City to host premier women's fastpitch event

SUMMERSIDE - - The ladies will be taking centre stage this summer as the city hosts the 2008 Softball Canada Junior Women's Fastpitch championship at Queen Elizabeth Park.

The national event is set for Aug 3-10 and will have up to 12 teams made up of the best female fastpitch players from across Canada.

Two Island teammates, pitchers Charly Johnston from Montague and Kate Domarchuk of Charlottetown were on hand at the Summerside Wellness Centre for the announcement. Both players are looking forward to the challenge of playing teams from across the country.

"It's definitely the competition," Johnston said following the press conference. "It's going to be pretty cool to play against high up players that are really good and well known across Canada."

Johnston said their normal competition involves teams from across the Maritimes and while the competition is good, the teams are basically equal in ability.

"Playing B.C. and Ontario and those places will be quite an exciting time for us," she said.

Both Johnston and Domarchuk said they have been scouting other teams coming this summer and know what they are capable of doing.

"They have a lot more people to choose from for pitching and other positions."

Tryouts for the P.E.I. team are ongoing and the roster should be set by spring.

It was 25 years ago that the town of Summerside hosted its championship, the 1983 Canadian Junior Men's Softball Championship, and since that time the town, now city, has become a leader in hosting provincial, regional, national and international sporting events.

"The community is great to support events such as this as we look forward to welcoming the teams, officials and fans to our community and to experience everything Summerside has to offer," said Mayor Basil Stewart.

Drew Worth, manager of team P.E.I. and president of the Summerside and Area Minor Softball Association lit the fire for the city to host the 2008 event by bringing it to the city's attention.

"Fans are going to be entertained by some great ball," Worth said. "As Summerside will be host of female softball for the 2009 Canada Games, it will provide the opportunity to showcase our sport leading up to the games."

Alan Petrie, president of Softball P.E.I. said Summerside has an outstanding reputation for hosting successful championships.

"We know that Summerside's volunteers and support staff always do a great job for us."