KITCHENER, ON
August 4th
Kitchener is ready!
The activity and storms around the ball parks these days are impressive…Copious, rainfall has the turf in the best condition it’s been in for a long time and it was good before. Parking lots have been graded, grass cut, the lighting has
been improved, and the enhanced dugouts are getting great reviews. The permanent bleachers behind home plate are
now in place and look great. Many sponsors have stepped forward and signs, advertising and talk among players, fans are helping to build excitement. The present heat wave in Ontario is set to break and the tournament forecast is sunshine and low 70’s so the weather and facilities are ready and in excellent shape.
What’s all the fuss about we are asked…well the World Fastball Tournament, a collection of the world’s best players, great fans and some ISC organizing folk are coming to Kitchener August 10th and will be visiting for 10 days. The task is to crown a World Champion in fastball. Our facilities, fans, food, and plans are providing the basics for some fun and frivolity while watching great fastball games for ten days. It all starts August 10th.
The Bridge to the Future skills clinic has 240 participants registered and continues to get additional athletes daily. This excellent youth skills program will partner the best players in the game with enthusiastic youth from our region. We expect 300 youth and 100 instructors to register including a team of Special Olympians and athletes with special needs. The opportunity for attending youth to better their skills to play this great game guided by the inspiration of skilled veterans that is passed on to eager young players is unprecedented.
The food is ordered and beer will be picked up shortly. I hope we have enough. Anna Mae's pie factory has scheduled additional shifts ready to bake just before for delivery while still warm as it slightly melts the ice cream when served. The computers are groaning with the additional workload and offering ‘threats’ that they don’t like the added work and may not continue to compute under these conditions. That would provide some challenges!!
The final schedules are completed and the rosters are filling in. The full colour sixty-page program is put to bed and promises to be one of the best yet. The Hall of Fame Breakfast will provide some interesting entertainment as the ISC acknowledges four worthy candidates.
Order your tickets, book your rooms as they are going quickly, and get ready to join us for the trend-setting most fantastic fastball event – the Schneiders 2006 ISC World Fastball Tournament. The dates are Thursday August 10th until Saturday 19th for the World Tournament and Sunday August 13th to Friday 18th for the ISC II Tournament of Champions. This tournament matches numerous excellent Ontario teams against some of the best up and coming stars from the U.S. It will be played at Budd Park and Kinsmen Park in Cambridge. Check out the website for further details. There are a few reserved seats left directly behind home plate that can be purchased through the Kitchener Auditorium Box Office at 519-741-2556.
You may wish to join us for Thursday night's exhibition games between two International Teams, the Czech Republic National Team from Prague and the Danish Dynamite from Copenhagen, Denmark. They play at 7:00 pm. A league challenge between the South Perth All Stars playing the Golden Horseshoe All Stars at 9:00 pm for the PROforma Challenge Cup. These high quality exhibition games are free. Food and beverages will be available.
Check out our website regularly for further tournament information and updates at www.kwfastball.com
One week from now the excitement will heighten, as the sounds of summer will echo with the crack of a bat and cheering crowds. See you at the parks and Ball Yard.
Tom Clancy, Chairman
Schneiders ISC 2006 World Fastball Tournament
