Softball Europe organised five European Championships and six European Cups in 2021 to restore International Softball throughout Europe.

Although the first European Championship scheduled for 2021 - the Coed Slowpitch European Championship -  had to be canceled, Softball Europe managed to meet the season goal: going back to the fields in 2021 after a 2020 season without international events.

In June and July, five European Championships were played. The Men's Softball European Championship inaugurated the international season in Europe. 

South Bohemia hosted the opening event in the cities of Lednice and Sezimovo Ústí. For the fifth time in a row, Czech Republic won the Men’s Softball European Champion, topping Denmark in the final game. Croatia made history winning the bronze medal game against France to conquer the first medal ever at the Men's Softball European Championship.

Seventeen teams played the Women's Softball European Championship in Friuli Venezia Giulia fields, Italy. The Kingdom of the Netherlands and Italy clashed in the gold medal game. In an extremely battled final, the Azzurre surpassed the Dutch squad winning 5-9 and taking home the title of European Champions for the twelfth time. The Czech National Team won bronze topping Israel 2-0 in the bronze medal game. 

In July, the Junior Men's European Championships took place in Havlíčkův Brod, Czech Republic.

The hosts dominated the two tournaments. The Czech National Teams won the U-16 Men’s Softball European Championship game against Israel, and the U-18 Men’s Softball European Championship defeating Denmark, 7-2, and claiming the ninth European Title, the fourth in a row. 

Eleven National Teams took part in the U-18 Women’s Softball European Championship: Italy, Czech Republic, Netherlands, Germany, Spain, Ukraine, Denmark, Croatia, Poland, Austria, and Sweden.

Czech Republic defeated Italy, 3-6, claiming the second ever European Title in this age category after the one in 2014. 

As usual, August hosted the European Softball Cups reserved for the club teams.

Bulgaria hosted the first Slowpitch event of 2021: the Coed Slowpitch European Super Cup occurred in the city of Sofia. The Czech Team Waynes Pardubice topped the German UCE Travellers to win the Coed Slowpitch European Super Cup.

The three Women's Softball European Cups were played from August 16 to 21, 2021.

Nine European clubs played the Women's Softball European Premiere Cup in Buttrio and Castions di Strada, Italy. Two Italian Clubs from Bollate and Forlì put on a show in the Championship game: down 1-0, Forlì scored 5 runs in the seventh inning to win the Premiere Cup.

Dupnisa, Bulgaria, hosted the Women’s Softball European Cup. The German Team Wesseling Vermins topped the Polish Wroclaw Panthers to win the 2021 Women’s Softball European Cup and qualify for the 2022 Women's Softball European Premiere Cup.

The Italian fields of Saronno, Legnano, and Bovisio hosted the Women’s Softball European Cup Winner Cup. The Dutch Team Olympia Haarlem topped the host squad Saronno on the championship game of the Women’s Softball European Cup Winner Cup, 3-2, claiming the title.

Czech Republic hosted the ninth Mens' Softball European Super Cup from August 23 to 28, 2021. Fifteen top European clubs battled to win the title of Men's Softball European Champion. The Danish Squad Hørsholm Von Holmbäck Hurricanes won the Men’s Softball European Super Cup title for the second time in a row. In the lower cup, the Men’s Softball European SE Cup, Joudrs Praha took the gold.

To end the season, the European Masters Cup was played in Sant Boi de Llobregat, Spain, at the end of October 2021. The Magos de Tenerife won the Men's Softball European Masters Cup for the second time in a row after 2019, topping the Denmark Old Stars, 18-1. In the Women's Softball European Masters Cup, the defending champions Italia LeZie conquered the gold medal as the only undefeated team.

The 2021 Softball Europe season results and standings are available at the WBSC Europe website. Find the photo gallery of the events on the Softball Europe Facebook page.

/ Cover photo by Grega Valancic