Over the past week, several notable events have taken place in the world of softball:
International Softball:
- Pope Leo XIV Receives Chicago’s 16-Inch Softball: During a visit to the Vatican, Ron Onesti, president of the Joint Civic Committee of Italian Americans, presented Pope Leo XIV with a 16-inch softball, a nod to Chicago’s rich softball heritage. The Pope expressed enthusiasm, reminiscing about playing the game without a glove in his youth. (axios.com)
National Softball:
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U.S. Women’s National Team Prepares for WBSC World Cup: The USA Softball Women’s National Team arrived in Oklahoma City ahead of the 2026 World Baseball Softball Confederation (WBSC) Women’s Softball World Cup Group C Stage Event, scheduled for September 12-16 at Devon Park. The team conducted a six-day training camp in preparation for the competition. (usasoftball.com)
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Illinois Elementary School Association (IESA) Girls Softball State Finals: The 48th annual IESA Girls Softball State Tournaments were held on September 18-19 at Champion Fields in Normal, Illinois. Over 300 schools participated, with games commencing on Friday and culminating in the championship matches on Saturday afternoon. (iesa.org)
College Softball:
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Bradley University Announces Fall Softball Schedule: Bradley Softball unveiled an eight-game fall schedule, featuring matchups against teams like Heartland Community College, Loyola, Wisconsin, Rock Valley College, Black Hawk College, Spoon River College, and Northwestern. The season began on September 12 and will conclude on October 3. (bradleybraves.com)
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Purdue University Releases Fall Softball Schedule: Purdue Softball announced its 2026 fall slate, starting with a game against Bryant & Stratton on September 19. The schedule includes matchups against Loyola Chicago, DePaul, Lake Land College, Illinois State, Eastern Illinois, and Western Kentucky, with all games held at Bittinger Stadium. (purduesports.com)
High School Softball:
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Troy-Buchanan Trojans Secure Victories: The Troy-Buchanan Trojans achieved a 6-0 win against Jackson and an 8-2 victory over Lafayette in non-conference games on September 13. (maxpreps.com)
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Eureka Wildcats Triumph Over Union: The Eureka Wildcats dominated Union with a 14-0 win in a non-conference game on September 13. (maxpreps.com)
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Southern Boone Eagles Defeat Iberia: The Southern Boone Eagles secured a 17-2 victory over Iberia in a non-conference game on September 13. (maxpreps.com)
International Softball:
- British Softball Federation Announces National Champions: The Spittin Camels, Tempest, and Cardiff were crowned National Champions in the 2026 National Softball League (NSL) Nationals competition held at Farnham Park. (britishsoftball.org)
These events highlight the dynamic and widespread nature of softball, encompassing international diplomacy, national competitions, collegiate schedules, and high school achievements.
Highlights:
- Pope Leo’s latest Chicago gift: A 16-inch softball, Published on Monday, September 14
