By Cole Cappo
Shortstop Amanda Missens has been throwing the ball steadily with teammates since the snow melted because she has her eyes on a prize.
Missens and her Douglas Park softball team aspire to dominate at the Canadian Native Fastball Championships (CNFC) in Regina August 3rd to 6th.
With 1500 players arriving from all over Canada, plus coaches, staff and loyal spectators, the city will practically turn into a small First Nation for that weekend.
Missens’ team, the ‘Muscowpetung FN Mystics’ came up short in their last few times playing together in previous years of this tournament. The team is itching to get back to that final game.
As the host province, Saskatchewan will have a huge representation of women’s, men’s, under 21s and masters’ divisions. The overall tournament will have about 40 men’s teams and 25 women’s teams.
The fastball community in Saskatchewan is excited for the tournament to be hosted in Regina this year.
“Winning in home territory, in Treaty 4 territory and keeping the title in our home turf’” is what motivates Missens, she said.
Erin Bitternose is a member of the local committee that brought the games to Regina and is helping things get organized.
“It’s an honour to host the CNFC here in Regina. It’s ‘one of Canada’s most prestigious fastball tournaments… It’s a chance to showcase our talented fastball community,” Bitternose said.
She thinks the tourney will bring over 5000 fans and spectators to the city as well.
The championship were hosted in Alberta last year and in British Columbia the year before. The CNFC committee will receive bids for next year when the games are held in Manitoba.
The tournament is believed to have been around for about 50 years. The Canadian Native Fastball Association, which is made up of representatives from each province, has been around for about 30 years. Several years ago women’s teams began competing at the event as well.