China, Japan, Taiwan, US Launch Pacific Rim Tourney Championships

Dec. 1, 2013

Softball News Report

BEIJING – Representatives from national softball organizations in Japan, Taiwan, China and the USA have reached a tentative agreement on a rotating Pacific Rim Championships in the four countries to promote the sport in the Far East.

Under the agreement, the 2014 Championships will be in Japan, and Senior Softball-USA will offer an International Division at its World Masters Championships in Las Vegas.

The agreement came during a promotional trip in October after SSUSA was asked to promote softball in China. The trip included an International Joyful Slow-Pitch Tournament in Beijing that attracted two teams from Taiwan, one from Japan, five from China and two from the USA.

The USA 50s Team, coached by Bobby Davis of Florida, won the tournament.

The finals pitted the Beijing team against the USA 50s team, made up of SSUSA players from seven states, including Washington, California, Texas, Florida, New York, Minnesota and Louisiana.

The USA 50s team won 9-1 against much younger competition. The USA 60s team, coached by Chuck Towne of Texas, came in fourth.

The two USA senior teams’ participation in the Beijing tournament was part of an agreement between SSUSA and the Chinese government to consult in building the sport of senior slow-pitch softball throughout China.

USA players acted as instructors at a local high school, which is developing a softball program, and as ambassadors among the new Chinese teams participating in the tournament.

“We are very happy with this initial trip to promote softball in China and look forward to working with our Chinese counterparts in the years to come,” said Terry Hennessy, SSUSA chief executive officer and manager of both US teams.

MVP for the USA 50s team was John Moncrieff of California, Best Offense was Jim Hansen of California and Best Defense was Bob Stollsteimer of Louisiana. MVP for the USA 60 team was Ron Tatti of California, Best Offense was Allen Burns of Texas and Best Defense was Bob Haim of New York.

The Pacific Rim Championships in Japan is expected to be played in November, with the Japanese softball association announcing exact dates in January. After the dates are established, details will be announced by International Sports Holidays via e-mail, on www.seniorsoftball.com and on Facebook at International Softball-SSUSA.