Island pair aim to build on tourney

It’s 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 Canada Cup women’s tournament at Softball City.

Canada opens today against the Republic of Korea. The Canada Cup runs through Sunday.

The sport will rejoin the Olympic program at Tokyo 2020.

“The Tokyo Olympics are getting closer,” said Chow, who, like Entzminger, is a Lambrick Park Secondary graduate, and product of the Victoria Devils system.

“It makes you work even harder.”

That’s exactly what Chow has done as she has fought off a yearlong injury in which the back of her legs became numb.

“I 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’s senior] league for the Senior Devils,” she said.

Chow proved her fitness, and Team Canada officials put her back on the national team roster for the Canada Cup, which is probably the most prestigious tournament “outside the world championships and Olympics.”

Chow has been working with legendary Canadian men’s softball pitcher Rob Guenter of Victoria, as part of her comeback training regimen.

“Trying to hit off Rob, who still has such crazy spins on his pitches, has really helped me get back up to speed,” said Chow, who works for the provincial government.

Chow played NCAA Div. 1 softball at Utah State and Entzminger at San Jose State.

“Every single day is important and an opportunity to get better and improve our game,” said Entzminger. “But 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.”

Especially so when the Olympic podium beckons in two years for Canada, which is ranked No. 3 in the world behind the United States and Japan.