For a few days, Saragossa It is hosting, together with Pamplona, the XVIII edition of the Women’s Sophult Women’s Championship Sub-18. The field of the neighborhood of Miralbueno You are living a unique days in which fans of this sport are vibrating with the clashes between the different teams and, above all, with the participation of Spain. In Aragon Press we have chatted with the Spanish team player, Natalia López, about the good role of the national team in the tournament and about this less known sport.
“We have classified the Top-6, so happier we can’t be,” Natalia told us. The Spanish team has managed to advance to the ‘Super Round’ where the six best selections of the tournament are located so far. Spain, Czech Republic, Italy, Ireland, the Netherlands and Ukraine will be played in these next days the European title.
Natalia López is the third base and second batter of the national team. Photo: WBSC Europe
In the final stretch of the tournament, the objective of the Spanish team is clear: get a medal. A goal that despite having more powerful selections in the competition, Natalia believes that it can be achieved: “If we play as we have been playing so far, we can get entertaining match and thus win.”
The competition is being played in Spanish lands, a situation that Natalia valued very positively: “It is very good because your whole family can come.” Although with The controversy of Israel’s participation, the championship is playing between Pamplona and Zaragoza, forcing some selections such as Spain to play a game in each city on the same day. “The truth is that it is not very funny, but it is what it touches … at least it is only two hours of travel,” he evaluated the third base and second batter of the national team.
In all the parties of Spain, the great union that exists among all its members has been observed. “We have done very good crumbs,” Natalia said. Each player plays during the season at his club and then be selected by Spain. Natalia is currently in a Valencia club after having been in Zaragoza and starting from five years to practice the sophol: “A coach insisted that he played with a friend and since since then, we have practiced this sport.”
The players have shown that they are a large group. Photo: WBSC Europe
The sophol
The sophol is a sport of bat and ball very similar to baseball, but with some key differences. It is played between two teams of nine players in a smaller field and with a larger and larger ball than baseball. The goal of the game is to write down more races than the opposite team, which is achieved by hitting the ball with a bat and running through a series of bases arranged in the form of a diamond. The defensive team tries to eliminate the opposite players by catching the ball, touching the bases before them or making precise throws to the receiver.
“At first, you can see it as very difficult, but if you practice a little it can be very entertaining and you also do very good team, there is a lot of dialogue and becomes fun,” Natalia explained to us about the sophol.
