The European Softball Federation has released information on provisional entries to the 2013 European Slowpitch Championships and European Slowpitch Cup.
The entries are provisional at this point because teams can withdraw their entries before March 1 without incurring penalties, so the final number of entries in each competition remains to be seen.
European Slowpitch Championships
The 2013 European Slowpitch Championship is scheduled for July 15/16-20 in Pardubice, about 50 miles east of Prague in the Czech Republic.
Eight teams have entered at this stage: Austria, Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, Great Britain, Germany, Ireland, Slovenia and newcomers Serbia.
If all eight teams compete, that will equal the tournament's highest entry, when eight teams took part in 2010 in Prague.
There is some disappointment that Belgium, Jersey and Guernsey have declined to enter. Last year's tour to the Netherlands by the GB Slowpitch Team had raised hopes of a Dutch entry this year, but although the Dutch are committed to developing slowpitch, with a meeting of interested clubs scheduled early in February, it will probably be 2015 before we see a Dutch national team.
European Slowpitch Cup
With a motion on the table at the ESF Congress coming up on February 15-17 in Slovenia to hold the European Slowpitch Cup every other year instead of every year, there is some uncertainty as to whether this year's competition will go ahead – especially as there does not appear to be a host at this stage.
Nevertheless, seven teams are currently entered: Lisicke from Slovenia as defending champions, Askoe Linz Bandits from Austria, Wayne's World from the Czech Republic, Chromies from Great Britain, UCE Travellers from Germany, a team from Ireland and a second Slovenian team, Krpan.
If the tournament does take place, the scheduled dates are July 31-August 4.