'Applying Fast Pitch Rules' announces the opening of the softball season! Presidential National Convention to be held in Hoengseongseo on the 10th

*This content was translated by AI.

The 2026 National Softball Competition will open in Hoengseong-gun, Gangwon-do.

The Korea Baseball Softball Association (KBSA) announced on the 9th, "The 2026 Chairman's National Softball Competition," hosted and organized by KBSA and Hoengseong-gun Sports Council, and funded by Hoengseong-gun and Hoengseong-gun Council, will be held at Hoengseong Baseball Theme Park in Gangwon-do from the 10th to the 13th."

Held in Hoengseong every year since 2017, the tournament is meaningful as the first official event to mark the start of this year's softball season. A total of 14 teams will participate in this year's competition, including 3 teams under the age of 15, 4 teams under the age of 18, 4 teams from the university, and 3 teams from the general department. The game method is the same in all categories, and the top two teams advance to the final through the preliminary full league to determine the winning team.

In particular, Lee Joon-hee, Han Chae-yul (Chungcheongbuk-do University High School), Kim Ha-hyun, Joo Ha-young (Gyeongnam Sports Council), and Baek Yoon-ji (Dankook University), who won the "Baseball Softball Night" softball award last year, are expected to raise the level of the competition further.

As this competition is held at an important point ahead of the international competition, it is expected to be an important opportunity to check the players' performance and improve their sense of practice. In 2026, major international competitions such as the 20th Aichi and Nagoya Asian Games, the U-15 Softball Asia Cup, and the University Softball Asia Cup are scheduled, further emphasizing the competitiveness and meaning of the competition.

KBSA is also continuing to improve the system to create an economic environment that meets international standards. The World Baseball Softball Federation (WBSC) fast pitch regulations, which have been revised since this year, are being applied in stages. The under-15 competition zones are also being changed sequentially, laying the foundation for strengthening international competitiveness.

In addition, KBSA is continuing various support policies to expand and revitalize the softball base. It is promoting sustainable sports development by expanding support for participating teams, supporting the establishment of the team, and strengthening the foundation for fostering players.

KBSA Chairman Yang Hae-young said, "The national softball competition is an important competition that leads to the growth and development of players every year," adding, "We hope that this competition, which will be held ahead of the international competition, will serve as an opportunity for valuable experiences and leaps forward for players."

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*This content was translated by AI.