ESTEVAN — Estevan Minor Softball recognized the success of a couple of teams during the Softball Saskatchewan U15 B South provincial championships.
As part of the opening ceremonies July 18 at the Jody Waloshin Softball Diamonds, the local organization wanted to celebrate the 2015 Estevan Rockettes, who won the U14 B South Provincials at home on the Minchin Diamond, where opening ceremonies were also held.
Estevan softball president Wade St. Onge said they also wanted to recognize some important people who have made great contributions to the sport locally.
Rene Blanchette, who is the father of 2015 Rockettes’ pitcher Jenna Blanchette, tossed a pitch to Darryl Nobiss, who is the father of 2015 Rockettes’ catcher Sarah Nobiss.
"Rene coached numerous house and provincial teams for Estevan Minor Softball for over a decade and contributed in many ways as a volunteer," St. Onge wrote. "He continues to volunteer his time by doing some groundskeeping, PA [public address] announcing, scorekeeping and other things to help out with Estevan Minor Softball and the U13 A Estevan Bulldogs, for whom his granddaughter, Everleigh, plays."
St. Onge noted Rene's wife Rhonda also volunteered much of her time over the years, including serving as president of Estevan Minor Softball for three years, continuing on even when her daughters aged out of the sport. Rene's son Jordon remains active as a coach with the Bulldogs, and Jordon's daughter, Cassie, has also served as a coach for house and provincial teams over the past few seasons.
Darryl Nobiss also coached numerous house and provincial teams, both for Estevan Minor Softball and throughout the southeast, including Carlyle and Weyburn. St. Onge pointed out Nobiss guided the U13 C Estevan Elite team this past season, which marked the first time Estevan has ever run two different tiers of provincial teams in the same season for the same age group, thus providing more players with the opportunity to play provincial ball for the first time and develop skills.
"Darryl also works extensively with the development of catchers, travelling throughout the southeast district to do so, including Pilot Butte, Carnduff and other locations. His son Dawson was a youth umpire at the time of the Rockettes’ championship, and has continued his involvement in minor softball as a coach for provincial teams over the past few seasons, the highlight of which was serving as assistant coach for the U19 B Super Novas, which won the bronze medal at the Western Canadian championships two seasons ago."
The other pitch was thrown by Cassie Blanchette, who was standing in for her sister Jenna; Cassie won the 2012 U14 provincial title. She pitched to Chelsea Madsen, a pitcher and catcher on the 2025 U15 B Estevan Elite team that was the host squad for the tournament. The head coach of this year's team is Chelsea's father, Shawn, who has coached both house and provincial ball every season since he began guiding his oldest daughter Reese, who continues to play softball in the Lampman Ladies’ League.
This also happened to be the 10-year anniversary of Shawn having won the 2015 U12 C provincial championship as assistant coach of the Estevan Elite team.
"He has served as a model for other coaches due to his dedication, his great respect for parents, players, officials, and opponents, and most importantly, his sportsmanship and application of the principles of fair play for all, regardless of talent level," St. Onge said.
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As for the host U15 Elite, they went 4-2 during the weekend and finished fourth.
They began the tournament with two wins each July 18 and 19 to go 4-0 during the round robin. The Elite defeated the Weyburn Wild 10-0 and the Assiniboia Aces 12-4 July 18 to open the tournament, and then the Yorkton Crush 9-0 and the Lumsden Cubs 18-0 the following day.
Estevan's first playoff game July 20 had to be rescheduled due to field conditions, stemming from a thunderstorm the night before. The Elite lost to the Moose Jaw Ice in the semifinal, and 9-6 to the Crush in the bronze-medal game.
