MEDIA RELEASE The list of pitchers for the upcoming Vancouver Challenge tournament is the best in this area since the 1997 International Softball Congress (“(ISC”) World Championship Tournament for club teams was held across the water in Victoria, BC. Among those expected to take the mound at South Memorial Park in Vancouver are: Gerald Muizelaar, Mike Piechnik, Steve Price (Broken Bow Spirit of Amsterdam, New York), Frank Cox, Grant Patterson (Calgary Smokers), Trevor Ethier, Sean Whitten (Saskatoon Black Sox), Collin McKenzie (Prince George Black Bears), and local favourites Nick Underhill and Rick Smith. All of these hurlers have pitched for the Canadian National Team. Muizelaar and Underhill held down the top two spots in the rotation when Canada finished 2nd at the World Championships in New Zealand in 2004.
These great throwers will be challenged by approximately half of the positional players who are on Team Canada’s 33 man roster, as well as many other elite players from the U.S., New Zealand, Australia, and the Dominican Republic. With all players primed to hit their peak heading into next month’s ISC World Championship and the Canadian National Championship, the competition should be intense. As an added incentive, Broken Bow will be looking to avenge a 5-3 loss to the Grey Sox in the semi-final of the Portland Rose Cup in June, 2005, a game in which the Sox rebounded from an early 3 run deficit. Vancouver (31-4-1 for 2005) then captured the title in that event with a convincing 9-0 win over Portland.
The opening game in the Vancouver Chhallenge is Friday night at 7:00 p.m. when the Grey Sox square off against Vancity from New Westminster. Action continues all day Saturday, from 9:00 a.m. through 9:00 p.m. The Grey Sox play two-time defending ISC champions Broken Bow Spirit at 1:00 p.m., on Saturday. Playoffs start at 3:00 p.m. on Saturday and continue the next day, with the Championship Final slated to start at 3:00 p.m. on Sunday. There will be a beverage garden in the stands behind home plate and the admission price is right: only $10 for a Tournament Pass; $3 for Friday night and $5 for Sat and Sunday day passes. Children under 12 are admitted free.
Conrad Margolis, Vancouver Grey Sox/Tournament Committee 604-802-8921 (cell)