The 4th WBSC Co-ed Slowpitch World Cup tournament, pitting four European countries against four from the Americas, got underway on Thursday 19 November in Plant City, Florida, where the International Softball Federation has its headquarters building and a five-diamond complex.

Europe is represented in the event by Great Britain, Germany, Bulgaria and the club team Lemeil Brevannes from France, while the Americas are represented by the Bahamas, Curacao, the Turks & Caicos Islands and an all-star team from Vancouver, Canada.

The tournament line-up originally consisted of 10 teams, but American Samoa pulled out a few weeks ago and the team representing the United States pulled out just before the competition.

The tournament will be played over four days, ending with Trophy and Placing Page Playoff rounds on Sunday 22 November.


History

This is only the fourth time that the ISF has hosted a Slowpitch World Cup competition, but the plan now is to make it an annual event, alternating between a World Cup and a full World Championship.

Great Britain won the first Slowpitch World Cup, played in 2002 and a team representing Scotland won in 2005.  When the event resumed in 2014, after a nine-year gap, one of two American teams defeated Great Britain in the final.

This year, after the first day’s play, it looks like European Champions Great Britain will have a struggle on their hands against the Bahamas, Germany and Canada, and those four teams are looking favorites to make the Trophy Page Playoff on Sunday.

You can follow the tournament here.

-Bob Fromer; BSUK-