Fans of baseball, and in particular, members of the Drumheller Girls Softball Association had a chance to see some high-quality ball and also learn about playing at the post-secondary level.
The University of Calgary Dinos squared off against the SAIT Trojans fast pitch team for a doubleheader last Saturday, September 17 at Newcastle Diamonds. The bleachers were packed with fans, and the action didn’t disappoint.
SAIT Trojans head coach and one of the founders of the Women’s Collegiate Softball Association (WCSA), George Edwards, said it was a great opportunity for the team and for the spectators.
“When we had an open weekend, I talked to the president of the league and I brought a bantam boys team out here a few years ago and had a great response,” said Edwards. “We thought it would be great to help revitalize softball here in Drumheller.”
He contacted the University of Calgary coach and they made it happen.
He said it is important for younger players to see the possibilities.
“I came from a small community in Saskatchewan and what this does is helps to build a dream for the younger kids. For my daughter, I took her to the nationals… she got to meet them and get autographs. That helped to build a dream for her and she even got a shot to tryout with Team Canada when she was older.”
“That’s what I would like to give to these young ladies. A chance to dream and say maybe there is a place for me to play ball, and now with softball back in the Olympics, there is really something for them to shoot for. There are many stars to come out of small towns, just like Drumheller.”
He said they began the league in 2003 because all of the good ball players were heading south to play, and often not coming back.
“We wanted to give the kids staying home the opportunity to play college softball,” he said.
Today there are three teams in Saskatchewan and two in Calgary. They have an eye to expanding to Edmonton, Manitoba and Kamloops.
