Charlotte West Stadium to host National Pro Fastpitch game
07/10/2019 | 2:19:00 | Softball
The Canadian Wild of Southern Illinois will host the Cleveland Comets on Saturday, July 27.
CARBONDALE, Ill. — Southern Illinois University and Charlotte West Stadium will serve as the host site for the Canadian Wild of Southern Illinois' July 27th (6 p.m.) National Pro Fastpitch (NPF) game against the Cleveland Comets.
With softball returning to the Olympics in 2020, the 2019 NPF season offers a unique opportunity for fans to get a sneak peak at the players that will compete for gold at the 2020 Tokyo games. The Wild features members of the Canadian national team, which currently ranks third in the WBSC world rankings. The Comets entered a partnership this season with the Mexican national team, which ranks fifth in the WBSC world rankings.
"What a neat opportunity for the Southern Illinois region," Saluki head coach Kerri Blaylock said of SIU hosting a NPF game. "These are world-class athletes who are part of the third-ranked softball team in the world and they will be in our backyard. Hopefully all of the young ladies that play softball in this area can come out and watch."
The Wild, who have trained at Charlotte West Stadium all summer and are housed on SIU's campus, have just eight home games remaining in their inaugural campaign. They currently sit just four games out of first place as the race for the Cowles Cup heats up.
"It's been really good to have Team Canada around," Blaylock said. "They have been really impressed with our softball facility, our weight room, the dorms and I've heard nothing but great things from then about all of our facilities. It's been cool for me to be able to go out and watch their elite pitchers, their practices and just to be able to talk softball with them."
The Canadian Wild play an exciting brand of softball that features a lineup stacked with players that can not only hit for power but can also fly around the base paths. The Wild lead the six-team league in stolen bases (56) and rank second in home runs (15). Outfielder Jennifer Gilbert and infielder Holly Speers are both in the top-three in the NPF in home runs and RBI. Gilbert has had a monstrous year at the plate as she leads the league in hits (31), RBI (24), doubles (7) and is tied with Speers for second in home runs (4).
The Wild also have a pair of talented holdovers from the 2008 Olympic games in pitcher Danielle Lawrie and infielder Jenn Salling. The duo led the University of Washington to the 2009 National Championship. Salling transferred from Oregon to Washington prior to the 2009 collegiate season to join forces with Lawrie and hit .481 as the Huskies won their first-ever softball national title. Lawrie, a two-time NCAA Player of the Year at Washington, came out of retirement this season after a three-year hiatus for the opportunity to earn a spot on Canada's Olympic roster.
The Comets, meanwhile, are led by 2019 NFCA All-American pitcher Taylor McQuillin, as well as three-time NFCA All-American second baseman Emily Carosone and two-time NFCA All-American first baseman Tori Vidales.
Team Canada is one of 12 teams currently competing at the Canada Cup from July 9-14. It is the first of several international competitions that the team will partake in prior to summer's end. Following the Canada Cup, the Women's National Team will close out play in the NPF before heading to the Pan American Games in Lima, Peru from August 4-10. Team Canada will then host the WBSC Americas Olympic Qualifier from Aug. 25- Sept. 1 in Surrey, British Columbia.
The gates at Charlotte West Stadium will open on Saturday, July 27 at 4:30 p.m. and fans are welcome to stay after the game for an autograph session with the Wild. All tickets are $10 and can be purchased at www.siusalukis.com/tickets.