They’ve known each other since they were little kids. One pitches. The other catches. Together they are heading towards national glory.
Innisfail’s Brianna Weinrauch and Cassandra Kirkham, both 18, are members of the Red Deer Rage of the Red Deer Ladies Fastball Association. This week, from Aug. 14 to 21, they are in Winnipeg with the Rage to compete in the 2011 U19 Women’s Canadian Fast Pitch Championships.
Both girls are pure Innisfail products, having played ‘C’ level fastball in town up until four years ago. But their talent level was so high they simply outgrew the competition and decided to play in the ‘A’ level Red Deer league.
“The caliber of play was not as high here as it way in Red Deer,” said Weinrauch, now the ace hurler for the Rage who serves her battery mate Kirkham with an enviable pitching diet of fastballs, screwballs, riseballs and change ups, the latter being her best serving. “When I was playing in the Alberta Summer Games in Medicine Hat I saw the difference in the level of play and we realized we had the potential to play at a higher caliber than ‘C’ ball.”
It’s the second time they have competed at the nationals. Two years ago they were on the Red Deer Riot team that went to Oakville, Ontario and they came home with a less than satisfactory record of 0 – 6.
But this time the local ladies want to write a different story at the nationals as members of the Rage, a squad that finished the regular season in third place in the eight team league. The Rage also finished in third place at the provincials.
“We didn’t know what to expect two years ago,” said Kirkham. “This time we will be better prepared.”
As for Weinrauch she is coming out of the regular season with more confidence than ever. Earlier this season she was invited by the Edmonton Hornets to compete in the Canada Cup tournament in Vancouver. She earned a victory in one complete game and pitched the second half of two other games. During the tournament she also had the advantage of seeing other teams that are competing this week in Winnipeg.
“We’ve improved so much since last time,” said Weinrauch. “And after seeing these teams I think they will be close games.”
But don’t expect miracles at the plate from the pitcher. Although she has the ability to do quite well with a bat in her hands it is a part of the game that often unsettles her.
“I hate batting,” she said. “I like it if I hit but sometimes it just frustrates me.”
But she has long-time friend and battery mate Kirkham in her corner to help keep the right frame of mind for both pitching and hitting.
“She just needs to be relaxed and not be mad at anyone,” said Kirkham. “She needs to have fun and be competitive.”
