Another article about Junior Nationals in Napanee
Two Napanee teams in U23 tournament
By Stephen Petrick/Napanee Guide
Chris McKeown says he has played in some pretty big fast pitch games before.
But he says nothing will compare to the feeling he expects to get from Aug. 8 to 14, when he suits up for the Shoeless Joe's Napanee Under 23 Express team to play in the tournament its hosting: the U23 Men's Canadian Fast Pitch Championships.
"It's definitely a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity," said McKeown, who was part of Midget Express teams that competed at the Canadian championships in Prince Albert, Sask. in 2007 and Saskatoon in 2008.
"It will be different to sleep in your own bed. There will be added pressure that comes with that, but we're looking forward to it."
McKeown and Shoeless Joe's teammate Scott Mills attended a press conference at the Strathcona Paper Centre Tuesday, where a surprise announcement was made. The Napanee Express will have not one, but two teams represented at the event, which takes place at the Napanee Fairgrounds Sports Complex.
The North Key Construction Under 23 Express team had already earned a spot in the tournament as the defending national champions. They won the Under 23 Men's Canadian Fast Pitch Championship in St. Croix, N.S. last year.
However, national fast pitch championship tournaments reserve a spot for a host team, too. With North Key already entered in as the defending champions, Softball Canada allowed Shoeless Joe's to enter as the host.
Both teams play in what's known as the Loughborough League, a fast pitch circuit with teams in Sydenham, Newburgh, Sunbury and North Fredericksburgh as well. The two Express teams also plan to enter several tournaments this year in preparation for the August event.
North Key Express coach Joe Lewis said there will be pressure on his team, too.
"I'm in 100 per cent agreement," he said, when told that the Shoeless Joe's team expects to face some pressure.
"If you meet your expectations (playing) at home, it's OK, but if you don't it's much tougher. The word might be trepidation. There's nervousness and excitement at the same time. We're going to practise a little more."
Despite the added pressure, both teams expect to be competitive in the tournament, which is said to have at least 12 teams. The full list of teams won't be determined until the middle of June, when champions of other provinces are determined.
Lewis said 15 of 17 players who were part of last year's national championship team are back with North Key Construction. They include the entire pitching staff, consisting of ace Jordan Graham, Ian Wallwork, Josh Lockridge and Cory Alkerton.
They'll be supported by shortstop Kyle Lloyd, the Most Valuable Player in the St. Croix tournament, third baseman Dylan Cunningham and second baseman Joel Langford, among others.
Lewis said any of his nine starting players have the ability to hit home runs. But, at the same time, they can also play "small ball," meaning they can bunt, and score runs through aggressive base running.
"We have a group of individuals who understand the team concept," Lewis said.
Meanwhile, Shoeless Joe's coach Brad MacDonald says his team doesn't have to be considered the underdog, even if his players have less experience than most on the North Key Construction team.
"I want to compete with everyone that's out there," he said.
He said most of his 14 players are graduates of the midget program over the last two years. Many of those players would have played in national championships or Eastern Canada championship tournaments at lower levels, but this will be their first time competing at an elite level of U23 play.
Among players that will be counted on heavily are pitchers Jordan Wrightly and Kyle Arsenault, he said.
MacDonald also said Napanee Express teams are always expected to do well at national championship tournaments, because of the proud legacy they carry. In many cases, Express teams are coached by parents who are former players, who have played at national tournaments before.
"They hold the game within their families and the community and it carries on that way," MacDonald said.
For this reason, he expects to see the fairgrounds packed with fans on Aug. 8 to 14.
"Based on what I've seen in the past, I fully expect there will be great support and lots of fans."
Stephen Paul, Lennox & Addington's economic development manager, and chairperson of the tournament's host committee, acknowledged the community's proud fast pitch tradition, in his opening remarks at Tuesday's press conference.
He said this year's tournament marks the fifth time a national championship fast pitch tournament will be played in Napanee.
However, the other four times a national tournament was played here, it was for midget level play. The last such tournament was held in 2002.
Paul also said the event will be unique because the North Key Construction team could be the first ever Canadian U23 fast-pitch team to complete back-to-back championship seasons by winning on its own field. The tournament also marks the first time that two U23 teams from the same town will compete in the same national championship tournament.
And a Napanee team winning certainly isn't out of the question, based on history. When the North Key Construction team won the title last year, it marked the third time a local U23 team had become national champions.
The Express also won the title in 1996 and in 1986 the North Fredericksburgh Kings won the crown.
"It's going to be great for the fans and it's going to be great for future player development," Paul said of the tournament.
Mike Branchaud, the manager of Canadian championships for Softball Canada, also spoke at the press conference.
"We're pleased to be back in Napanee," he said, adding that more than 2,000 fans attended last year's national championship tournament in St. Croix, and he expects there will be a similar turnout in Napanee. That can only mean good things for the economy of the town, he said, given that players will be staying in local hotels and eating at local restaurants.
"I know Napanee will support this event tremendously," he said. "Everything's pointing to a successful event."
Lewis, MacDonald, McKeown and Mills all nodded in agreement when asked if an all-Napanee matchup seems possible for the championship game, Sunday, Aug. 14.
"I'd say it's a distinct possibility," said Lewis, adding that players on the two teams know each other well and have become friendly rivals.
"It's not a bitter at all – not yet."
Tournament passes for the U23 Canadian Fast Pitch Championships are now on sale for $50. They can be purchased at the Strathcona Paper Centre or by calling 613-354-4423. More information on the tournament is available at http://www.napaneeu23.com.
By Stephen Petrick/Napanee Guide
Chris McKeown says he has played in some pretty big fast pitch games before.
But he says nothing will compare to the feeling he expects to get from Aug. 8 to 14, when he suits up for the Shoeless Joe's Napanee Under 23 Express team to play in the tournament its hosting: the U23 Men's Canadian Fast Pitch Championships.
"It's definitely a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity," said McKeown, who was part of Midget Express teams that competed at the Canadian championships in Prince Albert, Sask. in 2007 and Saskatoon in 2008.
"It will be different to sleep in your own bed. There will be added pressure that comes with that, but we're looking forward to it."
McKeown and Shoeless Joe's teammate Scott Mills attended a press conference at the Strathcona Paper Centre Tuesday, where a surprise announcement was made. The Napanee Express will have not one, but two teams represented at the event, which takes place at the Napanee Fairgrounds Sports Complex.
The North Key Construction Under 23 Express team had already earned a spot in the tournament as the defending national champions. They won the Under 23 Men's Canadian Fast Pitch Championship in St. Croix, N.S. last year.
However, national fast pitch championship tournaments reserve a spot for a host team, too. With North Key already entered in as the defending champions, Softball Canada allowed Shoeless Joe's to enter as the host.
Both teams play in what's known as the Loughborough League, a fast pitch circuit with teams in Sydenham, Newburgh, Sunbury and North Fredericksburgh as well. The two Express teams also plan to enter several tournaments this year in preparation for the August event.
North Key Express coach Joe Lewis said there will be pressure on his team, too.
"I'm in 100 per cent agreement," he said, when told that the Shoeless Joe's team expects to face some pressure.
"If you meet your expectations (playing) at home, it's OK, but if you don't it's much tougher. The word might be trepidation. There's nervousness and excitement at the same time. We're going to practise a little more."
Despite the added pressure, both teams expect to be competitive in the tournament, which is said to have at least 12 teams. The full list of teams won't be determined until the middle of June, when champions of other provinces are determined.
Lewis said 15 of 17 players who were part of last year's national championship team are back with North Key Construction. They include the entire pitching staff, consisting of ace Jordan Graham, Ian Wallwork, Josh Lockridge and Cory Alkerton.
They'll be supported by shortstop Kyle Lloyd, the Most Valuable Player in the St. Croix tournament, third baseman Dylan Cunningham and second baseman Joel Langford, among others.
Lewis said any of his nine starting players have the ability to hit home runs. But, at the same time, they can also play "small ball," meaning they can bunt, and score runs through aggressive base running.
"We have a group of individuals who understand the team concept," Lewis said.
Meanwhile, Shoeless Joe's coach Brad MacDonald says his team doesn't have to be considered the underdog, even if his players have less experience than most on the North Key Construction team.
"I want to compete with everyone that's out there," he said.
He said most of his 14 players are graduates of the midget program over the last two years. Many of those players would have played in national championships or Eastern Canada championship tournaments at lower levels, but this will be their first time competing at an elite level of U23 play.
Among players that will be counted on heavily are pitchers Jordan Wrightly and Kyle Arsenault, he said.
MacDonald also said Napanee Express teams are always expected to do well at national championship tournaments, because of the proud legacy they carry. In many cases, Express teams are coached by parents who are former players, who have played at national tournaments before.
"They hold the game within their families and the community and it carries on that way," MacDonald said.
For this reason, he expects to see the fairgrounds packed with fans on Aug. 8 to 14.
"Based on what I've seen in the past, I fully expect there will be great support and lots of fans."
Stephen Paul, Lennox & Addington's economic development manager, and chairperson of the tournament's host committee, acknowledged the community's proud fast pitch tradition, in his opening remarks at Tuesday's press conference.
He said this year's tournament marks the fifth time a national championship fast pitch tournament will be played in Napanee.
However, the other four times a national tournament was played here, it was for midget level play. The last such tournament was held in 2002.
Paul also said the event will be unique because the North Key Construction team could be the first ever Canadian U23 fast-pitch team to complete back-to-back championship seasons by winning on its own field. The tournament also marks the first time that two U23 teams from the same town will compete in the same national championship tournament.
And a Napanee team winning certainly isn't out of the question, based on history. When the North Key Construction team won the title last year, it marked the third time a local U23 team had become national champions.
The Express also won the title in 1996 and in 1986 the North Fredericksburgh Kings won the crown.
"It's going to be great for the fans and it's going to be great for future player development," Paul said of the tournament.
Mike Branchaud, the manager of Canadian championships for Softball Canada, also spoke at the press conference.
"We're pleased to be back in Napanee," he said, adding that more than 2,000 fans attended last year's national championship tournament in St. Croix, and he expects there will be a similar turnout in Napanee. That can only mean good things for the economy of the town, he said, given that players will be staying in local hotels and eating at local restaurants.
"I know Napanee will support this event tremendously," he said. "Everything's pointing to a successful event."
Lewis, MacDonald, McKeown and Mills all nodded in agreement when asked if an all-Napanee matchup seems possible for the championship game, Sunday, Aug. 14.
"I'd say it's a distinct possibility," said Lewis, adding that players on the two teams know each other well and have become friendly rivals.
"It's not a bitter at all – not yet."
Tournament passes for the U23 Canadian Fast Pitch Championships are now on sale for $50. They can be purchased at the Strathcona Paper Centre or by calling 613-354-4423. More information on the tournament is available at http://www.napaneeu23.com.
Labels: Softball Canada, Tournament
posted by fitzroyfastball | 5/27/2011 07:32:00 pm
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