Spartans set for softball provincial debut

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This article was published 31/05/2022 (1276 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

The Neelin Spartans know their first high school softball provincial appearance was given, not earned.

This season, however, that speaks more to the strength of the Vincent Massey Vikings, who they scared in their first meeting and led through four innings of the city final. The No. 4 seed Spartans can make noise as hosts of the 12-team tournament that kicks off Friday morning at Ashley Neufeld Softball Complex.

“There’s extra excitement, there’s also added pressure because we’re the host team, so we don’t actually deserve to be there, which kind of sucks but it’s something we’re all super excited for,” said sophomore pitcher Siena McMillan, who spent a few years of AAA ball with the Westman Magic and currently plays for Central Energy.

“We’re excited to compete. A lot of us have been to provincial championships with our club teams so we know these pressure situations.”

Neelin opens Pool 4 play against the Helen Betty Osborne Huskies of Norway House on Friday at 12:15 p.m., then jumps straight into a matchup with the Neepawa Tigers at 2 p.m. First place in each pool of three gets a bye to the quarterfinals on Saturday morning while the other two have play-in games late Friday afternoon.

Massey has the No. 3 seed and plays Roblin’s Goose Lake Angels on Friday at 9:30 a.m., then Manitou’s Nellie McClung Stingers at noon in Pool 3. The top-ranked Boissevain Broncos play Carman/Miami Friday at 9 a.m., then Béliveau at 11 a.m.

It’s been a long time coming for Neelin head coach Lana Dubois, who guided the Spartans to a city title in 2018. They knocked off the 23-time champion Vikings in a 9-7 thriller but fell to Russell’s Major Pratt Trojans in the interzone qualifier that year.

Dubois still knows a thing or two about busy weekend tournaments and says it’s important everyone has a role and no one is overworked.

“We’re going to just hope everyone brings something to the game, whether it’s some hitting, some defence, cheering on the bench, being positive and hoping everyone brings energy when they have it,” Dubois said.

“We know not everyone’s going to be at their perfect performance and that’s with all athletes so just if everyone can contribute when it’s their time to do it, everything should fall together, hopefully, for us.”

The Spartans are tough to score on when McMillan and Madison McDonald bring their best stuff in the circle. McDonald missed the first two games against Massey but threw four scoreless innings in the final before the Vikings got hot in the fifth to earn a 6-1 victory.

McMillan and McDonald are also part of a top-heavy lineup that wastes little time scoring early in games. Delaney Houlihan, Danica Black and Kassidy Loewen were expected to deliver but freshman outfielder Cadence Gerry stepped in as a surprise boost in the No. 1 spot.

“She has done such a good job on the bat earning that leadoff spot. That wasn’t something I expected going into the season and she’s really been a staple for our team, consistently getting hits,” McMillan said, adding the team’s infield is just as strong.

“Jada (McMillan) and Delaney are both great in the middle infield. … They both have really good gloves and … really good arms. They’re really good to have behind me because I always feel like I’m going to be OK.”

For Loewen, it’s the final weekend of a terrific multi-sport career. The graduating all-star in volleyball and basketball would love to add another provincial medal to her collection on her final day in green and white.

“It means a lot, the emotion behind it. Even the last volleyball and basketball game, it’s a lot … A few tears that were shed along the way,” Loewen said. “As an individual, I’ve grown a lot in this athletic program … this program is amazing and I love putting on the Neelin jersey every opportunity I can.”

EXTRA INNINGS: Weekend passes are $15 while day passes are $10 and high school students get in for $3. Children aged 12 and under are free … Baseball provincials begin Thursday at Andrews Field and Sumner Field as the host Vikings welcome 11 teams, including Carberry/Cartwright/Baldur/Glenboro and Birtle/Shoal Lake/Strathclair, Boissevain/Wawanesa and McCreary/Ste. Rose co-op teams.

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