Opening Day pushed back in Japan

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TOKYO -- Opening Day in the Japanese professional baseball leagues has been pushed back until next week due to the effects of this month's earthquake and tsunami.

The Central League agreed to a government request to push back the new season until March 29, a statement from the Central League directors said. The league had been due to start this Friday.

The league said it would also try to switch as many night games as possible to day games to preserve electricity, which is in limited supply in the aftermath of the disaster, and said there would be no extra innings in night games.

The Pacific League, which involves teams in areas hardest hit by the earthquake and tsunami, had previously agreed to push back its start until April 12.

Copyright 2011 by The Associated Press

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