When Ichiro Suzuki showed up at the Seattle Mariners training facility in Arizona in February 2001, most people thought he didn’t belong there.

The official countdown to the ISF XIII Men’s World Championship begins in earnest with the one-year-to-go milestone celebrated in Auckland today.

It is another huge step for the development of Baseball in Germany. And it is kind of logical with the construction of the new baseball and softball stadium in Mainz and the youth concept of the local club Mainz Athletics in the last couple of years.

Although 2011’s was the ninth such 19-and-under tournament since the ISF began the event in 1981, this one had some ‘firsts.’

Parma (Italy) – November 12, 2011 was a big day for over 400 young baseball players in Italy, as the European Big League Tour stopped in Parma bringing a number of Major League Baseball stars to town in order to spend some hours on the field with the kids.

SASKATOON, SASKATCHEWAN — Two walks issued were all that separated pitcher Adam Folkard from a perfect game here in today’s 5-0 win over New Zealand. The fact that the lanky hurler not only no-hit three-time defending International Softball Federation men’s world champion New Zealand, but did so in the gold medal game of the twelfth edition of the event, probably will set just as well with him on the flight home to Australia.

SASKATOON, SASKATCHEWAN — At the last edition of the International Softball Federation’s Men’s World Championship, Australia won a medal at the event for the first time when they came in third place. Here they are going to do even better, having guaranteed themselves a spot in tomorrow’s gold medal game with a 2-0 victory tonight over Canada.

SASKATOON, SASKATCHEWAN — Just 24 hours after teammate Andrew Kirkpatrick threw a (five inning) perfect game, pitcher Adam Folkard tossed a one-hitter as Australia blanked New Zealand, 7-0, in six innings at the International Softball Federation’s XII Men’s World Championship being played here.

SASKATOON, SASKATCHEWAN — After 56 games played there are only ten more left as the International Softball Federation’s XII Men’s World Championship (fast pitch) heads for playoff weekend.

The first pitch at the International Softball Federation’s XII Men’s World Championship is – as of today – just 50 days away. The 16 teams that will play in the marquee tournament are well aware of that, and showing as much by getting in some final warm-up games.