OHSWEKEN — Four time International Softball Congress (ISC) World Champions, Hill’s United Chiefs, have partnered with the 2018 Canadian National Peewee Champions the Simcoe Braves — to bring the best men’s fastball players in the world to Simcoe June 28 through June 30.
The Hill’s United Chiefs Challenge, scheduled for Lions Park, will see seven of the top ten ranked teams in the ISC in a field of eight — competing in a two division, eight team round robin event beginning with games on two diamonds on Friday night and finishing with the championship game at 12:30 pm on Sunday.
“Small towns are the backbone of softball across Ontario and much of the world,” said tournament chair and Chiefs field manager, Larry Lynch. “Simcoe has a jewel of a park, a very strong local commitment to youth softball as shown by the Braves success, and it is one of the best spots you could ever ask for to host a major tournament event. Every team has hotel access within five minutes of the ball park, there are great restaurants nearby and the proximity to a knowledgeable fan base is terrific.”
The Chiefs, based out of Six Nations, have been one of the games greatest teams for nearly a decade.
In addition to their 4 world championships they have been to the finals of that tournament six of the seven years they have been in existence.
They have won countless club tournaments and at one point their trophy case included three straight ISC World Tournament championships, and in the same three years the American Athlete Union and the Amateur Softball Association National championships.
The lineup of teams coming to Simcoe includes: the reigning ISC World Champions the New York Gremlins, the 2018 runner-up team from Denmark, Wisconsin — Circle Tap Dukes, the number five ranked team from Pennsylvania, Bear Bottom Lodge and top ten ranked Ontario teams, the Kitchener Hallman Cubs, Toronto Batmen, Niagara Stompers, and Hill’s United Chiefs.
The Ohsweken Redmen will round out the field and will be looking to show the rest of the world ranked teams that they are right on the cusp of making their own softball dent.
The Chiefs Challenge will feature nineteen games overall and will include great ball park food from the experts at the Hill Family Restaurant. Likewise, a refreshment garden will be available all weekend.
There is great parking at the park and on the neighbouring streets and with a Canada Day holiday that weekend it will be a destination for watching the best men’s players in the world in a family environment with play areas for kids. It truly is Simcoe’s own ‘field of dreams”.
The Chiefs are very proud to be hosting this event with the Simcoe Braves. “The Braves program has grown from grass roots to National Champions in a few short years,” said Lynch. “We need to build our players to keep this great game alive, and the work of Adam Walker and his Braves coaching staff is proof in the pudding that local success just needs to be stirred a bit to encourage others to make that leap of faith. We could not bring this event to Simcoe without the spikes on the dirt support of the Braves and we are very happy to share any success with their team.”
