The NB Hawks of Regina are back in Prince George this weekend to try to defend their title as champions of the Canada Day fastpitch tournament and they've been tuning up their act lately against one of the best teams in the world.
The Hawks have played the New Zealand Black Sox national team four times the past two consecutive weekends, losing all four to the Sox, all in close battles.
"It was a pleasure playing New Zealand four times in a week," said Hawks first baseman Calvin McNab. "No team has come that close to beating them in their tuneup for the ISF (the International Softball Federation world championship, which wraps up today in Saskatoon)."
After a 2-1 loss to New Zealand in their first game last weekend at the Bob Law Memorial tournament in Vancouver, the Hawks were tied 3-3 with the Sox in the final heading into the seventh inning when the pitching arm of Hawks ace Dustin Keshane's finally gave out after pitching six games that day. New Zealand scored six runs that inning to capture the title.
The previous weekend in Calgary, the Hawks lost 3-1 and 2-0 in the final.
"We had runners in scoring position and got seven hits against their ace lefthander, Heinie Shannon," said McNab.
The 13-player Hawks roster includes third baseman Cory Giroux, a former Prince George resident.
"All these teams go around picking up top-notch players but we're just a team with 13 native boys roaming around Canada competing with all these top teams," said the 41-year-old McNab. "Our average age is mid-20s but we have a couple old guys we carry around with us just to keep everybody in line."
The competition at Spruce City Stadium this weekend won't be quite so fierce for the Hawks as they prepare to defend their Canadian Native Fastball championship, July 31-Aug. 3 in Winnipeg, but they'll still have to be sharp to win the 11-team men's tournament. The weekend lineup includes the Westbank Cardinals, last year's Canada Day tournament finalists; two Prince George teams, Falcon Contracting and Superior Fencing Giants; and the rest of the men's field - Alexander Teepee Crawlers (Morinville, Alta.), Binchie Steelers (Fort St. James), Bridge Brewers (Kamloops-Spences Bridge), Takla Lakers, Shuswap Defenders, Moricetown Cubs and Vanderhoof Rippers.
"We started coming up go Prince George when we were kids and I came up with my dad, Albert," said McNab. "We love coming to play Prince George, it's a nice atmosphere in the stadium and the people are fun to play in front of. It's a big commitment to come but Sheldon (tournament organizer Bjorklund) does a great job and really pushes for us to get up here to play in this tournament.
There's also a six-team women's tournament which includes Bridge Brewer, LNG Dreams (Kamloops), Shuswap Windwalkers, Nak'azdli, (Fort St. James), Alexander Teepee Crawlers and Maskwacis (formerly Hobbema, Alta.).
The Prince George Timberwolves host the junior tournament with the Maskwacis juniors, Team Marcel (Nak'azdli), Saikuz Tigers (Stony Creek-Vanderhoof), and Moricetown Thunder.
Games start today at 12:30 p.m. with Saikuz facing Moricetown.
The Hawks spent the afternoon on the Naz'adli First Nations reserve at Fort
St. James Thursday teaching about 30 kids in a skills clinic followed by a game Thursday night against the Rippers in Vanderhoof. The Rippers are part of a six-team senior men's league which formed in Fort St. James this year.
"Our team is pretty straightforward and we don't promote drinking and that's how we perform to the best of our abilities on Sundays," said McNab. "It's a pleasure for us to pass on the knowledge that's been passed on by our fathers to the kids around here. You're coming on to a reservation and there's nothing but alcohol and drugs that some of the kids grew up with and maybe we can park something in them that will make them want to play softball and lead them in a different direction away from alcohol and drugs."
The Hawks open tonight at 9 p.m. against the winner of this afternoon's Moricetown-Binchie game.
The men's final is scheduled for Sunday at 5 p.m. at Spruce City Stadium. The women's final is set for Sunday at 2 p.m. at Ron Wiley Field, site of the junior final Sunday at 3:30 p.m.
