From the Guardian
“Covers Prince Edward Island Like the Dew”

Working hard for fun
Tournament director Paul Gallant says there are many small details that need to be covered when putting on an event like the Canadian junior men’s fastpitch championship, which begins this Sunday in Summerside

AMBER SHEA
Transcontinental Media

SUMMERSIDE — The first tournament Paul Gallant ever organized was the national junior men’s fastpitch softball championship in 1983.

“Twenty-four years later and here we are again,” said Gallant, the tournament director.

Sunday at 11 a.m., the Causeway Bay national junior men’s fastpitch championship begins in Summerside.

“It lasts eight days,” said Gallant. “We’re hoping to get about 20,000 people going through the park during the tournament.”

There are nine teams entered in the tournament, including the host Summerside Source For Sports Twins.

There are no enteries from Manitoba, Alberta or British Columbia, but there is one each from Newfoundland and Labrador, Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Quebec and Saskatchewan. There are three teams representing Ontario.

Gallant said families travelling with ball players tend to make a vacation out of these tournaments.

“There will be a visitor information booth set up at the ball field for people who want to know things like where to go sailing.”

Summerside was awarded the tournament late in 2005, beating out two other communities.

Since then, Gallant has been getting ready for the event.

“I could be on the phone with you for hours describing the minor details that go on behind the scenes in order to organize a ball tournament.”

Organizing volunteers, making sure the ball field meets softball Canada standards, getting sponsors, setting up travel times and putting together opening and closing ceremonies are only some of the things he needs to do to prepare for the tournament.

Gallant is also talking with the teams every day to make sure they are informed about things like transportation schedules.

So far, everything is going smoothly, but Gallant said there are always minor issues they have to deal with when the tournament starts.

“I don’t drink . . . but I usually have a beer at the end of each tournament to celebrate that it’s over,” he said with a laugh.

“I do this because I love it.”

The tournament website is
http://www.2007jrmensfastpitch.com

National junior men’s fastpitch championship at a glance

Dates – Sunday, Aug. 5-12.

Where – Queen Elizabeth Park in Summerside.

Teams – Summerside Source for Sports Twins (P.E.I.); Kelly’s Pub Canadians (N.L.); East Hants Henchmen (N.S.); Miramichi Vics (N.B.); St. Leonard d’Aston’s Express (Que.); Scarborough Wolverines (Ont. 1); Elmira Advance Millwright (Ont. 2); Simcoe Wildcats (Ont. 3); Saskatoon Jr. Diamondbacks (Sask.).

Opening Day Schedule – 11 a.m., Ont. 3 vs. Ont. 2; 2 p.m.,?Sask. vs. P.E.I.; 4 p.m., Que. vs. N.L.; 6 p.m., N.S. vs. Sask.; 8 p.m., Ont. 1 vs. N.B.

P.E.I.’s Games – Sunday, 2 p.m., vs. Sask.; Monday, 8 p.m., vs. Ont. 1; Tuesday, 12 p.m., vs. Ont. 3, 6 p.m., vs. N.L.; Wednesday, 12 p.m., vs. N.B., 8 p.m., vs. Que.; Thursday, 2 p.m., vs. Ont. 2, 6 p.m., vs. N.S.

Championship Game – Sunday, Aug. 12, at 1:30 p.m.

This entry was posted on Friday, August 3rd, 2007 at 10:07 pm and is filed under Canada, ISF, Tournaments. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.