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Show SP A8 • WEDNESDAY, JULY 16, 2008 orts Covering what matters most Team Four local boys represent the US at world championship Mike Norris STAFF WRITER Whitehorse, Yukon, Canada is approximately 2,400 miles from Spanish Fork. It is geographically closer to Russia then it is to home. For four boys from Spanish Fork and Salem, it is a place that until a year ago they had never heard of. However, after being given the opportunity to play for the USA on the Jr. Men's Fastpitch Softball Team, Whitehorse is exactly where they found themselves for the second half of June. Gentry Mitchell, Tyson Lambourne, Chris Norris and Michael Hayes were members of Team USA that competed in the International Softball Federation's eighth Jr. Men's World Championship. Along with 13 other young men from around the country, these boys had the opportunity to compete against and interact with young men from 11 other countries. The USA squad competed against teams from Argentina, Venezuela, South Africa, Botswana, Mexico, Australia, Canada, New Zealand, Denmark, The Czech Republic and Japan. The game of fastpitch softball, or fastball as the locals call it, is a serious matter to the athletes and countries that were in attendance. John Nielsen, the coach from Australia, expressed the importance of fastpitch softball in his country. He said Australia has won the last four world championships and has only lost twice in the last four world championships. He will go back to Australia and start working on picking the team for the 2012 games almost immediately. He said they generally pick their team up to three years before the championships and have the players start playing together and competing in tournaments. Several parents of the New Zealand players said that next to rugby, fastpitch softball is the most popular sport on the islands. The African countries of Botswana and South Africa actually have high school teams that their young players compete on. The Japanese team actually trains, goes to school and lives together once they have been selected. All of these countries have young player development programs, not unlike our youth who grow up playing baseball on accelerated teams, attend camps and get private lessons. Most of the players from the other countries have been playing fastpitch softball since they were of T-ball age. The USA team was not without its fair share of experienced players. All the players have played some form of competitive fastpitch. Some of the young men from South Dakota have been playing since they were five and six years old. The opening ceremonies included a parade of nations. The players marched around the infield presenting their country's flag and then assembled in the outfield as several dignitaries from Canada and the International Softball Federation welcomed the teams and fans to the championship. After the speeches and ceremonies were done the boys Courtesy photos REPRESENTING: Above, Team USA take the Stars and Stripes into the stadium as part of the opening ceremonies. Left, Local athletes, pictured, left to right, are Michael Hayes, Gentry Mitchell, Tyson Lambourne and Chris Norris. PLAYING THE GAME: Right, Gentry Mitchell leads off at first base for Team USA in the game against Botswana. See SOFTBALL • A l l Chris Miller's o&f/e RV Repair Security Insurance Keep'uig you jafe under any circumstance. HEATING & AIR CONDITIONING "I guarantee you will not get better care for your RV." -Chris Miller • Service • Furnace Replacements • A/C Add Ons • Green Sticker • Financing OAC I'll keep you here! bryant Hasting ft Cooling Systoma • 25 years experience • Certified for all RV repairs (furnace, fridge, water heater, appliances, AC, etc. • Install solar panels and inverters (saves energy and money) • Install Satellite systems Drawing by Bronwyn Bates "I'll come to you" 801-360-9088 utahrvrepair.com Q Allied Insurance A > G • E i N ' C <Y WHATEVER IT TAXES 798-1700 290 N. Main Spanish Fork ADVERTISE IN THE CLASSIFIEDS 798-3500 Call 794-4964 |