(Photo courtesy/Melfort Minor Softball Association, Facebook)

By Ben Tompkins

Golden Girls

Melfort U15A Spirit Softball team wins Provincial Championship

Jul 13, 2022 | 4:55 PM

The U15A Melfort Spirit Girls Softball team are the 2022 Provincial Champions.

The squad won gold this past weekend in Prince Albert after posting a perfect 8-0 record and defeating the Aces in the championship game.

Spirit Coach Scott Rann told northeastNOW the team’s focus was to take it play-by-play, inning-by-inning and game-by-game.

“We told them just to stay focused, control the things that they control, give everything they had, and to just leave everything on the field. If they did that, then they had nothing but the best to look forward to and we would be proud of them no matter where they finished,” he said. “In the end, it just worked out in our favour and they made it right to the top.”

With the top place finish, the Spirit have qualified for the National Championships which will take place in Saskatoon, August 3-7.

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According to Rann, the group is feeling energetic and enthusiastic about getting ready for nationals and will be getting in lots of practices and some exhibition games to prepare themselves for a good run at the title.

He added that being a part of this group, especially in such a successful year, is nothing short of an absolute honour.

“For me, personally, it’s been a very humbling experience. To see the dedication and the time and the effort that the girls are willing to commit to, making themselves better and growing as a team and gelling as a team… I couldn’t think of anywhere else I’d rather be.”

Not only will they be able to play close to home, but they will be representing their province as “Team Saskatchewan 1.”

President of the Melfort Minor Softball Association (MMSA) and Coach of the Spirits, Kirk Kezema, explained there’s no better opportunity than the one that presents itself right now.

“To have a group of athletes like this, win our first ever provincial title at the ‘A’ level, the MMSA is certainly extremely proud of these athletes, coaches, and parents in order to accomplish something like this,” he said.

“The ultimate honor in Saskatchewan is to get that SK 1 title, meaning that you’re going in as the provincial champions. A national championship would be unbelievable. I don’t know if my mind could even comprehend something like that.”

Of the 11 girls currently on the team, they represent a total of seven communities across the Northeast, which include Melfort (3), Tisdale (3), St. Brieux, Nipawin, Hudson Bay, Ridgedale, and Red Earth.

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Ben.Tompkins@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter @BenTompkins_8