The 2018 edition of the Ed Bitz Scholarship was finally released with Melody Salehzadeh of Vancouver, B.C. and Meredith Harrison of Titusville, N.B. earning the honors. The young umpires have a rich history in softball, having played, and even officiated, in different competitions.

As it’s been the tradition, the National Officials Certification board has elevated twenty-one promising umpires to the status of level four. The elite officials were selected based on their ability, and understanding, of softball. This exciting program opens the doors for the umpires to take part in the Canadian Championships.

After grueling work, the Canadian women finally achieved a podium finish at the world softball championship held in the Japanese city of Chiba. The talking point, though, is the direct qualification of the US team leaving the Canadian women’s team to shine en route to qualifying for Tokyo 2020.

Softball Canada is already receiving bids for the 2019 Slo-Pitch championships. For enthusiasts and fans, this is a great moment, and will definitely have an impact on the selected location. For now, it’s a matter of wait to see what happens.

Softball is an interesting, and attractive, sport to watch. The energetic players, and the unique rules of play make the game an exciting occasion for fans. For Canadians, softball doesn’t only excite; it enriches the localities where it is played.

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The Eagles were pretty much underdogs heading into the match, owing to both their build-up form and the geographical odds of the competition. They were, however, able to overcome all that and emerge 6-2 winners with a game to spare. That afforded them a little luxury ahead of a meeting with an equally stubborn East-Hants Shooters.

Eagles could then dare to dream for a place in the post-season competition that brings together the best eight teams of the ten that have played at the championships.

The win may have appeared like just another item on the news to a casual observer, but a keen follower of Canada’s softball competitions will tell you it is not. Under it lay a big statement of the Eagle’s growth and the shift in the balance of softball power within the country.

It is an indication that the game is no longer an automatic reserve for Nova Scotia. Other regions also want a piece of the pie and they are not shy to ask and fight for it.

It may also be an indicator of a rise in popularity of an already popular game in regions that have been considered to have a lukewarm enthusiasm. But, most importantly, it is an indication of Softball Canada’s success in attempts to spread softablling facilities all over the country in the pursuit of balance.

The win, many can confidently say, indicates an even brighter future for the game of softball in Canada.

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According to Bertrand, she joined them in 2017 and placed her in the Team Canada Elite, which is primarily Senior National Team farm team. She has since joined Team Canada in Japan for two weeks where they played against the world’s top three teams. Bertrand is happy about the camp, as she will unite with all her friends that they have grown close over the years. She looks forward to catching up with and competing against them as well as other of Canada’s best players.

Bertrand also looks forward to learning in these camps. They comprise of the best players and coaches internationally with a lot of knowledge to share regarding softball. A week spent with them makes her a smarter and better player just like Monica Abbott and the rest of the top women in the sport.

During her first appearance in 2017 at the Japan Cup for the Senior National Team held, she played against Ont, the United States, and the Stirling. The native softball team entered in the fifth inning and cleared with two scoreless frames in a 6-4 loss. Bertrand kept the opponent off the board once again by throwing 2.1 innings in a 5-0 defeat. Her total line showed no hits allowed, no runs allowed, two strikeouts, and two walks in 4.1 innings against 18 total batters.

Softball Canada will use the selection camp to establish the lineup for the Pan American Games to be held in Lima, Peru, and the World Baseball Softball Confederation (WBSC) Americas Olympic Qualifier.

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Ryan Joynt, in a claim declaration filed on August 9 at Yukon Supreme Court, claims that he attended the Softball championships on August 12, 2016, as a spectator. While he was walking along the Pepsi Centre, the bleachers “gave way” leaving Joynt suspended. The claim refers to Joynt as a “laborer” with lower body and leg injuries as well as lacerations and multiple bruises to the body, suffering from anxiety and loss of sleep.

Following the incident, according to the statement, Joynt’s injuries have caused him to lose life enjoyment, and left him in pain, and suffering, and with permanent physical disabilities. He adds that he has since lost financial stability and the capability of working. He has continued to pay for his medical treatment, and his family is now burdened to take care of him.

The lawsuit attribute Joynt’s injuries to wrongful acts, and or negligence of the Softball Yukon and Softball Canada who were co-hosting the women’s and men’s Canadian Slo-Pitch Championships in 2016. The claimed negligence include the associations’ inability to take reasonable or any care to prevent Joynt from injuries while using the bleachers at the Centre. They failed to take safety measures such as inspection and examination of the bleachers at the Pepsi Centre to ensure they were in safe conditions. They were unable to put up a sign or a warning of the unlikely dangers in the Centre.

Among other things Joynt is seeking compensation for the enjoyment of life loss, amenities loss, suffering, pain, damages for the past loss of income and loss of capacity to earn income, future care costs, incapacity to house maintenance, cost of action and special damages.

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Ellsworth: The Unsung Hero

Ellsworth has been out of the mix, when it comes to the national squad, for a few years. He dominated between 2005 and 2015. After a three year break, Jeff is back, and ready to show the world why. 40 may be seen as over the hill, but watching him play will give you an entirely new perspective on that. Ellsworth has proven that fitness blended with experience, and skill, is a winning combination. While younger players may have more stamina, sometimes the brains and the experience behind each move, are what makes it successful.

What’s in Store for the National Squad?

The upcoming fixture, the Confederation World Championship for 2019, is one that is no stranger to the national team. This year the event is going to take place in the Czech Republic. The last time Canada took part in the championship, in 2017, they received a third-place bronze. They are raring to go, with their experience and skill as their weapon. Softball Canada’s national men’s team is going big in 2019, and bringing home gold is their goal. They are a passionate team that is keen on proudly displaying their prowess on the field. You can be sure of one thing; they will give it all they’ve got, to get to the top. Canadians are gearing up for an exciting Confederation World Championship, and are backing their boys all the way.

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Wally Voss, also known as the ‘Big Thunder,’ has been in the local softball scene for some time, and has won four championships with the First Ward Falcons. Among the most significant moments in his career are the three home run and eight run batted in (RBI) game at Eden Corn Festival. He has also participated in several local competitions including Dunkirk, Erie, and Lackawanna.

The second entrant in the Class of 2018, is Larry McFadden, popularly known as ‘Oz.’ The lad has played for some of the top teams including Lake Shore Delivery, 3D Grocery, and Aldrich Dairy, among others. McFadden has participated in almost all the championships and has won the Fredonia and Dunkirk leagues.

Third in the list is Jeff Kubera, also known as ‘Jitty,’ who has been in local softball for over two decades. Even though he was on the fastpitch scene at first, he beat the odds and became a crucial figure in the Falcon team, that was first runner-up in the Dunkirk and Buffalo Queen City competitions. He has also won over 150 tournaments throughout his career.

Last is Frank Gawronski, and even though softball was his favorite, he also played basketball, football, and baseball. With a career sprawling to over 20 years in local softball, Gawronski has won almost everything that’s there to be won. Besides his role in active softball, he has also coached a few teams and even won the New York State Championship with Dunkirk Girls Senior High School.

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2020 Olympics

Since 2008 Softball has not been included on the events list during the previous tournaments Softball but come 2020 Softball and baseball will make a return to this international event. This is good news to the softball enthusiasts as they will have an opportunity to watch as the teams’ battle it out for the top honors. Yokohama and the Fakushima stadiums will host the softball and baseball events where for the softball games six men and women teams will grace the occasion. This inclusion comes after the International Olympic Committee (IOC) gave a nod to host countries to add more sports that they deemed fit for the event. Japan being a Softball power house saw this as an opportunity for them to give their national softball teams more exposure on an international level after the game was dropped after the 2008 Olympics.

Olympic qualifiers

Only six men and women teams will compete in the softball event during the 2020 edition. The qualifiers have already kicked off and the USA softball team booked the first slot after beating Japan in the 2018 World Championship and Japan being the Olympic hosts has automatically booked a slot. The other four teams will be determined through continental qualifiers with Europe-Africa (Winner qualify), North-South America (top finishers qualify) and the Asia- Oceania (winner qualify)

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One such explosive incident occurred during a September meeting between Galway Hitmen and B. C. Loggers in Nova Scotia. The match was a seniors-fastpitch championship meeting, Hitmen were doing good and the crowd was getting charged by the minute.

Then, out of nowhere, Hitmen’s Mathieu Roy appeared to smash into Logger’s Scott Lieph at the home plate. A scuffle ensued inviting players and staff from both teams to crowd. The entire drama lasted no more than 20 seconds, two players from the Hitmen and one from The Loggers were sent off, and everything went back to normal.

Or not. One person’s presence on the pitch remained on the Loggers manager’s mind throughout and after the game. At the end of the game, manager John Bishop complained that Danny Williams, Galway’s sponsor, should have never been on the field as he is neither a coach nor a player.

The complaint prompted Softball Canada to take up the issue and set up a review. But, in a shave that was almost nearer than close, Williams was able to get off the hook.

How so? Apparently, besides being the sponsor, Hitmen have Williams listed as their general manager. That technically makes him a part of their staff, and underlines the legitimacy of his presence on the pitch. Close shave!

It may have helped that his involvement was more about quelling the scuffle rather then fuelling it. The association has, regardless, issued a stern warning against such incidents in future. Not that Hitmen will be too concerned though, given they were able to give the Loggers another drubbing one day after the incident!

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To get closer to the game in question, it is essential that you get a good grasp of the related game of baseball. If you read other informative articles on this website, you will realize that, save for a few factors like field and ball size, softball is pretty much the same as baseball. The rules of the latter should be clear to anyone living in the US or Canada.

Moreover, most of the betting donkey work is done by the gaming houses and their associates. The only task for you as a bettor is to make your pick and place a stake. As such, betting on a softball game is not any bigger a task than playing on a Spin Palace App or any online casino game.

That said, understanding the rules of the game gives you a better chance of placing a winning bet. This is especially true for live betting, where you can analyse a trend and predict a short term outcome.

In softball, innings are the most important aspects of a bet. Ultimately, the team that comes out on top is the one with most innings. As such, you should be able to look at how both pitchers and batters of the two teams carry out their duties.

You should also be able to analyse the completeness of each individual player. A player may, for instance, be a good pitcher or batter but slow in making runs. That would in turn make him less of an asset to your bet.

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It is essential for those who are new to softball gambling, to first watch a few matches, before jumping head first into softball betting. There are a lot of live stream platforms on the internet for this purpose. In addition to that, it is also nice to at least have a look at statistical data, on the teams that you are about to wager on. Most significant bookmakers such as Gaming Club will always have a section for head to head data of the teams that are about to play; utilize this opportunity fully.

Softball Game Rules

There are two types of a softball game, fast pitch and slow pitch. The only difference between these types is the pace of the ball and the number of players per team. Slowpitch softball has nine players in each side, while fastpitch has 10 in each team. Softball is similar to baseball, apart from the size of the ball, and the field. The primary objective of the game in a softball match is to score more runs than the opponent. The field contains four bases and is shaped like a diamond, where the batter must make it round to accomplish a run.

Many sites allow gamblers to wager on this sport. Bet365 is dedicated to offering a lot of markets for players who want to wager on softball. Other betting companies include William Hill, BWIN, and 188bet. Have fun while betting on softball.

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