With softball season well underway throughout Ontario, and weather conditions providing more mid-summer temperatures of late, it is a perfect time for fans to get out to their local ball parks and take in some of the many great adult and youth games in local communities. Earlier this Spring the Kitchener Sports Association held a "Softball Night" at one of their regular meetings with teams and associations across Waterloo region sharing their many success stories on the upswing of the local game. While there has been team decline perhaps at the major men's level, it is very refreshing to see how retired players and now parents are reaching out to rebuild the game in so many small towns and big cities across Ontario.
Â
Fans of the great game of summer will be rewarded in southern Ontario over the next month, as three international teams will move through the area showcasing their talents and competing against eager teams who are up for a National Team test.
Â
Already this year, the fantastic multi diamond softball complex in Innerkip has played host to both Team Canada's Men's National Team and Jr. Men's National Team training camps. Beginning June 25, both the Australia Jr. Steelers and the New Zealand Temperzone Jr. Black Sox will embark on exhibition series taking them into small town Ontario before moving on to the WBSC Jr. World Softball Championship in Pt. Albert , Saskatchewan. Later on in July, the Dominican Republic Men"s National Team will arrive and compete initially in the Cephas Roth Memorial Tournament, in Tavistock , then move through the province in an exhibition series against a number of club teams.
Â
The Australian National Team program has a long history with training in Ontario and once again will call Milverton their home base.Â
Â
The Australia Jr. Steelers schedule includes:
Â
* Monday, June 25,    7:00 pm vs Nith River Monsters and 9:00 pm vs Shakespeare Falcons, Arand Field ,Milverton
Â
* Tuesday, June 26 ,   7:00 and 9:00 pm vs New Hamburg Jrs., Arand Field, Milverton
Â
* Wednesday, June 27, 7:00 and 9:00 pm vs Brussels Tigers, 648 Sports Drive, Brussels
Â
* Thursday, June 28,   7:00 pm vs Milverton AW Millwrights and 9:00 pm vs Sebringville Sting, Arand Field, Milverton
Â
* Saturday, June 30 and Sunday, July 1, The Jr. Steelers will participate in the Hill United Invitational, Ohsweken, Six Nations
Â
* Monday, July 2 ,      1:00 pm and 3:00 pm vs New Zealand Temperzone Jr. Black Sox, Arand Field, Milverton
Â
Â
The New Zealand Temperzone Junior Black Sox will be based in Kitchener, arriving Friday June 22 and departing Tuesday July 3.
Â
The New Zealand Temperzone Jr. Black Sox schedule includes:
Â
* Monday, June 25,     8:15 pm vs Ponsonby Sting, , 5997 Second Line East, Ariss,Â
Â
* Tuesday, June 26Â Â Â Â Â 7:00 pm and 9:00 pm vs Owen Sound Selects, Duncan McLelland Park, Owen Sound
Â
* Wednesday , June 27Â 7:00 pm and 9:00 pm vs New Hamburg Mustangs, New Hamburg Park
Â
* Thursday, June 28    7:00 pm vs Elmira 37's and 9:00 pm vs Kitchener Fastball League All-Stars, Budd Park, 1111 Homer Watson Boulevard, Kitchener
Â
* Saturday, June 30 and Sunday, July 1, The Jr. Black Sox will participate in the Hill United Invitational, Ohsweken, Six Nations, Ontario
Â
* Monday ,July 2Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 1:00 pm and 3:00 pm vs Australia Jr. Steelers, Arand Field, Milverton
Â
Â
The Dominican Republic Men's National Team will arrive in Kitchener, Wednesday July 11 and will open their tour by participating in the Cephas Roth Memorial Tournament in Tavistock, July 12 through July15. The remainder of their tour will be announced in the next few days.Stay tuned to
Al's Fastball for further information.
Â
If you are interested in any or all of these great softball events please contact:
Â
Â
andÂ
Â
Larry Lynch - larrylynch09@gmail.com for details on the New Zealand Temperzone Back Sox and Dominican Republic National Team tours,as well as the Hill United Invitational June 29- July 1
Â
Â
Â
Â
Â
Â
Â
Â
28 June 2018:
Â
NZ Temperzone Junior Black Sox 4 Ponsonby Sting3 Â
 Joshua Kelly WP  Matt Wardrop LP
Â
NZ Temperzone   1   Ponsonby Sting  0
WP- Taine Slaughter  LP- Luke ZettleÂ
Jared Gillard walk off HR
Â
Larry Lynch sent game sheets for these games. G
Â