ISC Saddened by Passing of Two-Time Legends MVP Ward Gosse
Blair Setford • January 20, 2025
Ward Gosse 1968-2025
The ISC is saddened to hear of the sudden passing of Newfoundland native Ward Goss and we offer our deepest sympathies to Ward's family, teammates and friends.
Ward had a long and distinguished fastball career, being inducted into the Softball Newfoundland & Labrador Hall of Fame in 2014. At the National level, Ward played on 15 Provincial teams winning 6 Medals: 1 Gold, 3 Silver & 2 Bronze and was named to the All-Tournament Team on three occasions.
Internationally, he was named to the ISC Second All-World Team as a Pitcher in 2006 with Kegel Black Knights and in 2007, he was named Second Team All-American at the ASA National Championship. In 2012, he was a member of the Parry Island Hawks team that captured the ISC II Championship and was named Tournament MVP and Most Outstanding Pitcher.
In the ISC Legends 50+ division, Ward was the MVP in both 2018 and 2022 as a member of the championship-winning Sudbury Relics team.
His accomplishments in the St. John's Men's Fastball League are legion, including Rookie of the Year in 1988, Sportsmanship & Ability in 2003, 1 Triple Crown of Batting, 2 Triple Crowns of Pitching, 7 Regular Season MVPs, 10 Playoff MVPs and 11 All-League Team Selections.
Ward was a multi-sport athlete and during the fastball offseason he demonstrated a love and talent for hockey. He played for 17 years in the Senior A St. John’s Senior Hockey League and was a member of 5 Herder championship teams in 1990, 1995, 1996, 2002, and 2005. He was top defensemen in the West Coast Senior Hockey League for the 2002-2003 season. In 2019, he was inducted in the Sport Newfoundland Hall of Fame.
Outside of his stellar athletic career, Ward served in municipal government and spent more than 20 years in the Real Estate and Financial Services industry after graduating from Memorial University. He grew up in Bay Roberts and lived in the scenic town of Torbay. Ward is survived by his wife Karen of over 28 years, and was a proud father of three beautiful children Cassidy, Samuel and Makay.
Ward's presence will be missed greatly on ballfields in Newfoundland, in Ontario and across North America.
Kelowna, BC – Under the sunny skies of British Columbia’s Okanagan region, the GP Pirates emerged victorious at the 2025 Kelowna May Days ISC Qualifier , defeating the Sooke Loggers 2–0 in a tightly contested championship final held at King Stadium . In a classic pitching duel, Steven Normand took the ball for the Pirates and delivered a brilliant shutout performance against Sooke ace Devon McCullough . The game remained tense and scoreless until Sam Burns broke it open with a solo home run, giving the Pirates a 1–0 lead. An RBI by Corey Jones in the top of the seventh added crucial insurance, sealing the win and the tournament title. The Loggers, who had dominated their pool with shutout wins over the GP Pirates, Prince George River Kings, and Seattle Dirt Dogs, reached the final by blanking STK Fastball 3–0 in the semifinal. The Pirates earned their ticket to the championship with back-to-back playoff wins, including a 4–2 semifinal victory over the Lacey A’s.
At 25 years old , Tyler Damon is stepping into a key leadership role as the starting catcher for the newly named Kegel Black Knights . A fast-rising talent from Madison, Wisconsin , Tyler is ready to help guide his team through a competitive 2025 season and into the heart of international play with Team USA . When he’s not behind the plate, you’ll find him hunting, golfing, or hitting the ice for a game of hockey. Professionally, Tyler works in property maintenance —but on the field, he’s all business. A Baseball Turned Fastpitch Journey Tyler made the switch to fastpitch at 18 years old , shortly after wrapping up his baseball career. “I grew up watching my dad play, and that’s what got me into it,” he explains. “The biggest challenge early on was adjusting to the speed—fastpitch is a completely different pace compared to baseball.” His father’s guidance and example lit the spark, but it was Tyler’s own dedication that helped him rise through the ranks. And now, his presence behind the plate is a steadying force for one of the most competitive teams in the game.