South Bend hosting Can-Am tournament

Published 1:02 pm Friday, June 27, 2008

By Staff
SOUTH BEND, Ind. – It will resemble the United Nations today through Sunday, when female baseball players from Australia, Canada, Japan, Korea, Guatemala, Russia and the United States will cross bats during the 2008 Can-Am Spirit of Sportsmanship Tourney hosted by the South Bend Blue Sox which will be played at the Northfield Sports Complex on Laurel Road.
The 2008 Can-Am Tournament features six teams: Australia, Ontario, Canada, two from Chicago, Pawtucket, RI along with the host team, the South Bend Blue Sox.
Several of the teams boast of current or former National Team players. The Australian team features nine such players or coaches on their roster. Two of the US teams carry former National Team players or current candidates for the USA Baseball Women's National Team. Chicago carries two former National Team members and the Blue Sox boast of USA Baseball hopeful, Katie Pappa of Stevensville. South Bend's contribution to the international flavor of the Can-Am is Russian-born Irina Kovach of New Carlisle. In 2006, Kovach represented the United States at the World Children's Baseball Fair in Japan.
The 2008 National Team players for eight countries will square off on Aug. 24-29 in Matsuyama, Japan at the International Baseball Federation's Women's World Cup of Baseball.
Game Schedule:
Today – Field 1 – Division I
9 a.m. -South Bend Blue Sox vs Aussie Hearts
11:30 a.m. Chicago Gems vs South Bend
2 p.m. Aussie Hearts vs Chicago Gems
Field 2 – Division II
9 a.m. Annette Ontario vs Pawtucket
11:30 a.m. Pawtucket vs Chicago
2 p.m. Chicago vs Annette Ontario
Saturday – Field 1 – Division II
9 a.m. Chicago vs Annette Ontario
11:30 a.m. Pawtucket vs Chicago
2 p.m. Pawtucket vs Annette Ontario
Field 2 – Division I
9 a.m. Aussie Hearts vs Chicago Gems
11:30 a.m. Chicago Gems vs South Bend Blue Sox
2 p.m. South Bend Blue Sox vs Aussie Hearts
Sunday – Field 1
9 a.m. Division I, First place vs. Second place