Zambia has hosted its first Baseball5 University Championship in Lusaka ©WBSC

The Zambia Softball Baseball Association has successfully hosted its first Baseball5 University Championship.

The tournament took place at the University of Zambia in the capital Lusaka where a rugby field was temporarily converted into a Baseball5 square.

Baseball5 is a street variation of the sport introduced by the World Baseball Softball Confederation (WBSC) last year. 

It is simplified version of baseball where the ball is hit with the hand instead of a bat.

There are five players on each team and each team has five innings.

Copperbelt Province University won Zambia's first Baseball5 University Championship with a 2-1 victory over hosts the University of Zambia in Lusaka on a converted rugby field ©WBSC
Copperbelt Province University won Zambia's first Baseball5 University Championship with a 2-1 victory over hosts the University of Zambia in Lusaka on a converted rugby field ©WBSC

The competition between the host team University of Zambia and Copperbelt Province University took place over a series of three matches and was won by the visitors 2-1.

The Zambia Softball Baseball Association is working in partnership with the WBSC to develop the sport in the country. 

They were introduced to Baseball5 early this year and they are also taking part in the WBSC African Development Project, a multi-year effort tailored to National Federations in the continent. 

Its vision is to address all aspects of the life of a sports federation, from administration to organisation and running of regional and national competitions, all the way to preparation of national teams.