The IBL comes to light at the 1st federal council of 2014

The first FIBS (Italian Baseball and Softball Federation) federal council of 2014 was held in Treviso, Italy on Saturday at the Treviso BHR Hotel. The topics covered at the event included formulating the baseball and softball leagues across Italy, National team events, as well as administrative tasks.

The session was opened by the President Riccardo Fraccari who touched on different topics, including the Italian Baseball League’s new formula, the 2020 Olympics in Tokyo and the possibility of the IOC (International Olympic Committee) reinstating both Baseball and Softball as Olympic Sports. “There’s a real possibility of a Baseball and Softball reinstatement for 2020. The IOC will have an official decision handed down in December, however we should have a good idea on the direction that they’re going to take in Sochi. A return to the Olympic Games would be a major achievement, not only from the economic point of view but also as an image," expressed Fraccari.

The first topic covered by the council was the 2014 Italian Baseball League’s new formula. The 8 organizations in the league will be divided into two divisions of 4. In division A it’s going to be Bologna, San Marino, Godo and newcomer to the IBL, Padova, while division B will be made up of Rimini, Nettuno, Grosseto, and Parma. An exact schedule is expected to be produced within a week by the FIBS Game Organization Committee that will also feature interdivision play in 2014.

The second topic of the day was softball. First on tap was the ISL, and with Urbe Roma dropping out of the top division the league is at an even 12 clubs that will be split into two divisions of 6. A league down, A2 Softball will feature 13 teams divided into two groups that include New Bologna, Eagles Roma, and the Blue Girls Bologna.

Back to Baseball… Series A will feature 24 clubs divided in 3 divisions that will include the well known names of Novara, the New Black Panthers who are both out of the IBL, as well as Verona, Rimini Rivera, Nettuno 2, and the Lion’s Nettuno. Finally a league down in Series B the total number of clubs expected to participate in 2014 is 32 that will be divided into 4 divisions of 8.

Over the next couple of days, the staff of the Italian National Baseball Team will be announced as well as the clubs 2014 schedule of events.