Deep U15 Magic look for consistency at provincials

The under-15 Westman Magic have an unusually deep squad this year, and will need contributions from all 12 players as they begin Softball Manitoba’s provincial championship today at Headingley’s John Blumberg Park.

Head coach Marc Lyver said the club has come a long way this season in part because everyone has the ability to be the hero on any given day.

“We talked about coming together as a team from day one and that would probably be our biggest improvement,” Lyver said. “There isn’t just one player, it’s been one through 12 all season. It’s been different from all the other groups I’ve ever coached. You usually have your top-end four or five but this group has been consistent from one to 12.

“Every day, somebody new comes to the plate and has a big hit or someone makes a big play in the field. It’s really good to see.”

The provincial playdowns finish up on Sunday, with five of the six teams earning a berth either at nationals or westerns.

The top two teams head to nationals from July 28 to Aug. 2 in Fredericton, N.B., with three teams attending the western Canadian championships in Winkler from Aug. 13 to 16.

“Personally, I expect us to do pretty well and hopefully make it to a medal game,” pitcher and right fielder Hadley Robertson said. “I think it’s a realistic expectation for this group of girls, so hopefully we can do it.”

So far this year it’s been the first-place Interlake Phillies (15-2), the second-place Eastman Wildcats (13-2) and then everyone else. Central Energy (6-8) sits in third followed by Westman (4-6), the Smitty’s Terminators (2-9) and Winnipeg Lightning (2-15).

The Magic’s record isn’t truly indicative of their season, because they’ve had a rash of league games postponed due to the weather. Overall they are 20-13-1 this season.

Shortstop Georgia Koop said consistency will be very important for her squad this weekend.

“It’s going to be huge,” Koop said. “You can play against a weaker team and not have the best game and they can even beat you, but when you play against a really good team and you play to your level and their level, you can beat them. “You have to stay at your level no matter what. I think that’s how we’re going to win provincials if we want to.”

Westman’s roster has Robertson, Koop and Hayley Barkley of Virden, Brooke Hartman, Jessa Church and Logan Rome of Brandon, Meredith Masson of Oak Lake, Ava Boden of Russell, Chayse Paradis of Rorketon, Kaedyn Leslie of Killarney, Evie McAdam of the RM of Sifton and Zaree Routledge of the RM of Wallace-Woodworth.

Lyver is blessed with a deep pitching staff that includes Robertson, Leslie, Paradis, Hartman and Masson.

“It’s nice having those options,” Lyver said. “You feel bad at the end of the day because we have five pitchers and they’re all pretty good. It’s a tough job as a coach but it’s a good problem to have.”

Koop said the players behind the pitchers do their best to have their backs.

“They’re very good,” Koop said of the staff. “I like them a lot. It’s easy for them to just go in there and do what they can because the D behind them is just going to stop all the balls that come. That relieves a lot of pressure off their shoulders and makes them pitch 10 times better.”

Robertson agreed, saying the defence can be excellent.

“We have highs and lows with our defence, but when we’re at a high, it’s really good,” Robertson said. “As a pitcher I trust my defence a lot with fielding the ball and making plays, and that says a lot about a team.”

Like most 15-year-old clubs in any sport, there are moments of inconsistency with the gloves. While Lyver said his team has progressed nicely in that regard, they’ll have to be dialled in this weekend.

“We have to make sure we’re consistent at getting outs,” Lyver said. “We can’t be giving any free outs. You have to be 100 per cent on your game this weekend. There isn’t enough time to get into trouble.”

Westman teams traditionally have good base-running skills, but it’s still a matter of putting people on so they can exploit that strength. That starts with batters making smart decisions.

“Right from the beginning we’ve talked about having a good approach at the plate and swinging at good pitches and staying away from the bad ones obviously,” said Lyver, whose coaching staff also includes Jessie Henry, Greg Boden and Lance Barkley. “Our team has gotten better every day.”

“Everybody hits the ball and everybody contributes,” Robertson added. “If someone strikes out, the girl on deck picks her up.”

That has been another strength of the squad, which is close even by softball standards.

“I think we call get along really well, which is good,” Koop said. “There aren’t certain groups, it’s everyone as a team. That helps a lot with us.”

Robertson said the older players have made it a priority to welcome in the newcomers, and the team is a cohesive unit.

“It’s very bubbly,” Robertson said. “Everybody is smiling all the time and happy to be here.”

If the Magic want to go to New Brunswick, they’ll have to sneak their way past the league’s two 800-pound gorillas at the events which features a round-robin with the top four teams advancing to the playoffs.

Interlake didn’t lose two league games in the same month this season and Eastman is led by the top pitcher in the province, Hannah Skrabek, who shut down Westman down 6-1 in the final of the Wheat City Classic.

Eastman went 6-0 at the Brandon tournament, outscoring their opponents 55-13, with 10 runs against coming in their tournament opener.

“Eastman and the Phillies are the top two rated teams from the season and from previous seasons,” Lyver said. “I have us right there. Eastman has a top-end pitcher who is tough to beat. If you take her away, it’s anybody’s game. We just have to find a way to beat her, put some balls in play and make their defence work and I think we’ll have a shot.”

» pbergson@brandonsun.com