The Olds U-14 Pistols softball team set the bar high this year.
Head coach Jordan Cleland said they found a "coalition of the willing," 12 girls who wanted more games, more travel and tougher opponents. They entered the Girls Prairie League Softball (GPLS), playing in the league's B division.
"We just want to play more, practise more, play at a higher level and double up on everything and see what these girls can do. They've worked tremendously hard," Cleland said.
"The 12 girls that we've got were outstanding. Really proud of them."
They finished in second place after playing the league final in Irma.
League play involved three separate tournaments, including one stop in Unity, Sask, a town of about 2,400 people – who love their softball.
"You should see that town's commitment to ball. They hosted one weekend and we went out there. They've got five premium-quality diamonds," he said.
"Unity's got outstanding fields with perfect shale, with no rock, with manicured grass in the outfield, electronic scoreboards, 30-foot-high backstops, dedicated pitcher warm-up areas right behind every dugout enclosed in a fence. I think three batting cages and just an army of volunteers."
The Pistols played three other tournaments outside of the GPLS this year, facing A- and B-division opponents. Their cumulative record over the summer is 18-11-1.
They are now headed to the Softball Alberta B Provincials in Edmonton from July 8-10. By the end, Cleland estimates they will have played 40 games, twice the usual number.
"We just want to play more, practise more, play at a higher level and double up on everything and see what these girls can do. They've worked tremendously hard." JORDAN CLELANDHEAD COACH
