It was a golden weekend for the girls of the Drumheller Rage.
    On Friday, May 31, the Rage headed north to Stettler to compete in their toughest tournament this season. The Rage returned to Drumheller bearing gold medals.
    The tournament began on Friday evening with the Rage going up against Innisfail. The Rage came out strong, gaining a five run lead in the first inning. Innisfail battled back, but the Rage held on for a 10-5 victory.
    Catcher Kali Fournier shone during the game, throwing out three runners trying to steal and score runs. Fournier was awarded game MVP.

Madison Heptonstall lays down a bunt in the Rage’s 10-5 win over Innisfail on Friday, May 31.

    The following morning, the Rage took on the Czar Heat. The Heat was on and after two innings, the Rage were down 8-2. The Rage rallied and slowly chipped away until a break out sixth inning put the Rage in the lead. Game MVP Madison Heptonstall scored the winning run of the game.
    The final game of round robin was against Lougheed. Thanks to a dominating pitching performance by Shae-Lynn Skytt, the Rage went on to a 14-3 win.
    The Rage were ranked first overall after the round robin. Their next, and last game, was against the Killam Thunder. The two teams last met two years ago at the Pee Wee provincial finals, where the Rage lost.
    The Rage started the game at bat and soon found themselves with a four run lead. However, the game was called off after intense rains. After, the fields were declared unplayable by umpires and the Rage were awarded the gold medals based on the round robin results.
    “Although the girls are very excited and very proud of their win, obviously we all wanted to play out that final game.  We’ve been looking forward to this rematch against Killam for 2 years and the team felt like they had something to prove.  It was very encouraging to see them come out as strong as they did, scoring 4 quick runs,” said Shari Fournier, head coach of the Rage.
    “It definitely gives us a lot of confidence heading into league finals and provincials at the end of the month.”
    The Rage have their first home games of the season on  Saturday, June 8, against the YMFL Calgary Bantam boys team at Newcastle ball diamond 1. The first game of the double header starts at 11 a.m., followed by another game at 2 p.m.

    Alberta came up short but seven Drumheller Titians shone at the Rising Star Border Bowl in Kelowna.
    There is a new All Star game for rural High School Football players in Western Canada. The ABC Rising Star Border Bowl is for players currently in grade 10 and 11 and will be returning to High School football in the fall from Alberta and B.C.
    Drumheller had seven players make the team, Spencer Fournier, Steve Robertson, Allan Lister, Joey Samoloski, Tracker Robinson, Gage Berdahl and Thomas Borst.
    The game was held Saturday May 25 in Kelowna.  On a beautiful night in great conditions, BC defeated Alberta 30-23 in an exciting game.
    It didn’t take long for BC to hit the scoreboard, on the opening kick off, Alberta returner) slipped and fumbled the ball right into the hands of BC’s) who took it untouched for a major on the first play in ABC Border Bowl history.

Drumheller footballers (l-r) Tracker Robinson, Gage Berdahl, Spencer Fournier, Joey Samoleski, Alan Lister, Thomas Borst,  and Steven Robertson, along with coach Ron LaPrise and medic Tim Jorgensen  participated in the first ever ABC Rising Stars Border Bowl.

    On the next possession, Alberta marched down the field and capped it off with a 12 yd TD run.
    After a BC field goal, jumped in front of a) pass to the flats and took the interception 75 yds for the major and after the convert Alberta was back on top 14-10.
    Four minutes later Alberta hit a 38 yd field goal giving them a 17-10 lead.
    BC then marched down the field and on a third and long, beat a double team and caught a deep pass for a 41-yd TD.
    On Alberta’s next series, they connected for a 78 yd TD, BC blocked the convert giving Alberta a 23-17 lead.
    With less than a minute left in the half BC was in a third and long situation from the Alberta 38 and another Hail Mary was completed for a major and after BC botched the convert attempt the game was tied 23-23 going into the half.
BC marched down the field on their first drive of the third Quarter and capped it off with a 3 yard TD run that was converted making the score 30-23.
    Both defenses dug in their heels, however it was Alberta’s turn to get lucky, as a deep pass that was underthrown bounced off a BC’s defenders head and a great diving catch gave them first down on the 4 yard line.  Alberta could not punch it in, as on third down Alberta’s QB was intercepted in the end zone to end the drive.
    Alberta defense dug in and held BC to minimal yds but Alberta let the comeback slip through their hands.  On the next two drives, Alberta had two different receivers have passes hit their hands and deflect into waiting BC’s defenders mitts to snuff out any comeback.
    Ron Diaz who runs All Pro Football Camps and All Canadian Gridiron website has been successfully organizing spring All Star games in Eastern Canada and determined it was time to have a shootout in the west.
    He recruited Ron LaPrise of Drumheller to be the head coach of the Alberta team and the process was started.