The semifinals are scheduled for the weekend. Former KBO MVP and Sydney 2000 bronze medalist Dae-Sung Koo came out of retirement to become, at 53, the oldest player in the league's history.

The Oceania Qualifier opens in Auckland, New Zealand, on Monday, 12 December.

The fourth Men's Softball World Cup played on the country's soil will open on 26 November. Softball New Zealand believes Fastball 45, a faster-paced version of the game, is an ideal vehicle to attract new members.

The eight-team league features MLB, NPB and KBO talent.

Whakaata Māori will livestream all games of the tournament on its digital platform MĀORI+ for New Zealand fans. All Black Sox games will also be broadcast live on television. For the rest of the world, fans will be able to watch the 50 games of the WBSC Men’s Softball World Cup through GameTime.

Belinda White (pictured above with Warwick) will serve as Vice-Captain.

Baseball and softball, which are showcased in various multi-sport competitions, were among nine sports featured at the Pacific Mini Games 2022.

Baseball is one of the nine sports on the programme. It was last featured in the multi-sport event in 2005. Fiji, Palau and Solomon Islands are the other three participants in the five-team tournament.

There's now professional baseball back in New Zealand, a country ranked 46th in the WBSC Baseball World Rankings.

The 17-year old pitcher (pictured above) earned the win in the final against the Brisbane Bandits. Seven international players, including WBSC Women's Baseball World Cup reigning MVP Ayami Sato, participated in the event.