St. John's, NL - He's from Down Under and tops in the world
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ORIGINAL STORY by Robin Short - The Telegram
© Submitted photo/Hill United Chiefs
In five of the last six International Softball Congress (ISC) world championships, Adam Folkard has been named winner of the Leroy Zimmerman Most Outstanding Pitcher Award. The Australian’s five wins ties him with the man whom the award was named after.
Like Canadian baseball players learning from Americans, or U.S. soccer players being schooled by English football coaches, Adam Folkard learned how to throw a fastpitch softball thanks in part to Canadian ball players who migrated to his native Australia.
“We’ve had a lot of Canadians over the years come to play ball in Australia, and it’s forced our junior program to improve the quality of local players,†Folkard said.
“I guess I got to the point where I am by being pushed by the Canadians, and my peers around me.â€
Today, the 29-year-old from Canberra, Australia’s capital, is widely regarded as the best fastpitch softball pitcher in the world. An International Softball Congress champion the past three years, and long-time Australian national team member, Folkard is in St. John’s this weekend for The Rock Invitational, an ISC-sanctioned event hosted by the Hill United Chiefs from Ontario, reigning ISC and ASA world champs.
The Chiefs are coached by John Hill of St. John’s, and their roster includes Jason Hill from the capital city, Freshwater’s Stephen Mullaley and Brad Ezekiel from Harbour Main.
Joining the Chiefs in the three-day tournament are the Toronto Gators, another ISC travel team and one the Chiefs defeated in last year’s world final, along with three clubs from the St. John’s Molson senior men's circuit — NTV Hitmen, Kelly’s Pub Molson Bulldogs and The Big’s.
Folkard isn’t the only Australian on the Chiefs. He joins Nick Shailes, the second baseman who was the MVP at last year’s ISC championship in South Bend, Ind.
A plasterer by trade, Folkard spends about nine weeks in North America, beginning the end of June, or the offseason in Australia.
Down under, Folkard plays club ball with the Strikers in Canberra.
In a country where rugby is king, softball is little more than a niche sport. But it hasn’t stopped Australia from being among the world’s top countries in that sport.
“Fastpitch doesn’t really rank, really (in Australia),†Folkard said. “We’re lucky in that we have a lot of skilled ball players.
“It’s not a very large sport.â€
In Folkard, the Aussies have the Jake Arrieta of the fastpitch game, a pitcher who throws in the mid-80s, and has a repertoire of a dropball, riseball, low rise, curveball and a change that he’s working on.
The Rock Invitational begins 6:15 p.m. today at Lions Park with Hill United taking on The Bigs. Â
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Schedule for the The Rock Invitational
All games at Lions Park, St. John’s
Today
6:15 p.m., Hill United Chiefs vs The Bigs
8:15 p.m., Opening Ceremonies
8:45 p.m., Toronto Gators vs Kelly’s Pub Molson Bulldogs
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Friday
9 a.m., NTV Hitmen vs The Bigs
11 a.m., Toronto Gators vs NTV Hitmen
1 p.m., The Bigs vs Toronto Gators
3 p.m., Hill United Chiefs vs Kelly’s Pub Molson Bulldogs
5:45 p.m., Tribute to Beaumont Hamel ceremony
6 p.m., Hill United Chiefs vs Toronto Gators
8 p.m., NTV Hitmen vs Kelly’s Pub Molson Bulldogs
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Saturday
11 a.m., Hill United Chiefs vs NTV Hitmen
1 p.m., Kelly’s Pub Molson Bulldogs vs The BIgs
3 p.m., semifinal
5 p.m., semifinal
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