Lehigh Valley, Pa. (June 25, 2012) – The New Zealand “Kiwis” Men’s National Fast-Pitch Softball Team will take on the “Pennsylvania Power” squad in an exhibition game held at Patriots Park in Allentown on Wednesday, June 27, at 8:00p.m. Legendary fast-pitch softball pitcher and Allentown native Ty Stofflet will throw the ceremonial first pitch. The game is open to the public, free of charge.

 

“Both teams are loaded with talent,” said Michael Kuzy, Director of Sports Marketing at Discover Lehigh Valley Sports. “The New Zealand national team travels around the world playing in high-caliber tournaments and half of their roster plays in the US with an American club team. And it’s such an honor to have local hero Ty Stofflet at the game and signing autographs – he’s certainly one of the greatest fast-pitch softball pitchers in the history of the sport.”

 

A four-time winner of the International Softball Federation (ISF) World Championship, the New Zealand Kiwis have placed first or second in the world standings three times in the past 12 years, including championships in 2000 and 2004 and a second-place finish in 2009.

 

The Pennsylvania Power men’s major softball team is a local team based out of central Pennsylvania. The team was formed back in 1995 by Eric Fogel and was made up of a close-knit group of friends who have garnered many championships over the years. Having secured titles in the State of Pennsylvania and National titles for the ASA, NAFA, and NSA softball governing bodies, the Power is now in pursuit of winning the Holy Grail of the softball community, The International Softball Congress (ISC) World Championship.

 

Stofflet was profiled in an 11-page article in the May 28, 1979 issue of Sports Illustrated entitled, "This Guy Can Rise It, Drop It and Pop It at 104 MPH." In an appearance on "The Dick Clark Show" in 1979, Stofflet faced Davey Lopes, Reggie Smith and Steve Yeager in of the Los Angeles Dodgers in Dodger Stadium. After the program, in which a foul ball was considered an accomplishment, Lopes asked Stofflet what he was doing next. When Stofflet replied that he would be returning to his electrician's job at Mack Trucks, Lopes pointed to his left arm and said, “With an arm like that, you have to work for a living?" 

 

A division of Discover Lehigh Valley, Discover Lehigh Valley Sports represents the region in the national and international sports marketplace. It has been bringing sporting events to the area for more than six years and serves as the primary resource for procuring and planning sporting events in Lehigh Valley. Discover Lehigh Valley Sports is a nonprofit organization funded by public and private grants, individual donations and corporate sponsorships. For more information, visit www.DiscoverLehighValleySports.com.

 

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