Gian Paolo Ferrari – Rising Pitching Talent from Guatemala

Brian Eradus • May 30, 2025

At just 24 years old, Gian Paolo Ferrari is poised to make a major impact on the international fastpitch stage. Wearing jersey #48, Gian Paolo heads into the 2025 ISC season with the Sandlot Merchants after playing with the NW Braves last year—bringing a powerful arm, sharp focus, and unshakable determination to every outing.

A Chance Encounter That Sparked a Career

Gian Paolo’s journey into fastpitch began unexpectedly. A Guatemalan pitching coach saw him casually trying pitching motions and told him, “You’ve got some wood to work with.” That invitation to the coach’s academy set Gian Paolo on a path toward elite competition. Inspired by his dad and mentored early by respected names like Sergio Vargas and Alain Roman, Gian Paolo learned the value of persistence: “Keep working, even if things don’t go as expected.”

Personal and Team Goals for 2025

For Gian Paolo, the upcoming season is all about solidifying his role as a reliable starting pitcher and helping the Sandlot Merchants break into the ISC Top 10. He’s focusing on hitting specific spots with the ball, refining his pitching precision, and growing stronger alongside his teammates. “We’re developing together, and that makes us dangerous,” he says confidently.

ISC: The Ultimate Proving Ground

To Gian Paolo, the ISC World Tournament is nothing short of the pinnacle. “It’s a privilege to play in the best tournament in the world,” he says. He’ll never forget his first ISC win—or the rush of pitching against stars like Andrew Kirkpatrick and Adam Folkard. His advice to newcomers? “Enjoy it and focus on the details.”


Training and Mental Edge

Gian Paolo’s preparation is intense and daily, covering both physical and mental aspects:
✅ Daily training, including physical strength and pitching mechanics
✅ Mental visualization exercises to rehearse game situations
✅ Focus on development drills like the “K stage” for strikeouts

His go-to reminder? “Keep working—the good times will come in the right time.”


The Future of Fastpitch

Looking ahead, Gian Paolo envisions fastpitch evolving into a professional, globally televised sport with high-level marketing and expanded live streaming. He believes the ISC can lead this charge by promoting tournaments more widely and giving fans worldwide a front-row seat to the action.


Words for Young Players

For up-and-coming fastpitch athletes, Gian Paolo emphasizes:
💥 Discipline
💥 Teamwork
💥 Focus

He adds, “You don’t just train to play—you train to win.”


Follow Gian Paolo Ferrari

📍 Hometown: Guatemala City, Guatemala
🧢 2025 Team: Sandlot Merchants
📸 Instagram: @ferrari_gp
👤 Facebook: Gian Paolo Ferrari
💼 Profession: Marketer


As he sharpens his arsenal and leads the Sandlot Merchants into the next ISC season, keep your eyes on Gian Paolo Ferrari—a rising star with the talent, grit, and mindset to take on the world’s best. 🌍🔥

By Brian Eradus July 31, 2025
By Blair Setford July 30, 2025
The ISC is excited to announce the 2027 World Tournament is awarded to Bear Creek Sports & Entertainment! Bear Creek Sports & Entertainment’s new two-diamond complex, the JDT First Energy Veterans Memorial Fields on Chippewa-of-the-Thames First Nation, in southwest Ontario will be the main facility with additional games being played in Glencoe at Southwest Middlesex Recreation Complex. “We are really looking forward to visiting Bear Creek’s new venue to play our 2027 ISC World Tournament,” says ISC President Chris Santos. “We’ve always enjoyed going to new locations to showcase our great game of men’s fastpitch softball.” “Bear Creek Sports & Entertainment has a brand new ball park that they’ve built and they’re excited to show off this great facility to the softball world and to welcome all of the teams and the fans,” said Gregg Leather, manager of the Bear Creek Gremlins, on behalf of Bear Creek Sports & Entertainment. “We’re looking forward to building on the success that the Bear Creek organization is developing and everyone is really committed to making this a huge success,” continued Leather. “With the players who will be living and staying in the area for the summer, we’ll have the opportunity to do clinics and play in leagues and help the game to grow. There’s already a lot of great ideas.” It’s expected that there will be 36 teams competing for the ISC World Championship and the ISC II Championship with another 12-16 teams playing in the ISC 50+ Legends division. Teams and fans will be able to book accommodations in London, St. Thomas or Strathroy. For fans in the fastpitch hotbed of Ontario, it will be back-to-back ISC World Tournaments in their backyard. The 2026 ISC World Tournament will be played from August 8-15 in Kitchener. For more information on the ISC, please visit www.iscfastpitch.com. You can follow Bear Creek Sports & Entertainment on Facebook and other social media platforms.