Happy Spring to everyone! Softball season is upon us, and now, if we haven’t already, we get to dust off those cleats, oil up the glove, and get ready for the season. Of course, High Schools have been at it already in the warmer, drier parts of the country, and even in rainy Spokane, varsity tryouts have come and gone. Exciting, isn’t it? Can you smell the grass? Feel that freshly dragged infield dirt under your feet? Are you ready to fuel up the car and go North to watch the Canada Cup in July?

That last one is a trick question, as the unthinkable has happened this year – the Women’s Division – the same one I was lucky enough to play in in 2005 – has been cancelled. Was this due to Softball being eliminated from the Olympics? Severe funding cuts? One might think that, given the current financial and political situations, but nope... the Canada Cup Women’s Division is out this year because or either (1 –Sheer stupidity and non-communication or 2) Ego and malice. As in most things, it’s probably a mixture of several items, as in life, nothing is really ever truly black and white, right?

The official news release is very neutral, saying “The Canada Cup was to be held July 3 to 11 in Surrey, BC with many international teams then heading to the World Championships the following week. The 2010 ISF Xll Women’s World Championships will now be held in Caracas, Venezuela June 23 to July 2.” Whose freaking brainchild was it to change the dates on the World Championships? Yeah...I’m ticked off, if you can’t tell. It’s exactly this kind of poorly thought out planning that did little service to getting softball re-instated. I have often supported the ISF, and have played in several countries under their auspices, and have supported BackSoftball!, even promoting it here in my column, but this... this is just plain silly. How in the world...literally...can we afford to lose even ONE major international tournament when we’re trying to grow and promote softball world wide. What could possibly have motivated the ISF to allow the date changes?

A December 21, 2009 Press release from the ISF website may shed some murky light. It says the dates had to be moved for the World Championships “due to a date conflict with the Central American & Caribbean Games in Puerto Rico that would have prevented three teams that had qualified for the ISF event from having the opportunity to play against the other 13 nations.” Good and noble thinking there, I believe. It’s smart to open up playing opportunities and also spread the World Championships around – and although Caracas, Venezuela may not be the best of sites media-wise, it is a good political move to play the games somewhere besides Oklahoma City (where they were originally scheduled). So, the best of intentions? Maybe. But the fact remains that somehow a 17-year tradition of world-class softball has been interrupted due to poor planning. It’s great that we have the other championships, but I am in deep mourning for the hiatus of the Canada Cup this year, and I urge President Porter to do everything in his (and his organization’s) power to make sure the Canada Cup is only in a coma and has not met an untimely end for future years.

And speaking of poor locations for a World Championship.... the XIII Women’s World Championships are going to be in... Whitehorse, Yukon, Canada. Where? Hey, I’ve been to Whitehorse. It’s gorgeous and very frontiersy...but getting there? Likely an absolute nightmare for teams and media. I love that it will be in Canada, but the YUKON? Really?

On the positive side, HUGE kudos to the White Rock Renegades for hosting the 2010 Canada Cup Futures and Showcase events regardless of the Women’s Division cancellation. Way to go! There’s the spirit of Softball!

Until next time, don’t let bad planning get you down. Go out and play, and play HARD, ‘cuz there ain’t nothin’ soft about it!
Tiffany Brooks resides in Spokane, Washington and is always happy to receive your comments and column suggestions. She can be reached at gutallstop@hotmail.com.