A Look Back: NL at Women’s Canadian Fastpitch Championships
Team Success & Individual Success
From 1971 to 1992 Newfoundland Labrador participated in 22 consecutive Women’s Canadian Fastpitch Championships.
The Province was represented by the Provincial All-Stars (1971-77), Black Horse (1978-79), Labatt (1980-81), Labatt St. John’s All-Stars (1982-84), St. John’s All-Stars (1985-1990), Big Ben’s (1991) and Stanley’s Sports Pub (1992).
The 22-year run came to an end in 1993 and seemed to get back on track with the Labatt Raiders (1994), but unfortunately that would be the last time that Newfoundland Labrador attended the Women’s Canadian Fastpitch Championships.
Team success can be viewed a number of different ways and depending on the teams personnel it varies from year-to-year.
It is a fact that Newfoundland Labrador have never captured a medal of any colour at the Women’s Nationals and the best ever finish was fourth place, which was accomplished on three occasions – 1980, 1982 & 1985. Over the 23 Women’s Canadian Fastpitch Championships Newfoundland Labrador have an Overall Record of 43 Wins – 82 Losses in 125 Games.
Looking back it really wasn’t the placement that matter in the overall grand scheme of things, it was the fact that teams (players, coaches & managers) from the Province were not only participating, but competing at the highest level of women’s ball in Canada.
Individual player success is easily measured in large part by awards & statistics and Newfoundland Labrador players have had individual success over the years at the Women’s Canadian Fastpitch Championships.
Let’s have a look at some of the individual success stories…
Marg Davis (Fox Harbour) was the Top Batter in 1974 with a .583BA (7-for-12) and collected back-to-back All-Star Team Selections in 1986 (Outfield) and 1987 (1st Base).
Patty Polych (Wabush) had an outstanding tournament in 1980 as she was named MVP of the Qualifying Round, Top Pitcher & All-Star Pitcher. A tournament highlight came on Tuesday, August 19, 1980 when Polych pitched a Perfect Game in a 4-0 Win over Yukon, she finished that game with 16 strikeouts.
Debby Power (Outer Cove) was named MVP of the Qualifying Round & Top Batter (6-for-10 .600BA) in 1982 and took home an All-Star Selection in 1984 (Outfield).
Sue Peckham (St. John’s) turned in a stellar performance in 1983 as she was named MVP of the Qualifying Round, Top Pitcher and All-Star Pitcher and was once again named MVP of the Qualifying Round in 1985.
Players representing Newfoundland Labrador have proven in the past that they were able to compete with Canada’s best and have also taken their skills and enjoyed success with other Provinces at the Women’s Canadian Fastpitch Championships and with Team Canada on the World Stage at the ISF Women’s World Championships.
Patty Polych was a 5-Time Women’s Canadian Fastpitch Champion with Vancouver Alpha Sports in 1982-83 & 1985-86-87, Sherry Morrissey captured back-to-back Women’s Canadian Fastpitch Crowns with BC White Rock Renegades in 1992-93 and Sue Peckham copped a Women’s Canadian Fastpitch Title with Ontario Dorchester Jesters in 1994.
Marg Davis was the first female player from Newfoundland Labrador to play with Team Canada and captured a Silver Medal in El Salvador in 1978. Patty Polych was a two-time member of Team Canada with a 5th Place finish in Taipei, Taiwan in 1982 and a 4th Place finish in Auckland, New Zealand in 1986.
Since 1994, no NL team has ventured to the Women’s Canadian Fastpitch Championship for a variety of reasons, but that will change this year (2018) as Softball NL, under the leadership of President Gary Corbett, have made a commitment to rebuild the foundation of women’s ball in the Province.
Softball NL are looking forward to being represented at the Women’s Canadian Fastpitch Championship in 2018!