WELLINGTON COUNTY – Five girls from Wellington County will be headed to Brandon, Manitoba from Aug. 9 to 13 for the U15 girls Canadian Fast Pitch Championships.
Each year, Softball Canada presents 10 Canadian championships across the country, which represent the pinnacle of many athletes’ careers as they compete for the title of national champion.
Mady Smith, 14, has been playing softball since the age of two. She and fellow Arthur resident Taylor Donn are both playing for the Waterloo Ghosts.
Smith told the Advertiser that knowing she and her team qualified for nationals is incredible.
“And it feels amazing that I get to do it with the group of girls that I have. They’re so incredible, and my team really deserves this,” Smith said.
“We’ve worked so hard all year and I think it just shows that our team, especially being mostly ’09s, and a couple ’08s, that we can do anything that we put our mind to.”
Smith added she is nervous waiting for the championships, but says she feels, “more excited to experience something that not everybody will get to experience.”
Amberly Snyder, 15, is from Alma and plays for the Guelph Gators, along with Gretchen Morell. The two girls will also be headed to nationals in a couple weeks.
Snyder’s ball career first began with T-ball when she was younger.
She explained that when she was around the age of eight or nine, she started playing softball in Alma. From there she played in Palmerston for three years before going to Guelph to play for the Gators.
Four teams from Ontario will be heading to the national championships, and Snyder stated that it is a huge milestone for her team to be attending this year.
“From November, that was the goal for my team, to qualify for nationals. So, it’s pretty important that we actually made it,” she said.
During the week of nationals, Snyder explained, from Monday to Friday teams will be participating in one or two round robin games per day. Then, Saturday and Sunday are playoff days.
“I’m excited to go and be with my team. And I’m a little bit nervous too, because this is probably the biggest thing I’ve done,” Snyder explained.
Also travelling to Manitoba for the national tournament is Addison Schmidt from Arthur and her team, the D1 Nationals from Woodstock.
The three teams for which the five local girls play are fundraising to ensure everyone can attend nationals. The Waterloo Ghosts held a fundraising barbecue on July 26 with a 50/50 draw and is still accepting donations.
The D1 Nationals are also holding a 50/50 draw with tickets $5 each, or three for $10. The team is having a second fundraising raffle as well with tickets the same price as the draw.
All ticket sales for the D1 Nationals fundraiser will be finalized on Aug. 3, with the winner being drawn and contacted the following day. If interested, contact lorriking1973@gmail.com.
The Guelph Gators are holding a raffle of several prizes with tickets being $10 each or three for $25. The draw date is Aug. 6, and those interested in purchasing a ticket are asked to see any Guelph Gator U15 tier 1 softball player.
More information about the fundraisers can also be found on each team’s social media accounts.
Those interested in following the tournament can visit softball.ca/u15girls.
