Long-time softball player, Jana Sittler, was part of 2012's championship winning team, Carnduff Steelers, as they captured the Senior B Women's Western Canadian Championship in Abbotsford, British Columbia. Players on this team range from 21 and up and the majority of these players come from small town Saskatchewan like Sittler does.
Sittler has been playing ball almost her entire life. She is also known for mentoring and developing young pitchers in the Wilkie and Unity area. Although she is a busy mother of three and helps on the farm, she continues to play competitive ladies' softball. Sittler has played with the Carnduff Steelers for the past seven years and this was the teams first gold since she has been a member of the team. The coaches for the Steelers are a father and son duo who have dedicated 20 years to this team. Although the Steelers have been at Western Canadian Championships many times before, gold has only been brought home twice, this season and 10 years ago.
The Unity Midget team competed at their provincials in Carnduff, and some players who were mentored by Sittler, marvelled winning championship trophies in the showcase that included Sittler herself.
Sittler pitched 19 of the Steelers' 34 innings during the championship. She allowed just 10 hits, nine walks and three runs, two of which were earned. Sittler had 27 strikeouts and a .74 earned run average.
"We had a very strong team this year with the help of a pick-up from Regina who served as our catcher at Westerns," said Sittler. "We finished first in the round robin, won the one versus two game and that sent us directly to the final."
The championship was close, as the final out of the seventh inning came on a throw from left field. The runner was tagged out and Carnduff won the game 2-1.
Commitment to a competitive team takes dedication and many hours spent driving to practices and events. Sittler plans to continue playing competitive softball and remarks, "it is good for young players to see that you can continue playing competitive ball as long as you want to."
