The Bermuda Amateur Softball Association is undergoing a major restructuring which, among other things, they hope will also assist in reviving the interest of fast pitch on the Island, particularly among young females, writes Colin Zuill.

While unwilling to accept the rumours that women's fast pitch play faces immediate extinction, BASA president Erica Smith did concede that there was a growing concern and that this problem combined with many others related to the administration of the sport will be addressed.

"What I can say right now is that BASA is going through a major restructuring and basically we will not be running softball in the summer or in the winter," she said. "In the summer we organised and ran the leagues, meaning we did the scheduling, got the umpires and did all that but not any more.

"We have formed, through affiliates, an affiliate league who will handle that for us and BASA will only be focussing on long-range strategic planning, that is, our national programmes, our youth development, coaching and umpires development, tournaments, fund raising, marketing etc.''

The president quashed rumours that fast pitch softball as Bermuda once knew it is dead, revealing that while it's no secret that there does in fact remain a lot of uncertainty about whether a women's league will operate this season there would definitely be a men's fast pitch league with as many as five teams.

But hints that a women's fast pitch league may be temporarily abandoned does come as a shock as women's fast pitch helped to give Bermuda one of its most memorable moments in sports which came in the days of the triumphant Big Blue Machine, Bermuda's successful national team which recorded several victories at major Caribbean and Central American tournaments from the mid 70s through to the 80s.

However, sadly after the glory days of the Big Blue Machine and of prosperous teams like the Devonshire Diamondettes, Eaglettes, Somerset Bluebirds, Social Club Jets women's fast pitch softball has wained.

The writing has been on the wall for a while with the league last season having just four teams.

"I don't want people to think that fast pitch is dying, it's just receding but it's receding all over the world. The key is to get youth involved in it and have a basic plan to get the message out,'' said Smith.

"I am 99 percent sure that we will have a men's league this summer, and I believe we will have some women's fast pitch in some way, shape or form.

"We may not have it in the format it has been historically been played and this can be attributed to the fact that we don't have an established youth league where players can be developed.''

But BASA remain hopeful that fast pitch for women will be revived some day.

In fact, according to the president, Bermuda will be hosting a women's fast pitch team from Molloy College in May with the visitors playing a select team of local fast pitch players.

The executive committee are also working towards establishing a youth league this summer.

Additionally BASA, with the help of the Bermuda Tourism Department, is aiming to host a fast pitch tournament for women on the Island next year.