This is a great sport to play. I remember playing this when I was a kid, although rounders tended to be more popular with my teachers!
Softball is the female version of baseball, where the pitch is smaller, the ball is slightly bigger, and only underarm bowling (pitching) is allowed...but don´t be fooled thinking that, as it´s softball it´s soft pitching.... there were some mean high speed pitchers in this competition!
I include this sport, as recently the 2009 European Women´s Softbal Championship was held in Valencia. It was a week of exciting matches (the crowd tends to be pretty wild and very vocal, it was great cheering and generally "gritando como una loca"!), I managed to see several matches, as I pass the local softball pitch everyday on my bike as I go to work. Great fun. Obviously I was supporting the spainish side, and it was great to see the other countries participating, like Austria, Czech Republic, Slovakia, and of course Great Britain and France. The Netherlands won the Championship, finaly beating Great Britain and Spain came 8th.
The objective of this Championship was that the first 3 teams qualify for the International World Championships in Oklahoma next year....Plus Softball is currently bidding to be reinstated in the Olympics for 2016.
Softball is available to play in several cities in Spain, the main ones being Valencia, Madrid, Barcelona, Seville, and San Sebastian. I´ll be trying it out after the sumer holidays, here in Valencia, so keep an eye out for that post! There is even a Spanish Softball league, check out details at www.mister-baseball.com, click on Spain, and there you´ll find everything.
Oh and BTW I absolutely love the way spanish have their own pronounciations for everything. In spain Softball is "Sófbol".
I´d love to know if you have played, or have given this sport a go, let me know how you all get on!
J