Nikoleta Konova pitches for the Akademiks Sofia team from Bulgaria at this past weekend’s Angels Cup in Romania. (Photo courtesy of Bulgaria Softball Federation)

CUP EVENT WAS HELD IN ROMANIA
2010-10-15

An item appeared in an ISF newsletter last week noting the great amount of softball activity in Europe of late. That point was furthered by another tournament in that region, held last weekend in Romania.

As the last part of the Romanian Championship, a combined total of eight club teams from three different countries competed in Dragasani. The junior (age 19-and-under) girls fast pitch event had participants from the host country, Bulgaria, and Serbia.

This year called the Angels Cup (named after the host team), the tournament was organized by the manager of the eventual 2010 champion, with the help of the Romanian Softball Federation.

The lone Bulgarian entry made it to the finals against the Sportul Studentesc Angels, with the Romanian team posting an exciting 6-3 victory.

Bulgaria Softball Federation Secretary General Gergana Handjiyska, who was a BackSoftball Athlete Ambassador during the International Softball Federation’s Olympic reinstatement campaign, was managing the runner-up Akademiks Sofia team and said, “It was really exciting to see so many young girls playing and enjoying softball. Even though our countries are experiencing hard times due to lack of resources, the spirit of softball is alive. This kind of tournament gives motivation to us coaches and officials to carry on with our mission to give opportunities to young girls through our great sport.”

Her federation will be the host next year of the 8th European Coed Slowpitch Championship (in Dupnitsa) (July 2011).

Rounding out the top finishers from this past weekend was one of the Serbian teams, the Wild Cats, coming in third place.