Meet the new Travellers
May 9, 2010
Jarvis, ON
Meet the new Travellers
Posted By JACOB ROBINSON, SIMCOE REFORMER
The area's top fastball team is hoping changes to this year's organization will bring with it a world title.
The team formerly known as the Jarvis Gamblers has encountered some swift and immediate alterations to the organization this off-season. The first is a name change. With three primary owners -- the team; 2009 sponsor Dave Anderson of Murphy's Fish and Chips in Truro, NS; and a silent partner located in Broken Bow, Oklahoma -- the group settled on the Travellers as their new moniker.
And with some new investors comes a host of new players, including three that will join the team as they merge with the now defunct Broken Bow Spirit, a former perennial top ISC team.
"We feel this is a great opportunity for our local guys and for the community," said Travellers GM Clarke Staats. "With U.S. Steel back, there's a positive vibe around the team and the town and this will give people the chance to come out to the ballpark and see some world class players in a country setting."
Despite the changes the team will still remain very local, with over half the roster hailing from the Haldimand and Norfolk area. The local contingent includes brother combo Andrew and Allan Phibbs, cousins Ian and Will Fehrman, Pat Graham, Greg Cournyea and Chad Staats.
Headlining the newcomers is Aussie Adam Folklard, who Staats hailed as "arguably the best pitcher in the world right now."
Folkard -- the ace on Australia's 2009 International Softball Federation World Championship club -- will be joined by New Zealand national team third baseman Brad Rona, pitcher Trevor Ethier of Saskatoon and Denmark outfielder Freddy Terkelson.
"It's a good mix, probably the best blend of veterans and young players," said Staats. "The core group that we've developed is just hitting their fastball peak now. When you get to 28 or 29 to about 33, that's the time when you get your best out of players. I truly believe this is a contender for the ISC Championship."
The team will begin play May 22 in Owen Sound as part of the ISC Travel League. The team's first tournament of the year will go in Niagara Falls on June 4. Jarvis will play host to the ISC Travel League Tournament July 24-25.
Being merged with Broken Bow, the club will play under that name for the American Softball Association Championships in South Bend Indiana the weekend of Aug. 5.
The "Big One," also known as the ISC World Tournament, goes Aug. 14 in Midland Michigan, which is when the team hopes to be firing on all cylinders.
"I think it's time we took a run at the world championships," said Staats. "The window of opportunity for this team is open, and I'd say it's wide open. But it doesn't last, you've probably got a four year window and I'd like to see this team stay together for a couple of years."
Though the Travellers have gained plenty of financial support in recent years, the same cannot be said for plenty of U.S.- based fastball clubs. So many have ceased operations that the world tournament, which had previously been comprised of two divisions, will be played as one this summer. In the past three years, 22 teams have dropped out of ISC competition thanks in large part to the high cost of bringing in international players.
"I think the game is probably at its lowest point that it's been, and that comes with the ISC and ISC II being combined into one division for the World Championships.
That happened because there would've probably been only 12 full ISC teams this season to enter," explained Staats.
"All the owners wanted international players in their lineup because they wanted their fans to see the best players, and it's great to have them, but it also costs a lot of money, and that's one of the reasons why you see more teams joining together."
The new idea behind this year's world tournament is the addition of junior (23 and under) and masters (35-plus) divisions to help spawn more interest.
Jarvis will hold its annual fish fry at Bronco's Tavern in Jarvis tonight. Food will be served from 5:30-8 p.m. with a cost of $15 per person.
Jacob Robinson
