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 Men香蕉视频直播檚 Fastpitch Tournament.
The Vancouver-based squad lived up to its billing, rolling through the eight-team event and securing the title Monday afternoon at Kelowna香蕉视频直播檚 King香蕉视频直播檚 Stadium with a lopsided victory over the Sooke Loggers in the championship game.
South Hill featured six players from Canada香蕉视频直播檚 national men香蕉视频直播檚 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.
香蕉视频直播淚 think pretty much everyone who was involved over the weekend loved it,香蕉视频直播� said tournament organizer and Brewers香蕉视频直播� pitcher Richard Haldane. 香蕉视频直播淭he weather was ideal, we had tons of compliments, the fans enjoyed it香蕉视频直播e have teams who already said they香蕉视频直播檙e coming back next year.香蕉视频直播�
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.
香蕉视频直播淩ight now, there is a lack of young pitchers across the country and that香蕉视频直播檚 been a challenge,香蕉视频直播� said Haldane, a Vernon resident who is also a member of Great Britain香蕉视频直播檚 national program. 香蕉视频直播淭here were some younger players on the Sooke team, so that香蕉视频直播檚 positive.
香蕉视频直播淎 lot of people (in Kelowna) didn香蕉视频直播檛 even realize there was a fastball league in Kelowna, so that香蕉视频直播檚 one of the things we香蕉视频直播檙e faced with,香蕉视频直播� he added. 香蕉视频直播淗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.香蕉视频直播�
Other teams competing at this year香蕉视频直播檚 tournament were the host Kelowna All-Stars, Irma Tigers, Grand Prairie Pirates and Abbotsford Builders.
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