Regardless of how the remaining two games turn out for Team Denmark, the eighth ISF Junior Men's World Fast Pitch Championship have been a success.

The country built on its previous showing at the junior fast pitch tournament, winning its first-ever game at the event.

The victory was particularly special for a couple of reasons. The first reason was it provided the team with a little bit more confidence after a few rough games, including a 20-2 loss against New Zealand, a 7-0 loss to the United States and a 23-0 defeat to Japan.

Another reason the win meant so much was because it was against European rival the Czech Republic, which traditionally has been the stronger softball team between the two countries.

Denmark qualified for the world junior men's tournament as a result of placing second at the European fast pitch championship. The team lost in the finals to the Czech Republic, but other than that had a very successful showing at the competition.

The teams Denmark played to qualify included Slovakia, Croatia, Israel and France. The qualifier was held in 2006.

At the ISF championships, Denmark is currently in 11th place, but that could change after its game tonight against Venezuela and the team's final contest against Botswana, which will be played on Friday. Denmark currently is at 1-8.

"We think actually we are doing all right," said Denmark's Team Manager Jens Terkelsen. "We've had some big defeats, but we also won a game against the Czechs and since we are both from Europe that was pretty important. We have only won through the years a handful of games against them, but this was a big one for us."

The game against the Czech Republic was played Sunday and Denmark ended up winning by a decisive score of 9-2. The team managed to score three runs in the second inning and followed that up with an incredible six-run fifth inning to end the game after the fifth inning.

Terkelsen said one of Team Denmark's strengths is its team spirit.

"We try and focus on when we play the strong teams to keep a happy face all the time and don't let us get down," he said. "So you have to be ready for the next game; there is always a next game."

He said the team's goal is to try to climb as high in the standings as possible and hopes to finish in the ninth or 10th spot. He said no matter what happens they have enjoyed their time at the championships.

"Just to be here is really sort of a success in itself," he said. "To experience the Yukon and all you friendly people up here. It's been really great."

Fast pitch championships to be broadcasted on Internet

Worldwide, play-by-play radio coverage of the Junior Men's World Fast Pitch Championship is scheduled to begin today, via the Internet.

Softball Yukon president George Arcand explained Wednesday the pair of broadcasters will cover 13 games, including the semifinals and finals.

Internet broadcaster Jim Flanagan from Long Beach, Calif. put the proposal forward.

Flanagan was directed to Arcand by Tim Lyon, head coach of team U.S.A.

Arcand said they talked about what Flanagan was proposing, what type of logistics were involved and simply whether a broadcast from the Pepsi Softball Centre was possible.

"We found we could do it, so we brought them up," he said of Flanagan and his broadcast partner, Kyle Smith of Toronto.

"We really want to put this out to other parts of the world and allow parents to listen."

There was some talk of providing a live video feed but it was determined it would require too much Internet streaming to be practical, Arcand said.

Transportation and accommodations for Flanagan and Smith are being covered by the tournament, with the assistance of Air North, a partner to the championship event who provided the flights from Vancouver and back.

The junior men's championship, the eighth since it began in 1981, has so far drawn huge interest by local fans, particularly for the games with team Canada.

For Tuesday night's game against Australia, for instance, it was standing room only, with fans packing the stands on diamond number one and lining the field down both the first and third baselines, as well as the outfield.

Canada lost 3-1 but was within a hair of tying the game or even going up a run but for a spectacular two-out catch by Australia's centre fielder after Canadian shortstop Terrel Walker clobbered a pitch with runners on first and second.

Last night's 7-0 victory against Denmark was almost as well attended, and tonight's 7:30 start against Japan will likely draw another full field of supporters.

Arcand said Internet fans can get the broadcast schedule for the 13 games if they go to www.ballparkradio.com.

"The U.S. dedicated that website and their radio broadcast to promote fast pitch and they go around the country doing that."

The 12 teams here for the championship make up the largest field of participating countries since the event began. The 70 round-robin games began last Friday, and will end tomorrow, with the top four teams advancing to the playoffs on Saturday and Sunday.