by BaseballSoftballUK
New dedicated playing facilities for baseball and softball – the first of their kind in the UK – are expected to be ready for the 2013 season at Farnham Park near Slough and at two locations in Milton Keynes, funded by Sport England and the Baseball Tomorrow Fund.
To celebrate this achievement, BaseballSoftballUK, the Development Agency for the two sports, is planning to host a week of high-level international baseball and softball competitions at the new facilities from July 1-7, 2013, known as the London Baseball & Softball Week.
All three formats
New diamonds at Conniburrow and Woughton on the Green in Milton Keynes will host baseball tournaments at Under-18 and Senior levels, with the finals to be played at Farnham Park.
Meanwhile, a high-level adult women’s fastpitch tournament, an Under-19 men’s fastpitch tournament and a co-ed slowpitch tournament will be staged at Farnham Park.
The baseball tournaments are likely to run from Wednesday, July 3 through Saturday or Sunday, July 6 or 7.
The fastpitch softball tournaments will be held from July 1-4, since European competitions in these formats will begun on July 8. The slowpitch tournament will be held over the weekend of July 5-7.
Other events during the week may include tours of the new facilities, simulcast transmissions of final games and closing ceremonies and a party for all participants. BaseballSoftballUK is working with the Confederation of European Baseball (CEB) and European Softball Federation (ESF) to structure and deliver umpiring and coaching courses that can run alongside the London Baseball & Softball Week competition.
Teams from Europe and further afield will be invited to take part in all competitions, and the tournaments are expected to be attended by officials from the European Baseball and Softball Federations.
Aims and objectives
The main objectives of the London Baseball & Softball Week are to showcase the significant investment made in new, high-level facilities in the UK and to provide an international event that reinforces the UK as a significant hub for all three formats of our sports.
