EZT playing host to international fastball competition

Fastball fans in East Zorra-Tavistock are in for a rare treat when the seven-time ISF-WBSC World Champion New Zealand Black Sox play four exhibition games in the area next week.

Exhibition games will take place on Tuesday, July 2 in Tavistock and Wednesday, July 3 in Hickson. A big part of why the team is here can be attributed to a man well-known in fastball circles across the province, Larry Lynch. The Kitchener native has been a key volunteer in the evolution and sustainability of senior men’s fastball in Ontario.

New Zealand and Canada dominated fastball in the ‘80s, ‘90s and early 2000s, and despite a recent slump by the Black Sox, they are back on the world stage.

“The game has changed since then, so now you have teams like Argentina and Australia that are really strong. They’ve all taken advantage of playing in ISC events and have become the stars of the game. Canada is still strong, but New Zealand has struggled but they are on their way back,” said Lynch.

He has hosted tours with several national teams from across the globe in Ontario and he added the roots of softball are rural, something he puts at the forefront.

“No matter what was going on in the big city, every small town had a softball team. Centres that were as far apart as Hickson and Tavistock, for example, were fiercely competitive. When I bring a touring team in, I always take them to small towns that are keeping the game alive.”

Lynch added Tavistock has a great minor ball program and Hickson has an excellent young program that is providing a solid feeder system for the upper echelons of fastball.

“The game is coming back at the youth level and we need that because a lot of older players are going to retire soon,” Lynch said. “If we don’t keep the young guys coming, there won’t be a game, but it’s still very strong among young players in rural Ontario.”

One of the most interesting spectacles in sports will be at the forefront before the games, and that is the haka war dance. The haka is a pre-match ceremony done by New Zealand teams, most famously by the All Blacks rugby team.

“They don’t do it all the time. It’s up to the team captain to decide when they are going to do the haka. I have been reassured they are going to perform it before the games in Hickson and Tavistock. They do it mainly when they play other national teams,” explained Lynch.

To view a previous version of the haka by the team, visit https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Etl23vc2cXw. It truly is something to view in person.

The Black Sox are no strangers to Ontario, having toured several times as they were competing in major fastball events across Canada. This time around, they are headed to Saskatchewan to take part in a tournament build-up before competing in a WBSC staging event held in mid-July in Prince Albert, B.C. It will decide spots for the WBSC World Series of Nations, also in Prince Albert next summer.

The exhibition games in Tavistock and Hickson will raise funds for both minor softball associations, and the entrance fee is only $5 in each location. Tickets are available at the gate. Local ball players will be admitted free of charge if they wear a team jersey.

The Black Sox will showcase members of the New Zealand Men's National Team and are led by captain Cole Evans. The opposition will feature some of Ontario's top young stars with a couple of additions from Australia who are playing locally this year.

On Tuesday night, the best young players in the Tavistock area will showcase many of the guys who were part of the National Championship U23 and U20 teams of 2022. Many of these players are now on the Tavistock Hops team and that group will join a select team of local up-and-comers who have honed their skills in the highly successful Tavistock Minor Softball system.

On Wednesday, the doubleheader will feature a team of Ontario select players including legendary pitcher Adam Folkard who is living locally this summer. Both nights have the pre-game ceremonies at 6:30 p.m. and game one starts at 7 p.m.

The evening will also feature an opening pitch from legendary centerfielder and Woodstock native, Brian Paton. Paton is Canada's most recent player elected to Softball Canada's Hall of Fame. He will be throwing to his best friend, catcher Chuck Hendricks, another legend in Ontario fastball circles.

“Brian Paton was the longest-serving member of the Canadian team with 17 years and played with the legendary Toronto Gators and Tampa Bay Smokers. He was the baseline you measured centre fielders with. Chuck has always been his best friend and they could write a book together on life on the road. Two great guys to have there for the first pitch.”

Food and refreshments are available from local service clubs at both parks.

Lee Griffi, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, The Wilmot-Tavistock Gazette