The KW fastball calendar is filling fast with quality events
May 3, 2009
Kitchener/Waterloo, ON
With the local tournament season opening on June 5th, and continuing almost every weekend in June, July and August, you can enjoy a lot of great fastball. The KW area is hosting a number of youth fastballevents as well as the following ISC and OASA events. So get those lawn chairs tuned up and your favourite ball cap out of storage, locate your sunglasses, and get your spring chores done, ballseason is almost here.
June 5th - 7th The Kitchener Hallman Rivershark Twins (ISCWorldChamps) are hosting the Legends of Fastball Classic at Peter Hallman Ball Yard. Larry Lynch has signed the ISC World Champion Kitchener Hallman Rivershark Twins, the 2008 OASA Champion First Ontario Jarvis Gamblers, the Canadian Bronze medalwinning St Thomas Evergreen Centennials, two clubs out of Owen Sound, Bill Simpson's brand new Owen Sound VW Seniors and Jamie Simpson's VW Juniors who won the Canadian Silver medal last Sept. Two teams one formally out of Oswego NY, now Dundas Ontario CPI/ADS and Ohio's Ashland Mets along with the touring Team Argentina, will fill out the eight team field. This will beArgentina's first appearance at Peter Hallman Ball Yard in preparation for the International Softball Federation's World championships in Saskatoon later this summer.
The Legends of Fastball Classic will be adding to the roster of inductees.. This is the second year that the Legends will be in Kitchener, at PeterHallman Ball Yard, after a good run in Woodstock and prior to that inWaterloo.
June 19th just 20 minutes down the 401 from KW, Innerkip is hosting a ISC II qualifier for theTournamentof Champions, set for the Quad Cities, Illinois/Iowa August18th to the22nd.
July 1st Larry Lynch, Public Works Director for the town of Mapleton, has a game scheduled with Team New Zealand (NewZealand Community Trust Black Sox) vs South Perth League Allstars in Drayton as part of the 10th anniversary of the town of Mapleton. NewZealand are the reigning ISF World Champs, and are on their way toSaskatoon to defend their title. There will be fireworks as well, which adds to the fun. Last year in Tavistock the South Perth Allstars defeated Team Venezuela and in the nightcap, Team Venezuela defeated the Kitchener Hallman R Twins. This will be a big night of fastball in Wellington County. A big crowd is expected to help celebrate the anniversary and raise funds for the addition to the Mapleton arena. Drayton's ballpark is 45 minutes from KW.
In Tavistock, July 13th and 14th, the weekend following Monkton's International tournament, there are plans for a two day tournament involving the touring NewZealand Black Sox and some of Ontario's best senior teams and league all star teams.
The South Perth League KW Cubs (formerly the Elmira Cubs) arehosting a ISC II tournament (Doug Fischer Classic) Brad Thomson is inviting teams from Ontario and NY state that have qualified and are going to the ISC Tournament of Champions. That date is July 24th to26th at Hillside. Last year teams such as the Kitchener Outlaws,Bridgeport Braves, Elmira Millwrights, Elora Brewers, Ayr Vics,Waterdown Hammer, Scarborough Wolverines, and the host Elmira Cubs used this as a pre Tournament of Champions tune up.
..... and the KW Cubs have been awarded the OASA Senior and Intermediate men's championship July 31st to Aug 2nd.....that is back to back weekends of men's senior fastball at Hillside...KW fastballfans will be able to see some teams from other parts of the province aswell as strong reps from some of our local fastball leagues in the Intermediate section.
Ontario teams expected to compete for the provincial senior championship inWaterloo include the ISC World Champion Hallman Rivershark Twins, St Thomas Evergreen Centenials, last years OASA champs the First Ontario Jarvis Gamblers and the new entry out of Owen Sound. The seniors will be competing to qualify for the Canadian championships in St Thomas later in the summer.
And the big news from the OASA is that the winner of the2009 OASA Intermediate championship will not only be the Ontario Champion butwill also gain a berth into the 2010 ISC II Tournament of Champions in Midland Mich. With two titles at stake, this should attract some great teamsto Waterloo's Hillside park for the Civic holiday weekend.
That is correct, both Intermediate and Seniorchampionships, one weekend, same venue, with lots at stake. Goodball, warm weather, great bar b cue, and cold drinks...mark your calendars, and see you at the ball yard....
Dennis