Hi, this is Fred Wallace with ” Off the Wire ” proudly sponsored by Pete’s Auto Body.
Pete’s Auto Body; because we care about our community……
There was disappointing news last week in the Fastball World.
Kitchener Fastpitch Promotions confirmed that they were backing away from hosting the 2021 International Softball Congress Championship Tournament due to the lingering negative impact of COVID-19 and the unknowns associated with it.
Through the years, Kitchener has been highly successful as a host site drawing large crowds, attracting a small army of volunteers, forging a great relationship with the city and getting major support from the business community in terms of sponsorships.
Almost all of those aspects have a question mark attached to them now in the pandemic era.
The Organizing Committee admits the decision was officially reached 3 weeks ago but held in check until the ISC could confirm a replacement site, which will be in Iowa just outside Quad Cities this Summer.
Still, the decision and the turn of events has to be a major letdown for the Kitchener organizers and to the ISC.
Pre-COVID, the ISC approached Kitchener and pitched the idea that the celebratory 75th anniversary tournament could be ( should be ) conducted at the Peter Hallman Ball Yard in the city.
And Kitchener Fastpitch Promotions quickly got on board and got the preparations rolling for the 75th anniversary.
But then coronavirus wiped out the 74th annual tournament last year and half a year later forced the Kitchener Fastpitch Association to make their decision to back out as host site for what was supposed to be the 75th anniversary ISC Tournament.
For Pete’s Auto Body, I’m Fred Wallace