The 2019/2020 season has been challenging to say the least. When our training abruptly ended for shut down in March, we knew we had to keep the group together. With the emergence of Zoom, our weekly group sessions continued with at home physical work outs with a virtual trainer, as well as team challenges that really helped keep everyone connected through the shut down period. We utilized turf fields as well as our training facility by splitting players into smaller groups as per Provincial guidelines when we were able to.

This season has been a unique experience that really highlighted the importance of communication and goal setting as a team and as individuals. Our players and staff refused to just give up on all the work we had put in from September to March. The coaching staff is incredibly proud of the dedication and commitment demonstrated by our players during this crazy time in history. By maintaining our goals and fitness, we were able to jump onto the field as soon as we were permitted to joining a playing pod with Brampton, Ajax and Vaughan to continue to challenge ourselves as a unit. We consider ourselves pretty fortunate to have had the opportunity to get 10 games in this summer while demonstrating the ability to stay safe and healthy as a team.

Continuing in the TFC tradition of furthering education through sport, RHP Devan Ryan (2020) committed to attend Indian River State College (NJCAA DI) in Fort Pierce, Florida. RHP Chantal Tripp (2020) is committed to attend Barry University (NCAA DII) in Miami Shores, Florida. Centerfielder Caileigh Burgess (2020) will attend Queens University (OUA) in Kingston, Ontario. LHP Maddie Male (2021) gave a verbal commitment to Stony Brook University (NCAA D1) in Stony Brook, New York. Deanna Grahek (2022) is an uncommitted player that earned a bronze medal at the 2019 Pan Am Championship for the Canadian U17 Junior Women’s National Team in Barranquilla, Colombia last October.

And just as fast as our season came, it has passed. The coaching staff of the Toronto Fastpitch Club is very excited to announce our try-outs for the fall 2020/spring 2021 season. We have laid a solid foundation through one of the most difficult time periods for amateur sports in recent history, and we’d like to continue to face these challenges moving forward.

The Toronto Fastpitch Club prides itself on having athletes that set an example both in the classroom and on the field. Our team GPA didn’t dip below a 3.5 this year, and it was certainly challenging given the online nature of the second semester or continued terms. The professionalism and determination of our athletes are part a set of goals we set as a coaching staff and as a team.

Our pillars of excellence follow the Seven Traits of Super-Elite Athletes ** Excerpts from: The NeuroTracker Team

1. Supreme Concentration – Total Focus

Sports psychologist Dr. Daniel Brown, “People get distracted very easily by things and fail to be in the moment. Life slips through their fingers because they’re too busy on games consoles or social media. To concentrate on being a champion, your mind has to be developed to such an extent that you can really stay very tuned in to what you’re doing.”

2. Commitment to Excellence – a relentless and dedication to perfecting their training.

          Manchester United’s Coach Mick Clegg “The great thing that Ronaldo realized is that to really train successfully,,there must be a good percentage of your skill and speed training done with no pressure.”

3. Desire and Motivation – desire never wanes and the motivation to excel is ingrained.

    NFL football player and coach Vince Lombardi, “Winning isn’t everything, but wanting to win is.”

4. Goal Setting – Champions set the bar high and never stop aiming for it.

Michael Jordan said, “You have to expect things of yourself before you can do them.”

5. Positive Mind-state and Optimism – an awareness of areas in which they most need to improve and a inherent need to work on those deficiencies.

Soccer god Pelé summed it up eloquently, “The more difficult the victory, the greater the happiness in winning.”

6. Confidence and Self-Belief –Some professionals in athletics refer to it as ‘grit’, but what it comes down to is a steely inner strength and an unshakeable faith in numero uno. 

   NFL star Ronnie Lott, “If you can believe it, the mind can achieve it.”

7. High-Quality Relationships and Support – emotional support from friends and family, or the deep camaraderie from training partners or teammates. 

  Los Angeles Lakers Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, “One man can be a crucial ingredient on a team, but one man cannot make a team.”

Recognize yourself? Want to be apart of something bigger than yourself? If so, the Toronto Fastpitch Club U19 would like to invite you to our 2020/2021 Tryouts. 

Nationals is our No.1 Goal. Recruitment is just a product of our training, networks and athlete dedication.