From Pat Healey, Marketing and Media Consultant for the ISF 2005 Jr. Men’s World Softball Championship
COPENHAGEN, DENMARK – The Denmark Jr. Men’s Softball team will bring, not one, but two sets of brothers to the ISF 2005 Jr. Men’s World Softball Championship on June 24 to July 3 in Summerside. Robin(19) and Niklas(15) Frederiksen and Frederik(18) and Valdemar(14) Brask Terkelsen are the two brother contingents on the Danish team. The team is headed by the latter’s father, Jens Terkelsen. A third Frederiksen, Camilo, who is 15 years old, plays on the team, also, but is no relation to Robin and Niklas. Frederik and Valdemar however, will be making it a true family affair with father Jens at the helm as the team’s head coach. Frederik, the “star” of the team, was a regular on a senior men’s national team at the young age of 18. He spent the past season in New Zealand, playing with Porirua – one of that country’s top senior men’s fast pitch squads, alongside players such as Thomas Makea and Jarred Martini. The youngest player on the team, Valdemar, is years ahead of many at his age in North America. He recently showed off his talents while making his debut with Denmark’s best men’s league team. Valdemar hopes one of his sightseeing trips, when not playing ball here on PEI, will be a trip to the hockey rink. That’s because his friend, Slava Trukhno, is a P.E.I. Rocket star rookie. Valdemar hopes the 10 days of games will be good to the Danish team. “I am hoping that I play well, see some good softball and gain a lot of playing experience,” he said. Having his father as coach is the norm for Valdemar, as Jen is also Valdemar’s club team’s coach as well. “It’s pretty cool, but I don’t think about it much,” he added. “I’m looking forward to the World Championship, but I’m not excited yet.” Valdemar has been to world softball championships before, but as a spectator when Jens represented Denmark at a Senior Men’s World.
Valdemar knows he’ll have to earn a spot to be part of the starting nine. “I guess being the youngest means I have to fight even more for a spot on the starting lineup,” Valdemar said. He is hoping that Denmark will perform exceptionally well, and even leave a “Denmark never quits” attitude in the mindset of their opposition. Also looking towards the ISF 2005 Junior Men’s World Championship in Summerside, PEI is Frederik. “I’m looking forward to the Jr Men’s and hoping to leave an impression on the North American softball scene,” Frederik said. For him, it will be ball as usual, as his Dad has always been his coach. “I’m happy that Denmark is in the tournament,” he said. “I hope to do well myself and be one of the better players in the tournament.” Frederik feels with 6 weeks to go before the games open, it’s too early to get excited, so he doesn’t have any “butterflies” yet. Coming to the tournament, Frederik knows he’ll be seeing lots of game action; in every game Denmark plays he is set to start. “Our other “big” pitcher couldn’t make the trip, so I know I will have to pitch all our games,” he added. “I pitch on my club team, so I practice pitching regularly.” Another reason Frederick wants to do well, is he wouldn’t mind staying behind or returning to Canada should a scout “spot him”. “I hope the team will do well in our games,” Frederik said. “I wouldn’t mind if I was “spotted” by a Canadian team – it could be fun to play in Canada/USA some day.” When asked about fans, in particular female fans, Valdemar and Frederik differ. One says he won’t be distracted, while the other remarks, it would be nice to see them out at the games. “I’m not used to that here in Denmark,” Frederik said, “but at the U-19 European Championship there were lots of girls around and that worked out just fine!.” “That sounds nice, but I am coming to play softball,” Valdemar interjected.
(Editor’s Note: The ISF Jr. Men’s tournament runs from Friday, June 24, 2005 through Sunday, July 3. The United States will play in the very first game of the tournament, against the Czech Republic at 10am; Canada plays Venenzuela at 8pm on opening day. The full schedule for the first day of the tournament:
Friday, 24th June 2005
10:00 United States vs Czech Republic
12:00 Japan vs Denmark
14:00 New Zealand vs Argentina
16:00 Australia vs Mexico
20:00 Canada vs Venezuela