Equipment, including Baseball5 balls, will go to 15 different receivers, starting with the Lusaka OYDC Zambia sports development centre.

The WBSC Premier12, reigning MVP and an Olympic gold medalist, Suzuki (pictured above) became the National League Rookie of the Month. The reigning U-18 World Cup All-World Team center fielder, Crow-Armstrong, is amongst Minor League Baseball players of the week.

A set of back-to-back-to-back homers in the fourth inning turned a 1-0 deficit into a 3-1 lead in the final of the Men’s Softball Pan American Championship to power Argentina to a 4-1 victory over Canada.

The 24-year-old played in three editions of the Women's Baseball World Cup for USA - 2014, 2016 and 2018. She played left-field and batted ninth for the Staten Island FerryHawks on Sunday, 1 May having played college softball for the famed Cal State Fullerton programme from 2017 to 2020.

WBSC President Riccardo Fraccari congratulated Léon for uniting the 31 member Federations while the new COPABE President said: "This is the first step towards the success of the WBSC Americas project".

The four qualified nations will represent the Americas in the upcoming WBSC Men’s Softball World Cup, and will join world No. 3 Australia, No. 4 Czech Republic, No. 5 New Zealand, No. 9 Denmark, and No. 10 South Africa in the flagship men’s softball event. The remaining teams will be two teams from the Asian qualifier and a wild card.

“Every game would be sold out, there is always such an incredible atmosphere – and as a team sport it would provide so many opportunities for young people and have such an impact on their lives,” said Australia's former catcher.

Baseball5 is being used by governing body Softball Association of Malaysia to spread the game.

The Adelaide Giants, Brisbane Bandits and Victoria Aces will meet in the showcase. The WBSC will live-stream the games to international audiences.

“I am excited for the new [World Cup] format that allows us to develop a team over a four-year cycle with the goal of another podium finish in 2025,” said Canada’s head coach.