatoon native Don Bates as head coach Monday. Bates has been an assistant coach with the team since 2006 and also served on the women's Olympic team in 2008. He replaces Mark Smith, who stepped down earlier this year to become head coach of the women's team. "The program has a rich tradition of being one of the best in the world," Bates said in a statement. "I look forward to working with Canada's top male softball athletes as we begin our initial preparation for the 2013 ISF World Championship in New Zealand." The men's team won bronze at this year's ISF Men's World Championship in Saskatoon. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The Fastpitch News Blog is sponsored by SportJunk.com Follow The Fastpitch News Blog on Twitter at Twitter.com/FastpitchNews Become a fan of the Fastpitch News on Facebook at Facebook.com/SoftballMedia Don't forget to check out our other softball websites Fastpitch.FM Home of the Fastpitch Radio Show. Fastpitch.TV Home of the Fastpitch TV Show. FastpitchSearch.com A seach engine just for softball. SoftballJunk.com The best place online to buy softball equipment. SoftballMedia.com One site for all our softball media.

KUALA LUMPUR, MALAYSIA – Play has begun here at the 4th Asian Jr. Women’s Softball Championship (19-and-under) with Iran making their debut in such a regional, fast pitch tournament, alongside eight other countries. The sport is demonstrating its adaptability with the event being played on a football (soccer) field that is being converted to softball for purposes of hosting this championship. “This is another great showcase for our sport,” said International Softball Federation Secretary General Ms. LOW Beng Choo. “The strong showing from around this region and the application of our transformable venue option solidifies softball’s place on the international sporting landscape. There are high hopes for the week ahead.” Ms. LOW is the also president of the Softball Association of Malaysia. She is being joined at the tournament by ISF Director of Competition Laurie Gouthro. Joining Iran in the tournament, which began yesterday and ends on Wednesday (December 16), are China, Chinese Taipei, India, Indonesia, Japan, (South) Korea, Singapore, and Thailand. Japan is the defending champion from the 3rd Asian Jr. Women’s Championship, which took place in Korea. The top three finishers will qualify for the ISF IX Jr. Women’s World Championship, which ...

The female softball players sent home from the Bahamas in disgrace after fighting in their hotel and walking off the field are to face disciplinary action, along with their coach. Stephanie Trott, public relations officer of the Bermuda Amateur Softball Association (BASA), told The Royal Gazette that disciplinary hearings would be held for all the players and coach Braxton Stowe would "definitely be held on a disciplinary charge". She alleged that Mr. Stowe instructed the team to leave the field during the opening ceremony of the English Speaking Caribbean Amateur Softball Tournament on October 29 as a "solid protest" against BASA officials — a claim he denied yesterday. Mr. Stowe said he had not been informed of any disciplinary charges against him and that "there were two sides to every story". Of the disciplinary action, he said: "This is the first I have heard about it." And of the charge that he instructed his players to leave the field, Mr. Stowe said: "That is incorrect." But he admitted that in hindsight walking off was not the correct action, especially after discussing the matter with Ministry of Sport permanent secretary Ellen-Kate Horton, who flew out to the Bahamas to deal with the team. "When the permanent ...