Delta, Rivers clash as Baseball, Softball hostilities begin in Asaba today

Team Delta and Rivers will battle in the first match of the maiden Victor Chukwudumebi Achakpo 2022 National Division 1 Baseball and Softball Championship, which begins in Asaba today.

The competition will end on April 24. It is featuring Baseball Division 1 teams from Delta, Kwara, Lagos, Ekiti and Niger states, while women Division 1 teams from Delta, Rivers, Kwara and Lagos will feature in the Softball event.

Over N1 million cash prizes have been earmarked for the teams.

After the baseball match involving Delta and Rivers states this morning at St. Patrick’s College (SPC), Asaba, Kwara and Lagos states’ teams will take the centre stage between 9 and 11 a.m., before Rivers and Lagos softball teams enter the fray. Delta softball team will face Kwara between 1pm and 2pm, before Niger baseball team trades tackles with Team Delta in the afternoon. The last match for today is the baseball match between Ekiti and Kwara states.

Tomorrow, April 22, Rivers baseball team will face Niger and Lagos against Ekiti in the morning fixtures.

The afternoon games will see Lagos softball team do battle with Delta, while Kwara faces Rivers.

The semifinal will hold on later tomorrow, while the third place match and final game hold on April 24.

The sponsor, Victor Chukwudumebi Achakpo, a former athlete, is providing feeding for 17 persons (15 players and two coaches).

The aim of the National Division 1 Baseball and Softball championship, according to Achakpo, is to promote and develop the game in Nigeria, re-awaken the interest of youths in baseball and softball, reduce youth restiveness in Nigeria and expose the players to international level.