Carrying a roster replete with national team players, the South Hill Giants were understandably favoured to win the 2018 edition of the May Days International Men91裸聊视频檚 Fastpitch Tournament.
The Vancouver-based squad lived up to its billing, rolling through the eight-team event and securing the title Monday afternoon at Kelowna91裸聊视频檚 King91裸聊视频檚 Stadium with a lopsided victory over the Sooke Loggers in the championship game.
South Hill featured six players from Canada91裸聊视频檚 national men91裸聊视频檚 program, including pitcher and one each from the Australian (Nick Shales) and Argentinian (Juan Potolicchio) national teams.
The Westbank Cardinals and Portland-Columbia River Brewers tied for third place in three-day May long weekend tourney.
Each year, the event showcases the skills of some world-class talent as well as many of the top provincial and local players.
91裸聊视频淚 think pretty much everyone who was involved over the weekend loved it,91裸聊视频� said tournament organizer and Brewers91裸聊视频� pitcher Richard Haldane. 91裸聊视频淭he weather was ideal, we had tons of compliments, the fans enjoyed it91裸聊视频e have teams who already said they91裸聊视频檙e coming back next year.91裸聊视频�
All the games were also live-streamed, a feature of the weekend that Haldane said was well-received by fans and players alike.
In North America, fastball has lost some traction over the years with the numbers of active players continually slipping.
Internationally, however, the game is thriving in places like Australia and New Zealand, as well as in several countries in Central and South America.
Haldane, among many other fastball advocates, would like to see the game regain its appeal and popularity in both Canada and the U.S.
91裸聊视频淩ight now, there is a lack of young pitchers across the country and that91裸聊视频檚 been a challenge,91裸聊视频� said Haldane, a Vernon resident who is also a member of Great Britain91裸聊视频檚 national program. 91裸聊视频淭here were some younger players on the Sooke team, so that91裸聊视频檚 positive.
91裸聊视频淎 lot of people (in Kelowna) didn91裸聊视频檛 even realize there was a fastball league in Kelowna, so that91裸聊视频檚 one of the things we91裸聊视频檙e faced with,91裸聊视频� he added. 91裸聊视频淗opefully the game can be built back up in North America to the level of other countries that are doing such a good job of promoting it.91裸聊视频�
Other teams competing at this year91裸聊视频檚 tournament were the host Kelowna All-Stars, Irma Tigers, Grand Prairie Pirates and Abbotsford Builders.
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