Double header between Fleming Jets, New Zealand team planned for July 3
June 16, 2025, 12:08 pm
Ryan Kiedrowski, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
It’s been six years since the International Softball Academy from Hawke’s Bay, New Zealand last visited Saskatchewan, but that long-awaited reunion will happen this July.
“We’re very happy to have them back here,” said Phil Hamm, who has had a long-time association with the Fleming Jets. “They’re always very good sports, very good players and just solid kids. So we’re always glad to see them come.”
The New Zealand connection first began in 2007 when the ISA began sending Kiwi teams abroad for a unique softball experience.
“Some of the local players here over the years got involved in exchanges with New Zealand, and a few of the Fleming Jets went down there to play softball and experience New Zealand,” Hamm explained of the Fleming connection. “Then we had a couple of Kiwis come out here, too, and it just led to connections being made.”
This year, the ISA team will be coming to Fleming to take on the Jets in a double header on July 3.
“They’ve always drawn good crowds in the past, so we’re expecting that they will draw well again this year, and we’re just hoping for good weather,” Hamm said. “Of course, you know, can’t control that, but you’ve got to be an optimist!”
One component of the game Hamm is also looking forward to is the Māori traditional posture dance held prior to the two teams taking to the field.
“They all get together and they do the Haka—their salute to their opposition prior to the game,” he explained. “It’s been very good for those individuals that have gone back and forth, and for people in the area, we always draw well for that.”
Other local stops during the 21-day tour of Saskatchewan include Whitewood and Kahkewistahâw First Nation, but Fleming holds a special place in the hearts of the Kiwis.
“Fleming is pretty hospitable,” said the ISA’s Craig Waterhouse. “We’ve got a long association with Fleming because of the Glasser family. A lot of rural towns that we go to, players have played in New Zealand. In fact, my son and his friend played in Moosomin when he was younger, and we had Ian Glasser from Moosomin play in Hawke’s Bay. And in Earl Gray—the president of that club played in Hawke’s Bay. We’re going to Prince Albert, and the coach of that team played in Hawke’s Bay.”
Waterhouse told the World-Spectator how the return to Saskatchewan is so much more than softball for the players.
“This tour is more than just a series of games, it’s a once-in-a-lifetime experience for these young athletes,” he said. “Imagine stepping onto the diamond in Prince Albert, Canwood, Earl Grey, and beyond, knowing you’re representing New Zealand on an international stage. The energy, the competition, and the camaraderie will be unforgettable.”
The 21-day tour is also equal parts skills development and cultural experience for the young men.
“For these players, it’s not just about winning, it’s about growth, resilience, and learning from the best,” Waterhouse said. “The International Softball Academy has a legacy of developing elite talent with over half of the New Zealand Men’s Black Sox having gone through this program. That means these young athletes are following in the footsteps of legends, honing their skills against top-tier Canadian teams.”
“Beyond the games, the tour offers cultural exchanges, new friendships, and the thrill of playing in historic venues like Kahkewistahâw First Nation and Asessippi Beach,” he continued. “And to cap it all off, they’ll be immersed in the electric atmosphere of the Men’s Softball World Series in Prince Albert—watching, learning, and dreaming of their own future on that stage.”
Academy has Canadian roots
The ISA began in 2007, and has hosted more than 70 New Zealand teams through their international tours. When asked how it all began, Waterhouse noted, “partly due to Canadian softball.”
“We started out with just a group of people wanting to tour Australia, we went to an international event there,” he said. “And the following year, Softball Canada had an international Under-19 series in Prince Edward Island, and we went to that along with the Argentinian team. They had all the provincial rec teams there, so Saskatchewan, Alberta, Manitoba, etc.”
Now, the ISA has registrations for male and female players from U13 to U19 age groups and have traveled to Italy, Switzerland, Denmark, the U.S., Sweden, the Czech Republic, and Slokavia.
“This isn’t just a tour, it’s a launchpad for greatness,” Waterhouse said. “Every pitch, every hit, every moment will shape them into stronger, smarter, and more confident players. The question is: who will rise to the occasion and make their mark?”
As with many things, Covid left its mark on the ISA with no travel from 2020 through 2022, but the team is back and ready to represent.
“Over half the team played in Prague last year and won the Mike Stapleton Memorial Tournament against the Czech Republic U18 Team,” Waterhouse said of the players coming to Fleming.
As for the Jets, they will post a formidable squad for the visiting ISA team.
“It’s nice to see the the New Zealanders coming out again, that always sparks some enthusiasm,” Hamm said. “We’ve got some young fellas that have played with the Jets, and they haven’t had the opportunity to play the New Zealanders, and they’re excited to do that.”
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