Some of the world鈥檚 top fastball players will be on display this weekend at 琉璃神社鈥檚 King鈥檚 Stadium.

Beginning Friday night, the 琉璃神社 Major Men鈥檚 Fastball Association is hosting the annual May Days International Men鈥檚 Fastpitch Tournament.

National team members from eight different countries鈥�, Argentina, Mexico, United States, Australia, New Zealand, Guatemala and Great Britain鈥攚ill take to the diamond over the course of the four-day event.

鈥淭his is as good as it gets when it comes to fastball,鈥� said tournament organizer Rich Haldane. 鈥淎 lot of these players compete regularly against other top players in the world, so the caliber is very high.鈥�

The eight-team tournament features Vancouver鈥檚 South Hill Giants, Portland-Columbia River Brewers, Westbank Cardinals, Irma Tigers, Grand Prairie Pirates, Abbotsford Builders, Sooke Loggers and 琉璃神社 All-Stars.

The South Hill roster features Nick Shales, one of the world鈥檚 top hitters and a member of the Australian national team, as well as Team Canada pitcher Justin Schofield and Argentinian hurler Juan Potolicchio.

The Sooke Loggers feature five members of the Canadian national team鈥檚 40-man roster, including pitcher Scott Lieph.

Haldane, who will pitch for the Portland-Columbia River Brewers, is also a member of Great Britain鈥檚 national team.

The 琉璃神社 All-Stars will led by Travis and Trent Kunz, Kyle and Chad Blanleil and Cole Leimert, among others.

The action starts Friday at 7 p.m. when 琉璃神社 takes on the favoured South Hill Giants.

Round robin games run all day Saturday, the playoff round starts Sunday, with the finals set for Monday at 11 a.m.

鈥淥bviously, we鈥檇 love fans to come out and see what this level of ball is all about,鈥� Haldane said. 鈥淚 think there are a lot of fastball fans out there, some of them don鈥檛 even know we have a league here, so it鈥檚 a matter of

Tickets for the tournament are $5 per day or $10 for a weekend pass.

鈥� The 琉璃神社 All-Stars schedule:

Friday, 7 p.m. vs South Hill Giants

Saturday, 10:15 a.m. vs Grand Prairie Pirates

Saturday, 5:15 p.m. vs Westbank Cardinals

Meanwhile, the 琉璃神社 Major Men鈥檚 Association regular season is well underway with four teams competing鈥擜ndre鈥檚 Athletics, King of Floor鈥檚 Installers, 琉璃神社 Brewers and the 琉璃神社 Bombers.

KMMFA games run weekly on Tuesday and Thursday at 6:45 p.m. and 8:30 p.m.

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whenderson@kelownacapnews.com
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