With trophy in-hand, Nicaragua celebrates their 2008 Central American Slow Pitch Championship title. (Photo courtesy of CONCASOFT)

NEW ZEALAND, NICARAGUA WIN MEN’S EVENTS
2008-12-04

Last week Sunday (November 23) Nicaragua won the X Central American Slow Pitch Championship that they hosted in Esteli. The three-day event culminated with a big win by Nicaragua over El Salvador. Costa Rica finished third and Guatemala came in fourth place. The fifth team was to be Honduras, who was unable to compete.

This year’s victory meant that Nicaragua successfully defended the title they had won last year in El Salvador. The age 40-and-over event is sanctioned by the Central American Softball Confederation.

The tournament will take place next year in San Jose, Costa Rica, with dates tentatively set for December 3-6.

Meanwhile, this past weekend, with ISF VP/Oceania Bob Leveloff looking on, New Zealand won the 3rd International Softball Tournament (fast pitch) in the city of Parana, Argentina. The defending International Softball Federation men’s world champions defeated the host team, 3-1, in the grand final. Jeremy Manley started the game for the Black Sox, pitching five innings and allowing Argentina’s only run. Veteran Marty Grant came on to close out the host team over the final two innings.

New Zealand got all the offense they would need when team captain Jarrad Martin hit a two-run home run to center field in the first inning.

Argentina got solid pitching from "Beto" Guerrinieri but couldn’t muster anything offensively other than a run in the second inning.

As the countdown continues towards next year’s ISF XII Men’s World Championship (July 17-26 in Saskatchewan, Canada) it’s interesting to note that Venezuela finished tied for tenth at the 15-team eleventh edition of the marquee tournament, then won the gold medal two years ago at the Central American & Caribbean Games, but settled for fourth at this past weekend’s tournament. Will they rebound in time for the big 2009 event? Will someone find a way to stop New Zealand? Men’s international softball is heating up around the globe!