The cooperation between the Finnish Baseball and Softball Federation (SBSL, Suomen Baseball ja Softball Liitto) and the top pesäpallo league Superpesis has enjoyed its first success. Two Superpesis clubs will showcase baseball before their pesäpallo Winter League game on 26 February.
The players of the two teams were selected amongst older juniors or players who quit pesäpallo and want to start over with baseball. They will participate in the 2022 Superbaseball League.
SBSL plans to launch youth leagues next summer and select a U-12 National Team amongst pesäpallo players in the age bracket.
"Pesäpallo is the second-biggest summer sport in Finland, right after soccer, and overall the fourth-most popular team sport. Pesäpallo has over 18,000 registered players," commented SBSL president Jukka Ropponen, who strongly believes in the collaboration.
"The reason is simple," he said. "In a small country like Finland, we can't afford to waste time while fighting against each other. We'd rather work together on behalf of the Finnish people to provide them with as many opportunities as possible to participate in sports activities from the beginners' level all the way to possible professional and international careers."
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