Frisky leads way for Twin City Angels

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This article was published 09/08/2023 (881 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

A bright future may lie ahead in softball for Emma Frisky, but on Wednesday morning it was all about the team for the 15-year-old pitcher and infielder from Martensville, Sask.

Frisky threw three scoreless innings to start the game against Nova Scotia Blue, and delivered a two-run double in the top of the sixth inning that proved to be the game-ender as her Twin City Angels beat 9-1 in a mercy-rule decision.

“It’s really good to have that first game under the belt and shake the nerves out,” Frisky said. “It’s a good feeling to take that one as a win going into the rest of the week.”

Angels head coach Krystin Chatfield said Frisky is simply that impactful all the time, both on and off the field. But on the mound, she’s special.

“She’s been dominant, right from the start of the year to now,” Chatfield said. “She averages probably two strikeouts an inning for sure. She pitches a lot for us and is just been a fantabulous leader and all-around great player.”

She has a dazzling array of pitches. Her drop ball has maxed out at 64 miles per hour, while her rise ball has hit 61 mph. She also has a drop curve and a changeup.

With her at the helm, Twin City won provincials, beating a Moose Jaw team 8-3 in the final after losing to them during the round-robin. That led to them to nationals in Brandon.

“That was a big goal of ours from the start,” Frisky said. “We set goals at the start of the season and we’ve worked really hard to get there.”

When it comes to her own play, Frisky says she has role models and mentors who she looks up to and are very helpful. She gravitates to the intangibles when asked about her game.

“I would say I’m a pretty good leader on our team,” Frisky said. “I like to show by example but also by words, letting the other girls on my team know I always have their back and pick them up.

“I throw quite a few pitches and that kind of helps me out and I’m consistent offensively.”

Chatfield agrees.

“As a teammate, she’s one of a kind,” Chatfield said. “She’s really a team leader, She’s our team captain and the girls look up to her and follow her really well. She sets a really good example for our TCA (Twin City Angels) organization.”

Frisky also played hockey until recently and is a still a school and club volleyball player. She dropped hockey to concentrate on softball, however, which might be bad news for anyone she pitches against.

She plays in the 222 program over the winter, a Saskatoon-based collection of players from Manitoba, Saskatchewan and Alberta who travel to tournaments in the U.S. It also gets her specialized coaching.

A good indication of Frisky’s talent is the fact her team was at nationals a year ago in Saskatoon, and despite being in her minor season in the age group, she was named top pitcher.

When Frisky isn’t on the mound, she played shortstop this season but with the pickups the Angels made for nationals, she has slid over to third base.

If that versatility wasn’t enough, a year ago she hit .500 at the national U15 tournament, with 12 hits and nine RBI in 24 official at-bats.

“She leads our team in hitting average and is a great baserunner,” Chatfield said. “You can almost guarantee a double out of her every time. She’s a tremendous leadoff hitter for us and carries our team a lot.”

On Wednesday, she hit the ball hard in her first two at-bats but luck wasn’t on her side because they were both right at people. That changed with her RBI double in the top of the sixth inning that gave the Angels enough runs to end the game early when they held Nova Scotia in the bottom of the inning.

“It was very nice,” Frisky said. “I had a couple of hits that game that just weren’t hitting holes so it was nice to get one that fell into a good spot.”

Frisky and the Angels return to action today when they meet New Brunswick at 9 a.m., and UTM at 6 p.m. On Friday, they play Manitoba’s Central Energy at 11:30 a.m., and finish up the round-robin against Ridge Meadows at 5:30 p.m.

As a group, the Angels have set their goals high.

“I really hope we play good as a team,” Frisky said. “I know everyone on my team hopes we have a chance to medal here so we’re going to do everything in our power to get there.”

Long term, she would love to land a Division 1 scholarship in the United States and perhaps represent Canada.

Her coach thinks that’s in her future too.

“I think she’ll be playing high Div. 1 ball someday for sure,” Chatfield said. “Her work ethic, there is no other kid on our team I’ve seen work as hard as she does. She’s up at 5 o’clock in the morning working out. “She’s a tremendous ball player.”

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