SWU’s Softball Team

Tipfany Mar 5, 2010

            First of all, get to know softball with its history. Softball means directly the ball which is soft. It was originated accidentally in Chicago,USA since 1987 and called indoor baseball at that time. It is similar to baseball but it was reduce in the smaller size of field. Many rules of softball are also similar to baseball’s rules but softball’s ball is bigger and easier to hit. It became a popular and national sport in USA. Softball had been known for a first time in Thailand in 1951 by Mr. Raph H. Johnson, an American teacher who taught softball to their Health Education School‘s students. Then the competition was arranged more often and softball became more popular in Thai people but it was not so famous.  Now, there are many association responsible on softball such as The Amateur Softball Association of Thailand, Asian Softball Federation (ASF), International Softball Federation (ISF) and Softball Confederation Asia (SAS).

            In Srinakharinwirot University also have the softball team .I believed that mostly student never heard or know this team before. It was established approximately since 30 years ago but the team was not so continued. The team should have 17 players,9 players are on ground players and 8 players are second string. Nowadays, there are only 13 players in SWU team and some of them are my friends. I had a chance to talk to Mr.Thumtaratharn, one of the players. He is an out field player. His responsibility is to catch and throw the ball as fast and accurately as he can. Everyone in the team has the same position which is a batter, to hit the ball when the team is an aggressor. Mr.Thumtaratharn said that there are many difficulties to be successful in game. First, they have to play as a team but it is hard to gather the members who study in different major and place. Some of them are at Ongkarak and the others are at Prasarnmit. Some of them are willing to play and some are unwilling. They just play for a scholarship in case of earning the medal. The second is there is too less supporting from high ranking person of the university. For example; less money for expensive softball’s equipment, cheap allowance for athletes and less time to practice are the main problem ever. At least, I just want people to know more about softball, about our team and love softball as I do, he said at the end.