The Finnish softball athletes gather for a softball training camp

The Finnish softball athletes gather for a softball training camp
07/01/2023
From January 3 to 5, thirty-five Finnish athletes gathered for a softball training camp curated by Finnish coaches Juha Antikainen and Jukka Marttala and WBSC Europe Female Athletes Representative Martina Lackner-Keil.

The first camp of the year starting on January 3 to 5, 2023, was a small but successful step in the development of Finnish softball. Thirty-five athletes accomplished seven training sessions during these three days under the leadership of Finnish coaches Juha Antikainen and Jukka Marttala and WBSC Europe Female Athletes Representative Martina Lackner-Keil at Kuortanee sports college.

Most of the athletes have a pesäpallo background, which helps in acquiring softball skills.

There are also experienced Sandstorm softball players in the squad. The group's enthusiasm and motivation can be seen in action as cheerfulness and commitment.

“Working with the Finnish athletes and coaches has been very productive. We focused on pitching, hitting, and the defensive basics," Martina Lackner-Keil said. "The players are eager to learn and I felt very welcome and comfortable around them. There is much athleticism and potential, that comes from them playing pesäpallo and this is the interesting part. To use the abilities of the Finnish players to help them succeed in softball.”

The group will continue in Sweden in March in a training tournament organized by the Swedish Federation.

Cover photo by Miia Palmi