July 12, 2013 by Black Press Media Group

Youth divisions start play at Softball City Feature: Opening Day Futures, Showcase Selects see schedule on page 3

page 2

Player Profile: ‘Speed burners’ page 4

® CANADA

JAPAN

USA

AUSTRALIA

VENEZUELA

Showdown: Oregon vs Surrey Storm July 12 CanadianOpenFastpitch.com

Welcome to the 2013 Scotiabank Canadian Open Fastpitch International Championship

Swinging for the fences!

Katie Cochran of the U.S.A. takes a swing at a pitch during last year’s championship game against Japan. (Surrey Leader photo).

CANADIAN OPEN FASTPITCH HOTSHEET • Friday July 12, 2013

2013

Visit www.CanadianOpenFastpitch. com for event information, maps, tickets, scores and more. Visit BCLocalNews.com for feature coverage of the tournament by Black Press publications, including Peace Arch News and Surrey Leader.

Follow @CdnOpen on Twitter to stay up-to-the-minute with the 2013 Scotiabank Canadian Open Fastpitch International Championship. Use the hashtag #COFP13 to let people know you’re tweeting about the tournament and to see what others are saying. Also, follow @BlackPressDigital to stay informed.

Snapshots of the game: Last year

▼ STAY CONNECTED…

Connect with Canadian Open Fastpitch

CONNECT WITH US ON FACEBOOK

Like us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/ CanadianOpenFastpitch, where the 2013 Scotiabank Canadian Open Fastpitch International Championship will be posting daily news, player features, scores, games and more.

DEFENDING CHAMPS...

Also, find local coverage and all the stories, photos and info you need to stay current with the event by liking Black Press Facebook pages, including the Peace Arch News and Surrey Leader.

CONNECT WITH US ON INSTAGRAM!

Don’t forget to share your cool and creative photos from the ballpark with Instagram by following @cdnopen_fastpitch.

WATCH GAMES ONLINE, JULY 16-22

The Women’s International Championship games from the Championship Diamond will be broadcast LIVE online with our pay-per-view service! Visit www. CanadianOpenFastpitch.com to view live games through the dedicated feed directly from Softball City. Proudly supported by the video team from Briere Production Group and the website streaming services of NeuLion.

FOLLOW ALONG

Pointstreak Sports Technologies is the official scorekeeping software for the Scotiabank Canadian Open Fastpitch International Championship. Users will be able to access scores live in real-time at www.CanadianOpenFastpitch.com.

WATCH VIDEOS ON YOUTUBE

Visit the Canadian Open Fastpitch official YouTube Channel www.youtube.com/user/ CdnOpenFastpitch for softball-related videos and tournament action.

Misato Kawano scores Japan’s second run during last year’s championship game of the Women’s International division at the Scotiabank Canadian Open Fastpitch International Championship. Japan defeted the U.S.A. 9-6. Both teams are returning to this year’s tournament. (Surrey Leader photo)

Canadian Open is underway WELCOME TO SOFTBALL CITY The 2013 Scotiabank Canadian Open Fastpitch International Championship starts today, as top teams from around the world arrive in Surrey for 11 days of world-class fastpitch action.

and Futures Select divisions at Softball City. Tomorrow, play begins at Cloverdale Athletic Park and Sunnyside Park, and the Women’s Elite division teams will take to the diamond to show fans and opponents what they’re made of. On Monday, be sure to check out the start of Futures and Showcase Gold division play, and get ready to cheer on the top teams in the world as the Women’s International division begins on Tuesday!

OPENING DAY

Over the course of this event, 82 teams playing in six divisions will compete in 330 ball games. In addition to high-level fastpitch, this event features something for everyone, from Youth Clinics with the world’s top teams and Learn To Play Clinics for BC’s youngest softball fans, to the spirited Celebration of Softball – a colourful, festive gathering that showcases why fans across the world love this sport.

Catch all the action in six divisions: Showcase Select: July 12-15. Showcase Gold: July 15-21. Futures Select: July 12-15. Futures Gold: July 15-21.

Today, the incredible young athletes and rising stars of softball kick off the tournament in the Showcase

Women’s Elite: July 13-21. Women’s International: July 16-22.

Tweet photos to @CdnOpen

Friday July 12, 2013 • CANADIAN OPEN FASTPITCH HOTSHEET

Friday, July 12th ■ It’s Opening Day of the 2013 Scotiabank Canadian Open Fastpitch International Championship at Softball City. Saturday, July 13th ■ Women’s Elite Championship division play begins at Softball City. ■ It’s Opening Day of the 2013 Scotiabank Canadian Open Fastpitch International Championship at Cloverdale Athletic Park and Sunnyside Park. Monday, July 15th ■ The Showcase Select Championship Game on Diamond 2 begins at 3:30 pm, followed by the Showcase Select Awards Presentation. ■ Watch the Futures Select Championship Game on Diamond 2 at 6:30 pm, followed by the Futures Select Awards Presentation. Tuesday, July 16th ■ Team Canada takes on the California A’s for their first game in the Women’s International Division on Diamond 1 at 6:30 pm. ■ It’s Boy’s Night Out at the ballpark! Catch some local boys softball games at Diamond 2 at Softball City, 6:30 pm and 8:30 pm. Wednesday, July 17th ■ Join the Celebration of Softball! The Parade of Athletes begins at 5:30 pm on Diamond 1 at Softball City. ■ Team Canada vs. Team Australia at 7 pm at Softball City. Thursday, July 18th ■ Visit Team Canada for their autograph signing, taking place after their 6:30 pm game vs. Team Japan at Softball City. Friday, July 19th ■ The Women’s Elite All Star Awards take place at 5:30 pm on Diamond 1. ■ Team Canada vs. Team USA, 6:30 pm at Softball City. Saturday, July 20th Don’t miss the Scotiabank Canadian Open Fastpitch Women’s International All Star Awards on Diamond 1 at 6 pm.

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Sunday, July 21st • ■ The Showcase Gold Championship Game will be held on Diamond 2 at 1:30 pm, followed by the Showcase Gold Awards Presentation. ■ The Futures Gold Championship Game is on Diamond 2 at 4 pm followed by Futures Gold Awards. ■ The Women’s Elite Championship Game is set for Diamond 1 at 4 pm, followed by the Women’s Elite Awards Presentation.

▼ KEY DATES AND EVENTS

games to watch:

Today’s Schedule: FRIDAY, July 12 PARKS: SBC - Softball City, CAP - Cloverdale Athletic Park, SP - Sunnyside.

Monday, July 22nd ■ The Scotiabank Canadian Open Fastpitch Women’s International Championship Game happens on Diamond 1 at 7:30 pm followed by the Women’s International Awards Presentation.

Are you wondering what’s happening on the field when you’re somewhere else? View scores, statistics, and the live-updated Game Live system from Pointstreak scoring technologies online at www.CanadianOpenFastpitch.com

Naomi Koebel of the Fleetwood Force ‘95 takes a pitch during last year’s Canadian Open. The Force are again competing in the Futures Select tournament, and will begin play tomorrow (Saturday) at 8 a.m. at Cloverdale Athletic Park against the Langley Xtreme. (Surrey Leader photo)

CANADIAN OPEN FASTPITCH HOTSHEET • Friday July 12, 2013

▲ DAILY GAME HIGHLIGHTS

World’s best to teach younger players Young softball players can take to the field alongside some of the world’s best female softball players during the Scotiabank Canadian Open Fastpitch International Championship. Players between the ages of eight and 16 are invited to take part in one or all of the five clinics offered July 15-19 at Sunnyside Park. The clinics will provide participants with the opportunity to learn skills and strategies from some of the best in the game, and to hear stories of what it took for world class athletes to reach their goals. Cost of each clinic is $50 per child, or all five clinics for $195. Partcipants receive a clinic Tshirt, and admission to the Scotiabank Canadian Open Fastpitch International Championship on Wednesday, July 17. (For those registering for clinics on July 18-19, an alternate ticket will be provided. Canadian Open teams participating in the clinic include the California A’s (Monday, July 15), Team Australia (Tuesday, July 16), Team Venezuela (Wednesday, July 17), Team Canada (Thursday, July 18) and Team Japan (Friday, July 19).

China held hitless by Groenewegen Led by a trio of Surrey players, Canada finished fifth at 2013 ISF Junior Women’s World Softball Championships earlier this week in Brampton, Ont. Canada’s tournament ended on the weekend, after a 3-0 loss to Australia, whose pitchers limited the Canadian batters to just two hits in the game. Surrey’s Holly Speers, Lindsey Ogilvie and Sara Groenewegen were all part of the Canadian squad, and Groenewegen – a member of the White Rock Renegades program – had perhaps the most memorable moment of the tournament, pitching a complete game no-hitter against China last Friday. She struck out 11 Chinese batters and allowed just one walk. Groenewegen and her White Rock Renegades ’95 squad – the defending national midget champions – will return to action this week, when the Futures Gold division of the Canadian Open Fastpitch International Championship kicks off. Groenewegen may also see time with Canada’s senior women’s team at the Canadian Open – she is currently with the team in Oklahoma City, at the World Cup of Softball. - Nick Greenizan

As Great Britain’s Laura Thompson watches, California A’s’ Kylee Lahners slides safely to third base after hitting a triple during last year’s championship game of the Women’s Elite tournament. The A’s won the final 3-2, completing a dominant run through the competition. They didn’t give up a run until the final game, and this year will be the lone club team in the International division. (Surrey Leader photo)

Player profile: Rachel Picton, Carlyn Derapp and Taylor Weller – Fleetwood Force 97B: Rachel, Carlyn and Taylor are three “speed burners” on the Fleetwood Force 97B squad. All three players were a great addition at tryouts this year, and the coaches realized that these girls would be a key ingredient to the team’s success this year. Taylor is consistently good at the plate and patrols center field fearlessly. Carlyn is the team’s lead off batter and is leading the team in stolen bases. She plays a stifling defence at third base and is so fleet of foot, she barely leaves a footprint in the sand. Finally, Rachel is an aggressive and quick short stop, and she’s a fixture in the top portion of the order.

Fast facts: Did you know....? The first softball league outside the United States was organized in 1897 in Toronto. Did you know....? In softball pitchers throw the ball underhand, using a windmill motion, and games last seven innings instead of nine. It is also played on a smaller diamond. Did you know....? Softball was named an Olympic sport for women in 1991, and made its debut as a medal event in Atlanta in 1996. Did you know....? Despite the name, the ball used is not soft. It is about 12 in. (30 cm) in circumference, which is 3 in. (8 cm) larger than a baseball. Did you know....? The Scotiabank Canadian Open Fastpitch International Championship has more than 400 volunteers!