Image credit: CFJC Today

By Marty Hastings

ON THE DIAMOND

Kamloops’ STK Fastball to square off against under-23 Softball Canada team, host tournament

Jun 5, 2025 | 9:33 AM

KAMLOOPS — Fastpitch heat is blanketing Charles Anderson Stadium.

The men’s under-23 Softball Canada team will square off against Chase-based STK Fastball on Thursday (June 5), a 7:30 p.m. start at Charles Anderson.

“We’ve levelled up this year and brought in a lot of international players from Australia, New Zealand and Argentina,” said STK general manager Benny Anthony, whose club sits ninth in International Softball Congress standings.

The U23 men’s national team is training in Kamloops and running a youth clinic (registration is closed) on Thursday afternoon, with 60 participants signed up to learn from some of the country’s best.

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“The past few years, we’ve been building,” Anthony said. “One of the big things is trying to strengthen the men’s game and try to get it recognized with the youth in the area. We’ve been gaining traction every year and that’s the whole idea behind it.”

The third annual STK Fastball Tournament is scheduled to run from Friday to Sunday.

“A lot of the players are getting ready for their under-23 national teams for the world championships and also for the national championships this year in Prince Albert,” Anthony said.

“Some of the best players in Canada will be in attendance and some of the men from the national squad are playing. STK has its ISC world squad at the tournament that will be representing our team in ISC World Championships in Mankato.”

Spectators are invited to check out the tournament on Diamond 1 and Diamond 2.

Action gets underway at 6:45 p.m. on Friday, the playoffs begin on Saturday evening and the championship game is slated for noon on Sunday.

The gold and silver medallists will advance to the ISC World Tournament, which will run from July 26 to Aug. 2 in North Mankato, Minnesota.

“Our end goal for fastball is having these international players stay in Kamloops for the summer until we attend the world championships in Mankato,” Anthony said.