A flock of fans from New Zealand claimed a portion of the outfield bleachers as their own for the 18th WBSC Men’s Softball World Cup, coming from around the world to cheer on the Black Sox national team. (Logan Lehmann/paNOW Staff)

By Logan Lehmann

Racking up the miles

Fans travel from near and far to watch World Cup in Prince Albert

Jul 10, 2025 | 5:48 PM

People from around the world have descended on Prince Albert this week as the 18th WBSC Men’s Softball World Cup takes over Prime Ministers Park.

Fans from all corners of the province and the country made the trek to the Gateway to the North, along with those who’ve come to support their countries from overseas.

Michael Davies travelled all the way from Wellington, New Zealand with his wife to watch the Black Sox national team play. He said he’s watched New Zealand play countless tournaments back home, but this was his first time travelling out of the continent to watch them.

“This is my first time in Canada. We’ve been to four [World Finals] in New Zealand, but not to any overseas. This is our first trip overseas, so we thought we’d make the most of it.”

“The driving was fantastic, there’s lots of room on the roads,” he continued, when asked about his drive from Saskatoon. “Where we come from, we drive on the other side of the road so it takes a little bit of getting used to, but it’s been good.”

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Unlike Davies who flew, some fans took a more than 12-hour drive to get to P.A. like John Lewis, who drove up from South Dakota to watch his son, Jeff, play for the United States. He explained that this trip wasn’t his first time to Prince Albert, as he was here to watch his son play in the Junior Men’s World Championship back in 2018.

“My wife and I were here when the Juniors were up here seven years ago, that was good. There’s been some great improvements here at the park since we were last here.”

Another person who was impressed by the park’s improvements was Australian Head Coach Michael Titheradge, who also made the trip to P.A. as coach for Australia in 2018 for the Junior Men’s tournament.

“The venue, which has gone under a significant change in the last seven years, just continues to improve, and Prince Albert is always a special place because of the following that it has with the fastpitch circuit.”

Fellow Australians Bella Sammut and Jenny Todhunter travelled over 16 hours from the down under to watch their partner and son, James Todhunter, play for the Aussie Steelers national team.

The two hail from the Sydney area of Australia, and while Todhunter has been to Saskatoon before to watch her son play, this is her first time in Prince Albert, along with Sammut’s first time in Saskatchewan.

“First impressions are the people are lovely and that they’re more than willing to help or offer a hand, or be there for you when you need it,” said Todhunter.

“It’s been lovely. Everyone’s been very, very helpful and very kind,” echoed Sammut.

Day three of the 18th WBSC Men’s Softball World Cup in Prince Albert continues Thursday with Australia and Japan at 5:30 p.m. and Argentina and Canada at 8:30 p.m. Friday’s schedule for the Placement Round will be announced following the pitch of Argentina and Canada.

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loganc.lehmann@pattisonmedia.com

On Bluesky: @loganlehmann.bsky.social