Ontario Fastpitch News

Written by OntFast Saturday, 20 February 2010 17:52

The Innerkip Umpires 2010 Gord Marshall Memorial Women's Fastball Tournament is slated to be held in Innerkip on July 22, 23, 24 and 25th.
 
Plans are well under way to make this the best tournament yet!
 
Once again proceeds from this event will again be donated to the Canadian Cancer Society.
 
We have changed the Division format and number of eligible teams this year so please read the documentation carefully.

Teams are encouraged to enter early to secure their spot in this years tournament.
 
If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me at your convenience.
 
We look forward to hosting you at Innerkip later this summer!
 
Thanks in advance for your support.
 
Brad Hallock
Innerkip Umpires Association
Gord Marshall Memorial Ladies Fastball 2010 Tournament Chairman
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Written by OntFast Wednesday, 17 February 2010 19:43

Reigning National Player of the Year Danielle Lawrie made a big statement on the opening weekend of the 2010 softball season that she's not ready to give up her crown as college softball's top player, earning both the USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Week and NFCA/Louisville Slugger National Player of the Week along with earning Pac-10 Pitcher of the Week honors.

The senior had a nearly flawless opening weekend, going 3-0 with three complete-game shutouts to go along with one save. She did not allow a run in 21.0 innings and allowed just four total hits. Most impressive was her strikeouts-to-walks ratio as the Langley, B.C., native struck out 45 batters and walked just one.

Lawrie started the weekend in style with the first seven-inning perfect game of her career - and just the second in Husky history - striking out 16 of the 21 batters she faced in a 5-0 season-opening win. After earning a save in a 4-3 win over Ohio in which she struck out all three batters she faced on a total of 10 pitches, Lawrie came back that night and threw a three-hit shutout with 13 strikeouts in an 8-0 win over Nevada. After resting her arm Saturday, Lawrie capped the weekend with a one-hit shutout, striking out 13 with no walks in a 5-0 win over Notre Dame.

As if that weren't enough, Lawrie also led No. 1-ranked UW's offense, belting a team-high four home runs and driving in nine runs. She hit her first home run of the season, a two-run shot, in the win over Auburn, then had a career-day Saturday against Cal State Northridge, blasting a grand slam and a two-run home run for a career high six RBI. She added her fourth home run of the weekend - a solo shot which came immediately after fellow Canadian Jenn Salling's grand slam - in the win over Notre Dame. Lawrie, who hit seven home runs all last year, batted .400 (6-for-15) and slugged 1.200 over the opening weekend.

Written by OntFast Monday, 15 February 2010 12:40

Date:        February 15, 2010
To/A:        Provincial and Territorial Associations, Midget Girls Club Teams
From/De:    Softball Canada
RE:        Junior Women’s National Team Players


Dear Provincial/Territorial Associations and Midget Girls Club Teams,

Due to the Pan-American Softball Region’s recent confirmation of the dates of the 2010 Junior Women’s Pan American Qualifier (Bogota, Colombia - August 9th to 15th, 2010), the seventeen (17) players who will be selected to Softball Canada’s Junior Women’s National Team will not be available to their club teams from July 29th to August 16th (inclusive). While Softball Canada recognizes that this will present a hardship to some club teams, we are unable to change the dates of this event. Participation in this event is mandatory to qualify for the 2011 ISF Junior Women’s World Championship.

Softball Canada looked at the possibility of changing the dates of the Canadian Midget Girls Championship (August 1st to 8th, 2010 in Saint John, NB) to avoid this conflict, but the host committee was unable to do so on this short notice, as the initial dates have already been locked in.

Written by OntFast Monday, 15 February 2010 12:11

BaseballSoftballUK  is looking for softball coaches who are available between April and August 2010 to aid the development of softball in the UK.

We are looking for coaches with a good knowledge of softball who have had some experience coaching the sport and can deliver coaching sessions to children and adults. Much of the work done by the coaches will be in schools and youth academies as well as with local clubs.

Coaching positions are available in the North West and South East of England, London and the West Midlands. The Federation will assist with living arrangements and costs, flights to and from the UK if necessary and basic work and living expenses.

This experience has been a valuable means for coaches to develop their coaching abilities, add to the quality of their CV, enjoy an excellent coaching experience and have fun delivering sessions in the sport they love. It may also be possibly for a coach to play softball while here.

However, applicants should be aware that hard work is involved, including afternoons and evenings when players are available. Also, many clinics and Academy sessions take place over weekends.

The dates of these appointments are up for negotiation between the months of April and August. To apply for one of these summer coaching positions please email John Mills ( This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it ) to ask for an application form.

The deadline for applications is March 31, 2010.

Written by OntFast Sunday, 07 February 2010 14:11

Softball Canada and the Officiating Development Committee are very pleased to launch a new tool to help umpires prepare for the 2010 season - Softball Canada UmpSchool!

Softball Canada umpires can now take advantage of an effective new tool as they study the rules for the upcoming season, and prepare for 2010 certification examination.

Softball Canada has recently partnered with RuleBox Software, a company that develops test preparation tools and online training. The result is a new initiative called Softball Canada UmpSchool, and it can be used to increase your knowledge of officiating and improve your score on the Softball Canada annual examination.

When you subscribe to Softball Canada UmpSchool, you can select brief study quizzes that cover specific Softball Canada rules, or elect to take complete 50, 65, 75, 90, or 100-question practice examinations. You'll receive immediate feedback on your answers, as well as rule references so you can check on the correct ruling.

This effective new training tool is available to Softball Canada umpires for a subscription fee of only $8 USD. A subscription allows you unlimited access for the entire season!

Subscribe now, so you don't forget: http://www.ruleboxsoftware.com/softballcanada.aspx

Written by OntFast Sunday, 07 February 2010 14:08

Please note that the registration period for the Senior Women's National Team Evaluation Camps has ended. Due to an overwhelmingly positive response, Softball Canada cannot logistically handle any more players at the camps.

Players who were unable to register can send information about their playing status for review by the coaching staff and possible future scouting. Particulars include:
1. Full Name
2. Date of birth
3. Current Team
4. Home Address
5. Email address
6. Phone Number
Please forward this information to Harvey Stevenson at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it  

For more information, please contact:
Harvey Stevenson
Operations Manager - National Teams
Softball Canada
212-223 Colonnade Road
Ottawa ON K2E 7K3
Ph.:1-613-523-3386 x. 3110
Fax:1-613-523-5761
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Written by OntFast Sunday, 07 February 2010 14:05

Here is the February 2010 edition of Around the Horn - Softball Canada's monthly newsletter has been released.

Click here to view Around the Horn: http://www.softball.ca/files/ATHFebruary2010.pdf

Written by OntFast Monday, 01 February 2010 18:37

The PWSA Scholarship Foundation is an important part of our association. Scholarships are normally based on the amount of interest we receive each year from the funds we have in the scholarship account. Each year we attempt to provide three scholarships of approximately $1,000.00 each to deserving players who submit applications before August 15th of the current year. Please visit www.ontariopwsa.com to download the application.
 
The P.W.S.A is very thankful to have received donations from PWSA member teams and associations; business and private donations; in‐memoriam; and the Residence and Conference Centres. These donations to our scholarship program make it possible for our P.W.S.A athletes to continue with their education. We appreciate your continued support!
 
ARE YOU A PAST SCHOLARSHIP RECIPIENT? IF SO WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU!!!!
 
For 24 years now we have been awarding scholarships and we are interested to know how and what our recipients are now doing. If you are a past recipient can you please email us and let us know what you are now doing and possibly how our scholarship may have made a difference in your life’s path. Please contact Jennifer Chadwick, Scholarship Chairperson at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Written by OntFast Sunday, 31 January 2010 15:54

The Softball Ontario Fast Pitch Umpire Committee is pleased to announce a great opportunity for young female umpires.  Open to young women aged 15 – 18 years of age, an innovative “GIRLZ RULE” umpire clinic is being offered on Saturday, March 27th in Toronto at the Sport Alliance Building (the home of Softball Ontario).  Attendance is limited to thirty-five participants, so apply today to participate in this great clinic.

Softball Ontario is extremely pleased to offer this clinic at NO CHARGE to each of the thirty-five successful applicants due in part to a Sport4Toronto funding initiative as well as the injection of funding from the Softball Ontario program.  The clinic will be instructed by three of the country’s finest elite female umpires – Noreen Atkinson, a Softball Canada Level V from Georgetown, who participated in the 2007 Junior Women’s World Championship in the Netherlands. Daryl Way, also a Softball Canada Level V from Brampton - a fixture at supervising Canadian Championships and Lesley Pipher, a Softball Canada Level IV who participated in the 2008 Senior Women’s Canadian Championships as an umpire and the 2009 Senior Women’s Canadian Championships as a participant.

Written by OntFast Tuesday, 26 January 2010 19:37

The 17th Annual Canada Cup International Women's Fastpitch Tournament (Women's Division) has been cancelled for 2010 due to a change in the International Softball Federation dates for the Xll Women's World Championships.

'It is with great regret and after much deliberation due to the changes made by the International Softball Federation schedule that I have decided not to proceed with the 2010 Canada Cup and have informed Softball Canada and the Canada Cup Host Committee of this decision,' stated Chairman, Glen Todd.

'We reviewed all of our options and in the end concluded that we had no choice but to cancel the Women's tournament. We are exploring the possibilities of staging the Canada Cup once again in 2011.'

The Canada Cup was to be held July 3 to 11 in Surrey, BC with many international teams then heading to the World Championships the following week. The 2010 ISF Xll Women's World Championships will now be held in Caracas, Venezuela June 23 to July 2. It has recently been announced by the International Softball Federation and Softball Canada that the ISF Xlll Women's World Championships will be held in July of 2012 in Whitehorse, Yukon. Dates are still to be determined.

Further information and updates will be posted on www.canadacup.com including information on the 2010 Futures and Showcase Divisions.