Softball Yukon held their annual meet and greet pre-season meeting last night at the Westmark Whitehorse.

Over a hundred players were in attendance as Bill Stonehouse, Whitehorse Co-Ed Slo-Pitch League vice-president, and George Arcand, Softball Yukon executive director, discussed the upcoming season.

"Tonight's a chance to let the players know the plans for the summer and get their feedback, especially with the Worlds coming to town,” said Arcand.

The issues at hand garnered enough attention to draw a large crowd despite the meeting falling on the first night of the NHL playoffs.

"It was a better turnout than I expected based on the hockey games,” said Arcand.

"It was a pretty good crowd.”

Between the discussion of league business, Arcand and Stonehouse took turns drawing ticket numbers for a plethora of door prizes that lined the walls of the conference room. Nearly everyone in attendance was able to leave with a shirt, blanket or other item of Softball Yukon branded merchandise.

The hot topic of the evening was the Senior Women's Fast Pitch World Championship that will be held at the Pepsi Softball Centre from July 13 to 22.

The complex will be closed to the league from June 18 to July 30.

"The World's shutdown the complex for league play but we will still be playing across the road and downtown,” said Arcand.

"It will effect the schedule a little bit, the number of games and what time teams play, but we'll still be playing ball.

"It's different compared to normal years but everyone seems to be okay with it and they're happy that we're hosting. Next year we go back to normal and they get the

complex all summer.”

The city will be buzzing with international talent again in 2014 as the ISF Junior Men's World Fast Pitch Championships will return to Whitehorse after the event was successfully hosted in 2008.

With the women's world championship coming to town, the ballparks will also be getting some renovations including improved wheelchair access at the Pepsi Centre and a new dugout at the Robert Service ballpark.

"We redesigned the center bleachers to accommodate wheelchairs so rather having to sit between the bleachers they can sit up on the padding and see the game,” said Arcand.

"It was something we thought it was about time we did.”

For those wishing to volunteer at the Worlds online registration is now available.

Softball Yukon is hoping to have a couple hundred volunteers committed to the championships.

"We're always looking for more volunteers and we're also looking for people that can speak other languages,” said Arcand.

Volunteers gain free access to the world championships and registration will be

available throughout the tournament.

An adult events pass, which grants access to all games including the medal rounds, sells for $125 and can be purchased at Sport Yukon. Seniors, 65 and older, and youth between the ages of two and 16, can buy passes for $100 while children younger than two are granted free access.

Day passes can also be purchased for $20 per day for all ages.

The annual Dustball tournament is scheduled to run from June 14 to 17. There will be a limit of 72 teams spread across three men's divisions and four co-ed divisions.

The league also opted to drop the "D” league from the men's side and amended the 5-run rule, which will still be in effect throughout the tournament except for the final game.

The league is continuing it's search for umpires and will hold an umpire clinic at Sport Yukon on April 20 and 21.

The sessions will run for three and five hours apiece and the umpire course fees are returned after umping a minimum of eight games.

Fees for the co-ed league remain at $90 per player, $60 for youth and $60 for crossover players that wish to play in multiple divisions.

Arcand said field maintenance is progressing and he's hoping for a fast snowmelt.

The league is scheduled to begin on May 7 but that date could be subject to change based on the weather conditions.

"We could use a little faster snow melt but it's starting to happen and we're moving forward with things,” said Arcand.

"We're looking forward to getting out there and getting the season started.”