China's baseball authorities are seeking help from their Japanese counterparts in a bid to get their "baby" beyond first base.

The China Baseball League returns later this month with a Japanese organizing partner, new Japanese sponsors and support from Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB), Japan's baseball league.

The Chinese Baseball Association announced yesterday that it would continue to work with Softbank Group of Japan to organize the league, which was inaugurated in 2003.

The league opens on April 13 in Wuxi, East China's Jiangsu Province. The six teams hoping for glory are Beijing Tigers, Tianjin Lions, Shanghai Eagles, Guangdong Leopards, Sichuan Dragons and Jiangsu Hopestars.

After the 63-game regular season, the league will enter a 10-game playoffs starting June 9.

A best-of-five championship series will follow and end on July 1.

However, this season all six teams will have an NPB club as a partner. Beijing, three-time league champions, will pair Yomiuri Giants, Sichuan will team up with Softbank Hawks, Shanghai will have Hanshin Tigers, Jiangsu will go with Chiba Lotte Marines while Guangdong, last year runners-up, will partner Hiroshima Toyo Carp.

Reigning champions Tianjin are a step ahead as they have already set up a similar co-operative program, which allows the Japanese club to send coaches and players to China and Chinese players to train at facilities overseas, two years ago with Yokohama Baystars.

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