Puslinch Dynasty
Between 1989 and 2014 a fastball dynasty has been developing in Puslinch. Not a dynasty like the New York Yankees who have five world championships in that time, but an equally impressive dynasty for a township of 7500 and no payroll. The Puslinch Kodiak Mens Fastball have won five Ontario Rural Fastball championships 02’ 04’ 06’ 09’ 13’ since their group started playing together over twenty years ago. This year, led by coaches Tom Jefferson and Mark Slade, Puslinch broke new ground as the first team in township history to participate in the International Softball Congress World Championships held this past August in Kitchener. In the championship the Kodiaks competed against the best from around the globe including players from fastball powerhouses like Australia, New Zealand, Argentina and Venezuela. The interesting thing about the ISC’s is that there are no formal loyalties to countries or teams and players move around freely from year to year chasing money or fame. Puslinch on the other hand draws its players from a 20km radius with the furthest living in Flamborough.
1st baseman David Jefferson says “We’re proud to be from Puslinch. We’re consistently competing with teams who actually spend money to bring in pitchers and position players from other geographies… we don’t do that. We want to win with the group of guys we grew up practicing and playing with. We know that we can consistently improve and win that way.”
After finishing modestly in the World Championship, the Kodiaks represented Ontario at the Eastern Canadian Championship held September 4th – 8th in Fredricton New Brunswick. The men went 4-2 knocking off teams from New Brunswick, Nova Scotia and Cape Breton. The team finished third after losing a nail biter to the host team.
Baby boomers and their parents will remember an era when fastball thrived in Puslinch and all rural communities in Ontario. That isn’t the case today with urbanization, and the rising popularity of other sports like hardball and soccer. Fastball has been on the decline in Canada for years now and many teams are folding as the boom generation retires from the sport. Puslinch in contrast has a rich tradition of fastball and has witnessed the reverse affect with players from Flamborough, Rockwood and Orangeville requesting to play with the Kodiaks. This is a testament to the community, team leadership and coaching which has fostered a culture of success and a greater appreciation and love of the game.
With the majority of the team under 30 the Kodiaks plan to be a source of pride for Puslinch for years to come.
Erik Rasmussen