U17 Magic members look to repeat at westerns

The under-17 Westman Magic are getting set to take part in the 2026 Western Canadian Softball Championship from Aug. 6 to 9 in St. Albert, Alta. One of the things motivating them is the potential to repeat as western champions.

Due to weather, the Magic played the fewest games in the under-17 division of the Manitoba Premier Softball League this season. With just 19 regular season games under their belt, the team finished the season with a respectable 12-7-0 record.

They hosted U17 AAA provincials at Ashley Neufeld Softball Complex, going 4-2 in the round-robin to secure their spot in the playoffs and at least punch their ticket to westerns, if not nationals. They beat the Interlake Phillies 5-3 in the 3-vs.-4 game before losing the semifinal 4-2 to the Central Energy, settling for bronze.

Now, the team is excited to step into westerns in the hopes of bringing home a gold medal.

“I’m feeling very excited but also a little bit nervous,” said Magic catcher Rose Cochrane. “Although nationals was our primary goal, I am hoping our team comes out of westerns with number one. It’s very exciting to go and represent out Westman area this weekend.”

Attending westerns is nothing new for Cochrane, who helped her under-15 team win last year’s tournament in what she called a thrilling game. The experience of last year’s championship will undoubtedly be something the team leans on going into this year’s run.

“(We) definitely have to trust in everyone out on the field, and always keep a positive attitude,” said Cochrane. “Just keep your spirits high, keep a positive attitude and something great will come of it.”

As a player, Cochrane creates plays on both sides of the ball. Defensively, she prides herself on her ability to snag balls and move them efficiently around the diamond to scare opponents out of running or stealing bases.

Offensively, Cochrane likes to be aggressive when base running and stealing when she can. She feels she has made great strides in her hitting allowing her to be very reliable when it comes to getting clutch hits that can make or break games.

“I struggled with my hitting last year,” said Cochrane. “(Now) I go up to the plate just wanting to hit the ball, get contact, and so, that’s really helped me with hitting and getting on base for my team.”

Another player looking to make a splash is Cochrane’s teammate Callie Franklin, who returns to the Magic after being picked up by the Eastman Wildcats for nationals.

Like Cochrane, Franklin believes that winning last year’s tournament will be beneficial for this year’s squad.

“(It) gives us an extra boost to try to push that little bit more to get to the spot we were in last year,” said Franklin. “Pretty much just showed us that we can do it.”

Franklin’s strong season with Westman started during the off-season with pitching sessions in the gym. She worked hard on spins slowly working up a bevy of pitches she could test opposing batters with. Her favorite pitch is the curve ball, which she says she uses more than her fast ball.

“At this level, it doesn’t matter how hard you can throw the ball,” said Franklin. “If you have spins, that’s the only thing that’s going to get you through innings. So, without all of those practices on rise balls and curve balls, I would not have finished the season as well as I have.”

When the lights are brightest, Franklin pitches her best. Never was that more on display than during the bronze-medal game at provincials.

In the ninth inning, the Magic were on the ropes. Just one run away from losing. Franklin stood on the mound with the bases loaded and a full count. One missed throw in that moment and the Magic lose. She threw a strike and the Magic rallied to get out of the inning unscathed.

She says her time with Eastman at nationals did a lot to boost her confidence heading into westerns. Franklin helped Eastman achieve a top-10 finish at nationals while playing against some of the top teams in the country.

“The Eastman team got lots of extra practice against really good batters, so I am excited to try again,” said Franklin. “Also, these teams aren’t as good as the teams we just faced.”

Both Cochrane and Franklin are excited for the opportunity to compete at a high level, but westerns is also an opportunity for the team to bond and meet players from other teams.

On Wednesday evening, the tournament hosts a banquet that will allow the girls to spend time together and meet players from opposing teams before the competition starts on Thursday.

Once the games start, the Magic will be all in, focusing on getting to the final.

Today, they face Saskatchewan’s East Central Wolverines and Alberta’s River City. On Friday, they face the Calgary Adrenaline and Kelowna Heat.

The event continues on Saturday, with medal games set for Sunday.

For Cochrane and Franklin, it will be an opportunity to win westerns in back-to-back years. Something that would be a tremendous accomplishment for both athletes.

“I think that this is a great group that will be able to do great things during this tournament,” said Franklin. “I think we will have a very good showing.”

» rmccarthy@brandonsun.com