Semiahmoo Peninsula softball fans will have plenty to cheer about right from the first day of the Women’s World Softball Championships.
The Canadian national team will hit the the field and face Great Britain on Day 1 of the 31-team tournament, organizers announced Tuesday.
The two teams will play the first round-robin game of the event on July 15, 8:15 p.m. at Softball City, following the tournament’s official opening ceremonies. Other games will be played earlier in the day, beginning at 8:30 a.m.
The tournament will run from July 15-24, and will include under-18 and under-16 events in addition to the international showdown.
Following their tilt with Great Britain, Canada – in Pool D – will take on Ireland on July 16, before wrapping up its preliminary-round schedule against Uganda on the evening of July 17.
Following the round robin, teams will play a second round robin based on finishes in the opening round.
In total, 45 games will be played in each of the first two rounds, followed by 17 placement games and 17 championship-round games. Teams have been divided into eight pools of four teams, with the exception of Pool A, which has just three – Japan, Venezuela and France.
Of the 31 teams participating in this year’s event, 11 will be at worlds for the first time – Brazil, Ecuador, India, Ireland, Israel, Kenya, Pakistan, Peru, Serbia, Switzerland and Uganda.
Canada, meanwhile, will be among the top contenders, along with two-time defending champion Japan, winners in both 2012 and ’14, and the United Staes, who’ve won a total of nine world titles and finished second to Japan the past two tournaments. Australia, another medal contenders, finished third both years.
This year’s gold-medal game is set for July 24 at 6:30 p.m. at Softball City.
For a full schedule, plus other information, visit www.surrey2016.com