Innovative Fully Loaded Softball enjoys successful second edition in Australia

Innovative Fully Loaded Softball enjoys successful second edition in Australia
14/02/2020
Softball Australia organized the second edition of the Summer Slam - Fully Loaded Softball, a new and innovative fast-paced format introduced a year ago.

The second edition of the Summer Slam - Fully Loaded Softball was held at Blacktown International Sportspark near Sydney, Australia from 3-5 February. A total of 18 games were played over three action-packed days with top international players from around the world tasting and enjoying the new softball format.

The 2020 edition of this event, born a year ago in Australia as a perfect complement to the Australia Pacific Cup, was played by six teams and was broadcast live on FOX SPORTS Australia. The Panthers defeated the Bandits, 3-2, in the final game to claim the title.

Fully Loaded Softball consists of 3-inning games, with loaded bases at the start of each inning placing more pressure on the defence and putting hitters in clutch situations almost every at bat. The fences are shorter, setting the table for bigger scores and more home runs.

The new format also allows for quicker games, with less dead-time since there are no warm-up pitches between innings, and no conferences allowed for Head Coaches.

Last year, Softball Australia officially launched the Fully Loaded Softball for clubs and associations in the country, making available a set of resources to better understand and promote the new format of play, including the set of rules for different variations (T-Ball, fastpitch, slowpitch and elite international level); a Clubs and Associations Manual to organize Fully Loaded Softball events; and player, coaches and umpires fact sheets with the new format’s basic information.