It was Team Japan winning the gold medal at the 2023 Canada Cup Women91裸聊视频檚 International Softball Championship in South Surrey on Sunday (July 16).

Following 425 games over the past 10 days, the Japan vs TC Colorado game closed one of the strongest tournaments in its history, with a sunny evening and plenty of spectators packing the Softball City stands.

The International Division featured some of the world91裸聊视频檚 best, including Team Canada, Team Japan, Team Mexico, Team Australia A, Team TC Colorado, Team Israel, Team Greece, and Team Italy.

91裸聊视频淲e are incredibly proud to have hosted a tournament which saw such a strong level of play 91裸聊视频� from the Women91裸聊视频檚 International Division to our Futures and Showcase Divisions, we saw extraordinary athleticism on the field of play and true sportsmanship between nations,91裸聊视频� said tournament chair Greg Timm.

The tournament 91裸聊视频� now in its 30th year 91裸聊视频� showcased some of the top female athletes from across Canada and the world and includes five divisions: Women91裸聊视频檚 International, Futures Select (U19), Futures Gold (U19), Showcase Select (16U) and Showcase Gold (16U), with games played at Softball City as well as Cloverdale Athletic Park, Sunnyside Park and Sullivan Park.

Timm noted attendance was at an all-time high this year.

91裸聊视频淲e have experienced support this year like never before. Our gate attendance has surpassed all previous records, and the community support for Team Ukraine, our Pride Day celebrations and for all the teams has been incredible!91裸聊视频�

Although Team Canada91裸聊视频檚 gold-medal aspirations were cut short in a playoff loss to Italy earlier on Sunday, several of their stars were recognized for their stellar performance throughout the tournament, including Delta91裸聊视频檚 Kelsey Harshman, who was named Canada Cup91裸聊视频檚 outstanding second baseman.

Team Canada head coach Kayleigh Rafter, who officially transitioned from player to coach in 2021, has been playing in Canada Cup tournaments since 2007, playing in 14 events and coaching in two, for a total of 16 tournaments.

91裸聊视频淚 think, towards the end of my playing career, I probably I considered myself half-player, half-coach91裸聊视频� a lot of (players) referred to me a coach Rafter when I was still playing,91裸聊视频� she told Peace Arch News last week.

91裸聊视频淚t91裸聊视频檚 still pretty early in our season 91裸聊视频� our big thing is using this as preparation91裸聊视频� we have a world championship qualifier coming up in Italy on the 19th.91裸聊视频�

Team Canada is a young team, she noted, and she focused on trying to give every player as many opportunities to play as possible, as the Canada Cup allows a larger roster than other tournaments.

Rafter noted the support from fans is awesome to experience.

91裸聊视频淭o see all the little girls waiting to get autographs91裸聊视频� we did a youth clinic the other day, and one of the girls 91裸聊视频� she got her bat signed by the whole team 91裸聊视频� she came down started swinging it she goes, 91裸聊视频極h, I can already feel it91裸聊视频檚 better right now,91裸聊视频� she was so excited,91裸聊视频� Rafter said.

91裸聊视频淚 think that fan interaction 91裸聊视频� just seeing how much the littles look up to our team, and also for our team to have that experience as well,91裸聊视频� is amazing.91裸聊视频�

Timm, a former White Rock Renegades coach, remembers that in 1992, when it was just announced that softball would be in the 1996 Olympics, and the then-president of the Renegades and founder of the Canada Cup and Softball City, Glen Todd, wanted to help their country to be able to compete.

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91裸聊视频淭eam Canada had no money, so they were expected to compete at the world level against countries that had pretty big budgets,91裸聊视频� Timm said.

91裸聊视频淭he way the Olympic association worked in Canada back then, is if you didn91裸聊视频檛 have Olympic status, you didn91裸聊视频檛 get much money. (Todd) was sort of the chief and I was second in charge, and and it was our mission 91裸聊视频� we said, 91裸聊视频極K, if we can91裸聊视频檛 travel our Canadian team around the world, let91裸聊视频檚 bring the world to Canada.91裸聊视频�91裸聊视频�

The first tournament, held in 1993, featured eight teams, with the U.S. club team the Redding Rebels from California defeating Australia to win the first Cup.

91裸聊视频淭he park was a lot different than it is now91裸聊视频� it didn91裸聊视频檛 have those big concrete bleachers, just little schoolyard bleachers,91裸聊视频� Timm recalled.

Now, the event brings 1,600 athletes together over 10 days, as well as volunteers young and old.

91裸聊视频淲e have 104 bat girls, we have 285 into our kids camps, we have young officials91裸聊视频� I think we counted 2,600 kids under 18 years old hanging around that park91裸聊视频� they91裸聊视频檙e going to find a hero they91裸聊视频檙e going to find friends91裸聊视频� they91裸聊视频檙e going to learn to love sport,91裸聊视频� Timm said, noting that none of it could happen without the 550 volunteers who help before, during and after the 10-day event.

91裸聊视频淲e91裸聊视频檝e got lots of young volunteers who help us 91裸聊视频� there91裸聊视频檚 two young guys over at Cloverdale Athletic Park with the rakes and the shovels 91裸聊视频� they own those fields right now, that91裸聊视频檚 their job and they91裸聊视频檙e going to make those things perfect,91裸聊视频� Timm said last week.

The engagement of young children and sport is why he got involved, and why he stays involved, every year, he noted.

91裸聊视频淭hat91裸聊视频檚 my favourite part and I think that91裸聊视频檚 why I got so involved with it. When I was a kid, I loved the tournament atmosphere. I could sit and watch games all day, it was safe, I could follow teams and see how they91裸聊视频檙e doing and follow players and get into the momentum of it91裸聊视频� I think that91裸聊视频檚 why I91裸聊视频檝e stay so engaged for so long 91裸聊视频� just trying to let another kid have that experience.91裸聊视频�

Timm thanked everyone who helped, including 91裸聊视频渙riginal volunteers91裸聊视频� Gordie and Laverne Hogg, who have volunteered since the first Canada Cup in 1993.

91裸聊视频淲e are so grateful to our community for the massive volunteer effort 91裸聊视频� 25,000 hours of volunteer time will be invested here,91裸聊视频� Timm said.

91裸聊视频淭hese are people that are not necessarily sports people, they91裸聊视频檙e just awesome community people91裸聊视频� they just love the buzz of the community and they love seeing the kids have fun.91裸聊视频�

tricia.weel@peacearchnews.com
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