It was Team Japan winning the gold medal at the 2023 Canada Cup Women香蕉视频直播檚 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 world香蕉视频直播檚 best, including Team Canada, Team Japan, Team Mexico, Team Australia A, Team TC Colorado, Team Israel, Team Greece, and Team Italy.

香蕉视频直播淲e are incredibly proud to have hosted a tournament which saw such a strong level of play 香蕉视频直播� from the Women香蕉视频直播檚 International Division to our Futures and Showcase Divisions, we saw extraordinary athleticism on the field of play and true sportsmanship between nations,香蕉视频直播� said tournament chair Greg Timm.

The tournament 香蕉视频直播� now in its 30th year 香蕉视频直播� showcased some of the top female athletes from across Canada and the world and includes five divisions: Women香蕉视频直播檚 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.

香蕉视频直播淲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!香蕉视频直播�

Although Team Canada香蕉视频直播檚 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 Delta香蕉视频直播檚 Kelsey Harshman, who was named Canada Cup香蕉视频直播檚 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.

香蕉视频直播淚 think, towards the end of my playing career, I probably I considered myself half-player, half-coach香蕉视频直播� a lot of (players) referred to me a coach Rafter when I was still playing,香蕉视频直播� she told Peace Arch News last week.

香蕉视频直播淚t香蕉视频直播檚 still pretty early in our season 香蕉视频直播� our big thing is using this as preparation香蕉视频直播� we have a world championship qualifier coming up in Italy on the 19th.香蕉视频直播�

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.

香蕉视频直播淭o see all the little girls waiting to get autographs香蕉视频直播� we did a youth clinic the other day, and one of the girls 香蕉视频直播� she got her bat signed by the whole team 香蕉视频直播� she came down started swinging it she goes, 香蕉视频直播極h, I can already feel it香蕉视频直播檚 better right now,香蕉视频直播� she was so excited,香蕉视频直播� Rafter said.

香蕉视频直播淚 think that fan interaction 香蕉视频直播� just seeing how much the littles look up to our team, and also for our team to have that experience as well,香蕉视频直播� is amazing.香蕉视频直播�

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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香蕉视频直播淭eam Canada had no money, so they were expected to compete at the world level against countries that had pretty big budgets,香蕉视频直播� Timm said.

香蕉视频直播淭he way the Olympic association worked in Canada back then, is if you didn香蕉视频直播檛 have Olympic status, you didn香蕉视频直播檛 get much money. (Todd) was sort of the chief and I was second in charge, and and it was our mission 香蕉视频直播� we said, 香蕉视频直播極K, if we can香蕉视频直播檛 travel our Canadian team around the world, let香蕉视频直播檚 bring the world to Canada.香蕉视频直播櫹憬妒悠抵辈��

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.

香蕉视频直播淭he park was a lot different than it is now香蕉视频直播� it didn香蕉视频直播檛 have those big concrete bleachers, just little schoolyard bleachers,香蕉视频直播� Timm recalled.

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

香蕉视频直播淲e have 104 bat girls, we have 285 into our kids camps, we have young officials香蕉视频直播� I think we counted 2,600 kids under 18 years old hanging around that park香蕉视频直播� they香蕉视频直播檙e going to find a hero they香蕉视频直播檙e going to find friends香蕉视频直播� they香蕉视频直播檙e going to learn to love sport,香蕉视频直播� Timm said, noting that none of it could happen without the 550 volunteers who help before, during and after the 10-day event.

香蕉视频直播淲e香蕉视频直播檝e got lots of young volunteers who help us 香蕉视频直播� there香蕉视频直播檚 two young guys over at Cloverdale Athletic Park with the rakes and the shovels 香蕉视频直播� they own those fields right now, that香蕉视频直播檚 their job and they香蕉视频直播檙e going to make those things perfect,香蕉视频直播� 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.

香蕉视频直播淭hat香蕉视频直播檚 my favourite part and I think that香蕉视频直播檚 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 they香蕉视频直播檙e doing and follow players and get into the momentum of it香蕉视频直播� I think that香蕉视频直播檚 why I香蕉视频直播檝e stay so engaged for so long 香蕉视频直播� just trying to let another kid have that experience.香蕉视频直播�

Timm thanked everyone who helped, including 香蕉视频直播渙riginal volunteers香蕉视频直播� Gordie and Laverne Hogg, who have volunteered since the first Canada Cup in 1993.

香蕉视频直播淲e are so grateful to our community for the massive volunteer effort 香蕉视频直播� 25,000 hours of volunteer time will be invested here,香蕉视频直播� Timm said.

香蕉视频直播淭hese are people that are not necessarily sports people, they香蕉视频直播檙e just awesome community people香蕉视频直播� they just love the buzz of the community and they love seeing the kids have fun.香蕉视频直播�

tricia.weel@peacearchnews.com
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