Sports | DrumhellerMail

Senior Dynos bring home silver

   Drumheller Valley Secondary School’s own girl’s volleyball team, the senior Dynos won silver in a Calgary tournament last weekend.
   On Friday, September 23 the Dynos played Calgary’s Rundle Academy winning 25-9 in the first set and 25-11 in the second. Later that evening they played Ecole De La Rose Sauvage just barely lost the games 25-21 and 25-20.
   Saturday’s crossover match against Matthew Halton High from Pincher Creek ended in wins, 25-15 and 25-18, and secured the Dynos a spot in the semifinals. This was the Dynos first time in a semifinal match.        They won against Crossfield in the first two sets of the semifinals boosting them into the gold medal match.
   In the final match, the Dynos battled it out again with Ecole De La Rose Sauvage for the gold. They fought hard and lost 25-22 in the first set and 25-12 in the second set.
   Dyno’s head coach Erica Crocker said, “This weekend showed strong serving from every player. The girls were hungry for the ball with their aggression at the net but the biggest things last weekend was their camaraderie. I hope that this energy can roll through the rest of the season because we have a lot of talent this year.”
   The team was lead by team captains Nikki Thomson and Makenna Lutz. “This leadership was incredible this last weekend. They were able to keep the team focused and positive.” Crocker said.
   Lutz said, “The best thing about the weekend was bonding with these girls. Everyone has meshed so well together. Everyone tried their hardest at the tournament and had fun with it.”
   Captains Lutz and Thomson have been on the same team for the last three years and this was their first medal they had ever won.
   “It’s nice to have a team where everyone has the same focus,” Lutz said.
   The Dynos play their first home game Wednesday, September 28 at 5 p.m. against Acme.

College softball in spotlight

   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.

Terrapins face hard loss

   The Terrapins Peewee football team went head to head with the Rocky Mountain House Rebels last Saturday, September 17 and faced a hard loss of 18 - 0.
   This was the Terrapins home opener and had a great crowd of supporters out to cheer them on.
   Head Coach Thomas Laffin said, “The players again played their hearts out.”
   According to Laffin, the Terrapins fought hard in the first half. The momentum of the game, just shifted to Rocky View in the second half of the game. The second half took a toll on the young 11 - 13 year old players.
   “I only ask our players to give everything they have on the field,” Laffin said. “It doesn’t matter if we win or lose, as long as they play their hardest out on the field. They are champions no matter what happens as long as they give everything they have. I am a proud coach and couldn’t ask for a better group of players.”
   The Terrapins are on the road this Saturday, September 14 to face Olds. Their next home game is Saturday, October 8 at 11:00 a.m.

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