june2006

Capital City of Fastball Prepares for the World's Greatest Club Championship

June 27, 2006

Kitchener, ON

PRESS RELEASE

 

When people in the sporting world think of hockey, Detroit, Michigan isHockeytown. When they think of football it is tough not to think of legendary Super Bowl cities like Pittsburgh, Dallas, San Francisco or Green Bay. The same is true of basketball or baseball where cities such as New York, Los Angeles, Boston and Chicago are synonymous with champions, fan fervour and a storied team through the ages. In the game ofmajor men’s fastball few cities can boast a reputation for consistency,longevity and success as Kitchener, Ontario, Canada’sself-proclaimed Capital City of Softball.

Over the past 40 years no other Canadian city has continuously fielded a major men’s fastball team, Kitchener – Waterloo standsalone in that area of distinction.

In the 60 year history of the ISC World Tournament , it has travelled to Ontario but once, 2002 in Kitchener. This yearthe 50,000 fans who attended that event will be rewarded with the return of the“greatest club tournament in the world”, August 11th to19th at the beautiful Peter Hallman Ball Yard. Kitchener will provethat 3 strikes is not always out when it plays host to the encore event in 2007, giving Ontario 3 World Tournament events in 6 years !

It is no secret why Kitchener is the ‘goto’ place for major league fastball events. Over the past two years Kitchener has hosted two Softball Canada Men’s National Team camps ; the marshalling location and mini-camp for the Canadian Jr. Men’s NationalTeam prior to the ISF World Tournament in 2005 ; played host to the AustralianJr. Men’s National team, and most recently played host to an intense 10 day training camp with the Canadian Sr. Women’s National Team and feature exhibition tour of the semi-pro New England Riptides.

The host committee for 2006 ISC World Tournament has been working behind the scenes for the past 2 years in preparation for this years “show”. Their mission statement, “Achieving excellence hosting world fastballt hrough a team of dedicated volunteers” says a lot about what Kitchener and itsstrong fastball tradition is all about. With 12 different community groups and a volunteer base of over 600 people, one would think tournament chair TomClancy has his hands full. In Kitchener however, this is not the case. Clancy also headed up the successful 2002 ISC World Tournament event and he has come to rely on a number of key personnel to jumpon board again this time around. Ray Alviano, president of Kitchener Fastball Promotions and a lifelong sports reporter and editor, is all but joined at the hip with Clancy as they round the ¾ pole and head for the August home stretch. Kitchener Community Services Department has also invested some $300,000 in capitalupgrades at Peter Hallman Ball Yard , with dugout upgrades, fencing and backstop upgrades and the addition of hundreds more permanent seats directly behind home plate and behind the first base dugout. All of these upgrades camefrom fan poll recommendations following the 2002 tournament.

One of Kitchener’sgreatest contributions to the ISC has been the Bridge to the Future fastball skills clinic. Pete McIllwraith, himself a 2005 Softball Canada Hall of FameInductee, has done another tremendous job in spearheading this youth skills event. Focusing on batting, base running, infield, outfield, pitching andcatching, the Bridge to the Future clinic is expected to attract 300 youth ages8 to 18 participating in 4 separate instructional events. In addition, up to100 more special needs children and Special Olympians are expected to take partin a separate and sure to be heart warming instructional event. Pete will beworking with ISC Commissioner and Skills Clinic leader, Tom Crouch, along witha his own small team and up to 75 player and coaching volunteers to set yetanother new standard of excellence at this years Bridge to the Future event.

Kitchener has it all for players, fans and families. The World returns to the heart of Waterloo Region August 11 –19, log on to the tournament web site : www.kwfastball.com for up-to-date stories, ticket information and event communication, or emailyour thoughts, questions or ideas to isc2006@kwfastball.com

 

BE A PART OF IT ALL ……………. KITCHENER ROCKS !

Larry.Lynch@kitchener.ca

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