If hockey and lacrosse are Canada's sports, then Mitchell claims softball.
From today, Friday, June 23, until Sunday, June 25, Mitchell will host over 200 athletes ranging from U9 to U15 at their diamonds for a year-end softball tournament.
South East Softball Board Member Dawn Oude Voshaar says the game has “grown huge this year.” She adds at the U9 level, over 100 girls are playing.
“We have some fantastic up-and-comers coming up,“ Oude Voshaar says. “The U15s, there's lots of talent there. There are some teams heading to provincials in the next couple weeks also, which is awesome. So come on out and support the girls.”
In addition to the softball-packed weekend, Oude Voshaar adds other activities are happening at the diamonds, such as a canteen and water balloon fights.
Oude Voshaar enjoys watching the interactions between the players, even with the age gaps.
“It's so adorable you can see how the little nine-year-olds look up to the 15s, and they interact. They talk, they talk about stuff, they ask questions. It's just so great to see that,” she explains.
For the parents, friendships are also developing, which Oude Voshaar says is “awesome.”
“You see these relationships grow. You see them doing stuff outside of the softball. You see them together going for coffee or whatever. It's just kind of cool to watch parents come together and support kids, cheer them on and everybody's kid. It's not just cheering on your own,” she says.
Finally, she thanks community members involved with the sport.
“The RM has fantastic ball diamonds in Mitchell, they're very well maintained,” she explains. “We're thankful for the people there that maintain them. We're thankful for the people that run the softball and baseball programs in Mitchell that enabled us to keep going.”
With files from Dave Anthony.