After six years of independence, the Burnie Softball Association will once again become an affiliated member of Softball Tasmania.

The association previously left the state governing body after deciding the costs associated with affiliation were too high.

However, Softball Tasmania have been able to reconnect with Burnie Softball Association through the work of Nancy Viviani, a Softball Tasmania board member and Burnie Softball Association affiliate.

Over the past few seasons, Nancy has continued to ask questions of Softball Tasmania and kept re-affiliation on the radar for Burnie Softball Association.

Combined with a new Burnie Softball Association executive and several new committee members, the association can now see the advantage of becoming re-affiliated with Softball Tasmania.

Burnie Softball Association was founded in 1964, and at the height of their competition fielded 34 softball teams.

More recently, the association co-hosted the 2017 Australian Master’s Softball event by providing club rooms, volunteers, and grounds for diamonds, and the Association hopes to field five senior women’s teams this coming season.

Softball Tasmania President Sheryl Burnie outlined the many benefits the decision will have for the association, saying, “Burnie Softball Association can now take part in our championships, allowing young players to participate with kids their own age, and giving senior players an opportunity to play in the open championships.

“It will also allow the association to benefit from any clinics that we host or organise, and provide them help with advertising.”

Softball Tasmania is thrilled to reunite with the Burnie Softball Association and looks forward to seeing where the affiliation can take both the association and the State body.