OHSWEKEN – Some of the finest fastball players in the world were at the Main Ball Diamond at the Gaylord Powless Arena complex, Friday evening. Team Canada and the Hill’s United Chiefs engaged in a 7-inning exhibition game, which was well attended by local fastball fans.
In the end, Team Canada won 8-2, but the Chiefs stood up well against them.
Proceeds from the gate, about $1,000 after expenses, went to Six Nations Minor Baseball.
Both teams were using the exhibition game as a vehicle to take a last look some of the would-be players for this year’s upcoming ball season.
“It was the first game of the year for us,” said Bryan Porter representing the Hill’s United Chiefs, who organized the game.
The Six Nations’ based Chief play in the hi-level ISC, International Softball Congress, and hold the 2013 ISC Championship, just missing the 2012 title the year before.
“We lost the Championship game in 2012 in the extra inning, but we came back last year to take it all,” says Porter.
The Hill’s United Chiefs play between 50 and 60 games a year in weekend tournament play, which takes them across the country and to tournaments throughout the USA.
For Team Canada it was a first step towards selecting a team to represent Canada in the 2015 Pan/Am Games slated for Toronto next year.
“We were happy with the turnout, although last year we had more people out,” says Porter. “But that was on a Tuesday night. This year there was a lot going on within the community with lacrosse and other things, so our numbers were a little under what we had last year, but it was still good.”
The Hill’s United Chiefs will open the 2014 tournament season as defending Champions this coming Friday, Saturday and Sunday at Lancaster Park in London and will include teams from as far away as Argentina and New Zealand.
