All Unity softball teams from squirts, peewees, bantams and midgets are in the final preparation portion of the season, as they prepare for their provincial competitions at various places across the province.
During the regular season there were a large number of squirt players so they played as two teams. The coaches, Lindsay Gampe, Susan Chorney, Doug Rutley and Tim Landry, had the tough task of choosing a provincial squad from the girls available.
The squirt girls, aged 11 and 12, will spend the next two weeks preparing for provincials with their coaches. This weekend, the girls will travel to Lloydminster to participate in the Lloydminster Rebels Squirt A Tournament. July 2 and 3, the girls will be traveling to Kindersley to compete against the Kindersley Royals, Hudson Bay Lazers and West Central Rivercats for the Provincial C title in the north.
The Unity Squirt Panthers' 2011 Provincial Roster includes: Kyra Huber, Josie-Lynn? Huber, Kali Sperle, Haley Dyck, Breanna ?Landry, Stephanie Hauta, Kabri ?Rutley, Samantha David, Marina ?Gampe, Lauren Wallace, Jensen Chorney and Kayla Weber.?
The coaches feel strongly that the girls stand a good chance at taking the title as they have proved to be competitive with all the teams they have seen to date.
The peewee girls, coached by Roy Mock, Kevin Ackerland, Aaron Mitzel and Collette Mock head to Watrous July 1 through 3 for their shot at the Provincial Peewee C title. Peewee girls are players ages 13 and 14.
This team consists of Ashley Mock, Brennae Hofman, Natalie Keller, Elise Stifter, Heather Wood, Robyn Sperle, Rheann Jackson, Rayel Green, Kyla Greenwald, Jayden Ackerland, Kendra Flaherty, Chelsea Ganter, Dana Mitzel and Keili Murphy. They played in two teams throughout the regular season and have been in several games with their provincial squad, including the big Lloydminster Rebel tournament this weekend.
The peewee team was appreciative of the extra help given by Nikki Bretzer, Trevor Green and Pat Risling throughout the season.
The bantam girls also had a high registration number and played as two teams throughout the regular season in the Battlefords and District Ladies' Fastball League. The coaches also had the tough task of narrowing down a provincial squad from those available. Coaches Brent Weber, Dave Solomko, Todd Chorney and Greg Mamer are working with the roster of Shelby Solomko, Kaitlyn Robertson, Mackenzie Chorney, Alison Cey, Jessica Weber, Tanisha Arthur, Kylie Walz, Brittany Hauta, Courtney Boser, Susan Walsh, Rachel Mamer and Summer Hansen.
Jenna Winterhalt was playing fantastic infield earlier in the season, however suffered an unfortunate injury in their first tournament that took her out for the season. The provincial squad has played together at two tournaments, which they won the first one and lost the second tourney by one run. In the last play of the last at bat against a hot A-squad based out of Conquest the Panthers suffered the tight loss.
The bantams also head to the big Lloydminster Rebels tournament this weekend, which they have won twice. Having won the silver medal at bantam provincials last year, this team is hungry for a victory.
Following the Provincial run for bantams, Softball Saskatchewan is hosting the first ever zone tryouts for a zone tournament during the September long weekend. Unity will host the Zone 7 tryouts in July with Brent Weber as part of the coaching staff. September long weekend, Unity's diamonds will once again host a big event with 16 zone teams of the finest Bantam girl's softball players in the province. Watch for more details on this event.
The Midget girls are hosting provincials in Unity this year July 8 to 10. With Bob Abel at the helm again, this team holds many veteran players, including a core group that has played together since their softball beginnings. This year's roster includes: Jessica Gerein, Trislynn Isaac, McKenna Heintz, Kelsey Wildeman, Brandyn Schell, Courtney Abel, Taylor Timmermans, Jenna Wood, Chelsea Robertson, Nancy Anderson and Kayla Hawkins who could be filling in for the injured Natalie Kiefer. The Midget B Provincials will host 12 teams and Unity's first game will be Friday, July 8 at 6:30 p.m. followed by action throughout the weekend.
This team placed first in their first tournament this year in Edmonton and played in two other tournaments where they placed in the top three. This past weekend they were rained out of the Leduc tournament. The Midget Panthers record so far is 22-4, including being on top of the Battefords and District Ladies Fastball League standings.
This is the final year for the three-year midget program and also the final year for coach Abel. Pat Risling backed up Abel with his years of experience.
