July 13, 2013

Feature: Elite teams

Women’s Elite:

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see schedule on page 3

Renegades vs. Team BC

Player Profile: The Kestersons page 4

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Showdown: Cranbrook Heat vs Seattle Spice July 13 CanadianOpenFastpitch.com

Women’s Elite division starts play today

Teams take to the field!

Team BC’s Larissa Franklin makes a narrow escape at third base during a game last year against Great Britain. Team BC will play the White Rock Renegades in the first game of the Women’s Elite tournament at the Scotiabank Canadian Open Fastpitch International Championship at Softball City.

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CANADIAN OPEN FASTPITCH HOTSHEET • Saturday July 13, 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 US ON TWITTER

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.

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.

White Rock Renegades ‘97 pitcher Ashley Penny winds up for a pitch during an under-16 game at Cloverdale Athletic Park on July 7. The Renegades ‘97 will play in the Scotiabank Canadian Open in the Showcase Gold division, while the Renegades club has entered its senior team in the Women’s Elite competition.

Renegades, Team BC in four-team tourney WOMEN’S ELITE The Women’s Elite Division starts today, runs through July 21, and will see four top teams from BC, Washington and Quebec compete for the title in what is sure to be an actionpacked event.

certainly not new to the field!) – the Quebec Rebelles and Northwest Lady Sharks.

WOMEN’S ELITE

This year’s teams include two long-time Scotiabank Canadian Open Fastpitch contenders – Team BC and the White Rock Renegades – who will be looking to defend their home turf, as well as two teams that are new to this competition (but

Each team brings a talented pool of university and college-level athletes to the diamond as they battle it out for the gold medal. One thing’s for sure: with just four talented teams playing in this year’s Women’s Elite division, it could be anyone’s game.

Teams will play a double round robin, then will start a double-knockout playoff Friday. The championship game is Sunday afternoon.

Tweet photos to @CdnOpen

Saturday July 13, 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: SATURDAY, July 13 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

Team BC’s Kaitlyn Cameron swings at a pitch during last year’s Scotiabank Canadian Open. (Surrey Leader photo)

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CANADIAN OPEN FASTPITCH HOTSHEET • Saturday July 13, 2013

▲ DAILY GAME HIGHLIGHTS

National teams at World Cup

The Scotiabank Canadian Open is underway, but Team Canada won’t arrive in Surrey until they finish competing at the US World Cup of Softball in Oklahoma City.

Competing against the United States, Puerto Rico, Japan and Australia in a five-team competition, Canada concludes round robin play today, and will play in a placement game tomorrow.

With the exception of Puerto Rico, teams at the World Cup will fly to Surrey to join the California A’s and Venezuela in the International division at the Canadian Open.

Canada’s first game is Tuesday at 6:30 p.m. against the California A’s.

Canadian Open may host the world Organizers of the Scotiabank Canadian Open Fastpitch International Championship have their sights set on hosting an even bigger tournament in Surrey – and now they need the community to get behind the plan, too.

The city is aiming to host the 2016 ISF Women’s World Championship after being named as Canada’s bid city in February. The bid committee – headed up

by Gregg Timm and Chuck Westgard – will find out if they’ve been chosen after giving a presentation to more than 130 delegates at the International Softball Federation Congress when it convenes Oct. 21-26 in Cartagena, Colombia.

Members of the organizing group will also travel to the Czech Republic to give a presentation to delegates, similar to the one they’ll deliver in Colombia.

Timm, the chair of the Canadian Open tournament – which, including its predecessor, the Canada Cup, enters its 20th running later this month – said the idea to bid on the 2016 event came came as a result of the tournament being changed to an “open” event; previously, teams had to qualify regionally to gain entry.

“We just thought, with our expertise in running our open tournament, and the fact that we’ve had a lot of these countries in our event previously – teams like Spain, Denmark and Indonesia, which would never otherwise qualify – we just thought, ‘we can do this,’” Timm said.

“We’re used to hosting teams like that.”

It’s not quite clear what other nations will be bidding on the event, though Timm expects both ChineseTaipei and South Africa to be among the contenders.

Considering his group’s experience, Timm called his bid committee “very well polished” in comparison to competing bids.

“We have a lot of depth in our organization,” he added. “From hospitality, to hosting, to things on the business side.”

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ROUNDING SECOND...

Canada’s Joey Lye rounds second base during a game against Australia at last year’s Scotiabank Canadian Open Fastpitch International Championship at Softball City. Lye is with the Canadian team at the US World Cup of Softball in Oklahoma City, competing against four other teams, including Australia. Both teams will travel to Surrey before beginning play at the Canadian Open on Tuesday. (Surrey Leader photo).

Player profile: Lauren and Chloe Kesterson – Northwest Lady Sharks Lauren and Chloe are identical twins that have played together since they were seven years old.

They wanted to attend university together and just completed their freshman year at Kent State University. Although the girls are similar in many ways, they are complete opposites in how/where they play: Chloe hits right-handed and plays outfield, while Lauren is a left-handed slapper who plays shortstop.

Both are studying to become physician assistants. Lauren and Chloe played at the Canadian Open two years ago, and they’re returning to play in the Elite division with the newly formed North West Lady Sharks.

Fast facts: Did you know....? The Scotiabank Canadian Open Fastpitch International Championship has 300-400 delegates (trainers, doctors, ISF representatives) and 300-400 coaches from around the world.

Did you know....? Softball was invented in 1887 by George Hancock, a journalist for the Chicago Board of Trade. He designed the game to be a form of indoor baseball to be played during the winter.

Did you know....? Softball is one of only two sports in the NCAA which are exclusive to women, the other is field hockey.

Did you know....? If the pitcher steps to the side or backwards while pitching, this motion is considered deceptive, and the pitch will be declared illegal.