[Alsfastball] DD Day 1 - BOYS OF SUMMER CONVENE FOR CANADIAN CHAMPIONSHIP

[Al Doran]

ISSUE #1 – By John Thompson 
<mailto:sstj99 at yahoo.com>sstj99 at yahoo.com 
Sunday August 28, 2005
BOYS OF SUMMER CONVENE FOR CANADIAN CHAMPIONSHIP


          For the second time in six years, the 
fastest of fast and the mightiest of the 
mighty  - the boys of summer -  have returned to 
St. Thomas to lock horns for National Softball 
supremacy and winter-long boasting rights.
Many of the elite athletes that have converged on 
this southwestern Ontario fastball mecca, have 
spent months traveling thousands of miles, 
sporting a variety of uniforms in various leagues 
and weekend tournaments across North America..
These lads of the northern climes have shared 
dugouts and playing fields with an international 
assortment of accomplished athletes. Team-mates 
and opponents have represented both hemispheres 
from contrasting climates in such diverse 
countries as  Argentina, Australia, 
Czechoslovakia, Denmark, Dominican Republic, New 
Zealand,  and our most adjacent neighbor, the U.S. of hey!
Summertime fastball is a true world sport, with 
international resumes dotting the starting 
line-up rosters of many of the top teams. The 
recent (Aug. 11-19) International Softball 
Congress (ISC) championship tournament in Eau 
Claire, Wisconsin, featuring 40 senior and 40 
intermediate teams, as well as the North American 
Fast-pitch Association (NAFA) tournament in 
Mankato, MN (Aug. 18-28) are proof that 
fast-pitch softball (fastball ) is indeed alive 
in many areas of the continent.
Really though, this week is about our Canadian 
lads. For this last gasp of summer, fastball 
pitchers and catchers, in and outfielders, all 
sharing Canadian heritage, will don 13 varying 
club uniforms representing eight of Her Majesty’s 
10 coast-to-coast provinces. The quest is for 
medals – preferably gold – emblematic of success 
at the 2005 Canadian Nationals.
The Centennial Sports Club of St. Thomas and the 
Host Committee, under the leadership of the 
passionate and highly organized Scott Kennedy, 
has worked diligently to welcome the 250 plus 
team members and officials, as well as several 
thousand fans. The weather-man is forecasting 
perfect conditions, and the old adage of “let’s 
play two” will be appropriate for the dual 
playing fields at the Douglas J. Tarry Sr. Sports 
Complex. Batter Up and Play Ball!




  Als Fastball List
* Email: fastball at pmihrm.com
http://www.alsfastball.com/
http://www.ISCfastball.com/
http://www.canadians2005.ca/ Aug 28 to Sept 4
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