YORKTON - If there is one thing I have learned over the years as a journalist is just how much I do not know.
For example, I am a huge fan of softball (fastball). But I had no idea the ISC World Tournament -- the men's fastpitch softball world club team championship -- existed.
As often happens as a reporter I was doing an interview for one article and the conversation ended up touching on the ISC. A little – OK a lot – of ‘net searching, and I found out the championship this year is in Denmark, WI Aug. 12-19.
Then I delved into the team rosters and came to recognize how good the teams involved must be with players from Australia, New Zealand, Mexico, Argentina, and Venezuela among those participating.
Also spotted on rosters were a few Saskatchewan players, and one near to Yorkton in Manitoba.
Delisle’s James Shirley is slated to head to Wisconsin to play with the San Antonio Glowworms.
Shirley said Nick Patrick from Prince Albert was throwing for the Glowworms and suggested he join the team for a tournament earlier this year, and now the duo will head to the ISCs.
“It’s the best-of-the-best club teams from around the word competing every year,” Shirley said of the upcoming championship.
The competition is one Shirley said can quickly humble a player.
“No matter how good you think you are at home, this is different,” said Shirley who played in the event in 2022 with the Kegel Black Knights out of North Dakota, ironically losing out to the Glowworms.
For Shirley he hopes the ISC will bolster his profile in terms of Softball Canada, admitting like most players his goal would e a spot on Team Canada.
“But to be with the best you’ve got to earn it,” he said, adding that starts by “executing on the team that you’re on.”
That will be what Shirley looks to do as a Glowworm.
Infielder Justin Laskowski from Saskatoon will play with the Circle Tap Dukes, a team from Denmark, WI. sponsored by a local bar which is essentially the home team for the upcoming tourney.
“It all kind of started when I made the national team in Canada,” he told Yorkton This Week from Wisconsin where he is spending the summer.
Fellow Saskatoon player pitcher Devon McCullough was already with the Dukes and the connection opened the door for Laskowski, who is now in his second year with the team.
“We finished fifth,” he said of the team’s 2022 effort, adding the competition in the 36-team event is amazing.
“I would say of the 30-plus teams the top five to seven are basically made up of national team players from around the world . . . It’s really top notch teams.”
The Dukes have certainly bolstered their roster to make a fun at the title this year adding players such as Guatemalan pitcher Jorge Segura, Australians Dante Matakatea and infielder and utility player Matt Harrow, and New Zealand infielder Tyron Bartorillo.
The team has also been active all season starting with a tourney win in Iowa, and dates set for two events in Mankato, Minn., one in Peoria, IL. and one in Tavistock, Ont. ahead of worlds.
“We’ve definitely improved . . . It’s going to be a lot of fun,” offered Laskowski.
Logan Tanner hails from Waywayseecappo in Manitoba, but will attend the ISC event with the Peguis Redmen. The Peguis First Nation is located approximately 196 kilometres north of Winnipeg.
Tanner said he came to the sport thanks to Curtis Cote.
“He kind of showed me the ropes, and I excelled pretty quickly,” he said, adding he was already in his mid-teens when he started softball. “. . . I was right out of high school and didn’t know what I was going to do when I found fastball.”
And Tanner, 23, improved.
“I was lucky enough to make the Manitoba Summer Games team,” he said, adding that opportunity took him to play at the Niagara 2022 Canada Summer Games.
“It was a good experience to play against all those teams.”
The experience also helped solidify the opportunity with the Redmen as he jumped at the chance to play with the top-tier organization.
“They’re a really good team. I love them. They’re like a family to me,” he said.
With the Redmen Tanner said he recognizes he is a young player “just getting started in the sport,” and the ISC event will largely be higher education for him.
“I’m just expecting all the best pitchers in world, so I’ll just be going up there and doing my best. It will be a really good learning experience,” said the shortstop.
