Estevan's softball diamonds have been busy with activity for the last three weeks as local teams get their seasons underway.
There are over 160 players registered in Estevan Girls Softball this year. Registration numbers have remained steady, with a marked increase in the Learn to Play program.
Estevan is fielding two bantam/midget teams, one peewee team, three squirt teams and six Learn to Play squads.
The Estevan MidCity and Brick midget Elite team played in a tournament in Moose Jaw on the weekend, where they lost 6-5 to the Moose Jaw Ice in the semifinals.
The Elite went undefeated in the 10-team round-robin, beginning with a 15-0 victory over the Moose Jaw Gators in three innings.
Next, they edged the Regina Canucks 6-5, then hammered Maidstone 16-1 in three innings. In their final game, they dumped Notre Dame 12-2 in five innings.
Their 4-0 record was enough to put the Elite in first place in their pool.
Meanwhile, Estevan's other teams have been busy, as the softball season began April 29 and will run until the year-end tournaments taking place June 20-21. The bantam/midget, peewee and Learn to Play teams all play on Tuesday and Thursday nights, while the squirts play on Mondays and Wednesdays.
The organization is hoping to send teams to provincial championships in all of their divisions this year, which include squirt under-12, peewee under-14, bantam under-16 and midget under-18. The bantams and midgets will also be playing in the Canadian Open International Fastpitch Championship in Surrey, B.C.
In 2013, Estevan Girls Softball moved to having one name for all of their provincial teams, the Estevan Elite. The squirts are coached by Jody Waloshin and sponsored by TEAM Industrial, the peewees are coached by Mike Wilson and sponsored by Rocket Sales and the bantams are coached by Rene Blanchette and sponsored by Gem Well. The midgets are coached by Gary Earl.
From 2008 until now, Estevan Girls Softball has had a steady increase in the number of divisions sending teams to provincials. In this span, teams have won three championships as well as a second place finish.
As for this year, the bantams played in a tournament in Regina on the May 9 weekend and the peewees and squirts are scheduled to play in Saskatoon this weekend.
Softball Saskatchewan is hosting a Learn to Play under-10 co-ed festival in Regina June 14-15, which will give the young players a chance to experience a tournament-style event that focuses on participation and fun. Estevan Girls Softball is hoping to send at least one team.
