No job too big or too small for Team Canada’s tradesmen

WATERLOO – Team Canada’s renovation project has hired a local plumber and a local electrician.

Waterloo apprentice plumber, infielder Brandon Horn, and pitcher Don Scott, an electrician in New Hamburg, will be among a host of newcomers hoping to bring Canada its first gold medal from the International Softball Federation’s world championship in 21 years.

The 16-team tournament runs March 1-10 in Auckland, New Zealand.

There’s no job too big or too small for tradesmen like Horn, Scott and the rest of the Canadians.

They are handymen indeed.

“Let’s hope we are handy guys to have around,” said Horn, 27, who makes his ISF world championship debut for Canada in March, although he played for Great Britain at the most-recent worlds, in Saskatoon in 2009.

“We’ve got everything covered – from pitching to hitting to defence. And we’ve got great chemistry,” said Horn, who was in raised in Waterloo, but carries dual citizenship because his dad was born in Scotland.

The rebuilt Canadian team features a younger roster than usual after a wave of retirements following the 2009 ISF tourney.

Team Canada’s lineup includes a smattering of other players who may be familiar to local fastball fans.

Canadian infielder Ian Fehrman, who won a Sutherland Cup with Jr. B hockey’s Elmira Sugar Kings several years ago, former Kitchener Twins pitcher Paul Koert and ex-Twins centrefielder Ryan Wolfe, are also making the trip to New Zealand.

Horn, who came up through local ball associations, has seen summertime action with former Ontario senior men’s team powerhouses, the mothballed Kitchener Twins and repeat world club team champs, the Jarvis Travelers.

“Brandon has come a long, long way,” said Scott, who won an International Softball Congress world title with Horn two years ago while with Jarvis.

“He’s the real deal. He doesn’t make mistakes. He’s a clutch hitter and he’s a tough out.”

While Scott, 38, has electrified crowds and zapped elite hitters on the world stage for years, he makes his ISF debut in March.

The Sebringville resident’s imposing resume includes three International Softball Congress world titles split between Kitchener and Jarvis.

He was also named top pitcher, leading Canada to gold at the recent Pan Am championships in Colombia.

Canada, which took bronze at the most recent world championship held in 2009 in Saskatoon, last won gold at the ISF worlds in the Philippines in 1992.

The Canadians said they are unafraid to roll up their sleeves to get the job done.

“I’m really looking forward to this,” said Scott. “It’s a dream come true.”

“Everyone is really eager,” added Horn. “We’ve got a big desire to win.”

Editor’s note: Christine Rivet produces some of the finest work in the mainstream media on men’s fastpitch. If you wish to drop her a note to tell her, it’s crivet [@] therecord.com