Championship games to bring influx of tourism

Posted on: jamacsadmin

Shannon LeClair – Times Reporter

The Western Canadian Fast Pitch Championships are coming to Strathmore from August 5 to 8.  The Calgary Minor Softball Association will host the Championships, which has been in operation for over 40 years. The games will be held at the Agricultural grounds with 16 teams competing, nine girls teams and four boys teams for a total of 240 players.

“Each province hosts them at different times and it comes to Alberta every so often. Every year each province puts in a bid to have it hosted in that province,” said Kathy Worthington, executive director for the Calgary Minor Softball Association.

There are an expected 1,200 people coming into town for the tournament, and the association wants to keep all of the business in town by asking for support from residents and businesses.

“We’re trying to get Sparky, your fire truck, to get pictures on. We’re trying to get a letter from the mayor, and Frosted Impressions is doing the program,” said Worthington. Two teams each from British Columbia, Saskatchewan and Manitoba will be taking part in the tournament. Alberta will have three teams, because the hosting province always has three. On August 5 at 10:30 a.m., all of the teams will march onto the fields and Strathmore’s own Kirsten Johnson will be singing ‘Oh Canada.’ Dignitaries will be brought in for opening speeches and there will be a first pitch before the games begin. Rocky’s Bakery will be catering a dinner for the teams and their families. “The dinner holds 500 people, so we’ve limited it to 30 tickets per team,” said Worthington, who added many teams have already requested 35 tickets.

Water will be provided to the teams, and there will be a concession and clothes for sale. Because the teams are the elite PeeWee ‘A’, pitching speeds will be up to 55 miles per hour, and any of the games will be intense, great games to watch.