TEN MILLION PLAYERS

Southland Times, Issue 24575, 25 October 1941, Page 3

TEN MILLION PLAYERS

POPULARITY OF SOFTBALL “There are 10,000,000 softball players in the United States and the game there recently celebrated its centenary,” said Mr C. Buckett, who arrived in Invercargill last night in charge of a women’s softball team from Christchurch. “The game is becoming very popular among the New Zealand troops in Egypt,” Mr Buckett added. “There are 16 teams in one camp alone and New Zealand airmen are also learning it in Canada. Tlie game has made wonderful progress in New Zealand. Provincial associations have been formed at Auckland, Hamilton, Wanganui, Manawatu, Wellington. Canterbury, Ashburton and Otago and we expect Timaru and Southland to follow suit. The game is

also getting a good hold in the schools.” The object of the present visit to Invercargill, Mr Buckett stated, was to introduce the game to Southland. Softball was really baseball. . The only differences were that the bases were not so far apart, pitching was underarm instead of overarm and the ball used was somewhat softer. . Exhibition games of softball will be played at Rugby Park this afternoon, or, if it is wet, in the Drill Hall. In addition to the Canterbury team there will be two teams from Dunedin. They are due to arrive by the midday express.