On the evening of October 12, the second phase of the 2024 Jinchang Kaiyuan Cup “To the Undefined Girl” China Softball League kicked off in Shaoxing, Zhejiang Province. This phase of the league features nine teams competing in a thrilling regular season with a total of 75 matches. Notably, October 26 will serve as Promotion Day, offering engaging promotional activities and an All-Star Game, while the grand final is set to take place on November 3.

In the previous two league seasons, the Zhejiang Guyue Longshan team claimed the inaugural championship, and last year, the Nanjing University of Technology Jiangsu team celebrated their victory on home turf. This year’s finals will see the top two teams from the regular season battling for the coveted championship trophy, known as “Tongyun.”

Following the conclusion of the first-stage matches, the standings are as follows: Shanghai leads in first place, with Guangdong in second, while Nanjing University of Technology Jiangsu and Sichuan Sun Bird sit in third and fourth, respectively. The remaining teams, including Henan Haoshou, Fujian Guanzhai Mountain, Xi’an Physical Education Institute Qinfeng Hanyun, Liaoning Blue Shark, and Zhejiang Guyue Longshan, round out the rankings from fifth to ninth.

Notably, the U18 national women’s softball team is competing under the banner of Fujian Guanzhai Mountain. This team recently secured a spot in the final of the 2025 U18 World Cup, and participating in this league will provide valuable competition experience for its players as they prepare for next year’s tasks.

On the opening match day, veteran player Li Huan of Nanjing University of Technology Jiangsu showcased an impressive performance against Sichuan Sun Bird, marking the league’s first home run of the second phase and scoring two home runs overall, leading his team to a 12-6 victory.

In other matches, the competition between Fujian Guanzhai Mountain and Henan Haoshou remained intense. During a tight match, Henan’s Yuan Minghan and Liu Jinxia both hit home runs, securing an 11-9 win for their team. In the final matchup of the opening ceremony, Zhejiang Guyue Longshan struggled offensively, succumbing to Xi’an Physical Education Institute Qinfeng Hanyun with a score of 1-11.

It’s also worth mentioning that the matches are being held at the Shaoxing Baseball and Softball Cultural Center, a venue built for the Asian Games. “For the past three years, Shaoxing and the China Softball League have moved forward hand in hand, leading to a more mature and exciting league. The organization of this league has allowed for a more effective utilization of the Asian Games venue, aiding Shaoxing in its goal of becoming a prominent city in Chinese baseball and softball,” said Chen Xu, President of the China Softball Association.