Hitmen the target at national softball championships in St. John's
4-time defending champs looking to make history at Canadian men's softball championship
Jason Hill knows the joys of winning.
His last four years representing Newfoundland and Labrador at the Canadian men's fastpitch softball championships have resulted in gold medals.
From 2013 to 2015, his International Softball Congress Hill United Chiefs won the world club championship three times.
And last year, while wearing Team Canada's uniform, he helped this country to gold medals at the world softball championship in Saskatoon and the Pan Am Games in Toronto.
Yet with the Canadian Men's Fastpitch Championship underway this week in St. John's, Hill's mind shoots back to 2007 — the last time St. John's played host to this event — when Roebothan McKay and Marshall lost 1-0 to Vancouver Grey Sox, missing out on a chance for this province's first Canadian title.
"The expectation for us is nothing less than a gold medal," the slugger said, prior to the championships kicking off.
Home advantage?
Hill was joined by pitcher Sean Cleary — two key components, if N.L. is to win a record-breaking fifth straight Canadian title.
"There's a still a sour taste for most of us in our mouths since 2007 where we lost that final game. We've been thinking about it ever since," said Hill.
"It's gonna be exciting to have it at home, and that usually means big crowds. It's going to be the best ballplayers in Canada — and probably the world — here this week, so we're really looking forward to it and we're ready to get going."
Ten teams started play on Wednesday at the Caribou Complex in Pleasantville, with the Canadian champion scheduled to be crowned late Sunday afternoon.
No cakewalk
N.L. will be represented by three teams — Hill and his defending champion Galway Hitmen, The Bigs and Kelly's Pub Molson Bulldogs.
Saskatchewan has four teams entered, Ontario has two teams, and Nova Scotia rounds out the competition.
It's an added bonus when you get your friends and family out watching you and cheering you on.- Sean Cleary
"It's by no means gonna be a cakewalk," Cleary said.
"Nothing's going to be given to us this week. We're gonna have to fight for every inch."
Hill agreed, adding it would be ideal if all provinces could be represented at the competition.
"But the best players across the country are compacted into whatever it ends up being here at the championship," said Hill.
"To say that every province is not represented is correct, but you can rest assured that the top players in Canada are going to be here. Nobody's going to give us this championship."
'It's like playing hockey in Toronto'
For both players — who are among the best at their positions in the country, if not entire softball world — getting the chance to play at home while in the prime of their careers is a great opportunity.
Many casual sports fans know the names of Jason Hill, Sean Cleary, Ryan Boland, Brad Ezekiel or Steve Mullaley, the Newfoundlanders who played for Team Canada last year, but very few have seen them in action.
This week fans get their opportunity.
"Softball fans here in Newfoundland are passionate and very knowledgeable. It's like playing hockey in Toronto. They know the game and they know what to expect," said Hill.
"A lot of our accomplishments have been up on the mainland, or in New Zealand, wherever they have been and they haven't had access to see what we have to offer. It's going to be pretty special."
Going for a record
Special could be the theme of the week, especially if the Hitmen do as many involved in the game expect them to do — and that's win again.
'Nothing's going to be given to us this week. We're gonna have to fight for every inch.'- Sean Cleary
A Galway Hitmen championship will give this province five straight titles, a feat never before accomplished in the men's game since national championships started in 1965.
"You just got to focus on the task at hand, no matter where you're playing, whether it be ISF (International Softball Federation) or Pan Ams or down here at nationals," Cleary said.
"But it's an added bonus when you get your friends and family out watching you and cheering you on. The more people the better. It's certainly not mine and Jason's first time playing in front of huge crowds. Hopefully that's going to be the case for the rest of the week."
A spot in the Sunday final will surely garner huge crowds. A win in Sunday's final will ensure this team's place in history.
And it's all unfolding in St. John's this week.
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