IN Bermudian sport there can few declines more dramatic than women's fast-pitch softball.

From the mid 1970s to the 1980s the national team, dubbed the Big Blue Machine was conquering all comers and the domestic game was graced by clubs like the Devonshire Diamondettes, Eaglettes, the Somerset Bluebirds and Social Club Jets.

Now there is no organised league.

But fast-pitch fan Carla Zuill is determined not to accept this moribund state of affairs.

The Bermuda Amateur Softball Association press relations officer is working with others to boost youth participation in a bid to reverse the trend. She said: "We've haven't had a fast-pitch women's league since 2002. We tried to have one last year but it wasn't met with much vigour. It was a booming sport in the 1970s and we had a really great team ? the Big Blue Machine.

"But after the millennium fast-pitch effectively died off as a women's sport even though men's fast-pitch continues to thrive. I refuse to think fast-pitch is permanently dead because it's dormant now.

"We are trying to get back to the days when people used to flock to the park to watch people play. Now it hard to get 20 people on the bleachers and it's free. Back in my day you played ball, you loved it, you worked hard at it. It seems some girls just don't take the sport as seriously now."

Zuill said: "I remember rushing through a GCSE exam so I could go and play in a softball tournament. That enthusiasm doesn't seem to be there at that level any more. Part of the problem is the interest in the schools. It seems like the last crop of fast-pitch players were 25 and up. There seems to be a gap now."

The BASA is now working to stop that gap extending. Last August it ran a month-long summer youth league for six to 12-year-olds at Bernard Park.

"We had tons and tons of children. It was very well received."

And there are signs the event will be bigger this year. Zuill said: "Many parents have said they will bring the children back and we have already had inquires from children whose children weren't involved last time about becoming involved this year. Children loved it. The younger kids did tee-ball where the ball stands on a tee rather than being pitched so they can just hit it. It helps hand-eye co-ordination and boosts their confidence. They trained just like a normal softball team. We had four teams, it was really successful, we had children turning up constantly.

"We are hoping the response and the success of the league will help to revamp the game. There's going to be a gap so it may be a few years in the making but hopefully this younger group will continue with the interest in the sport. Right now between ages of 16 to 26 that interest has gone all together. It's still played in schools but when I was in high school in the late 80s and 90s when I left there were tons of leagues and school teams. Everyone is into soccer and cricket but not everyone is into softball."

And those that are into softball are being lured into slow-pitch which is thriving.

"Those who love softball like myself have to settle for that," says the 29-year-old Renegades player.

But she misses the adrenalin rush of the faster game. "It's a much quicker paced game, I grew up on it. I didn't play slow-pitch until my late 20s. Fast-pitch was all that I knew. Before slow-pitch was deemed recreational and fast-pitch was competitive but that mindset has totally changed. With the exception of the pitching style of the ball, slow-pitch has become the new fast-pitch.

"I can't say what's happened. Now you have 40-50 teams fighting to sign up in a slow-pitch league but before people wanted to play fast-pitch.

"I remember playing softball from ten years old and there was a league every year," said Zuill. "It could be the teachers are not interested in softball like they used to be. I can remember at one time they contemplated going into the schools to revitalise softball. It's not that we have written of the middle group but we are ensuring the young group know the sports exists and cultivating their interests in the hope that when they get older their interest will grow into a rebirth. The other issue is sponsorship ? there are teams that want to play which can't afford the registration fee. If we could find more corporate sponsors who could help fast-pitch teams that can play a great role.

"There are a lot of us in our 20s, 30s and even 40s who want to play but can't afford it."

Zuill still believes there is time for a revival while she is able to play. "There could be players out there, whether they have played before or want to who might not realise fast-pitch is trying to re-establish itself. I encourage people who want to get involved to contact us. Hopefully we can have a league this summer even though it could be five teams."

If you are interested in getting involved call Carla Zuill on 278 0116.