Thinley Namgay   

The maiden men’s under-18 Bhutan Amateur Baseball League is ongoing at Loselling Middle Secondary School’s (LMSS) ground in Thimphu since August 27 among seven teams.

The league consists of a regular season and playoffs for three months.  All the games are played during weekends with an official game being seven innings.

In the second game of the tournament on September 3, Changangkha Middle Secondary School will play against Thimphu Red Panda Baseball and Softball Club.

Taba Lower Secondary School (TLSS) will play LMSS, and Druk School will face Dechencholing Higher Secondary School on September 4.

The seventh team is the team Royal Bodyguard.

In the opening game on August 27, Thimphu Baseball Club humbled Taba LSS 23- 0.

Organised by the Bhutan Baseball and Softball Association (BBSA) in collaboration with the Royal Insurance Corporation of Bhutan, the tournament intends to develop and prepare young players under 18 years for dzongkhag clubs and senior leagues.

The other objective is to promote the Baseball and Softball games as they are new in the country.

BBSA’s Media Officer Jeechen Ladree said that the top players of the league will play in the All-Star game on October 15.  She said they are yet to decide about organising a similar tournament for the girls.

This is the second major tournament the BBSA organised after completing the first under-15 Bhutan Amateur Baseball League in Thimphu last month among five teams.

Ninety students are involved in the league. Baseball is played between two teams consisting of nine players in each team.