http://www.yorkregion.com/article/93897
Sports
Within every ball player there seems to be a little kid waiting to bust out.
The way Todd Martin sees it, his inner kid has unfinished business before he hangs up the cleats on a stellar international softball career.
The 39-year-old Aurora resident has used his significantly talented throwing arm to pitch his way to several major championships, including an International Softball Congress title with his current team, the Kitchener Rivershark Twins, at the 2008 global showdown in Kimberley, Wis.
But the six-foot, four-inch righthander needs an International Softball Federation title to complete a set of five significant championships near and dear to North American softball players. He'll get the chance as a member of Team Canada for the ISF world tournament that gets under way July 17 in Saskatoon.
While he won't say never, the Bracebridge native suggests this may be his last kick at the ISF version of the world championship, since it only comes around every four years.
"I guess I won't get completely out (of softball) until my body shuts down, but this could be my last with Team Canada," said Martin, one of four pitchers listed on the Canadian roster. "But I said I'd had enough the last time and Team Canada came calling again. This is only every four years and I'd love to win it. When you're young, you don't mind going to the training camps and having some fun, but, at some point, you have to put other things first."
In most sports at an elite level, young blood is a necessity to keep the line moving. In Canada, the state of the game among young players required to follow in the footsteps of the veterans is faltering. Few members of the Canadian roster check in at under 30.
"There simply are not a lot of young guys to force us older guys out," Martin said. "That's why they asked us to come back and help out.
"It's too bad because the rest of the world is getting very good and playing a lot of it. It's becoming a worldwide game. That we're not producing guys is sad. It's a lot of fun, but it's a love-of-the-game type of sport."
Winning in Saskatoon would complete a set of titles that already includes two ISC crowns, a Pan American Games gold in 1999 and American Softball Association and Canadian national titles (two each).
"That it's being hosted in Canada was a big draw for me to come back," said Martin, who still chucks for his buddies on the Aurora Shoeless Joe's entry in the Oshawa City&District Softball League. "I've represented Canada all over the world, but it's pretty special to play for your country in your own country, especially if you get to hear the (Canadian) anthem at the end."
The pinnacle of his career is the gold captured in the Pan Am Games in Winnipeg. It's a feeling he would gladly duplicate later this month.
"Standing on the podium in Canada with four or five thousand fans singing along ... to win in Canada for Canada is awesome," Martin said.
"They will fill the stands and it'll be exciting and we'll have a chance to win it."
New Zealand figures to be the team to beat and are three-time defending champs with claims in 1996, 2000 and 2004. Canada is typically considered among the top three or four softball-playing nations.
Canada begins play in its round-robin pool against Argentina. Rounding out the group are the Czech Republic, Venezuela, Australia, South Africa, Puerto Rico and Indonesia.
Martin figures to get three starts in the round-robin and playoff portion, but has one target in mind.
