From the Whitehorse Daily Star

June 19, 2008

Photo by Vince Fedoroff

TAKING A CUT – An Argentinean batter takes a cut during Wednesday’s exhibition game against the Czech Republic while some of the U.S. team watch on from the bleachers. (top) PREPARATIONS – Head coach Eduardo Sabat of Argentina’s Jr. men’s fastpitch team, left, discusses preparations during a practice Wednesday at Takhini diamond number one. His son, pitching coach Francisco Sabate, listens on while coach Arturo Anea, right, looks over the roster.

On one field, Takhini diamond number four, the South Africans.

Across the way on three, the Czech Republic and Argentina.

And tucked in the corner on five, Venezuela.

Under the sunshine of Wednesday afternoon, youth from around the world continued to shake off their jet lag while preparing for an international fastpitch championship that will come only once in their life.

The eighth ISF Junior Men’s World Fast Pitch Championship begins at noon Friday with Australia defending its three consecutive titles against Botswana, a newcomer to the event held every four years. The 12-team round robin tournament runs for 10 days, with the finals scheduled for June 29.

Canada, a consistently top contender with a gold in 1993, and bronze in ‘97, ‘01 and in ‘05, opens the championship against the Czechs Friday evening at 7 p.m. after the opening ceremonies.

Czech second infielder Jan Motka says his club has its sights set on finishing in the middle of the pact, somewhere around sixth or seventh.

“We have to give a chance to Canada, because Canada plays at home,” he says jokingly, with translation assistance from Petr Bednar, who’s along with the club to send back reports to the country’s national softball association.

The Czech Republic hasn’t been a threat in three previous championships it’s participated in.

Motka points to the obvious, the hitting power of the other teams, as the greatest threat to the Czech’s success in this championship.

“But the strength of our team, I think, is fielding,” says the 19-year-old resident of Prague in an interview moments after a 7-1 exhibition loss to Argentina.

Motka says he and his teammates can hit the ball, though they just weren’t able to string any together against the Argentineans.

Somewhat nervous the night before in a 7-4 loss to the consistently powerful American team, the infielder says he felt more at home with his game yesterday.

And with a hearty smile, he bestows praise on the city, the people, the service and the meals at Yukon College.

“He wishes good luck to all teams, and looks forward to good ball,” Bednar says, conveying Motka’s final words.

Part way through, a good portion of the American team stopped by to watch. The South Africans gradually made their way over following their practice, as did the Venezuelan club.

The last of the teams, Botswana, Australia and Mexico, were scheduled to arrive today, the other nine having arrived over the last five days, with Canada arriving yesterday afternoon.

Argentina, the first to check in, reached Whitehorse Sunday after a 55-hour trip.

Like Motka, Argentina coach Eduardo Sabate isn’t suggesting his team is a contender for the gold.

The club, he’s hoping, will finish somewhere from fourth to eighth, and hopefully fourth, to earn the final berth into the playoff round.

Without the large numbers to draw from, it’s difficult to reach the top, he says.

Nonetheless, the effort to put his championship team began three years ago when they identified about 100 players from the across the country when they were 14 and 15, and provided them with a profile of what the team was looking for in 2008.

They then worked the number down to 54, and then 22 and down to the final 17 over the last year.

He says his strength is his players’ love of the game.

“They grew up with the game,” he says.

Argentina has been to all but one of the seven junior men’s championships that began in 1981, and in the last three has been smack in the middle of the pack.

Argentinean catcher Guillermo Patat, a 17-year old resident of Parana City, says his father steered him toward the game when he was a child, and he’s loved it ever since.

“It is just a dream,” Patat says, through the translation assistance of Jorge Velasquez, a five-year resident of Whitehorse who was born and raised in Colombia and who has volunteered his services as a translator.

“I wish for this opportunity.”

Asked what his club’s strength was, Patat shot back the answer was easy.

“The heart of the Argentina players,” he says. “Nobody else has the passion and the love of the game.”

Adorned in their green, gold and white uniforms, the South African fastpitch players were the first yesterday afternoon to make their way down to the practice diamonds from the student residence at Yukon College, which is again serving as the the athletes village.

As they warm up, it’s a mixture of English and Afrikaans that the players and coaches converse in.

Like the Canadian team which is dominated with players from Saskatchewan, the South African team is dominated by two specific regions but players are from all over the country, explains head coach Mamphiri Sethosa.

The only other time the South Africans competed in this championship, back in 1997, they finished sixth out of 11, with four wins and six losses.

“We hope to do well,” says Sethosa. “If we can get into the playoffs, then anything might happen in the playoffs. If we can get into the semis, then anything might happen.

“But our main challenge is getting there.”

With a bullpen of six pitchers, four full-time and two others who also play other positions, pitching is South Africa’s strength.

Overall, he said, his defence is strong.

Sethosa said a couple of pitchers can throw heat at 150 kilometres an hour (90 mph.)

As the South Africans practice on diamond four, and other teams begin arriving at three and five, the 12 flags of the participating countries sway in a gentle breeze across the way inside the Pepsi Softball Centre.

The two main diamonds, where all 70 games will be played over the 10 days, have been manicured and kept closed for the last two weeks to make preparations.

In addition to the 200-plus players and coaching staff, Softball Yukon is expecting some 200 to 300 family and friends to travel here for the championship.

And there’s a staff of 20 umpires, from 16 different countries.

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