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.

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

The winners and the runners up of the three regional championships joined Guantanamo in the seven-team National Championship.

The five-on-five game only requires a ball to play and can be staged in various existing setting, eliminating the need for specialty equipment and construction projects, which in the past have been challenges to growing the game in key targets like Africa and Europe.

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.

Global baseball-softball activity is on the rise as more nations roll out Baseball5 programmes. The five-on-five game only requires a ball to play, eliminating the need for expensive equipment and specific venues, which in the past have been challenges to growing the game in important regions like Africa and Europe.

The 46th Malaysia Men's and Women's National Softball Championships will be held from 3-6 June, but the lack of regular baseball/softball fields is still challenging the game's development. The five-on-five version may help change the situation.

"This tournament was a great success," said Angelo Vicini, WBSC Treasurer and Chair of the WBSC Development Commission. "It's historical to see an African Qualifier to a WBSC World Cup...we believe the Baseball5 African Championship will represent a milestone in development."

The winners of the semifinals will advance to the first-ever WBSC Baseball5 World Cup. Semifinals and medal games are scheduled for Thursday, 26 May.

On Wednesday, 25 May, four more games are scheduled to complete pool play. The top four finishers of each group will advance to the elimination phase. WBSC President Fraccari: "This tournament demonstrates the power of our new discipline and its youth appeal."