Article submitted by Bob Fromer (GB softball)

Efforts to develop slowpitch softball in the Flanders area of Belgium are gaining momentum.

The project began with a visit by Belgian Softball Federation officials to the first European Slowpitch Cup played near Paris in September 2007. This was followed by slowpitch rules and skills clinics held in Belgium in March 2008 and April 2009, delivered by British clinicians and paid for by the European Softball Federation.

An eight-team slowpitch league was organised among established baseball/softball clubs in Belgium in the spring of 2008 and in September last year, one of those club teams, the Afterburners, played in the annual Softball World Series at the BA Concorde Club in London and unexpectedly won the third-level Cup competition.

Building a Structure

Now, Pieter Debaets, who has been a key figure in promoting slowpitch in Belgium, says: “This year we will be more prepared for playing in the World Series. And we are having try-outs this month to select our best slowpitch players to work with to prepare a Belgian team for the European Slowpitch Championships next year. The World Series will be our first important goal in preparation for the Europeans.

“We hope with a good structure that the level of slowpitch will grow in Flanders,” Pieter continued, “and also in the future in the whole of Belgium. We have a Head Coach and two Assistant Coaches who are busy creating and training the World Series team, this year to be called the Flanders All-Stars. Behind these coaches we have also two managers (me and Stijn Van Woensel). This structure will be presented to the Belgium Softball Division to build a national slowpitch team for next year.”

Gaining Momentum

Bob Fromer, European Softball Federation Commissioner for Slowpitch Development, said: “This is great news from Belgium, and is another sign that the campaign to grow slowpitch on the continent of Europe is gaining momentum. With the Dutch hosting the European Slowpitch Championships next year, and Belgian and Dutch teams taking part, we should have the highest entry the competition has seen since it began in 1998.”

More good news is the fact that the European Softball Federation will be investing money in a four-year Slowpitch Development Plan for Europe, which should increase the number of slowpitch clinics, competitions, teams and leagues on the continent.