If you’re out and about this week, July 4-10, 2009 you’ll want to visit Softball City to watch some world class softball. Team Canada with Danielle Lawrie, Team USA with Jenny Finch, Team Holland, Team Australia and Team Argentina are just some of the teams playing there. This is the best of the best in Women’s Fastpitch. Many of these athletes competed in China at the Olympics last year.
The Canada Cup is now in it’s 16 year. What is great about this event is that along with the women’s teams who are featured and showcased, there is the women’s junior championship, the future’s division and the showcase tournament. The Special Olympics division of the tournament ended yesterday. The caliber of ball is world class, of course. It’s exciting to watch and an inexpensive way to spend the day.
MVP Athletics is one of the proud sponsors of this event and if you check out their booth, you can pick up some SportzGemz while your purchasing you softball and pen to collect signatures. There are lots of opportunities to collect signatures.
Our daughter, Nicole Ratel, who plays with the Surrey Storm 94 is competing this year for the first time. She is part of the Showcase tournament. Over the course of the week, she will play teams from Alaska, Calgary, Quebec and Ontario. At the end of each game, gifts are exchanged and this year our opponents will receive Diva Diamondz Sport, a smaller version of SportzGemz.
I hope you can check it out and support softball!
Fusion dominates west
Langley Advance
Published: Tuesday, August 12, 2008
Best in the West
The Fraser Valley squad stamped an exclamation point on its western Canadian title by slamming the Richmond Islanders 9-2 in the gold medal game.
The Fusion 94 can officially lay claim to the title of being best in the west.
The Fraser Valley girls fastpitch squad rolled to a gold medal at the Peewee ‘A’ Western Canadian Championships in Richmond last weekend.
The Fusion placed first in the round robin, winning five of six games while outscoring their opponents 31-5.
Facing a tough Saskatoon Lasers squad in the semi- final, the Fusion trailed by one run in the fifth inning.
That’s when Nicole Ratel slammed a two run homer deep to left field and the Fusion took the lead for the first time in the game.
A few batters later, Jess Edmiston hit a double up the middle with two runners on base to extend the Fusion’s lead to three runs.
The Fusion were then able to hold off the Lasers, beating them 5-4.
In the western Canadian final, the Fusion faced a tired Richmond Islanders 95 team.
The local girls beat their Richmond foes in a mercy rule shortened game, winning 9-2 in five innings.
It looked as if the Islanders were about to make a comeback, until Mikaela Chranofsky hit a solo home run deep into centre field.
Chranofsky’s blast sparked a seven-run inning which finished the Islanders.
On the strength of her fine outing, Cranofsky won her second MVP award of the tournament.
The Fusion received solid performances on all fronts.
Nicole Ratel and Jaimi Wainright had solid games behind the plate, with strong pitching performances by Jennine Walsh and Brooke Anderson, who were supported by Lauren Barrie.
Kayla Smith, Katie Young and Mikayla Fowler had great offensive outings at the plate, and huge defensive performances all weekend.
Other MVPs were awarded to Lauren Iverson, Nicole Ratel, Brooke Anderson, Jenine Walsh, Danica Kump, and Jessica Edmiston.
The Fusion are coached by John Walsh, Dave Edmiston and Lorri Iverson.
© Langley Advance 2008
Several players from the Fraser Valley Fusion ’94 softball team played in Kelowna at the BC Summer Games this past weekend.
“It was a very hot weekend and the SportzGemz worked great to keep cleats and catching equipment dry”, says Nicole Ratel. I hate putting on my catching gear when it smells and the SportzGemz make sure that doesn’t happen.
Congratulations to the girls!
SportzGemz are a proud sponsor the 94 Fraser Valley Fusion Girls Fastpitch Softball Team.
A set of the SportzGemz was given to each player. 2 sets were given to the catchers.
Last year one of the catcher’s sustained 2nd degree burns to her knees and legs because of the bacteria growing inside her shin pads. She has scarring down the front of her legs as a result.
In order to prevent this from happening again, the girls have been taught and encouraged to use their SportzGemz after each game.
Preliminary feedback from Jaimi Wainwright and her Mom Traci was funny! Jamie received the SportzGemz and the instructions and told her Mom she thought they were a “stupid” idea. Jamie’s Mom, Traci insisted that Jaimi at least try them.
Jaimi is now a believer! She and Traci reported that the SportzGemz are terrific! They dried the cleats out and completely removed the smell!
The ’94 Fusion team is looking forward to a terrific year! Their stats are impressive and they brought home the gold in the Newton Tournament this past weekend.
