22/04/2024 1 Minute Read

Senegal's talent search targets Youth Olympic Games Dakar 2026 Baseball5 tournament

After launching an important Baseball5 development plan in 2021, the next step will see the start of a school competition for U-15 boys and girls.

22/04/2024 1 Minute Read

USA National Team pitcher Meggie Meidlinger on a mission to develop Women's Baseball in Uganda

Her encounter with youth baseball coach Jimmy Loban led to the foundation of Baseball at Heart, which now develops women's baseball in six communities. Three other Women's Baseball World Cup alums - Stacy Piagno, Anna Kimbrell and AJ Hamilton - were also involved.

19/04/2024 1 Minute Read

MLB, Girls Scout of USA announce partnership to encourage girls play baseball/softball

The agreement includes Play Ball Kits for New Daisy Troops and nationwide Play Ball weekend activities.

19/04/2024 1 Minute Read

Nicaragua to change format of German Pomares National Baseball Championship

The National Federation believes that the format change will raise the level of play and create more development opportunities. "The ultimate goal is to improve in WBSC competitions."

19/04/2024 1 Minute Read

Pakistan launches historic baseball development programme

Former MLB pitcher Mickey Veston led the coaching staff of a selection camp involving 150 men's and women's baseball players. The three-team Punjab Baseball Leagues will follow.

18/04/2024 2 Minute Read

USA Baseball opens new Executive Offices and Training Centre in Cary

The ribbon-cutting ceremony took place on 13 April. The facility includes a 22,000-square-foot covered full-sized infield which can be converted into eight pitching/batting lanes, and 14,000 square feet of office and warehouse space, new staff offices, a classroom, along with several other facility support spaces

16/04/2024 2 Minute Read

Former MLB star Dennis Cook to manage Poland

International baseball veteran and WBSC Coaching Commission member John McLaren will join his staff, which will include former Olympian Paul Bragiel.

15/04/2024 1 Minute Read

Tanzania National Baseball League to open on 4 May

The regular season will run through 28 September. The Placement Round and the Finals are scheduled in December.

15/04/2024 1 Minute Read

Nepal to cooperate with International School Sports Federation

The agreement aims to increase baseball/softball school activity and international participation. "It opens the door to a brighter future for our athletes," commented the National Baseball Softball Association President Dipak Neupane.

10/04/2024 1 Minute Read

WBSC, BFA technical course welcomes 98 participants in China

Technical commissioners, umpires and scorers worked three days in class and two days on the field during the Chinese National Baseball Championship. Gustavo Rodriguez (pictured above), Jim Baba and Yuwei Horng were the instructors.

09/04/2024 1 Minute Read

First Blind Baseball team in China works out in Wuxi

The Wuxi Baseball and Softball Association ran the day with the support of the WBSC, the China Baseball Association, and Running in the Dark. The first practice involved 15 players.

03/04/2024 1 Minute Read

USA Baseball announces Baseball5 balls and game kits distribution deal

The equipment will be produced thanks to a partnership with GameMaster Athletic."Baseball5 has the potential to transform how baseball is perceived and played across the nation," said USA Baseball Executive Director/CEO Paul Seiler."

03/04/2024 1 Minute Read

Puerto Rico and Canada complete women's baseball friendly series

The Puerto Rican National Team faced the Canada Baseball Academy. The adult teams split a four-game series. Puerto Rico swept the U-19 six-game series.

29/03/2024 1 Minute Read

Will Jen Pawol become the first MLB female umpire?

After umpiring at the Triple-A level in 2023, the 47-year-old former softball catcher called a Houston Astros-Washington Nationals of the Cactus League and is on the call-up list for 2024.

25/03/2024 1 Minute Read

Puerto Rico to host Canada for women's baseball friendlies

The two National Teams and U-19 National selections will face each other in Carolina from 25-30 March. Canada will host the IX WBSC Women's Baseball World Cup Finals in July/August.

25/03/2024 1 Minute Read

Third Australian Women's Baseball Showcase confirmed for May; Beacom signs for US college baseball

From 9 to 12 May, the Albert Park Baseball Complex in Lismore, New South Wales (200km south of Brisbane), will host the event's third edition, which involves emerging Australian talent and international players from Canada, Japan and the United States. Meanwhile, the star of the 2022 edition, Genevieve Beacom has committed to East Central Community College in Kansas, USA.

22/03/2024 1 Minute Read

Baseball5 Tierra initiative celebrates second tournament in Chile

The Chilean migrant community competed in an eight-team tournament at San Borja Park in Santiago to celebrate International Women's Day.

21/03/2024 2 Minute Read

Korea hosts Women's Baseball Festival

A national selection from Korea competed against teams from Japan, Hong Kong and Taiwan. Eight local teams were also involved.

18/03/2024 2 Minute Read

A new era of Israel Baseball

Nate Fish will be the first CEO of the organization, which aims to expand the Israeli Baseball programme's offerings and fundraising in the United States. The list of directors includes various Tokyo 2020 Olympians.

14/03/2024 1 Minute Read

USA Women's National Team manager Veronica Alvarez becomes MLB Girls Baseball Ambassador

"A big factor in my life is finding 'your why'," said Alvarez. "I’ve always said my why is to grow the game for girls and women."

14/03/2024 1 Minute Read

Record baseball participation numbers in the United States

The number of people participating in baseball in USA in 2023 was close to 16.7 million. Combined with softball, it touches 25.3 million. Baseball and softball combined saw a larger percentage increase in participation (+7.6%) over basketball (5.6%) and football (3.6%).

13/03/2024 1 Minute Read

Burkina Faso stages Baseball, Softball and Baseball5 seminar in Ouagadougou

According to the National Federation President Ibrahima Siboré, the massive education activity will improve the level of competition in Burkina Faso.

12/03/2024 1 Minute Read

WBSC scoring system course held in Türkiye

Scoring Commission member Stephanie Winkler held a clinic from 5 to 10 March in Antalya.

22/02/2024 2 Minute Read

Baseball5 popularity in Africa: Over 1,000 children participate in seven tournaments in six months

Burkina Faso, Ivory Coast, Senegal, Zambia, Uganda, Nigeria and Tanzania hosted the events. The WBSC signed a MoU with the Olympafrica Foundation and ANOCA in 2021.

22/02/2024 1 Minute Read

WBSC releases Members Handbook in Spanish

"We are launching this new tool in conjunction with the 10 year anniversary of the WBSC, to bring forward our vision to support all our members in the path for more modern, sustainable, and well-organised Community," said WBSC President Riccardo Fraccari.

21/02/2024 2 Minute Read

Baseball5: Azraq Refugee Camp assistant coach Reem Hadroos receives WBSC certification

The 18-year-old served as a volunteer assistant to head coach Amjed Alatoom. The two are pictured above. Hadroos has two brothers on the refugee team. "I will do my best to contribute to qualifying the team for the 2026 Youth Olympics."

21/02/2024 1 Minute Read

25 coaches certified at Softball Asia seminar in Thailand

A total of 26 coaches - Bhutan (1), Iraq (1), India (5), Malaysia (10), Singapore (2) and Thailand (7) - attended the seminar.

15/02/2024 1 Minute Read

Baseball5 highlights World Environmental Education Day in Santiago, Chile

Four teams of migrant boys and girls competed in a Baseball5 tournament, which was part of initiatives connected to the International Environmental Education Day.

12/02/2024 1 Minute Read

Cuba, New South Wales Baseball League sign Memorandum of Understanding

Cuban Ambassador Tanieris Diéguez La O and the league's CEO Mark Marino committed to a collaboration process intended to achieve sports exchanges in Baseball and Baseball5.

05/02/2024 1 Minute Read

Over 60 youth athletes participate in first German Baseball5 Championship

Rocket Five won the final of the eight-team tournament hosted by the Berlin Sluggers.

05/02/2024 1 Minute Read

Puerto Rico launches massive Baseball5 development project

WBSC Continental Instructor Pablo Leone will instruct physical education teachers in seven clinics. The goal is to launch a School Baseball5 Championship in May and target the Youth Baseball5 World Cup 2025.

02/02/2024 1 Minute Read

WBSC course licenses seven Level 3 baseball coaches in Türkiye

WBSC envoy instructor Mauro Mazzotti held the clinic in Antalya.

26/01/2024 2 Minute Read

Global Baseball Games: 2015 ace Alessandro Maestri set to help Team Europe take on Samurai Japan as pitching coach

The 39-year-old was the first Italian player to compete at the NPB level. He will coach Team Europe's pitching staff for the event's second edition. "In 2015, we went beyond expectations. We came together as a team and showed a lot of pride. Hopefully, we can repeat ourselves."

26/01/2024 1 Minute Read

Cuba's Superior School for Top Athletes welcomes 16 Baseball5 players

The group includes seven defending WBSC Baseball5 World Champions and eight WBSC Youth Baseball5 World Cup winners.

19/01/2024 1 Minute Read

Baseball5 Toolkit available to all physical education teachers in Vaud district, Switzerland

The Baseball5 Toolkit can be downloaded in French (Livret Pédagogique Baseball5) from the WBSC website.

17/01/2024 1 Minute Read

Dutch Baseball National Team players to hold clinics for youth teams

"The goal of these clinics is to strengthen the relation between club activity and the top level," said the Dutch Baseball Softball Federation.

16/01/2024 1 Minute Read

Havana win Baseball5 Copa Venezolana in Cuba

The tournament featured the first Baseball5 night games on the island. Technical director Eros Bernal announced a Baseball5 ball donation to the Ciego de Avila province.

15/01/2024 1 Minute Read

Baseball5 project: One Year Anniversary celebrated at Azraq Refugee Camp in Jordan

"We celebrate a year full of giving and happiness," refugees at the Azraq Camp wrote to WBSC President Riccardo Fraccari. The WBSC intends to have the Azraq Baseball5 team participate in the 2026 Youth Olympic Games.

12/01/2024 1 Minute Read

Bagmati Province win inaugural Nepal Baseball5 National Championship

Seven provinces participated in the two-day event of the Nepal Baseball Softball Association. The National Sports Council hosted the tournament in Tripureshwor. Nepal Olympic Committee President Jeevanram Shrestha participated in the awarding ceremony.

11/01/2024 1 Minute Read

Japan v Team Europe: Tickets on sale from 27 January for Global Baseball Games series

World No. 1 Japan will face Team Europe at the Kyocera Dome in Osaka on 6 and 7 March. From 20 to 23 January fans will be able to register for a pre-request lottery.

11/01/2024 1 Minute Read

Ciego de Avila to host Cuba Baseball5 National Tournament

The event is named 'Copa Venezolana' to honour the Venezuela District in the Ciego de Avila Province, which will host the games in Cuba. Briandy Molina, Orlando Amador, Lietis Arcia, and coaches Pablo Terry and Sergio Arturo Pérez will represent the World Champion National Team.

10/01/2024 1 Minute Read

Yomiuri Giants women's team visits Nicaragua

As part of the club's 90th anniversary project, the Yomiuri Giants held a clinic for elementary school students and played a friendly match with the Nicaraguan National Team.

10/01/2024 1 Minute Read

Swiss prospect Livio Bundi loves to play baseball year round

After playing for Ventura College in the United States, the pitcher and infielder represented his country at the European Championship 2023. He now plays in the Australian Victoria Summer League and will return to Europe to compete in the 2024 German Bundesliga.

10/01/2024 1 Minute Read

Rachel Balkovec becomes Miami Marlins Director of Player Development

Two years ago, the 36-year-old was named by the New York Yankees as the first woman to manage in the minor leagues.

09/01/2024 1 Minute Read

Italian prospect Lorenzo Morresi commits to University of Texas San Antonio

Born in 2001, Morresi represented Italy at the U-23 European Championship. He starred in 46 New Mexico Junior College games before competing in the Italian Baseball League for his hometown, Macerata, in 2023.

28/12/2023 4 Minute Read

2023 Year in Review - Development: Baseball/Softball continues to develop in many ways and many places

The WBSC funds development through the Continental Associations and various partnerships. New Baseball and Softball venues opened from Africa to the Middle East to Asia while Iran (featured photo) staged its first U-13 Baseball Championship.

22/12/2023 1 Minute Read

WBSC Asia hosts 47 coaches, 38 officials for Baseball5 seminar in China

Ayako Rokkaku and Takeru Miyanohara worked with 47 coaches. Sujeewa Wijayanayake instructed 38 game officials.

22/12/2023 1 Minute Read

Baseball5 features in Youth Olympic Camp in Tunisia

The camp involved 353 kids in the Sousse Governorate from 17 to 19 December.

21/12/2023 1 Minute Read

Baseball5 Coaching Clinic for West Africa held in Nigeria

Instructors Chedli Mokrani and Daniel Yaw Atiemo ran a course for 29 coaches. It's the second of four Baseball5 Coaching Clinics launched by the WBSC, WBSC Africa and Olympic Solidarity targeting the Dakar 2026 Youth Olympics.

19/12/2023 1 Minute Read

Over 5,000 children participate in MLB Cup Fall season in China

The MLB Cup included stops in 13 cities. MLB also launched the First Pitch programme in 12 cities, involving over 9,000 participants. My First Baseball Lessons enjoyed six more episodes.

19/12/2023 1 Minute Read

Baseball5 workshop held in Austria

During their inaugural convention in November, the National Federation hosted a workshop on the five-on-five version of baseball/softball.

18/12/2023 1 Minute Read

Koshien baseball/softball development project thrives in Tanzania

The Tigers won the inaugural National Baseball League. The National Baseball Softball Association hosted the 11th baseball and seventh softball Koshien for secondary schools. The Warriors won in baseball, while the Hondogo Ladies earned the softball title.

14/12/2023 1 Minute Read

Tunisia to strengthen Baseball5 activity in schools and universities

Federation president Saber Jlajla confirmed the ultimate goal is to establish school and university National Championships.

12/12/2023 4 Minute Read

Participating in BFA Asian Championship a milestone in Palestine Baseball/Softball history

As a runner-up in the West Asia Cup 2023, Palestine were able to participate in the BFA Asian Baseball Championship for the first time. Veteran catcher Tariq Suboh, pictured, was a key part of Palestine's exploits in Taiwan.

07/12/2023 1 Minute Read

Nairobi hosts first Baseball5 Coaching Clinic

Thirteen coaches from Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania participated in the first of four courses organized by the WBSC and Olympic Solidarity to support the growth of Baseball5 in Africa building towards the Dakar 2026 Youth Olympics.

05/12/2023 1 Minute Read

Sint Maarten to launch High School International Baseball tournament

The 16-team tournament is scheduled from 28 June to 5 July, 2024. Registration will close on 29 February.

02/12/2023 2 Minute Read

XXX BFA Asian Championship starts Sunday, qualifies three teams for WBSC U-23 Baseball World Cup 2024

The hosts and defending champions Chinese Taipei, Japan and Korea are the favourites in the eight-team tournament opening on Sunday, 3 December at the new Taipei Dome.

01/12/2023 1 Minute Read

WBSC, Olympic Solidarity launch four Baseball5 coaching clinics in Africa

The initiative aims to boost Baseball5 development and targets the 2026 Youth Olympics. The first clinic opened in Nairobi, Kenya and will run through 3 December.

30/11/2023 1 Minute Read

Girls, Strike it Out Workshop: WBSC co-hosts injury prevention and self-protection workshop for youth athletes in Taiwan

The Girls, Strike it Out Workshop was an educational activity for youth female baseball and softball athletes about injury prevention and self-protection from harassment and abuse.

28/11/2023 1 Minute Read

First Federal Baseball5 School Championship takes place in Chile

Boys and girls in the U-10, U-15 and U-17 age brackets participated in the first Federal School Championship in Santiago.

27/11/2023 2 Minute Read

Asia Winter Baseball League returns with record-setting attendance

After a three-year hiatus, the Asia Winter Baseball League, organised by the Chinese Professional Baseball League, made a comeback and set an attendance record on the opening night.

27/11/2023 1 Minute Read

Laos Baseball National Team honoured by Asia Journalist Association

The Asia Journalist Association Award 2023 was given to Laos for its historic win at the Asian Games as well as its baseball development projects in Cambodia and Myanmar.

21/11/2023 1 Minute Read

Japanese legends Ichiro Suzuki and Daisuke Matsuzaka play exhibition baseball game with Girls' High School selection

Japan runs the most successful women's baseball programme in the world. Daisuke Matsuzaka (pictured) helped Japan to an Olympic baseball bronze medal at Athens 2004.

20/11/2023 1 Minute Read

Samurai Japan to host Team Europe for Global Baseball Games in March in Osaka

The Tokyo Dome hosted the first edition in March 2015 (pictured above). Hirokazu Ibata will manage Japan in the 2024 edition while the WBSC appointed Marco Mazzieri the Team Europe skipper.

16/11/2023 1 Minute Read

Iran celebrates historic U-13 Baseball Championship

Alborz won the tournament at Karaj Stadium. The Iran National Olympic Committee's first vice-president Gholamreza Norouzi participated in the closing ceremony.

19/10/2023 1 Minute Read

University of Messina hosts second Blind Baseball Tournament of the Strait

University of Messina, Etna Blind Paternò and San Giorgio Reggio Calabria competed in a two-day event. Paternò won the trophy. The ultimate goal is to see a team from the Strait join the Italian Blind Baseball League.

12/10/2023 1 Minute Read

MLB Cup Spring season involves 551 teams in China, First Pitch programme reaches 84 schools and over 100,000 students

The MLB Cup visited 19 cities including Beijing, Shanghai and Chengdu while the MLB First Pitch 2023 programme saw 106,684 students participate.

08/09/2023 1 Minute Read

WBSC releases Baseball5 Toolkit in French, runs workshop in Lausanne, Switzerland

The toolkit is a 61-page publication introducing Baseball5 as a new discipline and as a physical education tool.

14/08/2023 1 Minute Read

Zimbabwe holds softball training camp for U-12 pitchers and catchers

The camp involved 27 players - 15 girls and 12 boys. The Zimbabwe Softball Association’s technical director, Grant Machikiti and former Zimbabwe senior men’s team pitcher Alfred Sithole led the coaching staff.

09/08/2023 1 Minute Read

Zambia launches U-15 Baseball5 National Championship

The competition, involving 15 teams, opened at OlympiAfrica Centre in Lusaka and will run through to 9 September.

21/07/2023 2 Minute Read

Taichung inaugurates International Softball Complex

It's the first complex of the sort in Taiwan. Taichung City was awarded the status of World Baseball City by the WBSC in 2013.

07/07/2023 1 Minute Read

MLB Cup, First Pitch reach hundreds of teams, thousands of kids in China

The development initiatives thrive. The Spring edition of the MLB Cup involved 536 teams. The First Pitch programme took baseball to over 100,000 students in 84 schools.

27/06/2023 1 Minute Read

Blind Baseball continues to develop across Italy

AIBxC and FIBS are working on new teams in Sicily and Calabria. The following projects will reach visually impaired communities in Piemonte and Tuscany.

26/06/2023 1 Minute Read

Baseball5 courses staged in Sierra Leone with support of National Olympic Committee and Olympic Solidarity

After successful courses for educators, Joseph Kanena Kanu, the president of the Sierra Leone Baseball and Softball Association, announced that Baseball5 balls would be distributed in all the regions.

20/06/2023 2 Minute Read

World Refugee Day: WBSC hosts Baseball5 Open Day at Azraq Refugee Camp to drive home message of integration

The WBSC Baseball5 Refugee Team welcomed a team from a local village to train and play at the Azraq Refugee Camp’s facility in a game that drove home the power of sport to unite people.

20/06/2023 2 Minute Read

Athletes hail transformative nature of Baseball5 after Youth World Cup qualifier in Africa

Players participating in the WBSC Africa Youth Baseball5 World Cup qualifier in Ghana last month reflect on the opportunities that the five-aside urban sport has given them and their desire to continue growing the game.

16/06/2023 2 Minute Read

Miroslawa Cumba: "Women umpires made history in Cuba, now we need to keep working hard

Meet the 43-year-old umpire from Guantanamo who made history in the 62nd Cuban National League alongside three other women who are breaking barriers and blazing a trail for women in the country.

14/06/2023 1 Minute Read

Blind Baseball features at International Symposium in Italy

The International Symposium on Physical Activity and Individuals with Visual Impairments or Deafblindness took place in Parma and featured scholars, practitioners, and parents from 12 countries. Blind baseball was the WBSC's flagship parasport in 2022 with the launch of the Blind Baseball International Cup.

12/06/2023 1 Minute Read

Central Zone wins inaugural U-23 Development Baseball League in Puerto Rico

Prospects of the Superior Double-A League franchises split into teams representing the eight zones. "This league has much potential," commented winning manager Ángel Ramón Santos.

12/06/2023 1 Minute Read

Venezuela launches Baseball5 league

Federation president Aracelis Leon said the goal is "the organization and development of a high-level competition to attract talents for future international competitions such as Pan American events and WBSC World Cups."

12/06/2023 1 Minute Read

Italian Blind Baseball Association hosts players and coaches from the US for one-week clinic

Players from the United States Blind Baseball Association and the New York Lions Adaptive Blind Baseball Team, together with five coaches, participated in the initiative.

09/06/2023 1 Minute Read

Baseball European Champions Cup hosts G-Baseball showcase in Amsterdam

The adapted version of baseball/softball has been designed for players with mental disabilities.

08/06/2023 1 Minute Read

The winding road from rural India to the Women's Baseball Asia Cup

Anjali Khalkho lives in one of 105 villages under the Kusmi block of Balrampur municipal district, northeast of the subcontinent. She played catcher in two games for seventh-place India.

05/06/2023 1 Minute Read

Baseball5: Japan ties exhibition series against Chinese Taipei, launches National Championship

Japan earned a silver medal at the inaugural WBSC Baseball5 World Cup last year while Chinese Taipei finished third.

05/06/2023 1 Minute Read

WBSC Prevention of Manipulation of Competitions Rules updated

The WBSC strongly encourages its national federations to implement the Prevention of the Manipulation of Competitions (PMC) rules at the national level by either referencing the WBSC PMC Rules in their statutes or Integrity Rules or adopting the model rules for national federations in line with the Olympic Movement Code PMC.

02/06/2023 1 Minute Read

Spanish U-12 Baseball National Championship to open in Madrid

Five regional selections will compete for the title. The National Baseball Softball Federation will stream the games live on YouTube.

30/05/2023 1 Minute Read

Mexico strengthens Baseball5 growth with sports promoters course

The host nation of the inaugural WBSC Baseball5 World Cup is investing in educating new coaches.

26/05/2023 2 Minute Read

WBSC publishes first Integrity Unit annual report

"The WBSC will continuously address best efforts to make our sport stronger, better and more accountable," commented WBSC President Riccardo Fraccari.

25/05/2023 1 Minute Read

Hong Kong-China host first Women's Baseball Asia Summit

The participants shared their women's baseball development status and discussed future projects with the WBSC Women's Baseball Commission.

24/05/2023 1 Minute Read

Baseball Miracle League player Jaely Plaisance becomes Special Olympics girls athlete of the year

She was named by the daily newspaper The Advocate in Lousiana, USA. There are over 350 Miracle Leagues in the US, including Puerto Rico and Canada. They aim to remove barriers that keep children with disabilities off the baseball field.

23/05/2023 1 Minute Read

WBSC coaching course supports peace initiatives in Colombia

Luis Perez (Puerto Rico) held a course for 20 coaches within the International Group for Peace initiative called "Life is a Diamond".

19/05/2023 1 Minute Read

Tunisia, Ghana, Zambia and South Africa to compete for two Baseball5 Youth World Cup spots

The semifinals of the inaugural Youth Baseball5 African Championship are scheduled for Saturday, 20 May. WBSC President Fraccari: "I'm impressed by the level of play. Baseball5 is a perfect fit for Africa."

18/05/2023 2 Minute Read

MLB Cups enjoy 2022 expansion across Asia

The initiative enjoyed success in baseball powers like Korea and Japan, in developing China and grew from 12 to 113 teams in India.

16/05/2023 1 Minute Read

WBSC holds Baseball5 courses for OlympAfrica Foundation

Educational initiatives are part of a Memorandum of Understanding signed in 2021.

16/05/2023 1 Minute Read

Japan to host Chinese Taipei in Baseball5 friendly series

The Baseball5 Asian Trophy is scheduled for 4 June in Nagoya, the host city of the 2026 Asian Games.

15/05/2023 1 Minute Read

MLB invests in development of baseball in China

MLB First Pitch has reached 282,197 students. The First Baseball Lesson involved celebrities to engage more people. Watch parties connect fans to top competition.

09/05/2023 1 Minute Read

Diriyah to host Saudi Arabia's first baseball field

Construction will require around four months and include seating to accommodate at least 500 spectators.

08/05/2023 1 Minute Read

Four schools participate in introduction to baseball in Lesotho's capital Maseru

The event was held at the Prep International School. LBSA president Tseliso Lemphane confirmed the success of the initiative.

08/05/2023 1 Minute Read

European Baseball Winter League 2023 application process now open

The application deadline is 15 June for the WBSC Europe event, which is scheduled from 18 to 26 November in Tenerife, Spain, in collaboration with the Royal Spanish Baseball and Softball Federation and the Canary Islands Baseball and Softball Federation.

04/05/2023 1 Minute Read

#B5High5: Share your best Baseball5 moments during the month of May

The WBSC launched the five-on-five, five-inning street version of baseball/softball in 2017.

04/05/2023 1 Minute Read

New Blind Baseball field project in Milan, Italy underway

The two blind baseball teams in Milan, Thunder's Five and Lampi, both participating in the Italian League (LIBCI), support the initiative.

28/04/2023 1 Minute Read

Pakistan Baseball, Cycling federations forge partnership to provide training facilities for athletes

The two sport governing bodies will join efforts to provide athletes with proper facilities. The Baseball5 national team will open camp in Lahore on a ground provided by the Cycling Federation.

26/04/2023 1 Minute Read

German Academy and Eagles Prague to represent Europe at Pony Baseball and Softball World Series

Prague, Czechia, hosted 37 teams for the Continental Qualifiers on 22 and 23 April. The German Academy won the U-14 and U-16 baseball tournaments, while Eagles Prague topped the U-16 softball tournament.

25/04/2023 1 Minute Read

Baseball5 featured in International Day of Sport for Development and Peace initiative at Refugee Camp in Kenya

The Kakuma Refugee Camp is located in the north western region of Kenya and is home to 200,000 people, primarily from South Sudan.

25/04/2023 1 Minute Read

WBSC instructor Chedli Mokrani receives IOC honours for Baseball5 achievements

Mokrani is a WBSC Baseball5 Continental instructor for Africa, a certified WBSC Baseball5 Game official and recently trained the Baseball5 Refugee Team in Jordan.

12/04/2023 1 Minute Read

Japan International Cooperation Agency donates equipment to Belize Softball Federation

The donation will support the development programmes in primary and secondary schools in the Central American country.

06/04/2023 1 Minute Read

WBSC, Softball Asia stage umpire certification seminar in Korea

The course took place during the Women's Softball Asia Cup in Incheon. International umpire Mark Porteous (pictured above) acted as the primary instructor.

05/04/2023 1 Minute Read

MLB announces European Development Tournament and Cadet Camps

The European Development Tournament, 19-25 June in London, will involve the top 90 prospects aged 16-20. Cadet Camps will include players in the 13-15 age bracket in England, Spain, France, Czechia, Germany and Italy.

31/03/2023 1 Minute Read

Zambia to launch U-18 National Baseball5 Championship in April

The event represents the third and final stage of an important development project the WBSC launched in the country.

28/03/2023 1 Minute Read

KONAMI donates equipment to Africa baseball players

KONAMI’s Baseball Equipment Reuse Project will see WBSC Africa hand out bats, gloves and balls to new players on the continent.

28/03/2023 1 Minute Read

Italian Blind Baseball aims to expand league

The Italian league has 11 participating teams but is looking for more members in the southern regions. The Open Days held in Paternò, near Catania, proved a success.

27/03/2023 1 Minute Read

Kropivnytskyi wins Ukraine Baseball5 National Championship

Kirovohrad, in central Ukraine, hosted the second edition of the tournament.

23/03/2023 1 Minute Read

WBSC baseball equipment package arrives in Micronesia, used in Olympic Solidarity course

The WBSC package - consisting of 135 gloves, 24 softball bats, 30 baseball bats, 24 helmets, 12 catcher-gear sets and 18 gear bags - was sent to Fiji in 2021 for distribution throughout the Oceania region.

17/03/2023 1 Minute Read

WBSC Blind Baseball International Cup celebrated in the United States

Blind Baseball is a Specialty Branch of the Financial District Lions in New York.

03/03/2023 1 Minute Read

Burkina Faso proud of new baseball softball field in Ouagadougou

"It was difficult to practice baseball and softball in the Capital before," said Federation president Ibrahima Sibore. The Japanese Embassy fully funded the project.

01/03/2023 1 Minute Read

Wales aiming to have a new Blind Baseball team

Ten players took the field for the first training session on 11 February at Singleton Park in Swansea. The players got together for another open training on 25 February.

27/02/2023 3 Minute Read

Baseball5 features at first-ever Taekwondo Humanitarian Foundation Hope and Dreams Sport Festival

World Baseball Softball Confederation (WBSC) President Riccardo Fraccari attended the Hope and Dreams Sports Festival where the accessible, dynamic and urban sport of Baseball5 featured alongside taekwondo competitions.

27/02/2023 1 Minute Read

NPB's Yomiuri Giants, JICA hold Baseball and Baseball5 online clinic for 68 Burkina Faso players

The Giants Academy coaches Jun Hasegawa, a former NPB pitcher, Tsujito Rin and Japanese Baseball5 National Team player Miwa Tanaka (pictured above) held the clinic.

20/02/2023 1 Minute Read

Czech Baseball National Team trains with orphan kids before flying to World Baseball Classic

The collaboration with the non-profit 'Good Fairies for Children' saw 34 kids train with the Czech Baseball National Team. "You can't just take. You have to give something back," commented pitcher Lukas Ercoli,

16/02/2023 1 Minute Read

Mexico to licence 120 Baseball5 coaches

The first course took place on 10 February, and the second is scheduled for 17 February. The next step would be licensing game officials.

27/01/2023 1 Minute Read

Baseball/Softball initiative "Asoball" a huge hit in Japanese kindergartens

Asoball is a baseball-type experience programme "to nurture baseball/softball talent among toddlers and preschoolers" and which can also be played by parents.

23/01/2023 1 Minute Read

David Matoma: Uganda 16-year-old pitcher signs for MLB's Pittsburgh Pirates

Matoma is the third player from Uganda to have a chance in US-affiliated baseball after Ben Serunkuma and Umar Male signed for the Los Angeles Dodgers.

23/01/2023 1 Minute Read

Zambia completes second part of Baseball5 development project

After the educational part, the competition will start in five provinces and lead to the first Baseball5 National Championship in April.

20/01/2023 1 Minute Read

Sakala hosts first-ever Baseball5 tournament in Haiti

The development project by the National Baseball Softball Association, led by Luxama Fabrice Edouard, started in late November in Cité du Soleil, Port-au-Prince.

19/01/2023 1 Minute Read

Baseball5 lands on Uruguay beaches

"This new discipline requires only a ball and limited space, and as an Olympic sport it's may be a good fit for Uruguay," commented Mauricio Ovelar, who promoted the initiative.

18/01/2023 1 Minute Read

Baseball5 World Cup legacy: Over 70 participants join Baseball5 clinic in Mexico

A course to develop coaches and game officials is the first step on the path to a medal in the 'Juegos Nacionales', the National Olympics

17/01/2023 1 Minute Read

France reaches new record in registered baseball and softball players

Participation numbers in France climbed to 14,654, a 7% increase from 2021. Female athletes are 22.1%.

16/01/2023 1 Minute Read

Dominican Republic signs deal to support development of baseball in South Africa

Dominican Baseball Federation president Juan Núñez said his organisation will "support the agreement to showcase our country and its number one sport and boost baseball development in all of Africa."

12/01/2023 1 Minute Read

MLB, USA Baseball announce Dream Series 2023

The amateur baseball development experience will feature over 80 top diverse (predominantly African American) high school pitchers and catchers.

12/01/2023 1 Minute Read

Bhutan stages inaugural U-18 Baseball League and Winter Camp

The Bhutan Baseball Softball Association launched a U-18 baseball league in August 2022 and plans to add more youth baseball and softball competition and a men's baseball adult league within 2023.

10/01/2023 1 Minute Read

Tunisian Baseball Softball Federation honoured by National Olympic Committee for sports governance

The Olympic Torch award acknowledges the progress of the Tunisian Baseball Softball Federation in developing Baseball5, Baseball and Softball.

09/01/2023 1 Minute Read

Ten Asian countries participate in Baseball5 course in Bangkok, Thailand

The one-day course introduced the basic rules of Baseball5 to 31 participants.

28/12/2022 3 Minute Read

2022 Year in Review: A year rich in development

An overview of development initiatives which include field construction and renovation in Spain, Serbia, Burkina Faso and Japan.

13/12/2022 1 Minute Read

First ever in Japan, Baseball5 becomes curricular activity at Oberlin University

Oberlin University in Tokyo has launched the Baseball5 course which will be led by the associate Professor Kenta Wakamatsu (right in the cover picture; Oberlin president Hiroaki Hatayama is left, Japan Baseball5 National Team player Takuya Shima is middle) "It's an absolute first in Japan, and the outcome is hard to imagine."

12/12/2022 1 Minute Read

WBSC signs MOU with VIRTUS - International Sports Federation for athletes with intellectual impairment

The WBSC will include a new intellectual impairment class as part of future events.

05/12/2022 1 Minute Read

Sierra Leone plans to launch inter-school Baseball5 competitions in 2023

The National Federation introduced 20 school teachers to the five-on-five version of baseball/softball

02/12/2022 1 Minute Read

WBSC Europe runs successful baseball development programme

The Winter League took place in Tenerife, Canary Islands, from 19 to 26 November and involved 54 players from 10 countries.

29/11/2022 1 Minute Read

Baseball and softball show impressive development results in Zhejiang province, China

There are now 11 fields and a population of 10,000 baseball players in the Zhejiang province, China. The Shaoxing Baseball/Softball Sports and Culture Center will host the Asian Games in 2023.

29/11/2022 2 Minute Read

Home Run Derby X success in London, Seoul and Mexico City

The new baseball format launched by MLB involved international baseball and softball stars such as Adrian Gonzalez, Erika Piancastelli and Stefania Ardillas.

09/11/2022 1 Minute Read

Coaches from 10 European Nations obtain WBSC License

The coaches from Sweden, Poland, Bulgaria, Great Britain, Türkiye, Czechia, Belgium, Germany, and Romania attended a preparation course held by WBSC Coach Commission chairman Marco Mazzieri in Diessen, Netherlands.

03/11/2022 1 Minute Read

European Softball Coaches Association holds camp in the Netherlands

Sixty players and coaches attended the five-day event in Diessen. They earned the right to test for the WBSC level 1 coach license.

20/10/2022 1 Minute Read

Baseball field renovation project completed in Belgrade, Serbia

The project, which was supported by the WBSC Development Commission, began on 30 June and was completed on 20 September in the Serbia’s capital, Belgrade.

18/10/2022 1 Minute Read

Baseball5 continues growth in South Africa with demonstrations, clinics across the country

South Africa is one of three African nations qualified for the maiden Baseball5 World Cup, set to take place in Mexico City from 7-13 November.

10/10/2022 1 Minute Read

British Blind Baseball athletes visit Italy on knowledge exchange program

Italy became the first-ever champions of the WBSC Blind Baseball International Cup in August after beating Great Britain in the final.

07/10/2022 2 Minute Read

Baseball5 World Cup: One month to go - New rulebook published with showpiece event in mind

The previous version of the rulebook is still available in up to 12 languages and remains so via the WBSC website.

30/09/2022 2 Minute Read

International Summit on Sport: WBSC President joins world sport's leaders in signing Sport for All Declaration in Vatican City

The WBSC has put its effort into making baseball/softball more accessible through its flagship parasport Baseball for the Blind, Baseball5 and Wheelchair Softball.

29/09/2022 1 Minute Read

Indonesia celebrates 77th Independence Day with first national baseball league

The first Indonesia Baseball League took place from 21 to 26 August. An All-Star team participated in an international tournament with the National Teams of Malaysia and Singapore and a team representing the Korean community.

15/09/2022 1 Minute Read

WBSC Coach Licensing Course to be held in conjunction with the ESCA Training Camp

All the coaches taking part in the course will be tested and, based on their final result, will receive a Level 1 or Level 2 Baseball or Softball License according to the WBSC international standards.

31/08/2022 1 Minute Read

Six-team Palestinian Women's Softball Championship underway

The tournament started in mid-August and will run through the end of September.

30/08/2022 1 Minute Read

$10,000 in prize money to be awarded to winner of WBSC Virtual Cup as tournament regulations unveiled

The tournament is open to everybody, with no age limit or gender restrictions, and is intended for people who do not have prior professional baseball or softball experience.

29/08/2022 1 Minute Read

Taiwan Women's Baseball League third season opens at Tianmu Stadium

Twelve teams will participate in a 66-game season over 11 weekends.

25/08/2022 1 Minute Read

Baseball5 in Burkina Faso promoting peace, social cohesion

Displaced children participated in a Baseball5 game between the teams of Kaya and Ouagadougou, and will join the Kaya club.

25/08/2022 1 Minute Read

Countdown: Inaugural WBSC Virtual Cup to open in one week

The dynamic e-sport tournament will take place in Korea, Japan, Mexico and Florida (USA). The finals are scheduled for November in Korea.

25/08/2022 1 Minute Read

"Blind Baseball is the only sport I can perform independently"

Dutch player Lisa Kuppers reflected after the successful first edition of the WBSC Blind Baseball International Cup.

23/08/2022 1 Minute Read

Global development: Online Baseball5 Toolkit now available in five languages

The 61-page publication targets youngsters and schools, and offers guidance on how to introduce the five-on-five version of baseball/softball.

22/08/2022 1 Minute Read

Saudi Arabia Baseball-Softball leader visits WBSC headquarters in Switzerland

Presidents Riccardo Fraccari and Nayef Mohammed Bin Humaid met and agreed on using Baseball5 as a main development tool.

22/08/2022 1 Minute Read

MLB FIRST PITCH gets to schools, communities in China

After reaching 146 schools in 11 cities, MLB is currently hosting 30 FIRST PITCH Community Center events in Beijing.

16/08/2022 1 Minute Read

Female pitcher helps her team win U-10 Chinese Baseball Championship, named MVP

Shuren went undefeated after five day, 63-game national tournament, thanks to female fireballer Shili Ayu. Baseball in China was showcased via the national youth championship.

09/08/2022 1 Minute Read

Palestine: Al-Mughraqa Shabab wins Baseball5 Cup

A total of eight teams participated in the month-long event.

03/08/2022 2 Minute Read

Meet Sabrina Bottazzi, the first girl to pitch in the VI WBSC U-12 Baseball World Cup

"It's been great so far. I think I'm learning a lot," the 12-year-old left-hander told the WBSC. "I want to play baseball as long as I can." Her teammate Anita Bissa also took the mound on the final day of group play.

29/07/2022 1 Minute Read

First WBSC Blind Baseball International Cup to be held on 20-21 August in Beek, Netherlands

It will be the first-ever blind baseball event sanctioned by the WBSC.

29/07/2022 1 Minute Read

Global game: Delwendé wins Burkina Faso National Baseball Championship

The champions defeated Ziniaré in the final, 6-1. Geoffrey Yameogo earned MVP honours.

22/07/2022 1 Minute Read

Kenya latest African country to sign agreement with Japanese organization to grow baseball, softball

"I'm confident this agreement will help us develop the game further in Kenya," commented Kenyan baseball leader Titus Mutwiri.

13/07/2022 1 Minute Read

Chile commemorates 105-year anniversary of baseball in the country

On 4 July 1917 American workers organized the event in the Antofagasta area. Chile's National Federation was born in 1951.

13/07/2022 2 Minute Read

Global Game podcast: Latest episode focuses on Baseball5 and Africa

Host Tyler Maun had a chance to interview Susan Wanjiiku Mwangi, the Kenyan Baseball5 National Team manager, and Alpherio Moris Nchimbi, the secretary-general of the Tanzania Baseball and Softball Association.

12/07/2022 1 Minute Read

Softball Australia names Clare Warwick National Team Captain, launches new development programme

Belinda White (pictured above with Warwick) will serve as Vice-Captain.

11/07/2022 1 Minute Read

MLB Futures All-Star Game features former U-12, U-18 Baseball World Cup stars

2019 WBSC U-18 Baseball World Cup star Pete Crow-Armstrong (pictured above) is on the National League's roster.

07/07/2022 1 Minute Read

Growing the Game: Teams from 5 countries play in Baseball5 event in Slovenia

Rogaska Slatina hosted "I Feel Slovenia Baseball5".

01/07/2022 1 Minute Read

Host Israel, Canada, USA to compete in U-18 baseball tournament at 21st Maccabiah Games

It will be the first international competition at the new Raanana field, pictured above, located north of Tel Aviv. The venue was recently dedicated to the memory of Ezra Schwartz.

23/06/2022 1 Minute Read

WBSC Academy: Licensing Programme for Softball Technical Commissioners now available

The course aims to prepare the attendees for managing the field at a WBSC event, and it is tailored for aspiring WBSC International and Local/National Softball Technical Commissioners.

16/06/2022 1 Minute Read

Baseball5 showcase at Arnold Sport Festival in South Africa enjoys big success

Members of the South African National Team, the current/first-ever African Baseball5 champions, introduced 70 kids to the five-on-five version of baseball/softball.

10/06/2022 1 Minute Read

Baseball/softball to be showcased across 7 continents, including Antarctica, via Play Ball initiative this weekend

MLB and MiLB will partner with USA Baseball and USA Softball to host events in their communities and encourage kids to play the game. More initiatives are scheduled in Africa, Antarctica, Asia, Europe and South America.

10/06/2022 2 Minute Read

New Amazon Prime series based on women's baseball, A League of Their Own is coming soon

Set in the height of World War II, the television series will follow a group of professional women's baseball players in the newly established league.

08/06/2022 1 Minute Read

Europe: Blind Baseball set to grow in Hungary, Austria and Slovenia

The practice of baseball for the visually impaired is steadily on the rise in Europe.

07/06/2022 1 Minute Read

Bulgaria to host the inaugural U-17 Baseball5 European Championship

The tournament, scheduled from 16 to 19 November in Sofia, will serve as a qualifier for the first-ever WBSC Youth Baseball5 World Cup.

07/06/2022 1 Minute Read

"PURSUE" by Ryo Takeuchi premiers in six cities in China

The documentary is about baseball development in China from the perspective of two coaches. The MLB Development Center has proven key to the successful program.

01/06/2022 2 Minute Read

Ayako Rokkaku: Women's Baseball World Cup MVP dreams of Baseball5 glory

The former WBSC Women's Baseball World Cup MVP is a strong advocate for Women's Baseball and Baseball5. She wants to contribute to developing the five-on-five version of baseball/softball as an instructor and a player.

30/05/2022 1 Minute Read

Blind baseball promotion continues in Italy

The Italian Blind Baseball Association, a WBSC Associate Member, works on a new team in Sicily. Four clubs participating in the eleven-team National League contributed to inclusivity initiatives.

20/05/2022 1 Minute Read

Blind Baseball develops further in Great Britain, Italy

UK Blind Baseball took the game to the Sheffield Royal Society for the Blind. The Italian Association Baseball for the Blind is working on the project of a youth league.

20/05/2022 1 Minute Read

Japan initiative looks to develop a Koshien inspired baseball tournament in Ghana

The ultimate goal is to hold a national baseball tournament inspired by the world-famous Koshien. Former NPB and MLB superstar Hideki Matsui is a 'dream partner'.

18/05/2022 1 Minute Read

Baseball5 to be played Aruba's School Games

The 'Weganan Escolar' is scheduled from 17 to 26 June. WBSC President Fraccari congratulated the Aruban government.

16/05/2022 1 Minute Read

WBSC publishes Baseball5 Rulebook in seventh language, Arabic

The launch of the urban, five-on-five discipline has provided a boost to baseball and softball development, particularly in Africa and Europe.

13/05/2022 1 Minute Read

Victoria Aces win Australian Women's Baseball Showcase, Genevieve Beacom shines in final

The 17-year old pitcher (pictured above) earned the win in the final against the Brisbane Bandits. Seven international players, including WBSC Women's Baseball World Cup reigning MVP Ayami Sato, participated in the event.

12/05/2022 1 Minute Read

Youth sport: Miranda wins Venezuelan U-15 baseball title; Dominican Republic U-12 National Championship set to open

The Venezuelan youth national championship served as a platform for the selection of their U-15 National Team. Seventeen provinces will play in San Pedro de Macoris for the Dominican U-12 title.

11/05/2022 1 Minute Read

International blind baseball tournament Mole's Cup to be held in Netherlands

Host city Beek has already hosted two clinics and is working on fielding the first Dutch blind baseball team. A team from Manchester, England, travelled to Bergamo, Italy, for international friendlies,

10/05/2022 1 Minute Read

WBSC U-15 Baseball World Cup Alumni: MLB China Development Center graduates pursue baseball careers in US

Three of the nine student-athletes represented current world No. 21 China at the WBSC U-15 Baseball World Cup 2018.

05/05/2022 1 Minute Read

WBSC President Riccardo Fraccari signs new MOU with Cuba

The deal seals a shared commitment and honours the work of the late Higinio Velez and Ernesto Reinoso. Fraccari also met the President of the Republic of Cuba, Miguel Díaz-Canel Bermúdez.

04/05/2022 1 Minute Read

WBSC donates equipment to support baseball, softball development in Zambia

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

29/04/2022 1 Minute Read

Baseball5 helping to grow the game in Malaysia

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

25/04/2022 1 Minute Read

MLB Cup involves 143 teams, over 1,700 players in Japan

MLB Cups happened also in China, Korea and India during the 2021 season.

19/04/2022 1 Minute Read

Baseball5 in Africa: Cape Verde Olympic Committee latest to come on board

Five-on-five Baseball5 will be played at the 2026 Youth Olympic Games (YOG) in Dakar, Senegal.

08/04/2022 1 Minute Read

WBSC runs key Baseball5 / Mini Baseball workshop for OlympAfrica directors in Africa

The workshop is one of the first initiatives under the MOU between the World Baseball Softball Confederation, Olympafrica Foundation and Association of National Olympic Committees of Africa to promote baseball and softball in Africa. Baseball5 will feature at the 2026 Youth Olympic Games in Dakar, Senegal.

01/04/2022 1 Minute Read

Venezuela launches Baseball5 courses

The programme opened in Barquisimeto, Lara, with 82 participants. It will later reach all the other states.

25/03/2022 3 Minute Read

Federation Focus: International debut in 2017 boosts growth of Turkish Baseball and Softball

The National Federation has existed since 2001, but the National Team appeared on the international stage in 2017. "We Turks like to say: You will learn to win by defeat," said 37-year old president Murat Pazan.

18/03/2022 1 Minute Read

Africa: Japanese Embassy to support new baseball field in Burkina Faso

The Japanese Embassy will grant $87,500 over 12 months. "It's a historic day," baseball officials in the country say.

17/03/2022 1 Minute Read

Japan's PONY branch pushes baseball development in Vietnam

PONY is one of the world's biggest youth baseball and softball organizations.

15/03/2022 1 Minute Read

Venezuelan Baseball Federation holds umpire, technical commissioner courses

"We have a lot to do to build the Federation that we want to see, and this is part of the process," said FEVEBEISBOL President Areacelis León.

15/03/2022 1 Minute Read

Softball Association of Malaysia to take grassroots Baseball5 programme into schools

"We are in the process of starting Baseball5 at the grassroots level, introducing primary school students to the game," said SAM Secretary-General Willeam Mah Choon How. "We want to make Baseball5 accessible to all."