TOWNSEND—The Townsend Tide is turning a busy summer of fastball into a push toward one of the sport’s biggest stages.
The local senior men’s fastball team is preparing for a season that includes tournament play, Erie Fastball League competition, a high-profile exhibition game, and a fundraising campaign to help send the team to the International Softball Congress (ISC) World Tournament in August 2026.
—Haldimand Press archive photo.
Team owner Corey MacLean said the Tide competes at a high level across Ontario and around the world through ISC competition. This year’s team includes some familiar faces, along with several new additions.
“We have a really strong core of returning players this season, which has helped create a good team culture and chemistry, but we’ve also added some talented new players that bring even more depth and experience to the roster,” said MacLean. “It’s a good mix of veteran leadership and younger players who are hungry to compete.”
One of the team’s major upcoming events is the Fisherville Classic, set for June 5-7. The tournament features eight high-level men’s fastball teams from Ontario and beyond, including Canadian and American national-level players.
MacLean said the goal is to make the Classic more than a tournament. The weekend will also include U11 games, a licensed beer tent, a barbecue, and a family-friendly atmosphere.
“We want it to be a great community weekend with competitive ball,” said MacLean. “We’re hoping to continue growing the event every year and help bring more attention to the sport in our area.”
The Tide is also raising money to help cover the costs of travelling to the ISC World Tournament. MacLean said expenses include travel, accommodations, tournament fees, uniforms, and other team costs. The organization is hoping to raise about $20,000. Fundraising efforts include sponsorship drives, community events, barbecues, merchandise, and other initiatives.
MacLean called the international tournament one of the biggest events in men’s fastball, adding, “It’s a huge opportunity for our organization and community.”
That’s not the only excitement this season.
Another highlight on the schedule is a world-class fast pitch event presented by the Jarvis Lions Club on June 25 at Jarvis Lions Park. Food and beer will kick off the fun at 4 p.m., followed by a 6 p.m. game between Townsend and the Saskatoon Jacks.
The Fisherville Classic includes back-to-back play for the Jacks, who will play against Hill United Chiefs at 8 p.m. as well. MacLean described as the Chiefs as the top-ranked team in the world, with this game coming together through connections in the fastball community.
MacLean said the Chiefs had “reached out to me being another local team to see if we had interest in making this event happen…. It was an easy answer for me. Our two teams love helping grow the game together.”
MacLean said the event will give local fans a chance to see elite-level fastball that fully showcases the level of competition in the senior men’s game. The event will also include a pig roast with pork on a bun, a 19+ beer garden, and a 50/50 draw in support of Jarvis Minor Ball.
Throughout the summer season, the Tide is also playing in the Erie Fastball League, which MacLean said gives the team meaningful games throughout the summer against strong organizations. He said many Tide players are spread across teams in the Erie League, helping keep them active and competitive. See more about this league on Page 20.
“The league is important for keeping the sport growing locally and giving fans a chance to regularly watch high-level ball close to home,” MacLean added.
With a busy schedule ahead, MacLean said the message to the team is to stay focused on one weekend at a time.
“It’s easy to look ahead because we have a really exciting schedule this year, but our message to the players is to stay disciplined, compete hard every game, and continue building as a group,” he said.
He said the Tide is proud to boast players from across Haldimand and Norfolk.
Anyone interested in sponsoring the team can reach out through the Townsend Tide social media pages, email tidetownsend@gmail.com, or call 519-802-6305.
