It鈥檚 summer in Surrey. But the real destination is across the Pacific in the summer of 2020.
Island players Emma Entzminger and Sarah Chow help headline the host national team in the sa国际传媒 Cup women鈥檚 tournament at Softball City.
sa国际传媒 opens today against the Republic of Korea. The sa国际传媒 Cup runs through Sunday.
The sport will rejoin the Olympic program at Tokyo 2020.
鈥淭he Tokyo Olympics are getting closer,鈥� said Chow, who, like Entzminger, is a Lambrick Park Secondary graduate, and product of the Victoria Devils system.
鈥淚t makes you work even harder.鈥�
That鈥檚 exactly what Chow has done as she has fought off a year-long injury in which the back of her legs became numb.
鈥淚 am getting better and have been able to slowly unload the pressure on my back and build up strength, and I have been well enough to play in the Hyacinth Park [women鈥檚 senior] league for the Senior Devils,鈥� she said.
Chow proved her fitness, and Team sa国际传媒 officials put her back on the national team roster for the sa国际传媒 Cup, which is probably the most prestigious tournament 鈥渙utside the world championships and Olympics.鈥�
Chow has been working with legendary Canadian men鈥檚 softball pitcher Rob Guenter of Victoria, as part of her comeback training regimen.
鈥淭rying to hit off Rob, who still has such crazy spins on his pitches, has really helped me get back up to speed,鈥� said Chow, who works for the provincial government.
Chow played NCAA Div. 1 softball at Utah State and Entzminger at San Jose State.
鈥淓very single day is important and an opportunity to get better and improve our game,鈥� said Entzminger. 鈥淏ut what separates this [Canadian] team from others is that we can be vulnerable with each other, lean on each other, and know that everyone will support one another. That kind of support system is important.鈥�
Especially so when the Olympic podium beckons in two years for sa国际传媒, which is ranked No. 3 in the world behind the United States and Japan.
