The Scotiabank Canadian Open Fastpitch International Championship, one of the top three fastpitch events in the world, kicked off Friday in Surrey. It is the largest softball event in the country and is among the largest women’s-only sporting events in BC. The 11-day event will take place at three Surrey-based venues: Softball City, Cloverdale Athletic Park and Sunnyside Park.

The tournament plays host to over 80 participating teams spanning six divisions – Women’s International, Women’s Elite, Futures Gold and Select divisions, and Showcase Gold and Select divisions – playing more than 330 ballgames over the course of the 11-day event.

The Women’s International Championship runs July 16-22 and features the world’s top four softball teams, including returning champion, Team Japan, Team USA (2nd), Team Australia (3rd), and Team Canada (4th). Other confirmed competitors are Team Venezuela & California A’s. Team Canada will play their first game on July 16 at 6:30 PM against California A’s.
Along with the world class competition in the Women’s International division, spectactors will have the chance to watch national and international teams go head to head in the Women’s Elite Championship, running July 13-21, Futures division (Gold and Select levels) and Showcase division (Gold and Select levels).

The Canadian Open Fastpitch Society has recently been awarded the honour of representing Canada in the bid for the 2016 ISF Women’s World Championship, and is set to showcase Surrey’s premier venues and a pool of top international talent to the world at its July, 2013 event. For more information, visit www.canadianopenfastpitch.com.