With less than 100 days to the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, teams are ratcheting up their preparations.

Finnish Baseball and Softball Federation President Jukka Ropponen wants to increase the number of registered players by 100% by the end of 2021 and by 1,000% by the end of 2025.

“I’m excited for the sport, I’m excited for individuals who had just sacrificed so much, committed their entire being, mentally and physically, into this process to be able to just give this a go, rock it on the world stage and show the world truly how awesome the sport of softball really is,” the infielder said to The Global Game, the new WBSC podcast series.

Following the Chinese Baseball Association's decision to withdraw their national team from the event, the WBSC Baseball Final Qualifier will feature only five teams.

A game played at the Kuanda Square Community Ground gave a chance to try the five-on-five discipline to the local youth.

The former fastpitch softball pitcher made his debut at the pro level in 2019 and has been assigned to the Class A 12-team East Division.

Manager Atsunori Inaba is actively scouting the top league in Japan, NPB, to build the national team.

The camp includes a series of workouts and practice sessions, in addition to three 10-inning exhibition contests against the University of San Diego, Loyola Marymount University and California State University, Northridge.

The former president of the European Softball Federation died at the age of 71.

Eight provincial teams in each category participated in the four-day national competition.