Centre of action will be the diamonds this weekend

This weekend the action will be non stop at the diamonds!

The 2016 U21 Western Canadian softball event will include a slate of seven teams all vying for the title. Round robin play will begin Friday at 9 a.m.  Opening ceremonies will be held Friday at 5:30 p.m. followed by another set of round robin games that will include a game featuring the home team, UK Royals.

Saturday and Sunday will also include round robin games while, Monday will see the championship playoffs. There will be a booth on site as well as beer gardens.

Earning their berth not just as hosts but by capturing the U21 provincial title July 17, the home town UK Royals won Western Canadians in 2012, silver in 2014 and gold in 2015. Made up of 10 returning players from last year’s championship team, along with three rookies, the team has had a good season and the players and coaches looking to improve each day as they prepare to recapture their title at home.

Gate prices have been set for weekend, day and twilight passes. The top junior ladies’ U21 teams from Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba (British Columbia has chosen not to attend) will be competing for the title. For the latest updates on the event you can check out the event webpage at bit.ly/westerns2016, which will also include a link to a  Facebook page. In addition, the entire weekend will be live streamed following the link streaming.lskysd.ca.

An interesting tidbit came in from CTV host and producer, Blair Farthing. “I had the chance to take part in the 2006 Western Championships in Unity, as a member of the Saskatoon Selects. Ten years later, I can look back fondly on the experience. While we didn't win it all, we had a great time and met many great people.

“Several moments stand out from our time in Unity. Among them — our star player taking a ball to the eye during warm-up and having to skip the game, my dad's truck being hit by an errant foul ball hit by one of our own players, mingling with the female teams in between games until our coaches would drag us back to our diamonds.

“Some of the best fastball players I've taken the diamond with, and against, played at that event in Unity. I don't think anyone that has ever shared a field with Jessin Potskin of B.C. will forget the skill he brought, both smashing home runs and playing vacuum-like defence at shortstop.”

Softball will continue for the U12 division as zone tryouts were being held and practices will continue for those players heading the U12 jamboree on the Aug. 18 weekend.

On the baseball side of things the 2016 mosquito boys’ baseball team has earned a third provincial championship. The championship team includes five players who earned their first title, three players who are back-to-back provincial champions with mosquito baseball, as well as three players who have been part of all three title runs.

Coach Kyla Snell says, “I think this speaks to the depth and quality of our minor ball program. Parents are willing to work with their kids and our house league coaches do a great job of teaching basic skills.”

The trip to Weyburn to compete at mosquito provincial championships was the result of Sask. Baseball wishing to create two categories (tier three and tier four) from last year’s “A” category. Unity played in tier four along with six other teams, defeating Weyburn and Wynyard in pool play to earn a spot in the semifinal. In the semifinal they played Watrous, last year’s A2 champions.

Coming into their last at bat Unity was down 6-5. A timely triple from Kaden Ducherer and two walks from the bottom of the batting order allowed Bronson Volk to clear the bases and seal the trip to the final against Humboldt.

Coaches Kyla Snell and Ken Parker say the final was a bit more in control thanks to the Unity Cardinals pitching depth.

“We used seven pitchers in total during the weekend. Our final ended up 12-2, as Humboldt just ran out of strong pitchers to handle our strong batting.”

In addition the coaches praise the parents saying, “This team’s group of parents deserve a great deal of credit creating a baseball pavilion at every tournament we played in. Players never went without amazing potluck meals, creating plenty of team fellowship.”

The provincial champion mosquito baseball team also includes assistant coaches Jere Berger and Luke Middleton and players Shea Berger, Thomas Snell, Kaden Ducherer, Bronson Volk, Layne Parker, Kaden Braun, Logan Middleton, Carter Ralston, Luke Myszcczyszyn, Karson Blanchette and Zayden Wagner.

The peewees will compete in the AA tier 1 provincial event taking place in Lloydminster on the July 22 weekend. The team is coached by Dan Feser, Ken Coons, Greg Mamer and Richard Gartner The roster includes: Blaise Weber, Clark Snider - Kerrobert, Lyndon Ochs - Wilkie, Keyan Sittler – Wilkie, Isaiah Mamer – Wilkie, Garrin Scherr, Andrew Feser, Jarett Gartner, Hunter Sperle, Bradon Coons, Colby Frocklage and Denim O’Donnell.

It was sad news when the community learned the greenhouse, KP Gardens, closed its doors for the last time. The passing of Kathy Paggett in March, who was the heart and soul of the operation, had staff pull together to continue the greenhouse for this season. However, the family has made the decision to discontinue operations after this season. It was a business Kathy and her husband Jim built from the ground up that served the community for 27 years.

Drowning Prevention Week activities took place July 18 to 22 at the Unity Credit Union Aquatic Centre, including rescue demonstrations, games and a barbecue. The pool offers lessons, early bird swim, aquacises and public swimming.

Coffee row folks certainly enjoy the conversation in the warm summer sun and talking about positive things in our community. The action at the ball diamonds in the days and weeks ahead provide plenty for the sports enthusiast to chatter about, as does Rider season. So you see we keep busy in Unity with activities and wisdom from our friends on coffee row. Until next time …