The U-16 Pure Venom softball season wrapped up with a fourth-place finish at provincials.
Like many teams in many sports, the season was interrupted by COVID-19. Coach Cam Bertsch says they began practicing around April until June when they could begin to look for games.
The team was able to get about nine games in, including a tournament in Stettler. After the Stettler tournament, most teams ended their seasons, but the U16 had a core of players who continued to play through July.
“With the U16, I think I had 18 girls registered, and 11 wanted to continue into the summer. We only had about two weeks to practice with just the provincial team,” said Bertsch.
The provincial tournament was July 23-25, back in Stettler.
Teams at the tournament included squads from Stettler, Coronation, Lloydminster, Medicine Hat, and South Calgary. Pure Venom ended pool play with a 2-2 record. They were tied for third with Lloydminster and played Medicine Hat.
Bertsch said the team played well and scored six runs in the first inning, but Medicine Hat chipped away at the lead and took the victory.
Pure Venom then played Calgary for the bronze medal but came up short.
Bertsch says it was a good experience and was impressed to have a core of players that wanted to continue on.
Bertsch is also the president of the Drumheller Girls Softball Association, and this year the association had about 88 players come out. While it was a bit lower because of COVID, it showed strong interest in the program.
He says because it is such a short season, he hopes to find ways to keep players active including hosting clinics come the fall, as well as winter training in the BCF.
