INNISFAIL – The Innisfail Hawks U13 girls’ softball team has earned a silver medal at this month’s provincial championship.
“Every game was a true team effort and every game had a different player rise to the occasion to bring forward the wins,” said Hawks’ head coach Andrea Meding.
Earlier this month the U13 Hawks team, which comprised a total of 11 girls, went to Leduc for a three-day 10-team provincial championship tournament from July 15 to 17.
The Hawks were competing against nine other teams, including Leduc, Sedgewick, Calgary, Medicine Hat, Edmonton, Beaumont, Bonnyville, Stettler and Strathmore.
The local girls played a total of six games. The Hawks first game on July 15 was against the Calgary West Hill Spice Girls, and the Hawks powered their way to an 18 – 6 tournament opening game victory.
Next up in the evening of July 15 was the Sedgewick Steelers and this game was a far different story. The Hawks were defeated by a score of 9 – 5.
However, on Saturday morning (July 16) the Hawks bounced back against home team Leduc Jets and won 14 – 7. Later that afternoon the Hawks took on the Medicine Hat Thunder and came up on top in a squeaker by a score of 13 – 12.
Heading into Sunday morning (July 17) the Hawks were sporting a 3 -1 tournament record.
The game against the Bonnyville Angels would be an extra big one to get to the gold medal match in the afternoon. The Innisfail Hawks rose to the challenge and came on top by a score of 7 – 5.
The Hawks had earned the right to play in the gold medal match against Sedgewick, the only team to defeat them in the tournament.
It was not to be for the Hawks. The Stellers won 15 – 5 and claimed the gold medal. Innisfail had to settle for silver.
“Making it to the gold medal game felt like a win for our team,” said Meding. “It took two incredibly tight from behind wins to get to that accomplishment. So, we're pretty excited just to be in the game.”
Earning silver at the provincial championship after a long season was a proud moment for the entire team. They battled hard throughout, winning 26 out of the total 32 games played.
The Hawks got to the big provincial show and equalled the accomplishment of the 2018 Innisfail Hawks U13 squad that also won provincial silver.
“For them it was a little bit surreal in that we just started out this season with some brand-new players who had never played the game before,” said team manager Tara Halford. “So, just to grow together and come to this place where we fought through playdowns and make it to provincials. It was just a one step at a time thing that just gained momentum and the girls were just more and more excited as the season went on.”
Halford noted the U13 Hawks had to battle six other teams in their own zone to qualify for provincials. Three teams made it, including the Hawks.
With the season now complete, Halford and the team’s coaching staff, led by head coach Meding and assistants Jay Steeves and Jayda Telford, are not only thrilled with this season’s silver-medal accomplishment but confident for the future.
Halford said half the team will be moving up to U15 next season but the squad will still be left with a solid nucleus for 2023.
“Absolutely. I think there's a definite strong team on both sides,” said Halford.
