U13 Heat look to defend AA title

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This article was published 25/07/2024 (617 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

The Brandon Heat come into Softball Manitoba’s U13 AA provincials this weekend at Ashley Neufeld Softball Complex with a giant target on its back.

A year ago, also at Ashley Neufeld Softball Complex, Brandon beat the Westman Fury 8-5 to earn gold. This year, the team has just four players returning from that team — Jessa Church, Cadence Keller, Hayley Beckwith and Anna McIvor.

“Every year is a new year,” head coach Greg Beckwith said. “We’ve got seven or eight new players on the team. The experience those four girls bring of how the process was to get where we were is going to be really valuable. They’ve shown lots of good leadership already in work ethic, and we’ve spent lots of time talking to the girls about the face of unity is a super important of success.

“Last year’s team definitely had that, and we’re definitely to see that with this group as well.”

Jessa Church, 13, catches and play third base and centre field. She was part of the Heat team that won a year ago, and she learned something from the experience that relieves a lot of pressure.

“How much people don’t care if we win or lose, they’re just supportive throughout the whole thing,” Church said.

The Heat host Softball Manitoba’s U13 AA provincial championship from Friday to Sunday at Ashley Neufeld Softball Complex as the U11 and U15 events run in tandem. The Heat is just one of the region’s three teams, with the Westman South Storm operating south of the Trans-Canada Highway, and the Westman Fury to the north.

This year, the Southwest Strikers and Parkland Power will also be in action in the 12-team event.

Beckwith said when he looks back at the success the team had a year ago, a lot of things went right.

“We had 12 girls who were willing to buy into the systems we put in place, and were willing to sacrifice to be successful as a team,” Beckwith said. “That’s something we preach every year as a coaching staff. I’m really excited about this group this year because they’re displaying those attributes early.”

Joee McKay, 13, pitches and plays first and third base. It’s her first provincial experience, and she likes the group she’s surrounded by.

“Everyone is supportive,” McKay said. “We don’t have to worry about getting scared of making a bad decision. If you make a mistake, don’t do it again.”

“Everyone is supportive. We don’t have to worry about getting scared of making a bad decision. If you make a mistake, don’t do it again.”– Joee McKay

The club also includes Bryelle Simard, Becky Simard, Phinlee Hetherington, Dylan Ryback, Emily Kulchyski, Ayven Chuchmuch, Mackenzie Dreolini, Jaycee Yorke and Kylie DeVlieger, Beckwith is joined on the staff by assistant coaches Donovan McIvor, Darcy Simard and Mark Ryback.

He said there is a big advantage to be being home at the Ashley Neufeld Softball Complex.

“It’s pretty amazing to host a provincial championship,” Beckwith offered. “We get to sleep in our own beds and to spend a lot of time with the team away from the diamond. We do lots of team-type of events and team suppers and team get-togethers, and that’s a lot easier when you’re at home.

“But probably the biggest advantage is going to the diamond every day and then having a 10- or 15-minute drive to get home and then being in your own bed. Rest and nutrition are super important parts of this as well, and it’s a lot easier when you’re not on the road.”

“It’s going to feel good because I don’t have to drive and my parents don’t have to drive,” McKay added.

Unlike the AAA Magic, the Heat do not spend the season together. Instead, the players participate in house league and head to A provincials with their teams. In the U13 A (house league) provincials in Portage la Prairie from July 5 to 7, Brandon C&E took gold, with Strathclair and Virden also on the podium.

Once that’s over, they join the AA all-star team, with an annual showcase giving teams a chance to compete against each other. All three Westman clubs ended up in the medal games, with the Fury taking gold, the Interlake Maroons finishing second and the Storm topping the Heat in the bronze medal game.

“Any team can be successful any weekend,” Beckwith said. “Obviously, the three Westman teams will be tough teams to beat I think. Finishing with all three teams in the top four says something about our development in our region. Definitely those Westman teams, but at this age, it could be anybody.”

Church emerged from the event with a new respect for her teammates, who she said have come together quickly.

“Obviously, the three Westman teams will be tough teams to beat I think. Finishing with all three teams in the top four says something about our development in our region.– Greg Beckwith

“As a team, we supported and very much helped each through the whole tournament,” Church said. The Heat will be looking to score lots of runs on the weekend, which is very possible with an aggressive group of hitters who become fleet base runners.

Beckwith said the bats lead the way for his group.

“That’s probably one of our strengths,” Beckwith said. “We have a lot of girls who have lots of experience hitting the ball. We finished fourth in the showcase, which was a good finish for us. We only had six practices together as a team before we went. We made it all the way to the semis on our bats. They were super strong. Hopefully we see that continue to improve as well.”

Beckwith has a strong pitching staff, with four girls who can throw strikes. A pair of second-year majors, McKay and Keller, are joined by minors Ryback and Bryelle Simard.

“They’ve done a good job,” Beckwith said. “House league has been their primary focus for the last two months, and now that house league provincials are done, we move into our AA season.”

U13 in both softball and baseball is usually the age group when players begin to put their improving physical gifts together with a better understanding of the game. But it’s important for any coach or fan to expect the unexpected, because anything can happen on defence.

“That will be our focus moving forward, just making defensive outs,” Beckwith said. “We focus a lot on decision making. That’s a big learning part of this age is deciding what out to take and what situations we should do it in.

“That’s a work in progress but we’ve got 13 girls who can all thrown the ball well and who can all catch the ball well. As they continue to learn how to play the game systems-wise, I think we’ll see us to continue to improve a lot.”

Church said she thinks the team is really improving that side of the game.

“We’re really good,” Church said. “I think our team defence is very on it, and we’re quick to pick up things we need to learn.”

It will have to be on point as the Heat look to repeat as champions. They begin play in the 12-team tournament in Pool B against the Fury on Friday at 12:45 p.m., and then meet the Bonivital Bolts at 4:15 p.m. On Saturday, they play Central Charge (Rempel) at 9 a.m., Parkland Power at 12:45 p.m. and meet Eastman Blaze (Hiebert) at 4:15 p.m.

The top two teams from each pool advance to semifinals on Sunday at 11 a.m., with the bronze and gold medal games scheduled at 12:45 p.m.

“I’m looking forward to it a lot,” McKay said.

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