It was Team Japan winning the gold medal at the 2023 Canada Cup WomenB次元官网网址檚 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 worldB次元官网网址檚 best, including Team Canada, Team Japan, Team Mexico, Team Australia A, Team TC Colorado, Team Israel, Team Greece, and Team Italy.

B次元官网网址淲e are incredibly proud to have hosted a tournament which saw such a strong level of play B次元官网网址� from the WomenB次元官网网址檚 International Division to our Futures and Showcase Divisions, we saw extraordinary athleticism on the field of play and true sportsmanship between nations,B次元官网网址� said tournament chair Greg Timm.

The tournament B次元官网网址� now in its 30th year B次元官网网址� showcased some of the top female athletes from across Canada and the world and includes five divisions: WomenB次元官网网址檚 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.

B次元官网网址淲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!B次元官网网址�

Although Team CanadaB次元官网网址檚 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 DeltaB次元官网网址檚 Kelsey Harshman, who was named Canada CupB次元官网网址檚 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.

B次元官网网址淚 think, towards the end of my playing career, I probably I considered myself half-player, half-coachB次元官网网址� a lot of (players) referred to me a coach Rafter when I was still playing,B次元官网网址� she told Peace Arch B次元官网网址 last week.

B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 still pretty early in our season B次元官网网址� our big thing is using this as preparationB次元官网网址� we have a world championship qualifier coming up in Italy on the 19th.B次元官网网址�

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.

B次元官网网址淭o see all the little girls waiting to get autographsB次元官网网址� we did a youth clinic the other day, and one of the girls B次元官网网址� she got her bat signed by the whole team B次元官网网址� she came down started swinging it she goes, B次元官网网址極h, I can already feel itB次元官网网址檚 better right now,B次元官网网址� she was so excited,B次元官网网址� Rafter said.

B次元官网网址淚 think that fan interaction B次元官网网址� just seeing how much the littles look up to our team, and also for our team to have that experience as well,B次元官网网址� is amazing.B次元官网网址�

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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B次元官网网址淭eam Canada had no money, so they were expected to compete at the world level against countries that had pretty big budgets,B次元官网网址� Timm said.

B次元官网网址淭he way the Olympic association worked in Canada back then, is if you didnB次元官网网址檛 have Olympic status, you didnB次元官网网址檛 get much money. (Todd) was sort of the chief and I was second in charge, and and it was our mission B次元官网网址� we said, B次元官网网址極K, if we canB次元官网网址檛 travel our Canadian team around the world, letB次元官网网址檚 bring the world to Canada.B次元官网网址橞次元官网网址�

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.

B次元官网网址淭he park was a lot different than it is nowB次元官网网址� it didnB次元官网网址檛 have those big concrete bleachers, just little schoolyard bleachers,B次元官网网址� Timm recalled.

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

B次元官网网址淲e have 104 bat girls, we have 285 into our kids camps, we have young officialsB次元官网网址� I think we counted 2,600 kids under 18 years old hanging around that parkB次元官网网址� theyB次元官网网址檙e going to find a hero theyB次元官网网址檙e going to find friendsB次元官网网址� theyB次元官网网址檙e going to learn to love sport,B次元官网网址� Timm said, noting that none of it could happen without the 550 volunteers who help before, during and after the 10-day event.

B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檝e got lots of young volunteers who help us B次元官网网址� thereB次元官网网址檚 two young guys over at Cloverdale Athletic Park with the rakes and the shovels B次元官网网址� they own those fields right now, thatB次元官网网址檚 their job and theyB次元官网网址檙e going to make those things perfect,B次元官网网址� 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.

B次元官网网址淭hatB次元官网网址檚 my favourite part and I think thatB次元官网网址檚 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 theyB次元官网网址檙e doing and follow players and get into the momentum of itB次元官网网址� I think thatB次元官网网址檚 why IB次元官网网址檝e stay so engaged for so long B次元官网网址� just trying to let another kid have that experience.B次元官网网址�

Timm thanked everyone who helped, including B次元官网网址渙riginal volunteersB次元官网网址� Gordie and Laverne Hogg, who have volunteered since the first Canada Cup in 1993.

B次元官网网址淲e are so grateful to our community for the massive volunteer effort B次元官网网址� 25,000 hours of volunteer time will be invested here,B次元官网网址� Timm said.

B次元官网网址淭hese are people that are not necessarily sports people, theyB次元官网网址檙e just awesome community peopleB次元官网网址� they just love the buzz of the community and they love seeing the kids have fun.B次元官网网址�

tricia.weel@peacearchnews.com
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