Women Women More WOMEN'S PROGRAM HISTORY The USA Softball Women’s National Team is the most decorated program in the sport’s history, owning an unmatched 26 Olympic, World Championship, Pan American or World Cup of Softball Gold Medals. Team USA won three consecutive Olympic Gold Medals (1996, 2000, 2004) and a silver medal at the 2008 Olympic Games. The Women’s National Team has captured the past seven Pan American Championships and have captured nine World Championship Gold Medals. AT THE PAN AMERICAN GAMES Since softball was introduced into the Pan American Games in 1979, the USA Softball Women's National Team has dominated, winning six of the seven gold medals and a silver in 1983. The USA will again be the odds-on favorite to capture the gold medal when in travels to Toronto, Ontario, Canada for the 2015 Pan American Games. In seven Pan American Games, the USA Softball Women's National Team has been nothing short of outstanding. The USA has won 72 of 75 games for a winning percentage of .960.

In 75 games the USA has outscored their opponents 505 to 31. Since losing to Canada 5-4 in the gold medal game of the 1983 Pan American Games in Venezuela, the USA has put together a 51-game win streak in capturing gold medals in the last five Pan American Games. In 1987 in Indianapolis, IN the USA defeated Puerto Rico 4-1 in the gold medal game. In 1991 the USA routed Canada 14-1 for the gold medal and in 1995 the USA captured their third consecutive gold medal with a 4-0 win over Puerto Rico. At the 1999 Pan Am Games in Winnipeg, Canada the USA needed extra innings to defeat host Canada 1-0 in eight innings and capture its fourth consecutive title. The USA outscored its opponents 83-1. At the 2003 Pan Am Games in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, the USA was as dominating as ever posting a perfect 9-0 record while outscoring its opponents 59-1.

With the USA as the heavy favorite, Canada, Puerto Rico and Cuba are expected to battle the Red, White and Blue for the title in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil in 2007. In 2011, with a Pan American Games roster full of 17 rookies, the USA Softball Women's National team recorded the program's eighth Pan American Games gold medal. The U.S. completed the tournament with a perfect 9-0 record. AT THE WBSC WOMEN'S WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS The USA Softball Women’s National Team has participated in 13 WBSC Women’s World Championships and has finished out of the medals only once, the 1982 World Championships in Chinese Taipei. It took Australia, Chinese Taipei and an outbreak of stomach flu to make it happen. The USA Softball Women’s National Team program has brought home a total of nine gold medals,making them perhaps the most successful team sport on the Olympic program over the last three decades. They have also collected foursilver World Championship medals In World Championship play, the USA has amassed a lifetime record of 124-11. The USA offense has outscored its opponents collectively 812-56.

AT THE OLYMPIC GAMES The U.S. went 8-1 to capture the first ever gold medal at the 1996 Olympics. The U.S. defeated China 3-1 in the gold medal game. Its lone loss of the Games came to Australia (2-1) in round-robin play. At the 2000 Olympics the U.S. had its 112 game win streak snapped with a 2-1 11 inning loss to Japan in round-robin play. The U.S. proceeded to lose two more games (2-0 to China and 2-1 to Australia). It was the first time in the history of USA Softball that a Women’s National Team lost three games in a row. The U.S. rebounded to win five consecutive games including wins in the playoffs over China (3-0 in 10 innings), Australia (1-0) and Japan (2-1 in eight innings) in the gold medal game to capture its second consecutive gold medal. In Athens at the 2004 Olympic Games, the U.S. Women’s National Team was anointed as the “Real Dream Team” by Sports Illustrated.

The performance by the U.S. Olympic Softball Team will go down in history as one of the most dominant ever. The U.S. squad led by Mike Candrea was considered the best women’s softball team ever assembled and possibly the most dominant Olympic team of any sport. With its perfect 9-0 record and its string of eight consecutive shutouts, this team proved it was indeed something ‘Special’. The U.S. outscored its opponents 51-1 in nine games and did not allow a run until the sixth inning of its final game. The team’s domination is well documented in the record books as the U.S. set 11 different Olympic records during the 2004 Olympics.

Below are the Olympic Records Broken by Team USA during the 2004 Olympic Games: OLYMPIC RECORDS BROKEN Most Doubles: 11- USA (2004) Previous was 10-Australia (1996) Most Triples: 4- USA (2004) Previous was 2- Japan (1996) Most Runs Batted In: 46- USA (2004) Previous was 32- USA (1996) Most Runs Scored: 51- USA (2004) Previous was 41- USA (1996) Fewest Runs Allowed: 1- USA (2004 Previous was 7- Australia, China and USA (2000) Most Stolen Bases: 8- USA (2004) Previous was 7- Japan (2000) Most Shutouts: 8- USA (2004) Previous was 5- USA & China (2000) Most Stolen Bases: 5- USA, Natasha Watley (2004) Previous was 3, Jackie Smith, N.

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(2000) Most Consecutive Victories: 9- USA (2004) Previous was 8, Japan (2000) Highest Team Batting average: .343 USA (2004) Previous was .296- USA (1996) Highest Slugging %: .559 USA (2004) Previous was .465- JAPAN (1996) Most Hits: 73 USA (2004) Previous was 70- USA (1996) Lowest Earned Run Average: 0.12 USA (2004) Previous was 0.25- USA (2000) Batting Average: Lisa Fernandez .545 USA, (2004) Previous was .524 (Chika Kodama, Japan (1996) Most Home Runs: 5, Crystl Bustos USA (2004) Previous was 4, Haruka Saito, Japan (1996) & Peta Edebone, Australia (2000) Most Runs Batted In: Crystl Bustos,

 10 (2004 Previous was 9, Shelia Cornell, USA (1996) Most Runs Scored: 9, Crystl Bustos, 9 (2004) Tied Chanfung Zhang, China (’96) Most Wins: 9 – USA (2004) Previous was 8 – USA (1996) & JAPAN (2000) USA Softball Olympic Wrap-Up:A Message of Hope USA Softball’s 2008 Olympic story wasn’t a fairy tale ending nor did the team close the book with a ‘happily ever after.’ But despite the finish, the message in the end wasn’t about winning or losing, it was about ‘hoping for ever after.’ In 2005, the IOC made a decision that will forever affect the sport of softball.

With the ’08 Games being the final hurrah, the U.S. certainly wanted to complete the ‘grand slam’ coming home with a fourth-consecutive gold medal. Fortunately they came home with a medal, but unfortunately it was not of the golden variety, but silver. Dating back to September of 2007, the Women’s National team selected an 18-member roster to journey the country in preparation for competition in the 2008 Olympic Games. With training camps every month, the team worked to earn a spot on the 15-member roster that would compete in what would be for now softball’s last Olympic stand in Beijing. With a February 19 start date, on the KFC Bound 4 Beijing tour, the journey began in Tucson, Arizona and stretched to every corner of the country. The Red, White and Blue reached the likes of Birmingham, Alabama and Stratford, Connecticut to Midland, Texas and Sacramento, California. With a 59-1 overall tour record, the U.S. was poised, confident, and prepared to begin the battle that awaited them in Beijing.

Being three-time defending Olympic Gold Medalists, the target was on their back with seven other teams waiting in wings to steal the coveted gold medal. With a week of practice in Beijing, the team was fortunate to experience one of the most celebrated and decorated Opening Ceremonies in Olympic history. To add, President George W. Bush made a special visit to practice that created memories to last a lifetime. He laughed with the team and encouraged them to keep doing what they were doing to inspire little girls across the country to be athletes and role models. He promised to them to help get the sport of softball back on the Olympic program. On August 12, the U.S. met its first opponent in Olympic rookie team Venezuela. Pitcher Jennie Finch (La Mirada, Calif.) opened the Games in successful fashion with a record setting victory. The U.S. put up 11 runs for an Olympic record for most runs scored in a game while Finch and Monica Abbott (Salinas, Calif.) combined for a no-hitter. Olympic rookie Caitlin Lowe (Tustin, Calif.) led the U.S. effort with a 3-for-4 debut with one RBI coming on a solo inside the park home run.

Game two began the three-game gauntlet of facing its toughest opponents in Australia, Canada and Japan in as many days. Left-handed pitcher Cat Osterman (Houston, Texas) became just the second U.S. pitcher to ever toss an Olympic complete game no-hitter on August 13 with a 3-0 shutout over rival Australia. The south paw was almost perfect in the contest recording 13 strikeouts and allowing just three runners to reach base via the walk. Next up was northern neighbor Canada, but Mother Nature won out as rain suspended the game in the fourth inning. With the U.S. trailing 1-0, play resumed against Canada the next day after the U.S. captured win No. 3 with a 7-0 five inning game against Japan. The U.S. used a four-run first inning attack en route to victory over Japan while connecting on eight hits including a new Olympic record with four home runs in the contest; two of which came from Jessica Mendoza (Camarillo, Calif.). From the circle, Abbott garnered her first Olympic victory tossing five complete innings allowing just one hit and retiring four batters via the strikeout. The Canada game then resumed and the U.S.

battled from behind coming up with an 8-1 win and improving to 4-0. Capitalizing on Canadian errors, the U.S. took the lead in the sixth and sealed the win in the seventh taking the game out of reach for the Canadians. From the circle, Osterman garnered the win as the U.S. would have three games remaining until the playoffs. Riding an 18-game Olympic win streak dating back to 2000, the U.S. quickly extended the streak to 21 after three consecutive run-ahead rule victories. First was Chinese Taipei in a 7-0 five-inning triumph that saw Olympic newcomers Vicky Galindo (Union City, Calif.) and Lauren Lappin (Anaheim, Calif.) earn their first hits in their Olympic careers while veteran Finch earned her second win of the Games with a six-strikeout performance. Then it was the Netherlands with an 8-0 five-inning victory where south paw Abbott recorded the first perfect game in Olympic history for a USA Softball athlete. She recorded nine strikeouts in the 15-batters faced and the U.S. used three home runs improving to 6-0.

Cruising right a long, the U.S. closed round-robin action with a 9-0 win over Olympic host China. Using a first inning nine-run rally, the U.S. secured the No. 1 seed in the playoffs for the second consecutive Olympic Games. Japan finished as the No. 2 seed with Australia at No. 3 and Canada landing at No. 4. With a fourth-gold medal just two games away, the U.S. opened playoffs with a heart pumping 4-1 extra-inning win over Japan. Facing Japanese pitching ace Yukiko Ueno, who had defeated the U.S. on four occasions since the 2004 Games, the game displayed softball at its finest. The pitching of Abbott held off the Japanese through eight innings before the efforts of Lowe and power hitter Crystl Bustos (Canyon Country, Calif.) put four runs on the board in the top of the ninth to seal the victory. With the win, the U.S. would move to its fourth consecutive Olympic Gold Medal game. And Japan again would be the opponent. Ueno and crew fought back through the bronze medal game with a 12-inning thriller against Australia who came away with the bronze as the Japanese advanced.

Facing Japan for the third time in six days, the game drew a crowd of over 8,000 as history was being made with what could be the final Olympic Gold Medal game for softball. With Osterman in the circle, the U.S. came out strong in the gold medal game holding Japan through the first two innings before they struck first with a 1-0 lead in the third. Eri Yamada then drove an Osterman pitch over the fences for a home run and the 2-0 lead. A thirty-minute rain delay then halted play, but the U.S. quickly responded as home run leader Bustos put the game at 2-1 with one swing of the bat with a home run to left field. Continuing to play from behind, it just wasn’t in the cards for the U.S. as they left six runners stranded in the final innings before Japan added another run for the eventual 3-1 win. Stunned with disbelief, the U.S. walked away with the silver medal as Japan captured its first Olympic Gold. With tears of sadness not only for the outcome but also the sport’s sendoff, the medal stand drew emotions for the U.S. players from deep within.

Laura Berg (Santa Fe Springs, Calif.), Bustos, Kelly Kretschman (Indian Harbour Beach, Fla.), Tairia Flowers (Tucson, Ariz.) and Lovieanne Jung (Fountain Valley, Calif.) all left their cleats at home plate symbolizing an end to five outstanding USA Softball careers. But as the tears began to dry and hugs contagiously spread, something happened on the field that night that was greater than a victory and more emotional than a defeat. The international softball world sent a message of hope. All three medal winning teams gathered together and spelled out “2016” in softballs just in front of home plate. The enemy lines disappeared and a chant of the words “Back Softball” emerged. Arm in arm, the softball world was uniting in a message to the IOC….and hoping for “happily ever after.” Softball NZ Softball NZ Home > Softball NZ Softball NZ GILES APPOINTED SOFTBALL NZ CEO 3 October Tony Giles has been appointed Softball NZ CEO and will take up his new role on October 14.

Giles (41) comes from Pub Charity, where he has spent the past three and a half years in senior management positions including that of General Manager. The former professional rugby player brings a mix of sporting passion and business nous to his new position, which comes at a pivotal time for softball in New Zealand. “Opportunities abound for softball here,” says Giles. “Every child in New Zealand grows up with softball from an early age with rounder’s and T-ball played at primary schools throughout the country. We also need to build on the strong support networks provided by our 23 associations”. “I intend to spend the next 3-4 months on the ground meeting our softball family and understanding their needs.” Giles hails from Napier and represented Hawke’s Bay through age-group and provincial “B” level, before pursuing his rugby career abroad in Ireland and Italy. Upon returning to New Zealand, he served in a management positions with The Laminex Group, a subsidiary of Fletcher Building Products in the lower North Island, before joining Pub Charity. “I worked closely with venue operators who raised funds providing enduring community benefits for many New Zealanders across all demographics, and managed human and physical resources throughout the length and breadth of the country.

“Giles is excited about softball’s potential after the Black Sox triumph in this year’s ISF World Championships at Rosedale Park. “I’m very aware of the Sox brand and its strength in the public perception, especially after the world champs. The fact the Black Sox don’t often play in New Zealand is a challenge for us moving forward, but we also have very strong growth potential in other areas of the sport which is extremely encouraging. “My focus will be very much about improving softball’s business structure and ensuring its sustainability in the long term.” I’m excited about the opportunities and look forward to joining the softball family” WHOLE OF SPORT PLAN 3 Sep, 2012 Below is the Whole of Sport Plan and feedback form as presented at the SNZ AGM, 1 Sept. Please return feedback by the 28th September to glen@softball.org.nz Feedback form (due 28th September) SOFTBALL NEW ZEALAND STAKEHOLDER SURVEY 22 Aug, 2012 Results from the recent SNZ Stakeholder Survey are now available. The Stakeholder survey consisted of 3 surveys targeting the social player , competitive player and the coach, administrator, manager club official etc category.

The surveys have been hugely successful with 370 completed providing the national body valuable information on the following topics: 1. Values of the softball community 2. Strengths and weaknesses of our community both on and off the diamond 3. Relationship between lifestyle, alcohol and its effect on our community. Congratulations to Kerry from North Harbour for winning the $300 voucher from Sirius Sports. TANGAROA, WEBER AND MOFFAT INDUCTED INTO THE ISF'S HALL OF FAME 01 Nov Former national softball representatives Chubb Tangaroa and Gina Weber have been inducted into the International Softball Federation's Hall of Fame at the congress meeting in Oklahoma City. Tangaroa, who made his Black Sox debut in 1987 and played in 30 games in a career that spanned over 15 years. He was a member of the world championship winning Black Sox team in 1996 and then the pitching coach for the side when he defend that crown in 2000 and 2004. He was a member of the Black Sox teams that won the silver medals at the 1988 and 1992 world championships.

Weber, who made her international debut in 1982 and was a member of the world championship winning White Sox team of that year. In all she played in four world championships and during that time the side won gold (1982), silver (1990) and bronze (1986) medals. She then captained the White Sox team at the 2000 Sydney Olympic Games. In 2006 she was the White Sox assistant coach at the world championship in Beijing, China. Both players are members of the Softball New Zealand Hall of Fame with Tangaroa in 2004 and Weber in the following year. Weber was also awarded a New Zealand Order of Merit in 2001 and Tangaroa three years later. Also inducted into the International Softball Federation's hall of fame was Russell Moffat, who was the Black Sox statistician at five world championships. He was also an official statistician at the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens and the chief statistician a the 2004 world championships in Christchurch. He was inducted into Softball New Zealand's Hall of Fame in 2006.

TWO NEW REGIONAL GAME DEVELOPMENT OFFICERS APPOINTED 29 July It is our pleasure to announce that Softball NZ have appointed Marnie Barber as the Lower North Island Regional Game Development Officer (RGDO) along with Cowley Harris as the Central North Island RGDO. With the redesign of the RGDO geographical areas we have been interviewing some quality people and are excited by the appointment of Marnie and Cowley. Marnie has been the head administrator for the Wellington and Hutt Valley Softball Associations (Capital Intercity Softball) the past year and so has a good handle of what these associations and others need assistance in. She has coached, managed, and played representative softball for many years and has an extensive experience in owner operator business operations. Cowley has been on the Waikato Softball Board and President of Waikato Softball for many years until this past week as he has taken this new position with Softball NZ. He also has coached, managed, and played representative softball for many years. His background is in the science field where he has worked for MAF and recently AgResearch in Hamilton.

Marnie will cover Wellington, Hutt Valley, Manawatu, Wanganui, and Taranaki Softball Associations. Cowley will cover Counties-Manukau, Waikato, Western Bay of Plenty, Rotorua, Tairawhiti (Gisborne), and Hawkes Bay Softball Associations. They officially start their employment in a couple of weeks time on the 15th August, so they will be in touch with their respective associations in due time. SEC SCHOOL DIV 1 TOURNAMENT TO BE RELOCATED 28 February This is an official announcement that the Div 1 Sec School tournament will not be held in Christchurch as it was scheduled to in March. We feel for the Canterbury Softball Association (CSA) as they were looking forward to hosting the event and they do a terrific job at it, but with conversation between CSA and management here at SNZ it was agreed that the tournament will have to be moved. Peoples safety, the Christchurch infrastructure, and damage to facilities in Christchurch all accounted to this decision. We are now looking at moving the tournament to another venue and have a few options we are working with.

SNZ would like to keep it in the main centres (Auck & Well) to keep travel costs down for teams and SNZ, and because it is a tournament that has 24 teams we need a large enough facility to host the tournament. One obstable will be that alot of grounds are switching over to winter sports and that may be a challenge gaining those extra diamonds as we want to keep the tournament all together rather than splitting the girls from the boys. The other issue is officials being available for the relocated tournament as a number of the officials were from Christchurch and we are still unaware of their availability. With all these challenges we will need to ask everyone to be patient as we want to finalise the new venue within 72 hours but there may be some delays with this as well. Thanks everyone... 10 December Men’s Open Club format for the 2011/2012 season Recently Softball NZ announced a change to the format of the Men’s Club tournament for the 2011-2012 season. We would like to announce that the format for that tournament will now not be changed, thus it will remain as status quo, same format as in the past.

It was brought to our attention by stakeholders that the current seeding of the teams was flawed and this needed to be reviewed. The current seeding system is taken from the results of the previous season’s tournament. It was noted that teams do change from year to year and that a more accurate seeding system needs to be implemented. We will be talking to stakeholders on the subject and next year a possible solution will be announced. ISF INDUCTION 25 November The International Softball Federation inducted three of the games greats into the Hall of Fame last week (25/11). Mike Nichols, Don Tricker and Mark Sorenson were all presented ISF rings and plaques from ISF 2nd Vice President Bob Leveloff. Mark Sorenson, far right, was pleased to be inducted into the International Softball Federation Hall of Fame with two other greats, Don Tricker, second from left and Wayne Nichols representing his brother Mike Nichols, third from left. With them at last week's induction was Bob Leveloff president of the Oceania region.

Mike Nichols He broke into national competition in 1980 and by 1984 Michael was on the first of three New Zealand teams that he would compete with in ISF Men's World Championships. Over that trio of tournaments he had a batting average of .339 and won a gold and two silver medals. In four other international competitions from 1981-90 his team came in first place each time. An outfielder, Michael was elected to the Softball New Zealand Hall of Fame in 2000. Don Tricker Don Tricker made his name known through New Zealand men’s softball as both a player and then as a coach. On the diamond he wore the Black Sox uniform from 1987-1990, which included winning a silver medal at the ISF VII Men’s World Championship in Canada in 1988. Following his retirement from playing, Don went on to become the first coach to win back-to-back world titles. From 1998-2004 his New Zealand teams captured the gold medals at the marquee ISF event in 2000 in South Africa and 2004 in their home country.

His technical analysis helped the team achieve success that he was honoured for with the 2000 Halberg Award (New Zealand Sports Awards) for coach of the year. Mark Sorenson In 1984 Mark Sorenson made his international softball debut at the ISF VI Men’s World Championship at the age of just 16 years old. Twenty-one years later he retired from the game with seven world championship tournaments (one junior) to his credit – all of them gold (five times) or silver medal finishes. In four of the seven he finished with a .400 batting average or higher. A catcher, Mark played in over 70 games in world championship play alone. He made more than 125 other international playing appearances on behalf of New Zealand over his three decades in men’s fast pitch softball to cement his legacy in Black Sox history. STAKEHOLDER SATISFACTION REPORT Thank you to everyone who completed the online questionnaire which sought valuable feedback from our Stakeholders. Below is the Stakeholder Report which outlines the results of the survey. SNZ is already accomplishing a number of the findings and results but have also targeted other suggestions from our Stakeholders, we will continue to update progress.

15 August Hello everyone On behalf of the Softball New Zealand Board, staff and the entire Softball family I would like to congratulate all those that received Softball New Zealand Awards for 2010 which were presented at the SNZ AGM at the weekend. A list of all the winners is attached. A special congratulation goes to the following people for their overwhelming achievements and contribution to our sport; Eric Kohlhase, winner of the SNZ Distinguished Services Award, Ross Smith who was inducted to the SNZ Hall of Fame and Ray Tibbits induced as a SNZ Life member. I would also like to thank all of those that attended the Softball New Zealand AGM on Saturday. It was great to see so many familiar faces and a few new ones, we hope you all got what you wanted from the day. A copy of the presentations from the day will be emailed to all attendees as well as the minutes from the meeting in due course. Good luck with your preparation for the upcoming softball season, we hope to see you all next year at the AGM.

Kind Regards Athletes - Softball Canada Athletes Softball Canada Hall of Fame Athletes Category Inducted: 2016 Province: British Columbia Harvey Stevenson (Victoria, BC) was one of the most feared power-hitters in Canadian softball in the 1970s. He won every major championship there was to win at the Men’s level, then turned his attention to coaching the next generation of national team athletes before getting more involved as a manager. His playing career was so widely well-respected that it later helped him build one of the most successful national team programs in the world through his leadership. Stevenson was a highly decorated athlete who had his first experience with softball as a junior player in Victoria in 1964. He won back-to-back provincial Championships in 1964 and 1965 before moving up to the senior ranks, winning a BC Senior B title in 1966 before joining Victoria Bate Construction in 1967.

Stevenson went on to win nine consecutive provincial Championships with Victoria (which switched sponsors from Bate Construction to Budget in 1978) from 1971 to 1979 and led the dynasty to eight Men’s Canadian Championship medals (four Gold, two Silver and two Bronze) over that same nine-year period, with the four Gold medals coming in consecutive years from 1975 to 1978. At the international level, Stevenson played in an era before the Canadian National Team existed and when club teams – usually the national champion – represented Canada at international competitions. As such, he and his Victoria team represented Canada and won Golds medals at the 1976 WBSC Men’s World Championship and the 1979 Pan American Games before he stepped away from softball to coach his son in baseball. He later returned to softball as a coach from 1992 to 1996, and went on to be the Team Leader for the Men’s and Women’s National Teams from 2002 to 2005 before working as Softball Canada’s Operations Manager – National Teams from 2006 until he retired in 2012.

Sandy (Newsham) Maskiw Inducted: 2015 Province: Manitoba Sandy (Newsham) Maskiw began her softball career in 1985 at the age of 12 and quickly developed into a dominant left-handed pitcher with a devastating change-up, becoming one of Canada’s top pitchers. A product of the Smitty’s softball program, she helped lead the team to an outstanding eight Senior Women’s Canadian Championship Gold medals, three Silver and one Bronze between 1993 and 2008, gathering several Top Pitcher, Top Batter, Top Player and Most Valuable Player awards over that span. She also helped Team Manitoba to a Bronze medal finish at the 1989 Canada Summer Games. Her international softball career began when she represented Canada at the 1991 Junior Women’s World Softball Championship where she pitched a no-hitter against New Zealand and was named to the senior team two years later in 1993, remaining in the program until 2001.

She went on to pitch in the 1995 and 1999 Pan American Games, playing a key role in Canada’s Silver medal performance in 1999 by earning the win in the semi-final game before pitching the Gold medal game in a 1-0 loss. She then represented Canada as a member of the 2000 Olympic Summer Games team in Sydney, where she went 1-2 while maintaining a 1.17 earned run average and striking out 25 batters in 30 innings pitched. Maskiw was a complete player. In addition to pitching, she was also a feared hitter as evidenced by her Canadian Championship Top Batter awards earned throughout her career. She worked extremely hard to develop as a softball athlete, was always very supportive of her teammates and gave her heart and soul to her teams. Over the past several years, she has also spent many hours developing the talent of up-and-coming young pitchers. Adam Smith Inducted: 2013 Province: Ontario Adam Smith is known for his fantastic two-way play, being a very dangerous hitter and a remarkable defensive second baseman capable of making highlight reel plays at any time.

Throughout his career, he earned the respect of his teammates, opponents and fans by putting everything on the line on every play and providing clutch hits and leadership. At the National level, Adam is a four-time Canadian Championship Gold medalist and a five-time Silver medalist, earning All-Star and Top Batter awards in 1993 and was the Top Player of the Championship Round in 1996. He was a long-time member and captain of the Toronto Gators, who had a great amount of success in the 1990’s highlighted by three Canadian Championship Gold medals over a four year period from 1993 to 1996. Over his career, Adam also played for several other teams in Ontario, including Burlington, Owen Sound, Oshawa, Jarvis and Kitchener-Waterloo. Internationally, Adam played on Canada’s Senior Men’s National Team from 1989 to 2000, where he represented our country at two ISF Men’s World Championships – winning Gold in 1992 and a fourth-place finish in 2000 – and two Pan American Games, where he won Gold in 1995 and 1999.

In addition to his tremendous international career, Adam continues to play locally and recently competed at the World Masters Games this summer in Torino with the Toronto Gators. Doug Chase Inducted: 2012 Province: British Columbia Coming from a renowned softball family in Port Alberni, BC, Doug Chase followed in the footsteps of his older brothers Rick and Vaughan and quickly outgrew the competition in his age group to graduate to his brother’s Senior team in 1983. That year, he was the youngest player on his team and earned the Most Valuable Player award at the Provincial Championships, where his team finished third. At the provincial level, Doug led the Port Alberni A’s to Provincial Championships in 1986 and 1987, hitting clutch homeruns to defeat a heavily favoured Victoria Payless team. After representing BC at the Canadian Championships in each of those years – and being named to the tournament All-Star Team in 1987 – Doug was selected to the Canadian Men’s National Team and began a stellar 13 year career with the club that concluded in 2000.

He also went on to win three Canadian Championships (1991, 1992 and 1997), and was named to the All-Star team on two more occasions (1997 and 1998). Internationally, he competed in three Pan American Games (1991, 1995 and 1999) and took home three gold medals from those events. He also played in three ISF World Championships (1992, 1996 and 2000), winning gold in 1992 in New Zealand and silver in 1996 in Midland, Michigan. Throughout his playing career, Doug was a great leader and one of the best defensive catchers in the world with a fantastic ability to hit for power. Mike Piechnik Inducted: 2012 Province: British Columbia Starting out as an outfielder with a strong arm and bat, Mike Piechnik was amazed by the pitchers on his team and started to practice by pitching to his older brother Andy at home.

His dedication to fitness and his strong work ethic quickly shaped his softball career as one of the top left-handed pitchers in the game as he won multiple provincial Championships and would go on to win four Canadian Championships and represent the Canadian Men’s National Team. After playing Senior ball in Victoria in the early 1980’s, Mike spent some time playing in New Zealand and in the United States before returning to Victoria in 1990. He went on to win four Canadian Championship gold medals (1991, 1992, 1997 and 2001) and earned numerous awards, including Top Pitcher (1990, 1993, 1995 and 1998), Most Valuable Player – Qualifying Round (1993), and Top Player – Championship Round (1992 and 2001). A few of his major accomplishments were pitching six games in two days to win gold at the 1991 Canadian Championship and throwing back-to-back perfect games in 1993.

At the International level, Mike had the honour of being a member of the Men’s National Team program from 1987 to 1999, winning two Pan American Games gold medals (1995 and 1999), and played in two ISF World Championships, winning gold in 1992 and silver in 1996. He also played in three North American Challenge Cups, winning Gold in 1991 and Silver in 1992 and 1993, and was Most Valuable Pitcher and Most Valuable Player at the event in 1992. Bryan Sosnowski Inducted: 2012 Province: Alberta After spending four years with the Beauvallon Aces at the Intermediate level (1969-1972), Bryan Sosnowski moved on to Senior ball, where he competed for the next 22 years before retiring from the game in 1994. Throughout his long playing career, he won 11 Provincial Championships in Alberta as well two others in Saskatchewan.

One of the most feared hitters of the 1980’s, Bryan competed in numerous Canadian Championships, winning three gold medals (1980, 1985 and 1987) and three silver medals (1982, 1983 and 1986) as a member of the Camrose Merchants, Calgary Brake & Clutch and Saskatoon All-O-Matics. He also has the distinction of being named a Canadian Championship All-Star in three different decades, as a shortstop in 1972 and 1980 and later as a first baseman in 1992, which speaks volumes about his longevity in the sport. Internationally, Bryan was a member of Team Canada in 1983, which was the first "All-Star" team selected to represent Canada at the international level as a National Team. That team won the gold medal at the Pan American Games, and was later inducted to the Softball Canada Hall of Fame in 1997. Todd King Inducted: 2011 Province: Nova Scotia Over his career, Todd King played a major role in several Canadian Championships.

He won a gold medal and was named to the tournament All-Star team at the 1998 Senior Men’s Canadian Championship, and won a silver medal and took home Top Batter and Qualifying Round MVP awards at the same event in 1994. He was also named to the All-Star teams at the 1993 Senior Men’s and 1987 Midget Boy’s Canadian Championships. At the provincial level, Todd won six Senior Men’s Provincial Championships in Nova Scotia between 1992 and 1998, and was a major contributor on those teams who would all go on to represent Nova Scotia at the Canadian Championships. In addition to his contributions at the Provincial and Canadian Championship level, Todd also represented Canada with the Senior Men’s National Team from 1995 to 2000, winning Pan American Games Gold medals in 1995 and 1999 and an ISF Men's World Championship Silver medal in 1996. He also represented Canada at the 2000 ISF Men’s World Championship.

Tim Macumber Inducted: 2011 Province: Nova Scotia At the Canadian Championship level, Tim Macumber won Gold medals at the 1992 Junior Men’s Championship and 1996 Senior Men’s Championship, as well as three Silver medals (1998, 2007 and 2009) and a Bronze (2002) at the Senior Men’s level. Throughout his career, he was named to the Senior Men’s Canadian Championship All-Star teams in 1995, 2000 and 2005. In addition, Tim played for the Canadian Senior Men’s National Team in 2002, 2003, 2005 and 2006, winning a Pan American Games Gold medal in 2003 when he led the team in runs batted in. In his home province of Nova Scotia, Macumber is seen as a softball legend having represented his province and country on numerous occasions over the past two decades. In addition to continuing to play at the senior level, he also gives back to the sport by helping out at the grassroots level.

Jacki Nichol Inducted: 2010 Province: Saskatchewan Jacki Nichol began her softball career at the community level at the age of 6, and as she got older she eventually played for Noreen Murphy’s Lorne Lazers (Midget and Junior) before graduating to DBJ Leasing. She played in 13 Canadian Championships between 1987 and 2002, winning a Gold medal in 2000 and Bronze medals in 1998 and 2001. At the international level, Jacki is the only player in Canadian softball history to play in two ISF Junior Women’s World Championships (1987 and 1991). She went on to play on the Senior Women’s National Team from 1998 to 2002, winning a Silver medal at the 1999 Pan American Games and serving as Team Captain for Canada at the 2000 Olympic Games in Sydney, the 2001 Pan American Qualifier and the 2002 ISF World Championship in Saskatoon.

She was inducted to the Saskatoon Sports Hall of Fame in 2005, and is currently on the Board of Directors for the Saskatoon Sports Hall of Fame (2006-present). Phyllis Bomberry Inducted: 2009 Province: Ontario Phyllis Bomberry grew up playing softball in a time when there were no Canadian Championships, and once they were created, it was very difficult for women’s teams to qualify. In total, her softball career spanned 25 years from 1951 to 1976, with her most successful years between 1967 and 1970. Phyllis began her career by playing her minor softball in the Caledonia League from 1951 to 1960, and won back-to-back Provincial Intermediate B PWSU Championships in 1960 and 1961.

After playing with the Mohawks from 1961 to 1965, Phyllis played in several world-class tournaments over the five following years, most notably the Bulova Watch Tournament at the Canadian National Exhibition in Toronto where she had three (3) first-place finishes and two (2) second-place finishes. From 1967 to 1970, Phyllis was by far one of the best players in the country. In 1967, she won a Canadian Championship and was named All-Star Catcher, also collecting Top Batter and Most Valuable Player awards. The following year, she won her second straight Canadian Championship and once again was named All-Star catcher. In 1969, Phyllis became the first woman to win the Tom Longboat award (created in 1951) annually awarded to the most outstanding First Nations athlete. That same year, she won a Gold medal at the very first Canada Games, and later won a Gold medal at the Ontario Summer Games in 1976. Darren Zack Inducted: 2009 Province: Ontario Darren Zack is recognized as one of the top pitchers ever seen in the Fast-Pitch world.

He was dominating in the circle, a wonderful sportsman and a terrific ambassador for the game off the field. He is treated as a legend whenever he appears at a Canadian ballpark, a certain sign of the respect that he has earned in the softball community. Darren has participated in numerous Canadian Championships, winning Gold medals in 1993, 1995 and 1996 and a Silver medal in 1992. His National awards include Top Pitcher in 1992, Top Player in the Championship Round in 1993, All-Star Pitcher and Top Player of the Championship Round in 1995, and Most Valuable Player and Top Pitcher of the Qualifying Round in 1996. He most recently played for the Horse Lake Thunder (AB) at the 2008 Canadian Senior Men’s Championship at the age of 48.

Darren represented Canada at numerous International events from 1991 to 2004, winning a Gold medal at the 1992 ISF World Championship, a pair of Silver medals at the 1996 and 2004 ISF World Championships, as well as three Gold medals at the Pan American Games (1991, 1995 and 1999). Overall, he posted a 10-2 record in three ISF World Championships, including going 4-0 and pitching the Gold medal win when Canada last won the event in 1992. He was also a key member in his two Silver medal World Championship and in all three of his Pan American Championship appearances. In addition to being a dominant pitcher on the field, Zack loves giving back to his community and to the sport, working with youth to develop their skills by giving clinics across the country. In 1997, Darren was awarded the National Aboriginal Achievement Award, and in 1999 he was presented with the Tom Longboat Aboriginal Award, honouring outstanding First Nations athletes.

Wendy Dealy (Deceased) Inducted: 2008 Province: New Brunswick Wendy (Winnifred Marion) Dealy was born in Chatham, New Brunswick and has been recognized as Softball New Brunswick Inc.’s premiere softball pitcher throughout her 19 year playing career. She represented her home province in 14 Canadian Championships (2 junior, 12 senior), often leading the charge for her team in the pitcher’s circle and earning 33 wins at the National level. Wendy began her 19-year career in 1968 as a Bantam aged player. Five years later, she made her first appearance on the National scene by helping Team New Brunswick win a silver medal at the Canada Summer Games in Burnaby/New Westminster, BC. That same year (1973), she also appeared at her first Canadian Senior Women’s Fast Pitch Championship, the first of 14 appearances between 1973 and 1987.

In 1975, she was named Top Pitcher and Most Valuable Player at the Canadian Junior Women’s Fast Pitch Championship, compiling a 5-0 record and an Earned Run Average of 1.13 in 31 innings of round-robin play. The following year, she was named Top Pitcher of the same event once again, pitching 26 of 28 innings that her team played. She later pitched a no-hitter at the 1982 Canadian Senior Women’s Fast Pitch Championships in St. John’s, NL. In 1994, she was inducted to the Softball New Brunswick Inc. Hall of Fame, and was later inducted to the New Brunswick Sports Hall of Fame in 2001 and the Miramichi Wall of Fame in 2007. Kris Gillis Inducted: 2008 Province: New Brunswick Kristopher Gillis began playing softball at the young age of 5 years old in his hometown. In 1988, he led his team to a Pee Wee Provincial title and an Eastern Canadian Championship.

The following year, he was the youngest player selected to the Canada Summer Games Softball Team, and was a solid contributor on the team four years later in 1993. That very same year, he was a significant contributor of the Gold-medal winning Canadian National Team at the 1993 ISF Junior Men’s World Championships, which happens to be the last time Canada won the Gold medal at the tournament. Gillis was named Most Valuable Player of Canada’s semi-final win over Japan, hitting two homeruns and driving in all three runs in a 3-2 win to lead Canada to the final. He also crossed the plate for the winning run in the eighth inning of the Championship game, a 4-3 win against New Zealand. The Salisbury native led Team Canada with five homeruns in the event, and also ranked second with 14 runs batted in. Following his heroic performances in 1993, Kris was an All-Star Third Baseman at the 1995 and 1996 Canadian Junior Men’s Championships, leading his team in homeruns and runs batted both years.

He also helped his team win six Provincial Junior Championships from 1989 to 1996. Jody Hennigar Inducted: 2008 Province: Nova Scotia Jody Hennigar is recognized as one of the most decorated players in Canadian Men’s softball history, with a career spanning 21 years. Twelve of those years were spent with the Canadian Senior Men’s National Team, while Jody also played in New Zealand for six years. Jody's Canadian accomplishments include five Canadian Championship All-Star selections, two Canadian Championship Most Valuable Pitcher awards, while also collecting seven medals at the Canadian Championships (two gold, three silver, two bronze) with various teams. He represented Canada in three ISF World Championships (1992, 1996 and 2000), helping Canada win Gold in 1992 and silver in 1996, and competing on two Gold-medal winning Pan American Games teams (1995 and 1999).

One of Jody's most memorable moments came in the Gold Medal Game at the 1992 ISF Senior Men's World Championships against New Zealand, when his team was trailing 3-0 and he hit a pinch-hit three-run homerun to tie the game in the bottom of the seventh inning. Canada went on to win the game 5-3 in extra innings to capture its first Gold medal at the event since 1972. Not only was he considered as one of the World's Best hitters in International play, he also had the ability to shut down any opposing team in the pitcher's circle. Jody's leadership, playing ability, character, competitiveness and honesty have all had a tremendously lasting impression for all who have played with him and coached him. While he was widely regarded as one of the best players in the World, Jody was also a strong leader in the dugout and off the field, giving back to the sport and the community, coaching a New Zealand Under-18 Team to a National title.

Now residing in Florida, Jody volunteers his time to an all-girls Fast Pitch organization as Director of Coaching, and has also put on various clinics for any athlete wanting to learn from one of the game's All-Time Greats. Bill Windsor

Question: Which country won the Men's World Championship in softball the most times between 1996 and 2004?
Answer: New Zealand