CDF pitches in to support the 2008 World Fast Pitch Championships

In support of the upcoming International Softball Federation Junior Men's World Fast Pitch Championships, the Community Development Fund has awarded Softball Yukon with $290,000.

In support of the upcoming International Softball Federation Junior Men’s World Fast Pitch Championships, the Community Development Fund has awarded Softball Yukon with $290,000.
The money will be used for two specific projects. The majority of the funds will go towards the costs involved with housing and feeding the anticipated 300 athletes who will compete at the championships.
The remaining money will be spent on renovation fees for the Takhini 3, 4 and 5 ball diamonds, which will be used as a practice facility for competing teams at the championships.
A total of $260,000 will be spent on feeding and housing the athletes, who will stay at the Canada Games residence at Yukon College.

The remaining $30,000 will be spent on the ball diamonds.
“We are very grateful that CDF has helped us and it will make for a much easier time making the Worlds a success,“ said George Arcand, executive director for Softball Yukon.

“If they hadn’t granted us the money, we would have had to find it someplace. It would have meant other fundraising or through other community sponsors.

So they certainly stepped up and helped us considerably.“
Softball Yukon put the application in for the funding prior to the deadline, which is mid January.
After it had gone through the process, Softball Yukon was awarded with the money on Monday at the Pepsi Softball Centre, located on Range Road in Whitehorse.
The Worlds are scheduled to take place from June 20-29 and will be held at the Pepsi Softball Centre.
Twelve countries will be represented at the event, including three-time defending champion Australia, as well as Argentina, Botswana, Canada, Czech Republic, Denmark, Japan,

Mexico, New Zealand, South Africa, the United States and Venezuela. Each team will feature the very best male players aged 19 and under from their respective countries.
Canada’s last gold medal came in 1993, when they defeated host country New Zealand in the Grand Final.

Other strong finishes from the Canadian junior team include winning bronze medals in 2005 in Summerside, P.E.I., in 2001 in Sydney, Australia and in 1997, in St. John’s, Newfoundland.