No play-off in softball

Press, Volume CXVI, Issue 34151, 12 May 1976, Page 42

No play-off in softball

(N.Z. Press Association) WELLINGTON. Plans to stage a playoff series for the world men’s softball championship in Canada have been dropped. The secretary of the New Zealand Softball Association (Mr George Vincent) said yesterday that those who had proposed to bring the Canadian, United States and New Zealand teams together in Victoria, British Columbia, to decide an outright winner of the championship had abandoned the idea. Teams representing the three countries were declared joint winners when the 19/6 world event at Lower Hutt in February was curtailed by rain Advice of the Canadian decision not to go ahead with the tournament has been received by N.Z.S.A. council member, Mr Tom Voyle. “So far as I know, they didn’t give any reasons for changing their minds,” said Mr Vincent. It seems likely however, that the Oklahoma-based International Softball Federation vetoed the suggestion that the tournament be recognised as an official carryover of the Lower Hutt event.

New Zealand now has no definite plans for international competition in men’s softball before the 1980 world championships in Seattle, although it seems likely that this matter will be looked at when the N.Z.S.A. council meets next month. There is a body of opinion which feels a tour for a national under-21 or under-23 team should be undertaken before the next world series. It is known that Taiwan, one of the countries represented at Lower Hutt, is keen to host a New Zealand side. If the Taiwan offer is accepted, it is likely that an age-group team will be sent and that the tour will involve other Asian countries.