Softball Saturday
June 22, 2006
Kitchener, ON
KITCHENER, ON - If you enjoy watching world-class softball, be it men's or women's then the place to be on Saturday is Kitchener.
Five games are scheduled, but unfortunately they will not be played at the same park. With a little luck, you'll be able to take them all in.
The action get underway at 11 a.m. when the Kitchener Hallman Twins meet the Ohsweken Chiefs in an ISC League of Eastern Canada doubleheader.
The Twins, who are rated third in the International Softball Congress rankings, will have a full lineup as they prepare for upcoming major tournament in Monkton (June 29 to July 2) and Orillia (July 14 to 16).
Kitchener is also the host team in this year's Schneider's ISC World Championship Tournament to be held Aug. 11-19 at the Peter Hallman Ball Yard.
This year's Ohsweken team is built around Darren Zach who has been rated one of the top pitchers in the world. He still holds several ISC records.
Following the doubleheader, the Twins will take to the field again against Midland Explorers from Michigan. The exhibition game is scheduled for 3 p.m.
The Midland team has a local connection as Craig Crawford of Kitchener is the Explorers catcher.
Following the Explorers - Twins game, Midland is back in action against, meeting the Chiefs.
The scene then switches to the women as Canada's National senior team go against the New England Riptide in an exhibition game at the Peter Hallman Ball Yard. It is scheduled for 7 p.m.
The Riptide play in the National Professional Fastball League. The two teams will play another game, at the same park, on Sunday at 1 p.m.
The two parks are less than five-minutes drive apart. With a little luck, a die-hard fan should arrive in time to see the first pitch.
The Canadian women have been in Kitchener for more than a week preparing for the Canada Cup to be played July 1 to 9 in Surrey, B.C.
From there is on to the US World Cup in Oklahoma City, exhibition games in Texas and Connecticut and then on to the International Softball Federation Championships in Beijing, China, Aug. 27 to Sept. 5.
