Canada, defending champion New Zealand and Australia . . . the three early favourites to win gold.
St. Marys native Dale Levy says that’s what he’s hearing going into the 2009 ISF World men’s fastball championship, July 17-26, in Saskatoon, Sask.
As a tune-up, Levy and Team Canada recently finished its ‘Ontario tour’ with eight exhibition games in a four-day span. The national team played four games in Fingal and four more in Jarvis, winning the first six games and then losing twice to a select team of Ontario Senior fastball players.
“It’s probably been one of the busiest summers I’ve had as far as fatigue,” the 37-year-old outfielder said last week during a night off. “I’m not a spring chicken anymore; I can’t run on the ragged edge all the time. I have to be careful and preserve my energy,” he added with a smile.
During a game in Jarvis, the 6 ft., 4 inch, 225 lb. Levy “jarred” his hip while diving for a ball in the outfield. He said he couldn’t walk by the end of the game, and it took a couple of days to “get back in the swing of things.”
Levy said he was happy with his overall performance in the hectic eight-game stretch. He saw action in seven of the games, mainly playing right field.
“I hit the ball hard, but I hit it at a lot of people,” he said. “I didn’t hit a lot of long balls, but I hit a triple and double and a handful of singles.
“It was basically a team function, to learn the signs and more or less just get playing together as a team.”
Hopes to crack starting nine
For the world tournament, Levy is hoping to crack Team Canada’s starting nine.
“The impression I’m getting is, they want me there for my bat,” he said. “I’ve been told that I’m there to hit. They’ve got people in place that they feel are better defensively.
“Right now, there are a couple of injured players, so anything can happen. I might just end up in the starting nine, as long as I stay healthy. Ideally that would be great.”
Canada opens against Argentina
The national team leaves for Saskatoon on July 13. After playing a couple of more exhibition games in Western Canada, their opening game in the 16-team world tournament is Fri., July 17 against Argentina.
After that, Canada plays the Czech Republic, Australia, Indonesia, Venezuela, South Africa and Puerto Rico in round-robin action.
The playoff round is July 24-25, and the medal games are on Sunday, July 26 at Bob Van Impe Stadium.
Levy says he and his Team Canada teammates are “positive” they can win gold on their home turf and dethrone New Zealand. It’s his first year with the national team and he admits to being “excited” as the big event draws near.
“We all know when we look around that the team we have sitting there, hands down, is the best team in the world,” he said. “But it’s just like when you’re with your club team, everybody has to play well. Hopefully, we can all play well and get it done.”
Fastball notebook:
•Team Canada held its spring training camp in May in the Virgin Islands. They easily won a six-team tournament, which included the U.S. national team.
•Canada previously earned silver medals at the ISF world championship in 2004 in Christchurch, New Zealand and in 1996 in Midland, Michigan. Their last gold medal came in 1992 when they defeated New Zealand in the grand finale in Manila, Philippines.
•Dale Levy turns 38 the week he’s in Saskatoon at the worlds.
•Levy will be competing with his club team, Saskatoon Aspen Interior Black Sox, this weekend, July 2-5, at the world fastball invitational in Monkton.
Levy was tournament MVP and also won the top hitter award as Saskatoon won the Monkton championship a year ago. Earlier in the 2008 tourney, he captured the Easton Home Run Challenge.
•On the July 11-12 weekend, four teams will be taking part in a two-day tournament in Tavistock. They include: New Zealand, Jarvis, St. Thomas and a combined team made up of Kitchener and Sebringville Sting players.
•Levy will play for Kitchener in the Canadian men’s fastball championship in St. Thomas, Aug. 30 to Sept. 6.