ISC Welcomes New Personnel

Blair Setford • February 9, 2025

Three New Commissioners, Three Player Reps & One Specialist

 The ISC is pleased to welcome three new commissioners, three player reps and a new specialist to the organization as we continue to evolve to make the ISC World Tournament better than ever.


Chris Hopewell, Elmsdale, NS, joins us as Regional Commissioner for Atlantic Canada. Chris is currently president of Softball Nova Scotia and is active in the men’s game with the Shooters Bar & Grill Men’s League, the top league in the province, and also coaches the Nova Scotia Mastodons, the 2017 Canadian Champions. In his spare time, he co-hosts the popular Outside the Chute podcast.


Ferdi Nelissen, Portage La Prairie, MB, re-joins the ISC as a Canada West Regional Commissioner after serving a 17-year stint as a commissioner and VP through 1990s and 2000s. Ferdi, who was elected to the ISC Hall of Fame in 2018, is an active volunteer in Manitoba Hockey and in other organizations in his home province.


Scott Perry, Oshawa, ON, is joining the ISC as a Regional Commissioner in Canada East. Scott has previously been the coach of the Toronto Batmen and currently suits up for the Cobourg Force Legends team. Well known in one of the game’s hotbeds in Ontario, Scott will work with closely with Canada East personnel to continue the pipeline of teams in ISC.


Brian Eradus, Vancouver, BC, comes aboard as Communications Specialist and will apply his top-notch talents to expanding the ISC’s presence even further on social media, conducting additional out-reach to players and teams. If you saw any of the social media presence from Softball City for the 2024 ISC World Tournament, then you’ve seen Brian’s excellent work!


Shane Boland, St. John’s, NL, is the newest player representative from Atlantic Canada. Shane, currently a member of the defending ISC World Champions Hill United Chiefs, has been playing in the ISC since 2012.


Jeff Lyons, Glencoe, ON, joins as a player representative for Canada East. Jeff, who played with Bear Creek Express in 2024, has participated in the ISC for the last decade with multiple Ontario teams.


Chris Norris, St. George, UT, is joining the ISC as a player rep in US West. Chris has played for the Pueblo Bandits for many years and is the Director of Player Development for the softball team at Utah Tech.


Welcome aboard to all of our new personnel – we look forward to your contributions!


You can find all of the ISC commissioners, specialists and player reps on the ISC website Contact page at: www.iscfastpitch.com

2025 Masters Indigenous Games in Ottawa August 14-17

By Blair Setford • April 1, 2025
Men's fastpitch softball will be one of the featured sports at this year's Masters Indigenous Games being held in Ottawa, ON August 14-17. The Masters Indigenous Games (MIG) provides Indigenous adults, aged 20 years and older, the opportunity to compete against their peers in a variety of contemporary and traditional sporting activities. MIG is an opportunity to get physically active, engage with community and participate in competition. The Games bring together thousands of Indigenous athletes from around the world to compete in sport competitions, celebrate Indigenous wellness and showcase the rich diversity of cultures and traditions of the world’s Indigenous Peoples. For more on MIG25, see their website at the link below. https://mastersindigenousgames.com/
Tony Wark: From Little League to the Big Leagues of Men’s Fastpitch

Tony Wark: From Little League to the Big Leagues of Men’s Fastpitch

By Brian Eradus • March 29, 2025
With a baseball background and a hockey stick in one hand, Tony Wark stumbled onto the fastpitch diamond at age 12—and hasn’t looked back since. Now 25, he’s a mainstay at 1B for the Midland Explorers, where he proudly wears jersey #18. Hailing from Reese, Michigan, Tony’s early days with the Munger Firemen youth team have led him to the heights of men’s fastpitch, fueled by an unmistakable passion for the game.
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