Nell ready for massive change

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This article was published 20/08/2024 (656 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

When Danika Nell next steps on a softball diamond, she’ll be playing her best to benefit someone else.

The 18-year-old softball prodigy from Boissevain is part of the Canadian women’s team competing in Group C of the under-18 women’s softball World Cup qualifying stage from Aug. 29 to Sept. 2 in Dallas, Texas. The prize is earning one of two spots in the 2025 championship.

“I’m super excited,” Nell said. “It will be the group stage world qualifier for the world championship next year, which I’ll be aged out for. Me and the rest of the vets are trying to get the younger girls to the world championships. Hopefully that pans out well.”

The 16-player roster was officially unveiled on Aug. 13.

Eighteen teams around the world have been split into three pools, with Group A playing in Sao Paulo, Brazil and Group B in Pingtan, China. So far, Chinese Taipei and Czechia have advanced from Group A.

Nell and fifth-ranked Team Canada face Mexico (No. 8) on Aug. 29 at 3:30 p.m. (CDT), the United States (No. 1) on Aug. 30 at 6:30 p.m. Ireland (No. 21) on Aug. 31 at 12:30 p.m., the Philippines (No. 16) three hours later at 3:30 p.m., and finish up against Australia (No. 9) on Sept. 1 at 9:30 p.m.

The top four teams advance to the playoffs, with the top two playing each other with a berth at the 2025 championship available. The loser of the 1-2 game plays the winner of 3-4 game for the second spot in 2025.

It won’t be Nell’s first national team experience.

She had previously been invited to a selection camp in 2021 and made the cut, but a potential trip to Peru was scuttled by COVID and the team was never actually announced.

This year she was a little more fortunate.

Nell earned a spot on Team Canada’s roster for the Americas Pan-American Championship in Monteria, Colombia and played in the week-long event from March 30 to April 6. Canada was placed in Group B during the preliminary round, with third-ranked Puerto Rico, Cuba (No. 11), Venezuela (No. 17), Brazil (No. 23) and U.S. Virgin Islands (No. 62). They went 4-1, falling to Puerto Rico, and advanced to the super rounds, where they went 3-0.

In the final, Nell allowed one run on three hits in 3 2/3 innings, with Puerto Rico earning the 2-1 victory with a walk-off single in the eighth inning.

In seven games, Nell batted .278 with five hits and two RBI in 18 official at-bats. Defensively, she threw 18 2/3 innings, allowing just six hits and one run while compiling a stingy 0.308 earned run average.

She said the chance to wear the Maple Leaf was incredible: Nell was playing first base when she made her official debut on March 30 against the U.S. Virgin Islands.

“That’s something I will never forget,” Nell said. “I remember we were walking out of the dugout in the uniform and seeing our parents and everyone in the stands and it was so special. There is nothing quite like that obviously.”

In an odd coincidence, the only Manitobans representing Canada are from Boissevain, with Nell on the U18 squad and Zoe Hicks playing for the national women’s squad. While Hicks is 24 and the two have never played on a team together, Nell said she is an inspiration.

“Honestly, I always talk about that,” Nell said. “I ask people of they know Zoe if they’ve been around the national teams, and most people do. She’s got such an infectious personality on the field. It’s pretty cool that two people came out of small little Boissevain and have done something with the sport. She’s definitely someone who I look up to.”

She watched Hicks when she was in high school because Hicks played with Nell’s older sister Anja.

Nell actually moved to Winnipeg’s Vincent Massey Collegiate for her Grade 11 year because they had more course options and she was able to stay with her brother Meyer, a former Brandon Wheat King forward.

Because she was in Winnipeg, she suited up for the under-19 Smitty’s Terminators this summer. Nell was nursing a nagging injury that prevented her from playing in provincials, but is back to 100 per cent now.

That’s good news because she another massive life change coming soon when she starts school at Boston University and takes the field with the Division I Terriers.

The six-foot-one Nell’s goal since she was playing with the Westman Magic was to play NCAA softball at an American school.

“I went through the recruitment process with an open mind,” Nell said. “I have some schools I liked and had been talking to but I was really open to whatever was going to come my way. I posted lots on Twitter and on Sport Recruits and my Boston coach by chance just saw a 20-second video of me on Twitter and found me through that.

“She reached out and emailed me and wanted a phone call. I was expecting the intro phone call that usually takes about 10 minutes — you get to know each other and see where it goes — but it ended up being way longer. We hit it off and I eventually got an offer. It was pretty fast, honestly. I just really liked the campus when I went to visit and the coaches were amazing and the school is exactly what I was looking for.”

It had been on her mind for years, so naturally it was a massive relief to finally get it accomplished in March 2023.

“It was probably one of the best days of my life,” Nell said. “I was in the city here (Winnipeg) and got the phone call and my parents (Meyer and Karen) are in still in Boissevain. I called them and I was crying with happy tears. It was something I had been working pretty much every day for. It was very rewarding.”

Boston University, which was founded in 1839, had 37,000 students in 2023. It’s located across the street from Fenway Park, legendary home of the Boston Red Sox.

It’s a big step for the Boissevain product to head to the city of 675,000 people, but she noted her time in Winnipeg should help with the transition.

“I’ve definitely gained some independence living here,” Nell said. “My brother is a great roommate for me but it definitely has been something I’ve gotten used to, like training a little and just being more independent.”

The only hitch in her plans is that her time with the national team means she’ll be late arriving in Boston. She had asked for permission to move in early but it was denied, so she’ll be arriving in Boston the day after the tournament is over.

She will major in Health Sciences on the pre-med track.

“It is pretty cool,” Nell said. “It’s honestly something that always seemed so far away. Now that it’s coming up in a matter of weeks, I’m feeling overwhelmed, excited, happy. I’m feeling all the things right now but I’m really glad to be starting this next chapter. It’s something I’ve been looking forward to for a very long time.”

Happily, she’ll have all the support she needs as she embarks on her next great adventure. And in a neat way, she’ll be providing a little bit of support of her own.

“I have a great support system with my family and friends,” Nell said. “They always tell me that they’re proud of me so I’ll always take that from them. I love to hear that.

“The one thing I really like is when the younger girls come up to me. I’ve even had a few girls come up to me and ask for my autograph, which always catches me off guard. It’s nice to see they’re watching me and dreaming big, the same way that I did. That’s what I’ll carry with me as I continue to develop my softball career.”

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