Fresh off their win at the provincials tournament, the Aurora Diggers under-19 girls softball team is set to play against Italy in a double-header at Fleury Park on Tuesday.
Head coach Todd Martin said it’s “not unusual” for a team from overseas to come on a tour and he was keen to put forward Aurora to play the Italian Jr. Women’s National Team.
“It’s a great opportunity for the Italian team to come, it’s a great opportunity for the girls to play a national team because they’re going to be a good team, too, (softball) is growing in Italy.”
“We’re hoping we can fill the place with fans, and have a great night and really showcase Ontario softball, showcase Aurora, certainly showcase our team, too, we want to put on a good show,” he said.
The team will be in high confidence coming off an unbeaten run during the Ontario provincial tournament in Woodstock July 5 to 7.
“We’ve predominantly played an American-based schedule the last couple of years, so this is the last we’ve actually gone back to the provincials in a couple of years,” he said.
“We ran the table, it was great, we won 7-0,” he said. “We did exactly what we planned on doing when we went back to provincials this year, so it was good.”
The American-based schedule helps earn scholarships at American universities for the players, with half a dozen of the players set to play in the U.S. this fall. Martin’s daughter is one, who is set to join Natasha Limbani at Niagara University.
Limbani is coming off being picked for the women’s national team, playing for the team during the Canada Cup earlier this month in Surrey, B.C., with Canada winning the tournament.
“Playing a team internationally, that’s always cool and I’m happy the other girls get to experience it like I just got to experience it, so it should be interesting,” she said.
The Italy games come at a busy period for the team. They are in Ohio playing in a tournament this weekend, before heading off to nationals.
“Nationals is going to be a tough tournament, it always is. There’s a couple of teams that can win other than B.C., but B.C. is the king of the castle right now in women’s softball and they have been for years,” said Martin.
Martin said Aurora will face a couple of B.C. teams during the opening round-robin stage of the tournament. Aurora will play six games in the round-robin stage, with two B.C. teams in their pool.
“So we’re going to sink or swim right off the bat, so it’s going to be a great tournament, we’re going to have a chance to win."
The nationals will be held in Saskatoon July 31 to Aug. 4 at a diamond that holds special memories for Martin.
“It’s a fantastic venue, I’ve played in there many times myself. Actually, the last time I played for Canada, pitched against New Zealand, was in that ballpark that our kids are going to be going to. So I love it, it’s kind of a full-circle, circle-of-life moment.”
The Aurora Diggers play the Italian Jr. Women’s National Team in a doubleheader at Fleury Park in Aurora on Tuesday, July 16. Game 1 starts with the first pitch at 5:30 p.m.
