The Dominican Republic plans to launch a national Baseball5 championship in July ©WBSC

The Dominican Republic plans to launch a national Baseball5 championship in July, according to Dominican Baseball Federation (FEDOBE) President Juan Antonio Núñez Nepomuceno.

The FEDOBE President was speaking after the successful staging of a Baseball5 introductory course in Santo Domingo.

A total of 70 people, including physical education professionals, teachers, coaches and representatives of the armed forces sports section participated in the event.

The Dominican Baseball Federation's long-term goal is to open several Baseball5 schools across the country, fortifying what is already one of the top baseball countries the world.

The course was held by World Baseball Softball Confederation (WBSC) instructor Jefferson Quintero, assisted by the technical director of the FEDOBE, Álvaro Manuel Samboy Beltré.

A recent Baseball5 introduction course held in Santo Domingo attracted more than 70 physical education professionals, teachers, coaches and representatives of the Armed Forces ©WBSC/FEDOBE
A recent Baseball5 introduction course held in Santo Domingo attracted more than 70 physical education professionals, teachers, coaches and representatives of the Armed Forces ©WBSC/FEDOBE

"I'm impressed by the level of the participants," said Nepomuceno.

"This new version of baseball/softball is inclusive.

"I'm delighted to see many ladies participating in the course."

Baseball5 is mixed-gender, five-a-side urban discipline which is increasingly being championed by the WBSC, with the first Baseball5 World Cup scheduled for 2022.

The new game - introduced by the WBSC in 2018 in order to develop the sport more widely - does not involve bats or gloves, with only a rubber ball needed to play it.

Any playing surface can be utilised and no pitcher is required, with hitting done by hand.