The British Women’s National Softball Team lost two games against Oklahoma City Spark, a Women’s Pro Fastpitch team, at the historic Royal Spark Challenge, played at the Farnham Park National Baseball and Softball Complex in Farnham Royal, just outside London. The Spark took the two games of the series, 6-1 and 9-1.
The British team used the games to tune up for the WBSC Women’s Softball World Cup Group A, which begins on Tuesday at the Balbriggan All Weather Field in Fingal-Dublin in Ireland. Great Britain will take on the USA, Australia, Chinese Taipei, Ireland, and Botswana, with two teams moving on to next year’s Finals in Italy.
This was the first time a professional softball team has played in the United Kingdom.
Great Britain, who finished in second place in the European Championship last year to qualify for the WBSC Women’s Softball World Cup, is building the team for the long term, with a potential return to the Olympics in LA2028 in sight.
“Our tagline for the upcoming Women’s Softball World Cup is to be the best-prepared team, technically, tactically, physically and mentally that we can be,” said Great Britain Head of Performance, Gary Anderson. “We have placed a team of coaches that understand what it takes to win, they understand the process, the program, the philosophy…we need a clear route to 2028.”
