Spruce Haven Park/Field (File photo/northeastNOW staff)

By Ben Tompkins

222's Fastpitch

Softball Olympic Athletes coming to Melfort

Jun 29, 2022 | 12:13 PM

Wednesday night will mark a great day for young softball athletes in the northeast, as Spruce Haven Park in Melfort will be the site for an exceptional level of international women’s softball competition.

The Canadian Sr. Women’s National Softball Team will host the Czech Republic in an exhibition-style, seven-inning doubleheader at 5 and 7 p.m.

The event will be used as practice before the upcoming World Games in Birmingham, Alabama, as well as an opportunity for Team Canada to show off their Bronze Medal from the Tokyo Olympics.

222’s Fastpitch Owner and Instructor and Pool Coach for the Sr. Women’s Team, Keith Mackintosh, who helped bring the event to Melfort, told northeastNOW it was never a question to get these games to his city.

“We were presented with an opportunity that they were looking for exhibition game sites and Melfort has always been a good softball hosting town and being that it’s my hometown, it was kind of a no-brainer that we tried to get get the national team here.”

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Mackintosh also mentioned how excited he is for the younger generation to experience an event like this.

“I think it’s great for the young softball athletes in Melfort and Saskatchewan, because, you know, they saw these great athletes playing on TV and now they’re gonna get to see them live. It’s an opportunity for us to have the best team and best players in our country, in our community, and for young softball players to see that and aspire to be them.”

Team Canada has been on their celebration tour for a couple of weeks now, beginning in Ontario. Mackintosh said this also serves as great recognition for the team, from all across the country.

“The idea that softball Canada had, to kind of take the national team across the country, it’s a great opportunity to celebrate Canada’s first Olympic medal and celebrate some of these great athletes that put so much into their sport to give themselves an opportunity to play for that medal. It’s a celebration and an opportunity to promote the sport. It’s going to be a good show and I hope Melfort comes up to support it.”

After the games, Team Canada will stick around to sign autographs. There will be commemorative programs given out at the gate, or kids can bring their own books, balls, jerseys or whatever they want to be signed.

Prior to the contests, there will be a ceremonial first pitch by a surprise guest, as well as introductions for both teams and coaching staff.

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Ben.Tompkins@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter @BenTompkins_8