Arch-rivals Canada, New Zealand to tune up for WBSC Men's Softball World Cup in Saskatoon tournament
Less than one week away from first pitch at the WBSC Men's Softball World Cup Group B, world No. 3 Canada and No. 10 New Zealand will participate in the International Softball Super Series at Bob Van Impe Stadium in Saskatoon.
Organised by the Saskatoon Amateur Softball Association, the International Softball Super Series will feature six teams, including the Canada and New Zealand National Teams, plus four club teams: Hill United Chiefs, New York Gremlins, Saskatoon Jacks and Saskatoon Angels.
The games will begin on Thursday, 4 July, with the Final played on Sunday 7 July. New Zealand and Canada will collide on Friday, 5 July, at 6:15pm local time. See schedule.
The tournament will be played at Bob Van Impe stadium in Saskatoon, which staged the WBSC Men's Softball World Cups 2009 and 2015. Saskatoon, Saskatchewan's capital, is 138 kilometres away from Prince Albert.
Canada and New Zealand will open the WBSC Men's Softball World Cup Group B on 10 July in Prince Albert, facing No. 24 Hong Kong, China and No. 11 Singapore respectively. World No. 1 Argentina and No. 16 Israel complete the participating teams.
The New Zealand roster features 11 players from the last World Cup in 2022, as well as the return of veterans Tyron Bartorillo, Nik Hayes and Wane Laulu, who helped the Black Sox win their last World Championship in 2017. Other veterans of the World Cup winning team are Cole Evans, Ben Enoka and Thomas Enoka.
Earlier this year, Canada revealed eight athletes selected as core players for the WBSC Men’s Softball World Cup Group B.