Kitchener’s world fastball tournament bid rejected

KITCHENER — A rival bid from a Michigan city has extinguished local hopes of bringing the International Softball Congress world tournament back here for 2017.

But that's not to say the ISC won't return to Peter Hallman Ball Yard and Budd Park eventually, said the American-based tournament operator's executive director, Larry Fisher, from his home base in Findlay, Ohio.

"Kitchener always puts on a first-class presentation. They are head and shoulders above most everyone else," Fisher said of the world club team championships.

In a close two-horse race, the ISC's executive committee recently voted to award Grand Rapids, Mich. — a new venue for the 69-year-old tournament — the three-division men's event in the summer of 2017.

Fisher, who didn't cast a ballot, said the committee was intent on bringing the tournament to a new, central location to help grow the game.

The sponsor of what would have been the tournament's host team, Jim Hallman, of the Kitchener Hallman Twins, said he was disappointed with the ISC's choice.

"There was no phone call, no explanation (from the ISC) after they made their decision," he said.

Previous ISC world tournaments held in Kitchener — in 2002, 2006, 2007 and again last summer — each drew about 50,000 spectators and raised close to $100,000 for local charities.

Organizers estimated each of those events pumped millions of dollars into the local economy through spinoff spending.

The local committee patched up its differences with the ISC when a dispute over tournament fees resulted in Kitchener withdrawing its bid to hold the 2011 event, paving the way for last summer's world tournament.

Six local entries — including the Twins, Kitchener Diamond Jaxx, Kitchener Outlaws, Elmira Expos and Kitchener Cubs — contested the world club team championship among a field of 48 teams in last summer's event.

About 3,000 soggy fans endured persistent rain at the 2014 ISC final at Hallman Ball Yard, where the Hill United Chiefs of Six Nations dumped the host Twins 3-2 in the championship game.

Canadian-based teams have now won seven straight ISC world titles.

This year's ISC world tournament is scheduled for South Bend, Ind. in August. The event moves to the Quad Cities region of Iowa and Illinois in 2016.

"We are looking forward to coming back to Kitchener in the future," said Fisher.