24 teams will compete in student baseball c'ships

24 teams will compete in student baseball c'ships

JAKARTA (JP): Following a successful Students' Baseball
Tournament last year, organizers expected more students to take
part this year at a similar event jointly organized by Garuda
Baseball club, Prambors Baseball and Softball club, and FeMale
radio station.

The event is slated to start on July 22 and continue every
Sunday thereafter until Sept. 9, at the Bung Karno Baseball and
Softball stadium in Central Jakarta.

"While last year we used the slogan 'Sports against drugs',
this year we have adopted 'Hit the fears, catch the cheers',"
organizing committee chairman Sudarman Djamaan told reporters at
a media conference on Saturday.

"We want to encourage more students to have fun with sport
first, especially those at elementary schools. They can think of
achievements once they enter high school.

"The most important thing is that baseball not only allows the
children to develop their individual skills, but more importantly
how to work together as a team," he added.

He said that 300 students had registered themselves for the
event, which would be sufficient for some 20 teams. The organizer
is expecting a total of 24 teams to participate.

"Individuals, as well as teams, can apply for the event. We
will establish a mixed team for individuals. With a registration
fee of Rp 150,000 (US$13), participants will get a uniform and a
certificate," said Sudarman.

"We also welcome school teams, as well as those from baseball
clubs. The registration fee is Rp 500,000 per team, but they
provide their own uniforms," he added.

There are four divisions in the event, T-ball League for
elementary school's first and second graders, Machine Pitch
League for third and fourth graders, and Little League for fifth
and sixth graders. These divisions are open to boys and girls.

The fourth league, the Senior League is only for boy students
at the junior high school level.

Teams at the T-ball League and Pitching Machine League will
not have pitchers. The ball is put on a pole in the T-ball
League, while a pitching machine is used in the Pitching Machine
League.

"It is important to start at an early stage to achieve the
best results, especially if the students have an ambition to be
national players," said Sudarman.

"Most of the players in our current national team started to
play baseball from an early age. Starting to play the sport later
may not produce the best benefit," he added. (nvn)