Softball swinging back

DEALT with a defunct softball federation, associations around the country are gaining traction in their attempt to revive the code and inject purpose and direction into its administration, player base and club competitions.
The leading Port Moresby men’s and women’s softball associations are an example of how like-minded individuals are using their own time to ensure competitions are running and ensuring the love of the sport including skills and development is passed on to the next generation of players, administrators and officials.
The Port Moresby associations are keeping the interest alive by hosting tournaments and sending invites to outside centres to compete in order to raise the level of competition with their sister associations.
The national federation has been non-existent for a few years now. The Port Moresby Men’s Softball Association is also sing-handedly providing the talent to represent the country at international tournaments such as the invitational Makassar Open in Indonesia, through their participation last year. They are planning to send a team again this year.
Apart from Port Moresby’s two softball associations, outside centres have been doing their part to improve and increase softball’s following through their annual competitions.
The active associations include Lae (Morobe), Mt Hagen (Western Highlands), Gazelle, Rabaul (East New Britain), Kavieng, Lihir (New Ireland), Kimbe (West New Britain), Popondetta (Northern) and Madang.
Less than a month ago, representatives of softball associations met with the PNG Olympic Committee to elect an interim executive council to revive the PNG Baseball and Softball Confederation (PNGBSC).
The interim executive council will help guide the code in local, national and international tournaments in the future.
There is now a high chance of selecting a national team for both men’s and women’s should PNG receives an invite to compete at any regional or international tournaments.
While financial constraints can be one of many challenges facing all associations, this agenda should be a work in progress for the interim council to get the code back on its feet.
All eyes will be on the 2025 Pacific Mini Games in Palau as women’s softball has been included in the regional event. It will be an opportunity for the PNG women’s national softball to continue their dominance, however punctuated, in the Pacific. PNG’s women’s softball team last competed in the 2015 Pacific Games in Port Moresby, winning gold beating American Samoa in a best-of-three series at the Bisini Softball Diamonds, since the two countries were the only entries.
Softball was not included in the games’ edition in 2019 (Samoa) and 2023 (Solomon Islands).
The challenge now lies with the interim executives to fix a proposed calendar for 2024 to be circulated to each associations and get the code moving forward.
***********************************************
Pilai Bilong Yumi’ is our commentary column which provides a perspective on important issues and matters in PNG sports.