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On top of winning the provincial championship, St. Joachim/Réal-Bérard star Annabelle Tétrault was named Most Valuable Player of the tournament.
"It feels great to be known not only as a provincial champ but also as MVP," Tétrault says with a big smile. "It's surreal, I never thought it would ever happen."
Going on this provincial run was special but capping it off with a championship is something Tétrault says the group will never forget. "It meant so much because having two little schools compete together and having the chance to play at high school was real. Having a chance to play in the finals and win it, it's something we never imagined with these two little schools competing together."
The fact that the two schools combining for under 200 kids were going up against other schools with as many as 1000, really bonded the team together, according to Tétrault. "It for sure made us closer. We knew each other before, we talked three years ago or whenever we came together, we knew who everyone was. Being from the same school division in two smaller schools come together, you know who they are over time. Just knowing each other, having two tiny schools, it just builds those connections."
Tétrault admits to being surprised but honoured that she was named MVP and was quick to say it's more of a team award. "I thought, I was looking over the weekend and when I got named MVP, I didn't think that I had that good of a tournament. My bats were pretty quiet on that championship Saturday. But, I just had the whole team behind me when I needed them. When I put the ball in play, they made the plays for me, they just helped me out so much. What the whole team was able to do, they are all MVP's."
Being as close as they are and finding ways to win as many games as they have, Tétrault believes makes this even more special. "It means so much because you go into something like this with expectations, we had seven AAA players we had on the team, but with the players that maybe didn't have as many reps going into the season, those girls were able to play and gain experience through great coaching, it's all help us win. The Winkler tournament that we went to, the Zone and now provincials, it's all meant a lot."
Building friendships off the field is also something Tétrault really cherishes. "The times are great. We didn't have much time to connect through the season because the year is so short. But in provincials, we got to spend the night in Selkirk, we all stayed together, we went swimming, hung out in someone's room all night. We would carpool together and it was so nice getting to connect. Some girls we don't see every day because they're in the other school, but the others from your school, you've known them from the start. You have that connection. Being away from school, just playing ball, it really makes that connection stronger."
The underdog role is something that Tétrault and her teammates really leaned into and they loved it, it's something they'll remember. "You don't expect going in with two tiny schools, but we're so proud to be where we are today. Yes, we were underdogs going in being from where we are, but to make it all the way, it shows people that no matter where you're from, you can be big in big moments."
It was a goal to bring home the banner and the group accomplished that and a teacher told Tétrault something that brings that banner to a whole other level. "We're so excited, our gym teacher told us he believes that's the first ever provincial banner ever to be won by our school. To walk into the gym, to see that provincial banner, knowing all the work we put in this year, we made history for our school."