Gold Villicanes won't return to Kansai Independent League

OSAKA (Kyodo) The Kansai Independent League champion Osaka Gold Villicanes are not returning to the league next season, the club said Monday.

The cash-strapped league has been given yet another blow after the departure of Kobe 9 Cruise female knuckleballer Eri Yoshida, who was the biggest attraction of the league.

Yoshida said earlier this month she intends to go to college instead of continuing with baseball.

The Gold Villicanes are scheduled to begin talks Tuesday on their possible participation in the Japan-Future League, which aims to open its inaugural season next April based in the Kansai western and Tokai central regions.

The Kansai Independent League was launched this past spring with four teams but has continued to struggle with financial problems.

The Osaka club has been forced to cut each player's monthly pay in half to ¥100,000 since August.