MEN’S EVENT STARTS SUNDAY IN MEXICO
2006-09-29

The VII Pan American Men’s Softball Championship (fast pitch) is scheduled to start this weekend in Hermosillo, Mexico. The event is also a qualifier for the next International Softball Federation (ISF) Men’s World Championship, which will take place in 2009 in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan (Canada).

Thirteen countries are expected to compete in the Pan American event, which ends on October 8. The top five finishers will qualify for the ISF event in three years (or top six finishers if Canada comes in anywhere from first to fifth). The 13 participants in the upcoming tournament are: Argentina, Bahamas, British Virgin Islands, Canada, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Mexico, Puerto Rico, USA, and Venezuela.

The last Pan American Men’s Softball Championship took place in 2002 in Guatemala and saw USA defeat Canada, 6-5, for the title.

The action at this year’s event, which is put on by the Pan American Softball Confederation (CONPASA), will take place at Carlos Rendon Field and Hermosillo Stadium. The Technical Meeting will be held tomorrow and the first game is set for Sunday morning, when Canada faces Venezuela.

The Executive Council of the Central American and Caribbean Softball Confederation (CONCACAS) are using the tournament as an opportunity to convene an Extraordinary Assembly today and tomorrow for all CONCACAS member countries.