Joey Payeur
The man who’s been referred to as “the Wayne Gretzky of fastball” will be bringing his immeasurable wealth of pitching wisdom to share with players here in Rainy River District.
International Softball Congress Hall of Fame inductee Darren Zack, originally from Garden River First Nation east of Sault Ste. Marie, will serve as the instructor for a pitching clinic May 27-29 at Leland Indian Field on Big Grassy First Nation.
“I did play in Fort Frances in 1989 during the All-Ontario Aboriginal Championships, when they held the rest of the tournament in International Falls,” recalled the 55-year-old right-hander, who was inducted into the ISC Hall of Fame back in 2010.
“I don’t think I’ve been back that way since,” he added.
“I hear the fishing’s good up there.”
Big Grassy resident Chris Jack crossed paths with the four-time world champ while accompanying his son, Austin, at last year’s All-Ontario Aboriginal Championships at Six Nations.
“I introduced my son to him, and he offered to show Austin and some other kids a few pitches in between games,” Jack recalled.
“Then, without me asking him, he said he would be glad to come to the reserve to teach a clinic,” added Jack.
“He’s such a nice guy and very humble.”
Zack led the Toronto Gators to the 1993 and 1995 ISC World Series Championships—setting records in 1995 that still stand today for most consecutive scoreless innings pitched (69.2), most wins in a single tournament (10), and most strikeouts (150 in 73.2 innings).
“What I remember most from ’95 was that the whole week was 100-plus degrees [Fahrenheit] and we’re standing in the cornfields of Iowa,” laughed Zack, whose Gators had to take the long road to the title in Sioux City after slipping into the losers’ bracket following an opening-game loss.
They then won their last 11 in a row.
“It was crazy,” he recalled. “There were a lot of back-to-back games.
“And then you get to the championship game and you have to beat a team, and then beat them again,” added the fireballer, who went 10-0 with a 0.10 ERA in the 1995 Series.
“That’s the hardest thing to do in fastball,” Zack said. “But I felt I was getting stronger as the week went on.
“I think I peaked twice that summer, once in July and once at the Series in August.”
Zack also led the Tampa Smokers (Fla.) in 1998 and the Decatur (Ill.) Pride in 2000 to ISC World Series titles.
He also was named the tournament’s most outstanding player four times, and chosen to the All-World all-star team at the tourney on nine separate occasions.
He represents an ideal mixture of immense natural ability combined with an unmistakable love for the game.
“I don’t know what weekends would be like if I didn’t play anymore,” he admitted.
Zack takes a special interest in passing on his knowledge to younger generations of players, both male and female.
“I just got finished doing a clinic at Six Nations that was ages 10-12, 12-14, and 14-16, and they were all girls and they were amazing,” he remarked.
“The talent level at this age is certainly better than what it was 20, 30 years ago,” he noted.
“When I was growing up, I didn’t really have anyone to ask to show me to pitch,” Zack said.
“So if I can teach a kid to spin the ball and put it in a spot, then maybe I can make a difference for them.”
Zack’s philosophy on fastball instruction is simple.
“If you’ve got the speed, I can show you a pitch and you should be able to learn it,” he reasoned.
“Then once you get good at that one, I can show you another one and you can build on what you already have.”
The highlight of the May weekend at Big Grassy will be an exhibition game slated for the Friday evening.
It will feature top players from the Rainy River District Fastball League, and possibly even the local women’s league, with Zack on one team and Sight & Sound Wolves’ ace John Desaulniers on the other.
“Why not give them a chance to hit the ball?” Zack chuckled.
“I’ve still got a few tricks left up my sleeve.”
Jack said a second game involving male players who didn’t play in the first game tentatively is set for the Sunday afternoon.
Meanwhile, an all-ladies’ game is in the works for the Saturday evening, as well as a second one later on Sunday.
“We want [Zack] to be able to see the high level of ladies’ fastball we have around here, not just the guys,” noted Jack, who is expecting a strong turnout for the clinic.
Jack said planned fundraising efforts should allow all those who want to attend the clinic to do so free of charge, although that will be confirmed closer to the event.
As of today, the women’s category is at its maximimu of 40, with four on the waiting list.
There are still two spots left for men and two more for youth [age 8-15].
Those wanting more information, or to register, can call Jack at 276-3998.
You also can go to the event’s Facebook page entitled “Darren Zack Pitching Clinic.”
