From being starved of softball to a plethora of softball, the line-up of quality tournaments on offer between October and December this year is unprecedented.

Three quality events including the Tradestaff NFC, Golden Homes BSX Invitational Club Challenge and the Tradestaff International Invitation Series will lead their way into November’s Tradestaff WBSC Men’s Softball World Cup. 

As previously communicated the Tradestaff NFC will run this October in Christchurch over the Labour Weekend, having been rescheduled from last season due to ‘that’ pandemic. 

Softball NZ will host the Golden Homes BSX Invitation Club Challenge at Rosedale Park November 4-6. 

The purpose of the event is to assemble quality male club teams with the aim of providing intense competition for the Golden Homes Black Sox as they prepare for the upcoming Tradestaff WBSC Men’s Softball World Cup. 

The three day tournament will include eight club teams including local pickups to strengthen their chances of being victorious. 

To ensure the event is meaningful for the Black Sox the opposing teams will start with runners on base each inning. 

Prize Money
As an incentive $12k of prize money is up for grabs, making the tournament New Zealand’s largest ever purse. The prize money will be awarded as follows:
•    Winner $5K
•    Runner Up $2K
•    $500 MVP (non BSX player)
•    $500 for team/s that beat the BSX ($4K)
•    $500 Miscellaneous prizes
•    Total Prizes = $12K

Eight teams have been confirmed their intent to battle against the Black Sox, including:
•    Papanui Tigers
•    Poneke Kilbirnie
•    Porirua City United 
•    Mount Albert Ramblers
•    Auckland United
•    Roosters
•    Auckland Marist
•    Hutt Valley Dodgers

The BSX Invitation Club Challenge will then flow into the Tradestaff International Invitation Series at Colquhoun Park, Palmerston North, November 18-20. 

The series will feature the elite of the softball world with the top 6 federations convening in what is being dubbed as a mini world cup.

Reigning world champs and recently crowned Pan American champions Argentina will be the team to watch followed by Japan (2), Canada (3), Australia (4), Czech Republic (5) and New Zealand (6).

The three day tournament will not only provide an ideal opportunity for competing teams to ready themselves for the world cup but bring international softball back to Palmerston North, the venue of the WBSC U18 Boys Softball World Cup in 2020.