Olds' first boys’ fastball team, the Spitfires, recently wrapped up their first season with out-of-the-park results.
Coach Jason Jaffray and a group of parents got together to organize a U-10 boys' fastball team, which was initially met with uncertainty.
“Nobody really knew what the expectations were going to be coming into the year, if we were going to be good or if we were going to be bad or if we’d even have teams to play against,” Jaffray said.
However, all those concerns were alleviated, as there were six teams in Calgary, six in Edmonton and one in Leslieville, east of Rocky Mountain House.
Additionally the fear of not having players was met with 18 kids coming for tryouts, leading to the building of a 12-player team.
“I thought I was going to have to beg players to come play for us because everyone is into hardball.”
Many of the players played hardball locally so playing fastball in addition meant an extra practice or game each week, which saw the players improve their skills in the games.
Player Tristan Pederson did notice that there was a lot of practising, but enjoyed it all the same.
“It was kind of fast, it seems like I had a practice almost every day to go to,” Pederson said.
Pederson helped the team be victorious at a tournament in Edmonton by hitting a home run, tying their game against Leslieville. That was one of his favourite moments of the season.
The team made its way to provincials, which were held in Calgary on Canada Day weekend where they walked away victorious with a perfect record of 6-0, bringing their season to an 11-2-1 record in their inaugural season.
Coach Jaffray said their final game was their best, as they won 16-5 with “stellar” pitching from players Ben Lowe and Gavin Cruickshanks.
Everyone involved was happy with how the season turned out and with having improved their baseball skills.
